Hosted by Crystal Lake Publisher and CEO Joe Mynhardt (with special guest to be announced, and awards to keep you motivated and on target) – link
Turn a rough idea into something submission-ready—with a complete pre-recorded craft curriculum, small-group live coaching, and the option to have your story personally edited by Joe.
You don’t need a finished draft to join. A few ideas, or even just one rough concept, is all you need to start. Joe will help you shape it from there.
Running throughout September, 2026.
Here’s What’s Included:
10 Pre-Recorded Video Lessons
Work through the full curriculum at your own pace, available the moment the workshop opens. Watch, pause, rewatch—no need to be online at a set time to get the full course.
- Story Goal, Theme, Structure, and Tone: find the heart of your story
- Formatting & Story Structure: fix pacing issues, get your formatting right, and clean up scene transitions
- Dialogue That Flows: make your characters sound real, cut filler, and learn how great dialogue drives story
- Sentence-Level Craft: strengthen sentence-level writing, remove distractions, and enhance readability
- Public Reading & Performance Tips: learn how to read your story aloud with impact, for panels, podcasts, or live events
- The Dreaded Ending: how to land it
- Editing Your Own Work: the tools and mindset for self-editing before you submit
Bonus Lessons:
- How to research markets that align with your story’s tone, genre, and theme
- Understanding that just because a market is open doesn’t mean it’s the right fit
- Tools and sites for submission tracking (Duotrope, Submission Grinder, and more)
- Red flags to avoid: predatory publishers, no-pay markets, and shady anthologies
- Tips for building a submission plan that works long-term
Small-Group Zoom Coaching
Every writer is placed into a group of 10, and Joe hosts one live Zoom session with your group—real-time feedback, accountability, and a chance to workshop your ideas directly with him and your fellow writers. Small groups mean real attention, not a crowd of 50 competing for airtime.
One Live Group Workshop with Special Guest to be announced
A live Zoom session with author (?), joining Joe to share their own perspective on short fiction craft. Replay available for anyone who can’t attend live.
Prizes for Standout Stories
The strongest stories to come out of this workshop will be recognized with real rewards:
- Publication consideration
- A full refund of your workshop fee as payment for publication
- Free access to Joe’s Mastermind for the rest of the year, for writers he sees real potential in
This isn’t a participation exercise—Joe is looking for the writers ready to go further, and these prizes are for the ones who show it.
This Workshop Is For:
- Writers with just an idea, a few ideas, or a rough draft they want to develop
- Anyone struggling with clarity, pacing, or reader impact
- Writers who want a complete, self-paced craft curriculum they can revisit any time
- Short story writers who want to break through to the next level
- Writers who want to become better at live readings on panels, podcasts, or live events
Want Joe to Personally Edit Your Story?
Upgrade your workshop for an additional $130 (check for the add-on in Checkout, or just follow this link and add it to your cart) and Joe will personally edit your short story — line-level craft feedback focused on pacing, flow, emotion, and word choice, in the same style he’s used to mentor authors published alongside Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Joe R. Lansdale.
Pricing:
- $50 — Full workshop: 10 pre-recorded lessons + bonus lessons + monthly small-group Zoom coaching + live session with guest speaker
- +$130 upgrade (check for the add-on in Checkout or just follow this link and add it to your cart) — Personal story edit from Joe Mynhardt