Crafting Compelling Nonfiction

Live attendance is not required: enrollees can watch the recording at any time after the workshop!

Many writers are surprised to learn that just like the best fiction, the best nonfiction has a carefully-crafted structure that tells a story.

Whether you’re writing memoir, prescriptive nonfiction, or some other creative nonfiction, giving your readers just enough expository information to entice and intrigue them is a critical part of crafting prose that keeps them turning the page.

Join author and editor Jennifer Silva Redmond as she shows you exactly how to construct these kinds of compelling story structures to architect a piece of nonfiction that compels your readers onward. You’ll explore the ways expert writers shape their pieces — with clear examples of good and bad prose from popular works — and discover how to most effectively reveal what you want to share.

Creating gripping nonfiction is more than just writing down research — it’s a careful craft that can be learned and praticed. And Jennifer is here to teach you!

Zoom schedule

Everyone enrolled in this webinar will receive a copy of the recording afterwards, so you can review it later in case you missed it.

• Saturday May 11, 2024 1:00pm US Central time — 2 hours

How this workshop works

This workshop is a live Zoom webinar. Sign in from anywhere in the world and participate live as the instructor conducts the workshop, with time for Q&A at the end.

Student praise for Jennifer Silva Redmond

I knew, from attending Ms. Redmond’s workshops, that she had a gift for discerning not just the meat of a storyline, but the bones of it as well. Still, I can’t believe how strong my story was after her input. She helped me bring the theme into focus, which was exactly what I needed. I can’t thank her enough, and will certainly be using her services again.

—Gayle Carline, author of multiple series and From the Horse’s Mouth: One Lucky Memoir

Can’t remember the last time I received editing notes that helped me as much as yours, with such clarity. BTW, not only did you show me great streamlining options, but you also helped me notice patterns in my writing so that I could nd yet more big cuts on my own. It’s already such a better book! So grateful I found you. Thanks a million.

—Cara Lopez Lee, Candlelight Bridge (Spring 2024)

In word and deed, Jennifer embodies the concept that an editor’s job is to enhance the writer’s work and honor their intent. Her editing of both of my novels highlighted her keen story sense and delicate feel for pacing. What a joy it was for me to work with an editor whose only goal was to make my work shine. Despite being set in a story world—professional aviation—that was new to her, Jennifer’s comments and suggestions were sharp and precise. I’d also like to highlight her professionalism—deadlines were scrupulously met. I cannot imagine putting my name on the cover of a book unless Jennifer has edited it.

—Robin “R. D.” Kardon, bestselling author of Flygirl and Angel Flight

By working with Jennifer, your manuscript will become the book you hope it to be. My novel, The Last Getaway, would not have became an IBPA Award winner without her guidance. She is precise, insightful, and kind. A talented editor, with a true sense of plot, pacing, and tone. I continue to turn to her with each new book and highly recommend you get in line with me.

—Clay Savage, author of the award-winning novel The Last Getaway

Jennifer brought her considerable story-editing expertise to the project and showed me very specically how—and where—to cut the 502-page manuscript, to make it better. At Huckleberry House, our books represent our brand, and the results speak for themselves: the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Gold Award for Popular Fiction, the San Diego Book Award Gold Medal for Contemporary Fiction, and the Readers’ Favorite Book Award Silver Medal for Literary Fiction. With this book, my career as a writer was forever changed. I credit Jennifer for The Dining Car’s considerable success.

—Eric Peterson, author of the award-winning novel The Dining Car

The edited manuscript reads and feels like my writing, but better. With the exception of about six changes, I can’t tell the di erence between what I wrote and what you xed. Now that I know I love everything you did, I’m going to go through the line edits one at a time and try to learn why it’s so much better.

— Oz Monroe, author of the (multiple) award-winning debut novel Soil-Man

Jennifer Silva Redmond is a wonderful editor and writing coach. Her editing approach is highly professional and multi-layered. First, her keen eye noticed the highlights of my manuscript and pinpointed the areas for improvement in plot, character, and style. Experienced at her craft, she guided my story in a clear, progressive direction, while making insightful suggestions that ultimately enhanced the narrator’s voice and overall story. Aside from all the editing nuts and bolts, she was supportive and encouraging throughout the entire writing process. If you are serious about improving your craft, growing as a writer, and publishing quality work, I highly recommend Jennifer’s editing services!

—Dominic Carrillo, author of the acclaimed, award-winning YA novels The Unusual Suspects and The Improbable Rise of Paco Jones

Thank you, Jennifer, for your vision and skill in editing my book into a beautifully sculpted story. Your ability to intuit what the story needed was just amazing to me. It doesn’t hurt that you’re a sailor and my story is about sailing, and for that speci c reason I feel even more blessed to have found you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

—Leslie Johansen Nack, author of the (multiple) award-winning Fourteen, A Daughter’s Memoir of Adventure, Sailing, and Survival

Questions about this class?

We’re happy to answer any questions you might have!

• Contact us and a real person will get back to you ASAP.

About Jennifer Silva Redmond

Jennifer Silva Redmond is the author of Honeymoon at Sea: How I Found Myself Living on a Small Boat (Sept 2023, Re:books, Toronto) and a freelance editor. Her essays, articles, and fiction have been published in numerous anthologies and magazines, and on sites such as Brevity. On the staff of the Southern California Writers’ Conference and San Diego Writers, Ink, she was the prose editor for A Year in Ink, vol 3, and founded the critically acclaimed Sea of Cortez Review.

Formerly editor-in-chief of Sunbelt Publications of San Diego, Jennifer is now their editor-at-large. Her book reviews and blog posts about writing, editing, and the sailing life can be found at www.jennyredbug.com or on her Substack newsletter. She lives with her husband Russel, an artist and teacher, aboard their sailboat Watchfire, somewhere on the West Coast of North America.

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