About the Course
If you're a fan of CeCe's live courses, we have good news and bad news... The bad news: CeCe is retiring Hacking Writing on a Line Level. The good news: there's still time to sign up for the last live edition of this popular course! This course offers writers an invaluable toolkit they can apply to their own writing. Expect hundreds of slides with actionable techniques on a word level, sentence-level, paragraph-level, scene-level, big-picture level, and more. We'll tackle dialogue, figures of speech, balancing storytelling elements (such as backstory and present-day action) and more. Oh, and that little thing called VOICE that makes readers fall in love with a story? We're covering that in a way you've never seen before. We'll deliver tips and tricks, dos and don'ts, common mistakes, and more. And, as always, it will be jam-packed with real-world examples of writing that works — and writing that doesn’t. But that's not all... We're introducing an optional interactive component open to all students: THE LINE-LEVEL LADDER. Students will be invited to submit the first 3,000 words of their project. These pages will get sorted into one of four categories designed to give students a sense of how the quality of their writing on a line level measures up against the publishing industry's high standards. If you've ever wondered "How does my writing on a line level compare with that of other writers'?" then THIS is the course you've been waiting for! Dates: December 7, 10, 14, 17, and 21, at 7pm ET. The first four sessions will focus on craft and the last day will be dedicated to a cozy Q&A session. Can’t make the live dates? No problem! Recordings of all five sessions will be available to students for 90 days, so you can watch — or rewatch — the classes at your own pace. We’ll make every effort to keep each live session to approximately two hours. That said, CeCe’s courses are known for being packed with actionable, in-depth content, so some sessions may run longer. The course materials include accompanying PDFs. Writers of all categories and genres are invited to attend. We reserve the right to reschedule or reorder classes/sessions due to unforeseen circumstances. If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected]
The Line-Level Ladder
Be honest: do you know how the quality of YOUR writing on a line level compares against that of other writers? You know publishing is competitive. You know there are more writers than book deals. And you know strong writing on a line level is important to stand out. But do you know where YOU stand? How good YOU are? For years, students have been asking CeCe's opinion on where they stand. And for the final live edition of this course, she's going to honor that request. She's going to tell you. Privately, of course. Here's how it'll work: Every student will have the option to submit the first 3,000 words of their project (fiction or nonfiction) by December 7, the first day of the course. Query letters are optional, but students will have to include their genre and they will be encouraged to include comps. All submissions will be reviewed and sorted into one of four categories: - Contender Congratulations! You are ready to compete at the level expected by the traditional publishing industry. Your writing on a line level shines—it's filled with rhythm, style, and personality. Your authorial voice is seductive and strong. Your writing evokes mood, emotion, and imagery at the highest level. If you are looking for an agent, you are ready to query. If you are already agented and/or already have a book deal, then we are not surprised. The quality of your writing on a line level is so impressive! - In training, high potential Your writing on a line level shows great promise, but it's still not as polished as it needs to be to truly stand out. Most writers who fall into this bucket write in a way that is considered to be technically proficient, but their authorial voice isn't quite there... yet. Focus on infusing your sentences with rhythm and style. Blandness is the enemy. You may also benefit from tightening your prose and mixing up the variety of sentence constructions. You are almost there. Keep practicing, but know that you are close. - In training Your writing on a line level needs further developing. Most writers in this category are missing voice—their prose often reads as generic. But there is foundational work needed on a micro and macro level. It may be a good idea to elevate your word choices—we recommend beginning with verbs. Watch out for unintentional repetition that could read as distracting and/or jarring. When editing, you may need to cut as much as you may need to add. Don't despair: every strong writer has been here. Instead, welcome the challenge to elevate your writing. Above all, read, read, read. Every strong writer is an avid reader. - Training wheels You are a beginner. If you were riding a bicycle you would still need training wheels. There's no shame in needing training wheels—all writers have used them. Above all, read voraciously because every strong writer got their foundation from the books they've enjoyed. Study books like it's your job (because it is). You may choose to also write as you read with intention, but dedicate most of your time and energy to studying stories because that is how you will develop your palate. Only the individual writer will find out which category they were sorted into. They may choose to disclose this information with their classmates or to keep this information private. It is entirely up to each writer. Students will know the percentage breakdown of the entire class, i.e., what percentage fell into categories 1–4. Students will receive their Line-Level Ladder placement only. No additional written notes, comments, edits, explanations, or individualized feedback will be provided. We reserve the right to change the sorting categories as long as the spirit of the interactive component is preserved. Please note that this submission does NOT constitute a query to a literary agent—it is a submission to an educational course. You are NOT querying CeCe by submitting to this course.
Meet CeCe
CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates and co-host of the popular podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing. CeCe draws on years of publishing experience to help writers develop compelling hooks, sharpen their craft, and position their stories for succes
Curriculum
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What to expect from the course
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The Line-Level Ladder
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Instructions
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Student Testimonials
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CeCe's courses are phenomenal! I have taken every single one of them at least once, most of them twice, and I will keep taking them as long as she teaches them. Not only is she an exceptional and engaging teacher but every minute of her courses is jam-packed with invaluable information. I recommend them to every writer I know!
Boston, MA
As an agented kidlit writer, I’ve taken numerous online writing workshops and courses over the years, but CeCe's are absolutely at the top of the list. Three courses in, I remain amazed by her generosity and knowledge.
Columbus, OH
I've signed up for more writing courses than I can safely share without feeling bad about my finances. Hands down, Cece's courses are the best ones out there. The content is so incredible that it's borderline overwhelming – you'll feel your brain swelling and about to explode in the best possible sense. Regardless of the genre you're writing in, I recommend you learn with Cece. I teach storytelling for a living, and the first thing I tell my mentees is: go follow Cece and take one of her courses. My favourite so far has been Hacking Writing on a Line Level – it's just mind-blowingly superb with heaps of practical tips. Writing Emotion and Writing Tension will 100% transform your novel and will even make you read books with a different (more critical) mindset.
Perth, Western Australia
As an editor, writer, learning junkie, and director of online education, I’ve observed hundreds of lectures. Nothing, and I mean nothing, compares to CeCe’s webinars. She’s crafted them to provide as much publishing insights as a semester-long course. Simply invaluable!
Senior Executive Pipeline Media Group, former Senior Editor Writer’s Digest
Cece is an incredibly thorough and generous teacher. With theory, formulas, and plenty of interaction, her course had everything I wanted and more to take my writing to the next level. If you’re serious about your craft, sign up with eyes closed!
Marseille, France
I have an MA in writing, yet I have never been enrolled in a class that provides as much in-depth, detailed, and specific insight into the craft as CeCe’s courses do. CeCe not only provides proven formulas and checklists but offers plenty of real-life examples from bestselling works and inspiring and honest insight into traditional publishing. I have taken several of her classes and each one has elevated me as a writer, editor, storyteller, and reader.
Ontario, Canada
Refund Policy
Since the course has limited seating/availability (as well as other peculiarities, such as preparatory work required), we are unable to offer refunds. All sales are final. By enrolling, you acknowledge and agree to this policy.
Scholarship & Financial Access
We care deeply about supporting writers who are truly ready to do the work—but for whom finances might otherwise stand in the way. For that reason, we offer a select number of scholarships for our courses. These scholarships are intended for writers who are experiencing real financial constraints and who feel a genuine, timely pull toward the course—writers who plan to show up, engage fully, and see the work through. HOW SCHOLARSHIPS WORK • Availability varies by course and enrollment period • Scholarships are not guaranteed WHO SHOULD APPLY We welcome applications from writers who: • Are navigating genuine financial challenges • Feel this course would meaningfully support them at this point in their writing life • Intend to participate actively and complete the program If you’re able to enroll at the standard rate, we kindly ask that you leave scholarship consideration for those who truly need it. We’re a very small team, and because we approach this process with care and integrity, each request requires time and thoughtful review. HOW TO REQUEST CONSIDERATION If you’d like to be considered for a scholarship, please email the following address no later than November 13th: [email protected] Please include: • The course you’re applying for • A short note on why this course feels important to you right now We do not expect your note to include information on your current financial circumstances as we understand that this is a delicate subject. If you would prefer to share those details, please feel free (we would never censor writers), but kindly note that it is not expected. The deadline to submit scholarship requests for Hacking Writing on a Line Level is November 13th. Requests are reviewed on a rolling basis, subject to availability. While we’re not able to accommodate every request, each one is read carefully and considered with respect. We’ll let you know that your request was received, but only those chosen for a scholarship will hear back regarding the outcome.
Ready to take your writing to the next level?
Join the course today!
$299.00