Unit 1Introduction and Brainstorming Your Book
6 lessons1 Week
Introduction and Brainstorming Your Book
 Week 1
Lesson 1
Welcome to the Chapter Book Class
Today, you'll learn everything you need to do when writing a chapter book. I will answer any of your common questions and explain how you can finish a book in twelve weeks. 
Lesson 2
Brainstorming Your Story Idea
You will come up with a solid story idea today, one that will be exciting to write. 
Lesson 3
Brainstorming Your Characters
You will decide on a main character and brainstorm the other key characters, figuring out their details. 
Lesson 4
Brainstorming Your Story's World
You'll brainstorm your story's world and the settings for your scenes. You'll learn how to describe the settings from the main character's perspective. How do they see this world? 
Lesson 5
Plotting Your Book
I will give you an easy way to plot your book and also a more advanced way. 
Lesson 6
Basic Grammar and Punctuation Rules 
Let's avoid making the same mistakes throughout your whole book. In this lesson, you'll learn how to set up your document and you'll learn the common mistakes kids (and adults) make when they write their books. 
Unit 2The First Quarter of Your Book:
The Set-Up and The Big Shock
12 lessons2 Weeks
The First Quarter of Your Book:
The Set-Up and The Big Shock
 Week 2
Lesson 7
Starting Your Book, The Prologue (Hint - You don't need it), and Chapter One
Today, we'll look at the basic elements you need for this week: writing chapter one and possibly the prologue, but you may not need a prologue. 
Lesson 8
POV - Point of View
What should you choose - first person, second person, or third person point of view? 
Lesson 9
Perspective, Thought, Opinions, Voice
This is one of the most important elements of fiction writing. It's how you show who the character is and how you make the reader care about what happens. 
Lesson 10
Verb Tense - Past or Present Tense?
How do you choose between past or present tense? What is better? 
Lesson 11
The Most Important Elements of Every Chapter
We'll look at the five key things you need in every chapter: setting description, a character's personality, a way to make the reader curious, the character's goal, and an obstacle or problem.
Lesson 12
Make Us Love Your Character
The most important thing to do in the beginning is make us love your main character. Show readers their kindness, humor, and heroism. I'll give you ideas for how to do this. 

Lesson 13
Dialogue: What Do Characters Talk About?
What are the basic things you need to consider so that your dialogue is not boring?
 Week 3
Lesson 14
Chapter Two or Main Plot Point Two
This is the next big moment after the set-up of your characters and story - now you make a shocking thing happen. It's the reason for your story. It's the big change in the character's life that causes the rest of the story. Learn how to write this key chapter!
Lesson 15
Using All of the Senses
This is a key skill for all descriptions in your book, and you need it on every page. 
Lesson 16
Thoughts, Opinions, Desire, Reactions
Are they afraid of the monster in the closet? Learn how to how to show how the character sees the world, what they want and their opinions and reactions to what is happening in this key scene. 
Lesson 17
Character Descriptions
Describe characters fully from the point of view of your main character. What clothing do they wear? What is your main character’s opinion of them? 
Lesson 18
Reaction to a Shock
Every person responds differently to shocking events, as does your character and everyone they know. Look at examples in your favorite books and then do it in your own. 
Unit 3The Second Quarter of Your Book: 
Pursuing the Goal
20 lessons4 Weeks
The Second Quarter of Your Book: 
Pursuing the Goal
 Week 4
Lesson 19
Write Chapter Four or Plot Point Three: 
Pursuing the Goal
Brainstorm a chapter in which your character pursues their goal with allies. 
Lesson 20
What Do They Want? What Are The Stakes?
From the moment the big event happens, your hero has a new desire and there are stakes or consequences if they don’t get what they want. What could happen to your poor main character?
Lesson 21
Eight Steps for Writing a Chapter
If you're ever stuck, go to this list. Do each step and soon you'll be done. 
Lesson 22
Descriptions of Light
Think about light and how it can reflect the mood, just like in a movie. We need to know if it’s day or night and how the characters can see.
Lesson 23
Obstacles, Problems, Cliffhangers
If you want an exciting book with lots of tension and excitement, you need a big obstacle or problem in every chapter. But not a hundred obstacles! Learn how to build one big problem up. 
 Week 5
Lesson 24
Write Chapter Four or Plot Point Four: 
Facing Challenges
They will face difficulties and obstacles in achieving their goal, and meet the antagonist if they haven’t met them yet. How will the antagonist challenge them? What other possible obstacles could they encounter? How can you show their thoughts about these challenges?
Lesson 25
Weirdness and Complications
When odd things happen, the reader gets curious! What strange things do the characters do?
Lesson 26
Scene Questions
One of the best ways to hook the reader is to plant questions in their mind. Something strange happens and the character wonders about it…then the reader wonders too. What will the reader be wondering? 
Lesson 27
Specific Nouns
Nouns are the objects, people, animals, and places in a sentence. Learn how to write using specific nouns and lists.
Lesson 28
Dialogue: Plot and Character
Here are more tips for strong dialogue. Show your characters developing through their dialogue and advance the plot through revealing information in the dialogue. 
 Week 6
Lesson 29
Write Chapter/Plot Point Five: A Success Scene 
This will start out as a happy, hopeful scene with a cliffhanger, leading into the twist or disaster of Chapter Six. What wonderful thing could happen right before the twist or turn?
Lesson 30
Opposite Scenes
In the middle of the book, you’ll have a happy scene followed by a shocking reveal or a disaster.
Opposites are really powerful throughout the book. Here, you'll see examples from Harry Potter about how to create opposite scenes.
Lesson 31
Unusual Metaphors and Similes
Describe objects, characters and actions using unusual metaphors and similes, ones you’ve never seen before. Look at The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate for some wonderful examples. 
Lesson 32
Body Language: Are they comfortable or NOT?
You’ve probably heard “show, don’t tell.” One way to do this is by showing the body language of your characters. Here, I show you the scientific research behind body language and  examples in many kids' books. 
Lesson 33
Avoid a Common Mistake:
Change the Beginnings of Your Sentences
One of the most common mistakes writers make is they start many of their sentences with “I” in the first person or with the name or he/she in the third person. Learn how to avoid this problem. 
 Week 7
Lesson 34
Write Chapter Six or Plot Point Six: A Shock or Twist
Yay! You are halfway! You’re at the midpoint, which is another before-and-after moment: a twist, a betrayal, a fire, a natural disaster, a serious injury, a mysterious magic, or a new setting. What will be the twist?

Lesson 35
The Importance of the Shock or Twist
In the middle of a story, there is a shock or twist. Something we didn’t expect happens. It’s usually not a good surprise. 
Lesson 36
Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing indicates that something bad will happen. What will happen in your book? 
Lesson 37
Showing Power
In every scene, there are characters who have more power or confidence and characters who have less. How can you show this? 
Lesson 38
External and Internal Conflict
What is the difference between external and internal conflict and how can you show both in your storytelling?
Unit 4Writing the Third Quarter or Act of Your Book:
Failures and Disasters
15 lessons3 Weeks
Writing the Third Quarter or Act of Your Book:
Failures and Disasters
 Week 8
Lesson 39
Write Chapter/Plot Point Seven: 
Reaction & Planning
In response to the shocking twist or turn at the midpoint, the character will make a new plan, and maybe have a new goal. What bad plan could your character make? What obstacle will they meet?
Lesson 40
Five Fs: Flashback, Flaw, Fear, Failure, Funny 
You will brainstorm the characters' flaws, fears, failures and flashbacks in order to figure out what challenges they might face. You will also think of what could be funny to provide some balance. 
Lesson 41
Bad Plans and Mistakes
After the twist, your character will make a bad plan or mistake and this will lead to more failures. Learn how to head down the failure path with your characters. 
Lesson 42
The Antagonist Threatens
At this point in your story, the antagonist becomes a bigger threat and this challenges your character to grow. Let's look at ways your antagonist can cause problems. 
Lesson 43
Internal Conflict and Character Development
Internal conflict happens when a character struggles with worries, fear, or insecurities. What are your charcters' worries, fear, or insecurities and how will you show this?
 Week 9
Lesson 44
Chapter/Plot Point Eight: Dilemmas
Things get worse for your hero and their allies. What bigger obstacle could they face? What will be their failure? 
What mistakes will they make?

Lesson 45
Dilemmas and Hard Choices
Dilemmas are when a character has two hard choices. What hard dilemma can your character face?
Lesson 46
Using Colors for Mood
Colors are important because our world has colors and the colors you choose can reflect the mood. Start your chapter with description and include colors in that description. Examples from Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper and Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. 
Lesson 47
Putting Love on the Line
Look at what and who they love. Learn how to show this love and then get the reader worried about them. 
Lesson 48
Fear and Needs
What is your character’s biggest fear? What is their biggest need? How can the fear and the need cause problems?
 Week 10
Lesson 49
Write Chapter Nine/Plot Point Nine: All is Lost
You've reached the all-is-lost moment at the end of third quarter of your book. Your character will feel like they’ve lost everything. They could be trapped, hungry, desperate, alone. What is a terrible thing that could stop your character? Who will help them at their lowest point?
Lesson 50
The All is Lost Chapter
Think of every way to challenge your character in this chapter so that they grow enough to meet the big challenge of the book and get what they really want. 
Lesson 51
A Physical Challenge
In the all-is-lost moment, your character is not only sad or terrified, but they are also thirsty or hungry or they have a broken arm or they’re stuck under a house with spiders crawling on them. What is a physical challenge for your character?
Lesson 52
Descriptions & Emotions
Your hero is at their low point now. How can your descriptions match their emotions?
Lesson 53
Reveals
How can you use reveals to make things worse?
Unit 5The Fourth Quarter or Act of Your Book: 
Your Ending and the Climax
15 lessons3 Weeks
The Fourth Quarter or Act of Your Book: 
Your Ending and the Climax
 Week 11
Lesson 54
Write Chapter Ten or Plot Point Ten
Your character will rise up, ready to get what they want. What will be the final challenge of the climax?
Lesson 55
Recovery and Preparation
This week, your character will recover from their sadness or all-is-lost moment and prepare for the climax, gathering allies and supplies and forming a good plan. Brainstorm how they'll do this. 
Lesson 56
Use Powerful Verbs
Verbs are the action words in a sentence. Learn how to make your book more exciting with stronger action words. Examples from Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan. 
Lesson 57
Character Arcs
Remember to show all the characters growing and changing as you write. In this lesson, you'll learn how to show the changes.
Lesson 58
Power of a Long Sentence
A very long sentence can be an effective way to show emotions. See examples in The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. 
 Week 12
Lesson 59
Write Chapter Eleven or Plot Point Eleven: The Climax or Final Battle
Plan the final climax or battle scene. 
Lesson 60
Planning The Climax 
Think of an exciting setting for the climax and ending. Then, answer the questions to brainstorm this key scene. 
Lesson 61
Sense of Touch
 
Learn how to show us what the character feels with their hands, feet, and the rest of their body. This is an action scene: give us their physical experience. Examples from Lord of the Flies by William Golding. 
Lesson 62
Short Sentences and Fragments
Aim for shorter sentences and sentence fragments for an action scene. See examples and learn how to do this in your own writing. 
Lesson 63
Crowd and Action Scenes
In your climax, you’ll likely have a crowd or action scene. Remember to write from the character’s body and show their perspective. 
 Week 13
Lesson 64
Write Chapter Twelve or Plot Point Twelve: The End
 How will you end your book? 
Lesson 65
The Reaction to the Climax and the Downside
Everyone reacts differently to big events. Show all of the reactions. Also, consider whether there is a downside to the climax's result. 
Lesson 66
Repetition for Emotions
Repeating a word or phrase within a sentence can create a powerful effect.  See examples in books like A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle.
Lesson 67
Emotions and Description in the Ending
The ending is your chance to show how all the characters will react to what just happened, especially your main character. What are their thoughts? How do they feel? What do they do now? How do they see the world differently? 
Lesson 68
Character Growth
Your hero’s growth is the key element that makes a story satisfying in the end. Show their thoughts. How has their thinking changed? How do they see their world differently? How do their actions reflect that change? 
Unit 6Editing and Publishing Your Book
6 lessons1 Week
Editing and Publishing Your Book
 Week 14
Lesson 69
Big Picture Editing
How can you make your book better? You will be thinking about the story and characters. We'll be focusing on chapter beginnings and endings. 
Lesson 70
Punctuation and Line Editing
Now, you’re at the next step of editing your book. You’re improving individual lines, adding details, and checking to ensure it flows. Follow the steps to strengthen individual sentences. 
Lesson 71
Formatting
Here are ten easy steps to format your book on Google Docs so that it’s ready to be printed or published. 
Lesson 72
Printing Your Book
Should you print or publish your book, and what is the difference? I suggest all of my students print it first on Lulu.com and then decide if they want to publish it. 
Lesson 73
Publishing Your Book on Amazon.com
How can you publish your book on Amazon.com?
Lesson 74
Congratulations! What's Next?
In this lesson, I answer any common final questions.