News

“Unlock Your Novel’s Plot” Two-Hour Intensive Returns

Learn the fundamentals of character and plot structure, and lay the groundwork for a complete and satisfying novel.

Weds., Oct. 23, 2024
Online: 7:30pm-9:30pm, EST
$75

You have an idea for a novel, but you don’t know where to start—or maybe you’ve started writing and stalled out, or completed a draft but don’t know how to revise. What drives a great work of fiction? How do you create a story strong enough to sustain a novel? And how do you write 70, 80, or 90,000 words?

This two-hour intensive class tackles the fundamentals of character and conflict; the elements of a satisfying narrative arc; and practical strategies for completing that first draft and beginning your second. Our time together will include presentations, guided writing, and discussion. In the end, you’ll leave with fresh ideas and concrete plans for your novel, as well as three worksheets to apply to this and future writing projects.

Enroll via the Writing Co-Lab.

Questions? Email me at sbf at stephaniefeldman.com.

New Story! “Bachelorettes on the Devil’s Dance Floor”

I’m thrilled that my newest story, “Bachelorettes on the Devil’s Dance Floor,” has entered the world between the pages of the September/October 2024 issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction. Jealous sisters, resentful besties, and reckless brides–and, of course, the devil (or is he?)–all in time for Halloween.

Read an excerpt and purchase at Asimov’s.

“The building has a rough stone façade, narrow smoke-gray windows, and brightly painted signs in several languages. The bachelorettes line up behind a crush of Asian tourists, each wearing a red lanyard.

“That bar has a shorter line,” Elle says, gesturing across the square. She’d like to get drunk as quickly as possible.

“But this bar’s authentic!” Bea argues. She wants them to remember, later—Bea planned the best trip, Bea found the best bar. She’s nearly forgotten that their attendance is an accident. A mistake, even.

“It’s for tourists,” a man says. It’s the man in the dark coat, the man with the dark eyes. 

His English is just barely molded by German. He smiles at Angie again, and this time she smiles back. “It’s not fit for a bride,” he says. “Wouldn’t you like to see the real Walpurgisnacht?”

Angie plays with the hem of her veil. She knows the plastic tiara and the sash printed “bride” in gold make her alluring—ripe but forbidden. She’s like a true spring maiden under the maypole. She plans to enjoy it.

“Yes,” Angie says.”

My StokerCon 2023 Schedule

 

I’m looking forward to my second StokerCon on June 15-18 in Pittsburgh. I’m participating in two events on Saturday:

9 am – Author Reading
with Sarah Read, Zachary Rosenberg, & Tamika Thompson

12pm – “Listening to the Voices in Your Head: Crafting Point of View”
with Douglas Ford, Ruthann Jagge,, Joseph Scipione, Catriona Ward, & Valerie B. Williams

Read the “The Getaway” Online

Weird Horror has posted my short story “The Getaway” (Issue #6) to read online.

silhouette of woman with shovel in doorway

“The person stood in the front yard, hunched over, their shoulder blades poked through their long scraggly hair. Strange that I missed it before, but they were oddly colorless—the whole image oddly colorless, like it was taken at twilight or before sunrise. I zoomed in and the image jumped to the porch swing, the black windows behind it, the big round clock beside the door. I dragged my finger on the screen, almost expecting the lawn to be empty—the figure just a glitch or my imagination.

But there they were.”

Read the story at Weird Horror.

Book Signings in April

Looking forward to celebrating the new Philadelphia Barnes & Noble and Independent Bookstore Day with Main Point Books. Come say hi!

Barnes & Noble Philadelphia Grand Reopening
Book Signing
Friday, April 14, 5-7pm
1708 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA

Independent Bookstore Day at Main Point Books
Book Signing
Saturday, April 29, noon-2pm
116 N. Wayne Ave, Wayne, PA

“Structure Your Novel” course is back

This June, I’m relaunching my four-week course on structuring the novel at the Writing Co-Lab.

This course—open to those who have yet to start writing, and those who are revising full-length drafts—uses readings, writing exercises, and outline workshops to help you write a detailed synopsis for your work-in-progress.

Four Wednesdays, June 7-28
Online: 8:30-10pm, EST
$250

Read more details and register at the Writing Co-Lab.

Questions? Email me at sbf at stephaniefeldman.com.

“The Getaway” in Weird Horror #6

I calculated our reunion was

In March 2022, Weird Horror published its sixth issue, which includes my story “The Getaway.” It’s inspired by one of my favorite MR James stories, “The Mezzotint,” and captures some of the particular horror of the last couple years. Here’s a snippet:

Print and digital copies are available via the Weird Horror website.

“I calculated our reunion was low-risk—we had quarantined and tested, and if we did get sick, we probably wouldn’t die. Still, I was nervous, double-checking the address, reviewing the different routes, reloading the GPS results. The app showed a grayish, fuzzy photo of the house—taken, I figured, from one of those cars with a camera on top. Compared to the listing photo, the house appeared malnourished, infirm.

That’s when I saw the figure.”