Telling Your Story

Do you have a great idea for a novel, but just can’t seem to get it going?

Maybe you’ve started strong, but are finding that you’re getting lost on the way to your killer ending.

Or you’ve written a first draft, and just can’t figure out what your story needs to make it perfect.

I can help. Whether you’re interested in learning the basics of storytelling or editing your manuscript for submission, I have the experience, skill, and market savvy that will enable you to reach the next level of the creative process.

I am the author of nine novels and two books of non-fiction. My work has been published internationally and made into three acclaimed feature films. I have taught in numerous creative writing programs, including the University of Montana, Washington University (St. Louis), Smith College, and the Holden School in Turin, Italy. I have also published literary criticism widely in both the U.S.A and the U.K.

My students have gone on to publish books I have helped them with at major houses, including Knopf, Doubleday, Gallimard, and Planeta. One of them, Abigail Assor, won the Françoise Sagan Prize and was shortlisted for the Goncourt Prize for Debut Novel for As Rich as the King.  Another, Juan Rivera Arroyo, won the prestigious Mario Vargas Llosa award in 2020.

My technique is to work one-on-one with authors, discovering their ambitions and their unique voices. After taking a snapshot of where they are in the creative process, I focus on their strengths and weaknesses as I help them develop the skills necessary to bring that initial inspiration to fruition. As a teacher, I have learned to strike a balance between enthusiasm and patience, detailed criticism and steady encouragement. As an editor, I know how to untangle narrative knots and clarify cloudy prose in order to make for the purest and most powerful story a writer can achieve. Experience has taught me that writing well is more a matter of hard work than inspiration, and that unsuccessful writing is usually the product of bad habits and wrong turns that can be corrected with the proper guidance. As a writer who has published eleven books in nineteen countries, I am also familiar enough with the publishing process to help writers craft the sort of query letter that will catch the eye of agents and publishers.

​Testimonials

“Stephen Amidon was the kind of teacher every writer hopes to find. Writing is something we ultimately do for ourselves, but sometimes we are also the thing standing in our own way; he had a rare gift for helping us take that terrifying plunge within ourselves and bring the story out in full force. He sharpened our sense of rhythm, plot, and pace while creating workshops that were dynamic, generous, and deeply engaging. I look back on them with enormous gratitude and fondness.”   Valentina, Bogota, Colombia.

“Stephen Amidon is an excellent teacher and guide. I am writing my second book, and I have found him to be very encouraging and knowledgeable during this process. I recommend him highly.”  Martha, Massachusetts.

“Stephen works magic as a storytelling teacher thanks to his all-around experiences as an author and his magnetic energy. He inspires, illuminates, and motivates with awesome efficiency.  His insight is transformative.”  Olga, Rome.
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