You’ve written the pages. Maybe lots of them. Maybe you’ve even sent your work out into the world.

And yet—something isn’t catching fire the way you hoped.

What separates stories that work from stories that truly ignite?

Published writers don’t rely on talent alone. They use specific techniques—practical, repeatable methods—to build characters who feel alive and plots that move with purpose. On April 25, 2026 (10:00 AM–4:00 PM), award-winning writer and editor James Patrick Kelly will pull back the curtain and share the craft tools he’s refined over decades of professional storytelling.

This intensive masterclass focuses on the two foundations every story stands on: character and plot—and how they drive each other forward.

What You’ll Learn:

Morning Session: Character

• How to build characters who feel human, complex, and emotionally compelling
• Techniques for creating protagonists and supporting characters who belong organically in the story world
• How character desire, fear, and choice generate narrative momentum

Afternoon Session: Plot

• How plot emerges naturally from character trouble and complication
• Structuring a story from a strong opening hook through a purposeful middle to a satisfying ending
• Diagnosing sagging scenes, stalled middles, and endings that don’t land

What You’ll Walk Away With

• Clear, usable strategies for strengthening characters and plot immediately
• Tools to revise with confidence, not guesswork
• A deeper understanding of why stories stall—and how to fix them
• Two of Jim’s craft essays on character and plot, emailed in advance so you arrive grounded and ready to work
  • You and Your Characters first published in WRITING SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY, ed by Gardner Dozois, St. Martins Press, 199, and
  • The Three Laws of Great Endings first published in POCKET WORKSHOP, ed by Tod McCoy and M. HUW Evens, Hydra Press, 2021
• A shared vocabulary and framework you can apply to every future project

Masterclass Details:

• Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
• Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm, includes continental breakfast and lunch from Popovers in Epping.
• Location: Southern NH University – location/directions will be emailed to participants 1-2 days prior to the event.
• Cost: $225.00 for Members/$275.00 for Non-Members
• To Register: https://nhwp.app.neoncrm.com/event.jsp?event=2354&

About the Instructor
James Patrick Kelly has won the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Awards and published over a hundred stories translated into eighteen languages. His work includes The Promise of Space, Mother Go (Audible Original), and King of the Dogs, Queen of the Cats. He is a longtime columnist for Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine and recently retired after 15 years on the faculty of the Stonecoast Creative Writing MFA Program at the University of Southern Maine. He is also co-editor of multiple landmark science fiction anthologies.

If you’re serious about leveling up your storytelling—and want insight from someone who has spent a lifetime mastering and teaching the craft—this is a day you won’t want to miss.

What Past Participants Are Saying:
“James Patrick Kelly loves what he does and does it with the skill that comes from years of dedication to his craft. His teaching, like his stories, gets straight to the crux of the story, his or yours: what’s happening, why, and why does it matter. He respects the quest to tell a good story and is generous in his support of those who engaged in it. He knows how to get over, around, and through challenges. He brings out the best in us, always. His enthusiasm is contagious.” — Rebecca Rule, humorist, speaker and author

“James Patrick Kelly is not only an accomplished, award-winning author but also an excellent teacher who offers clear and immediately helpful tips and strategies for your writing. I still use Jim’s advice about the necessary information to communicate in the first paragraphs of your story, as well as his insights on story structure and momentum, that I learned from his NHWP classes and Boskone panels. Jim is also a great one-on-one communicator who can give invaluable feedback on your individual project. Don’t miss out on what he has to say! — Jeff Deck, author of The Shadow Over Portsmouth series and The Great Typo Hunt

“Jim Kelly is an insightful and engaging instructor whose wealth of knowledge can help any student hone their skills in fiction. His attention to detail and ability to unpack the elements of the craft opened up new potential in my work. Highly recommended!” — Elaine Isaak, author of adventure novels

“James Patrick Kelly, self-described as the most famous science-fiction writer you’ve never heard of, is a born teacher and mentor. Even a casual conversation with him is a master class in genre and craft.” — R.W.W. Greene, Science-Fiction Writer, Recovering Journalist and Teacher

“Back in 2022, when my query letters went unanswered, I turned to James Patrick Kelly for the unvarnished truth-telling I needed. “Your query sounds like a history book,” he said, “But you wrote a novel!” Jim pushed me to remember that novels are, above all, stories about people: their passions, their flaws, their relationships, their triumphs. Yes, the time period, the setting, and myriad other details matter – but we read novels because we’re curious about people. Jim’s words came back to me, again and again, as I revised and resubmitted my manuscript dozens of times, over the next three years. Now, I’m a traditionally published author of the historical novel, “The Shopkeeper of Alsace,” which is selling well. Writers sometimes need tough love, and Jim gave it to me. I’m forever grateful.” — Laura Knoy, Author, Speaker, Moderator, Award-Winning Journalist