(Live Classes Begin February 2026)
Zoom Into Fiction is a live, monthly writing class designed to help you craft novels readers fall in love with — from unforgettable characters to page-turning plots.
In each session, bestselling author and writing coach Janice Thompson walks you through the core elements of powerful storytelling, including characterization, point of view, backstory, genre, plot, voice, tension, and emotional impact. Using her signature teaching tools — like Pandora’s Box Characters, the Four Personalities, and Plot Shots — you’ll learn how to create stories that feel alive, cohesive, and impossible to put down.
Whether you’re starting a brand-new book or stuck halfway through one, Zoom Into Fiction gives you clear direction, creative confidence, and a supportive place to grow as a storyteller. You won’t just write more… you’ll write better.
Zoom into Fiction: Monthly Workshop Topics
FEBRUARY 2026: Fall in Love with Your Characters Again: Create unforgettable characters that drive your entire story. In this workshop, you’ll learn Janice’s Pandora’s Box method for building layered, emotionally rich characters that feel real on the page and irresistible to readers.
- Purchase the Workshop: $25
- Full 2026 Pass (11 Classes): $250
MARCH 2026: The Four Personalities – Building a Cast That Sparks Conflict: Discover how personality types shape dialogue, relationships, and story tension. This session shows you how to design characters who naturally clash, connect, and keep readers engaged.
- Purchase the Workshop: $25
- Full 2026 Pass (11 Classes): $250
APRIL 2026: Backstory That Shapes the Plot: Learn how to use your characters’ pasts to fuel present-day decisions and conflict. We’ll explore how to reveal backstory in powerful, subtle ways that deepen emotion without slowing your story.
- Purchase the Workshop: $25
- Full 2026 Pass (11 Classes): $250
MAY 2026: POV, Intimacy, and Reader Trust: Point of view determines how close readers feel to your characters. This workshop covers choosing the right POV, maintaining consistency, and creating an emotional connection that keeps readers turning pages.
- Purchase the Workshop: $25
- Full 2026 Pass (11 Classes): $250
JUNE 2026: Genre Truth – Writing the Book Readers Are Looking For: Understand what your genre promises and how to deliver it. You’ll learn how to align your story with reader expectations while still writing with creativity and heart.
- Purchase the Workshop: $25
- Full 2026 Pass (11 Classes): $250
JULY 2026: Theme, Style, and Finding Your Author Voice: Discover what makes your writing uniquely yours. This session explores theme, tone, and storytelling style so your books feel cohesive, meaningful, and unmistakably “you.”
- Purchase the Workshop: $25
- Full 2026 Pass (11 Classes): $250
AUGUST 2026: Plot Shots – Your 12-Step Story Framework: Bring your story together with Janice’s signature Plot Shots method. You’ll learn how to structure your novel from beginning to end, avoid sagging middles, and move confidently toward a finished manuscript.
- Purchase the Workshop: $25
- Full 2026 Pass (11 Classes): $250
SEPTEMBER 2026: Scenes That Work – Tension, Emotion, and Momentum: Learn how to write scenes that pull readers deeper into the story. This workshop covers pacing, conflict, emotional beats, and how to make every scene matter.
- Purchase the Workshop: $25
- Full 2026 Pass (11 Classes): $250
OCTOBER 2026: Mystery, Suspense, and Raising the Stakes: Whether you write mysteries or not, every story needs tension. This class teaches you how to use secrets, clues, reversals, and suspense to keep readers hooked.
- Purchase the Workshop: $25
- Full 2026 Pass (11 Classes): $250
NOVEMBER 2026: Humor, Heart, and Emotional Payoff: Learn how to weave humor, warmth, and meaningful moments into your story. You’ll discover how emotional resonance turns readers into fans.
- Purchase the Workshop: $25
- Full 2026 Pass (11 Classes): $250
DECEMBER 2026: Common Fiction Mistakes That Sink Great Stories: Identify and fix the issues that quietly weaken otherwise good books. This workshop helps you spot problems in plot, character, and pacing so you can strengthen your manuscript before moving toward publication.
- Purchase the Workshop: $25
- Full 2026 Pass (11 Classes): $250