I work with evolving novelists, whose ultimate goal is publication, or, if already published, wider acclaim and success.
My story - I learned to write fiction the hardest possible way, by myself, not
trusting anyone, putting myself through years of needless trial and error. Ironically,
though I attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop and worked with legendary authors Kurt
Vonnegut and Nelson Algren, I couldn't learn from them. I was stubborn. I resisted what
they knew and did it my way instead. I can tell you now, forty years down the road, this
is not to be recommended.
The good news - You can profit by my tough experience. What held me back and delayed my development as a writer made me go after, on my own, the knowledge and skills with which I became a published novelist–and I can fast-track these skills to you. What I can do, as Vonnegut used to say, is save you time.
"Bill Henderson is a nationally recognized novelist, an extremely popular teacher and workshop leader, and a very fine writer. He's a peerless stylist, patient and sensible, and not on an ego trip. You can trust him to give a careful reading and honest, helpful feedback. Bill fills a great need in the writing community."
Lee Smith, author, On Agate Hil
What's your story? Are you young, middle-aged, elderly? Do you have a full time job or a young, demanding family? Are you unable to make the commitment to an M.F.A. Program?
Maybe you're an experienced author finding it difficult to place your latest manuscript. Or a promising beginner, needing some help to move your skills up a notch. You may live in New York City, London, or the mountains of Montana. No matter who you are, where you are, or what obstacles you face, we can work together to achieve your goals.
"Working with Bill Henderson improved not only the mechanics of my writing, but also my ability to see the big picture. If you're looking for a winning writing coach, Bill is the man."
Pamela Duncan, author, The Big Beautiful
I was "uncoachable" and it hobbled me in the early years of my writing career. Knowing all the ways you can go wrong, I can help you cut a straight path through the style problems, retro writing habits, and false career assumptions that afflicted me. I can point you toward the most dynamic fiction models, works whose positive force invariably takes a story to its most successful conclusion. I can help you maximize your career time and progress by accelerating your personal learning process.
Working one-on-one with me, you'll learn skills in six weeks that would take you six months to acquire in the average MFA Program.
"Bill helped make the whole overwhelming process seem doable – with concrete suggestions for ways to further plot and story development and lots of good questions to keep the creative ball rolling."
Virginia Boyd, author, One Fell Swoop
Here's what I propose: Let me teach you quickly what it took me decades to grasp, the bases you must touch, the elements you need to know to write successfuly–any genre–in todays publishing environment, the most challenging that fiction has ever seen. If you follow my plan, and don't feel you've gained from it what I promised you would... I'll gladly refund every cent you've paid me.
"Bill is smart, generous, funny, encouraging, honest, and yet respectful--all crucial characteristics which make him an effective coach."
Darnell Arnoult, author, Sufficient Grace
• For information about upcoming workshops, please see my Workshops page.
• For private sessions, please see my Coaching page and give me a call (919) 619-6805 or email me at: bill@billhendersononline.com
• If you'd like a closer look at my work, I invite you to follow the links on this page to excerpts from my work, both fiction and nonfiction.
• For a dose of my thinking on a broad range of fiction writing
issues, try my daily posts on Write a Better Novel.
