Creating a killer First Chapter is a unique online workshop conducted by Ray. Four workshoppers submit and share their first chapters. Over four weeks, with guidance by Ray and critique by workshoppers, the authors rewrite and polish their chapters to create maximum impact.

Crafting a Killer First Page This is a participatory workshop for conferences or other group sessions. Attendees submit the opening chapters of their novels, and, after a discussion of the necessary ingredients of a strong opening page, Ray leads the group in a critique of as many submitted samples as time allows, capping each critique with his own insights. In 2009, he helped writers at the Mendocino Coast and the Write on the Sound writers conferences.

Creating the Story Experience (for conferences or other group sessions) Coaching and writing exercises combining a technique called experiential description with action beats in dialogue. Writers work on turning description and speech into the experience of the story instead of simply writing a report of what happens.

Speaking Ray likes nothing better than talking about the craft of writing and storytelling, whether in lecture format or, even better, a workshop format. Contact Ray with your needs and budget.