Is This Right for Me?
Q: I write science fiction / fantasy / horror / weird fiction, so will these guides work for me?
The guides are built for speculative fiction. Science fiction, fantasy, and everything in between. The examples draw from across the spectrum, from Jemisin and Le Guin to Chambers and Ishiguro. If you’re building a world that doesn’t exist yet and filling it with characters who need to feel real, then yes, these guides are for you. Horror and weird fiction writers will find the character, worldbuilding, and voice material directly applicable, though the Battle Blueprint leans more toward action than dread.
Q: I’m a complete beginner. Will I be able to follow these?
Yes. Every guide is written to be accessible if you’ve never finished a story, but also useful if you’ve written several. The exercises start simple and build. If you’re brand new, I’d suggest starting with The Character Breakthrough. Characters are the foundation everything else sits on, and The Character Breakthrough will give you 6 to 8 scenes you can build a story around.
Q: I’ve been writing for years. Will I learn anything new?
Honestly? I like to think so, but I’d rather you judged for yourself. Each guide is built around specific frameworks and diagnostic tools rather than general advice. If you’ve been writing for a while you’ll likely find some sections confirm what you already know by instinct. Others may well reframe a problem you’ve been stuck on. The exercises are designed to generate usable material for your current project, so even the sections that feel familiar should produce something concrete and useful.
Q: Do I need to read the guides in a particular order?
No. Each guide is self-contained and tackles a different craft challenge. Pick the one that matches your biggest struggle right now. If you’re not sure where to start, the Start Here page points you in the right direction.
What You’re Getting
Q: What format are the guides in?
Each guide is delivered as an ePub download. You can read it on any e-reader, tablet, phone, or computer with an ePub-compatible app. You’ll receive a download link right after you purchase.
Q: How long are the guides?
They’re deliberately short. Each one is designed to be read in a single sitting, typically 30 to 60 pages, with practical exercises you can apply to your own work right away. I wanted guides you could read at breakfast and use on a scene by lunch, not textbooks that gather dust.
Q: Is there a discount if I buy all four guides?
Yes. There’s a bundle option that gives you all four guides at a reduced price. You’ll find it on the main shop page.
Q: What if a guide isn’t right for me?
Every guide comes with a money-back no quibble guarantee. If it’s not useful, I’d rather return your money than have you feel short-changed. I’m confident in what these guides deliver, but I also know not every resource fits every writer.
About Me
Q: Who are you, and why should I listen to you?
I’m Kevin Elliott. I’m the author of the speculative fiction novel Lightmaker and the short story collection Go When the Light Turns Red. I’ve spoken at WorldCon, FantasyCon, and EasterCon, and I’ve spent fifteen years working with SFF writers through workshops, critique groups, and one-on-one feedback. I’m also deep into Lightmaker‘s sequel right now, so I’m not teaching from the sidelines; I’m still in the battlefield and doing the work. There’s more on the About page if you’d like the longer version.
Q: Do you use AI to write your guides?
No. Every word in these guides is mine. I wrote them the slow way, from fifteen years of teaching and writing and getting things wrong. I do think AI tools have legitimate uses for writers, and that’s partly what AI-Proof Your Story is about, but the guides themselves are entirely human-written. Given what this site stands for, it felt important to do it that way.
That said, AI is a useful tool. I do use AI to generate a few initial ideas, and as a proof-reader. But the thinking and the experience behind the guides is all mine.
The Full Course
Q: What’s the full Writer’s Secret Toolkit course, and when is it coming?
The guides tackle specific craft challenges. The full course tackles everything. Characters, plot, worldbuilding, voice, dialogue, action, revision, and the business of getting your work into the world. It’s a complete, structured journey through the craft of speculative fiction, built for writers with a little experience who are ready to stop guessing and start writing with confidence. It’s coming soon. The best way to hear about it first is to join the mailing list.
Q: If I buy the guides now, will they overlap with the course?
The guides will complement the course, not duplicate it. Think of them as focused deep dives on specific problems — the course builds the complete picture around them. If you buy a guide now, you’ll arrive at the course with a head start on that topic, not with material you’ve already covered.