Hosted by Hearts Through History

USD Fee: $10 HHRW Members/$15 Non-Members

The post Hands Free Writing with Dictation and Voice-to-Text on May 16, 2026 11 AM (EST) [Zoom Workshop] appeared first on Hillary DePiano.

(You know because it’s… 6/7…)

I’ve gotten a ton of positive comments on this book and I’m so excited for it to finally be out there where everyone can read it! 

One of the big reasons I wanted to write this book was that I had never seen a “pantser friendly” guide to prepping a writing project that felt like what I personally needed and my hope is that this will really fill that niche for people who want to do a little prep work to make the drafting process easier without having to know the plot ahead of time.

Make Ready to Write

the ultimate writing prep guide for both plotters and discovery writers

This is it! It’s finally time to start that story you know you have inside you. But where do you begin?

Whether it’s a novel, script or even a non-fiction book, this is your ultimate guide to prepping a major writing project even if you’re an outline-allergic discovery writer.

From research and character development to story bible organization and prepping your life for the creative challenges ahead, this guide is full of simple, actionable steps you can take right now to make the drafting process easier even if you prefer to “pants” your way to the end. And if you are a plotter, you’ll find an overview on common story structures and character arcs to give you a roadmap for the narrative journey ahead.

There’s a long, hard campaign between now and when you type The End. But don’t despair! With the right plan of attack, you’ll be ready to fight your way through whatever this story throws at you and see this through to victory.

So strap in. Rally the troops. And get set to do this thing because it’s time to Make Ready to Write!

Coming June 7th in paperback and eBook!

Free copy, anyone? 

I have a limited number of digital ARC for readers willing to read the book and leave an honest review, but I’m limiting that offer to blog members for security so you need to login or sign up (free) to see the request form below. A free copy in exchange for a few minutes of your time helping me spread the word? You know you want it. 

Behind the scenes

This book was supposed to come out back in 2020 and then, of course, everything went to heck and it became This Whole Thing. Every time I picked it back up to try to get it out there, I took the psychological damage of having to re-enter my pre-pandemic headspace. 

What helped, though, was all these writing workshops I’ve been teaching. Meeting all of you in these classes who were so appreciative of my advice and eager for more lit a fire under me. I totally rewrote the whole thing earlier this year to dust off the lockdown stink and I think the result is better than ever. 

I hope you’ll love it!

The post Make Ready to Write is available for pre-order! appeared first on Hillary DePiano.

Making the most out of your author website, blog, mailing list, social media and more

Contemporary Romance Writers

April 1 – April 30

4-Week Online Workshop

You’re a real wizard with words but computer stuff? Not so much. Whether you’ve got a long neglected website or never really set up a proper web presence, author, e-commerce expert and big honkin’ nerd Hillary DePiano is here to show you easy ways to get more out of the tools you’ve already got… even if you’re not even remotely tech savvy. From marketing essentials like building a website to tips for turning blog readers and social media followers into lifetime fans, we’ll demystify the tech stuff and help take your writing career out of the dark ages!

This workshop is for CWR Members ONLY, but membership is $40 and will include both this and September 2026’s Unlock the Power of Action and Reaction (Understanding Scene and Sequel)

May 2026

May 16

May 16, 202611:00 am – 12:00 pm

Hands Free Writing with Dictation and Voice-to-Text

Hearts Through History,

Have you ever noticed that your best writing ideas always seem to come when you’re nowhere near a keyboard? Stuck in traffic, doing the dishes, folding the laundry… if only there was a way to write hands-free! Fortunately writing with voice-to-text has never been easier or more accessible. Writing with your voice can be faster[…]

$15

Find out More

June 2026

Jun 15

Jun 15, 2026All Day

MASTER CLASS: Lights, Camera, Novel! Script-Writing Secrets for Novelists

WriterUniv.com,

(limited to 25 people) Prerequisite: Must have a story idea you are interested in developing. Stories don’t only come from novels. We see them at the movies, on our TV screens, live on stage or in our favorite video games and comics. As novelists in the modern world, our competition for readers’ attention often isn’t[…]

Find out More

August 2026

Aug 03

Aug 03, 2026All Day

Advanced Self-Publishing

Hearts Through History,

Advanced Self-Publishing Aug 3- Aug 14, 2026 Hearts Through History [Forum Workshop] There’s never been a better or easier time to self-publish or be an indie author! But the market is crowded and there’s a big difference between doing it and doing it right! Author Hillary DePiano hasn’t just self-published over three dozen titles for[…]

Find out More

October 2026

Oct 10

Oct 10, 20262:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Save the Book: A Novel Approach to Writing Cinematically [Zoom Workshop]

Romance Writers Online,

Save the Book: A Novel Approach to Writing Cinematically Presenter: Hillary DePiano October 10, 2025 2 pm EST 90 minutes $15 (Free for RWO General Members) Unlock your creativity and conquer writer’s block in this Zoom workshop on using scriptwriting tricks to take your novel to the next level! Draw on techniques used in theatre,[…]

Find out More

The post Online Writing Workshop: Revitalize Your Author Platform at CRW on April 1 – April 30 appeared first on Hillary DePiano.

GSRW members FREE / non-members $25

10:30 – 11:30AM (Pacific Time) / 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm (EST)

May 2026

May 16

May 16, 202611:00 am – 12:00 pm

Hands Free Writing with Dictation and Voice-to-Text

Hearts Through History,

Have you ever noticed that your best writing ideas always seem to come when you’re nowhere near a keyboard? Stuck in traffic, doing the dishes, folding the laundry… if only there was a way to write hands-free! Fortunately writing with voice-to-text has never been easier or more accessible. Writing with your voice can be faster[…]

$15

Find out More

June 2026

Jun 15

Jun 15, 2026All Day

MASTER CLASS: Lights, Camera, Novel! Script-Writing Secrets for Novelists

WriterUniv.com,

(limited to 25 people) Prerequisite: Must have a story idea you are interested in developing. Stories don’t only come from novels. We see them at the movies, on our TV screens, live on stage or in our favorite video games and comics. As novelists in the modern world, our competition for readers’ attention often isn’t[…]

Find out More

August 2026

Aug 03

Aug 03, 2026All Day

Advanced Self-Publishing

Hearts Through History,

Advanced Self-Publishing Aug 3- Aug 14, 2026 Hearts Through History [Forum Workshop] There’s never been a better or easier time to self-publish or be an indie author! But the market is crowded and there’s a big difference between doing it and doing it right! Author Hillary DePiano hasn’t just self-published over three dozen titles for[…]

Find out More

October 2026

Oct 10

Oct 10, 20262:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Save the Book: A Novel Approach to Writing Cinematically [Zoom Workshop]

Romance Writers Online,

Save the Book: A Novel Approach to Writing Cinematically Presenter: Hillary DePiano October 10, 2025 2 pm EST 90 minutes $15 (Free for RWO General Members) Unlock your creativity and conquer writer’s block in this Zoom workshop on using scriptwriting tricks to take your novel to the next level! Draw on techniques used in theatre,[…]

Find out More

The post Setting Better Creative Goals [Zoom Writing Workshop] at GSRW on March 28 @ 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm EST appeared first on Hillary DePiano.

Beginner writers all suffer the same challenges: passive characters, uneven pacing, meandering plot and the dreaded “Happy People in Happyland.” Readers crave active protagonists, characters who chase their goals and drive the story forward with the choices they make in the face of adversity. Non-stop action can be just as boring as a story where nothing happens. Finding that balance between action and reaction is the key to writing a character driven story that’s full of delicious page turning tension.

In this workshop, we’ll delve into scene structure and how understanding the cause-and-effect trajectory of your character’s journey not only strengthens your novel’s conflict and internal story logic, but also means richer, more three-dimensional characters. Whether you’re a discovery writer letting your characters take the reins or hardcore plotter writing to narrative goalposts, you’ll find that understanding scene structure can be a key part of your prep process, the secret to better flashlight drafting, a gut check to guide your revision, or a tool for diagnosing story issues and beating writer’s block.

May 2026

May 16

May 16, 202611:00 am – 12:00 pm

Hands Free Writing with Dictation and Voice-to-Text

Hearts Through History,

Have you ever noticed that your best writing ideas always seem to come when you’re nowhere near a keyboard? Stuck in traffic, doing the dishes, folding the laundry… if only there was a way to write hands-free! Fortunately writing with voice-to-text has never been easier or more accessible. Writing with your voice can be faster[…]

$15

Find out More

June 2026

Jun 15

Jun 15, 2026All Day

MASTER CLASS: Lights, Camera, Novel! Script-Writing Secrets for Novelists

WriterUniv.com,

(limited to 25 people) Prerequisite: Must have a story idea you are interested in developing. Stories don’t only come from novels. We see them at the movies, on our TV screens, live on stage or in our favorite video games and comics. As novelists in the modern world, our competition for readers’ attention often isn’t[…]

Find out More

August 2026

Aug 03

Aug 03, 2026All Day

Advanced Self-Publishing

Hearts Through History,

Advanced Self-Publishing Aug 3- Aug 14, 2026 Hearts Through History [Forum Workshop] There’s never been a better or easier time to self-publish or be an indie author! But the market is crowded and there’s a big difference between doing it and doing it right! Author Hillary DePiano hasn’t just self-published over three dozen titles for[…]

Find out More

October 2026

Oct 10

Oct 10, 20262:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Save the Book: A Novel Approach to Writing Cinematically [Zoom Workshop]

Romance Writers Online,

Save the Book: A Novel Approach to Writing Cinematically Presenter: Hillary DePiano October 10, 2025 2 pm EST 90 minutes $15 (Free for RWO General Members) Unlock your creativity and conquer writer’s block in this Zoom workshop on using scriptwriting tricks to take your novel to the next level! Draw on techniques used in theatre,[…]

Find out More

The post Unlock the Power of Action and Reaction (Understanding Scene and Sequel) [Zoom Workshop] at New Jersey Romance Writers on March 21 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm appeared first on Hillary DePiano.

Setting Yourself Up for Writing Success: Preparing to Write a Book

Presenter: Hillary DePiano

4 Weeks

February 2 – 27, 2026

$30 (Free for RWO General Members)

Forum Workshop

Overview

This is it. You’re finally ready to start writing that book you know you’ve got inside you. But where do you start? Join author Hillary DePiano for a crash course in novel prep. From research, characters and brainstorming scenes to story structure and organization, you’ll have everything you need to jump into your story with confidence. Whether you prefer to outline your story ahead of time or wing it as you go, you’ll find plenty of simple, actionable steps you can take right now to set yourself up a smoother, less painful drafting experience.

May 2026

May 16

May 16, 202611:00 am – 12:00 pm

Hands Free Writing with Dictation and Voice-to-Text

Hearts Through History,

Have you ever noticed that your best writing ideas always seem to come when you’re nowhere near a keyboard? Stuck in traffic, doing the dishes, folding the laundry… if only there was a way to write hands-free! Fortunately writing with voice-to-text has never been easier or more accessible. Writing with your voice can be faster[…]

$15

Find out More

June 2026

Jun 15

Jun 15, 2026All Day

MASTER CLASS: Lights, Camera, Novel! Script-Writing Secrets for Novelists

WriterUniv.com,

(limited to 25 people) Prerequisite: Must have a story idea you are interested in developing. Stories don’t only come from novels. We see them at the movies, on our TV screens, live on stage or in our favorite video games and comics. As novelists in the modern world, our competition for readers’ attention often isn’t[…]

Find out More

August 2026

Aug 03

Aug 03, 2026All Day

Advanced Self-Publishing

Hearts Through History,

Advanced Self-Publishing Aug 3- Aug 14, 2026 Hearts Through History [Forum Workshop] There’s never been a better or easier time to self-publish or be an indie author! But the market is crowded and there’s a big difference between doing it and doing it right! Author Hillary DePiano hasn’t just self-published over three dozen titles for[…]

Find out More

October 2026

Oct 10

Oct 10, 20262:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Save the Book: A Novel Approach to Writing Cinematically [Zoom Workshop]

Romance Writers Online,

Save the Book: A Novel Approach to Writing Cinematically Presenter: Hillary DePiano October 10, 2025 2 pm EST 90 minutes $15 (Free for RWO General Members) Unlock your creativity and conquer writer’s block in this Zoom workshop on using scriptwriting tricks to take your novel to the next level! Draw on techniques used in theatre,[…]

Find out More

The post Setting Yourself Up for Writing Success: Preparing to Write a Book [Forums Workshop] @ RWO from February 2 – February 27 appeared first on Hillary DePiano.

Class Length 2 Weeks

Beginner writers all suffer the same challenges: passive characters, uneven pacing, meandering plot and the dreaded “Happy People in Happyland.” Readers crave active protagonists, characters who chase their goals and drive the story forward with the choices they make in the face of adversity. Non-stop action can be just as boring as a story where nothing happens. Finding that balance between action and reaction is the key to writing a character driven story that’s full of delicious page turning tension.

In this workshop, we’ll delve into scene structure and how understanding the cause-and-effect trajectory of your character’s journey not only strengthens your novel’s conflict and internal story logic, but also means richer, more three-dimensional characters. Whether you’re a discovery writer letting your characters take the reins or hardcore plotter writing to narrative goalposts, you’ll find that understanding scene structure can be a key part of your prep process, the secret to better flashlight drafting, a gut check to guide your revision, or a tool for diagnosing story issues and beating writer’s block.

• Start date Jan 19, 2026 at 9:00 AM
• End date Feb 1, 2026 at 4:00 PM
• Registration ends Jan 21, 2026

May 2026

May 16

May 16, 202611:00 am – 12:00 pm

Hands Free Writing with Dictation and Voice-to-Text

Hearts Through History,

Have you ever noticed that your best writing ideas always seem to come when you’re nowhere near a keyboard? Stuck in traffic, doing the dishes, folding the laundry… if only there was a way to write hands-free! Fortunately writing with voice-to-text has never been easier or more accessible. Writing with your voice can be faster[…]

$15

Find out More

June 2026

Jun 15

Jun 15, 2026All Day

MASTER CLASS: Lights, Camera, Novel! Script-Writing Secrets for Novelists

WriterUniv.com,

(limited to 25 people) Prerequisite: Must have a story idea you are interested in developing. Stories don’t only come from novels. We see them at the movies, on our TV screens, live on stage or in our favorite video games and comics. As novelists in the modern world, our competition for readers’ attention often isn’t[…]

Find out More

August 2026

Aug 03

Aug 03, 2026All Day

Advanced Self-Publishing

Hearts Through History,

Advanced Self-Publishing Aug 3- Aug 14, 2026 Hearts Through History [Forum Workshop] There’s never been a better or easier time to self-publish or be an indie author! But the market is crowded and there’s a big difference between doing it and doing it right! Author Hillary DePiano hasn’t just self-published over three dozen titles for[…]

Find out More

The post Unlock the Power of Action and Reaction (Understanding Scene and Sequel) [2-Week Forum Workshop] starting Jan 19th at SavvyAuthors appeared first on Hillary DePiano.

We’ve got lots of brand new classes I’ve never taught before coming up (and some I’ve only ever taught in person and never online) and I think you’ll find a lot of great stuff. Both the Script Writing secrets and Scene and Sequel are classes people have specifically asked me to start teaching that I have a feeling will be a big hit!

I’ve also got three Zoom classes mixed in with the text classes.

While it’s tempting to wait until the last minute, several a maximum number of participants so if you’re eyeing any of them, make sure you secure your spot before they fill up!

Quick tip that I’m teaching at RWO twice this year and RWO members get workshops free so if you become a member, Join before my workshop and it’ll not only pay for both workshops, you’ll also get all their other workshops for the year included for the same price!

Also note that both my workshops at CRW are Members Only this year, but if you join then you’ll not only get both of my workshops for one low price, you’ll also get all the other classes and benefits that membership includes.

Anyway, here is my 2026 schedule….

May 2026

May 16

May 16, 202611:00 am – 12:00 pm

Hands Free Writing with Dictation and Voice-to-Text

Hearts Through History,

Have you ever noticed that your best writing ideas always seem to come when you’re nowhere near a keyboard? Stuck in traffic, doing the dishes, folding the laundry… if only there was a way to write hands-free! Fortunately writing with voice-to-text has never been easier or more accessible. Writing with your voice can be faster[…]

$15

Find out More

June 2026

Jun 15

Jun 15, 2026All Day

MASTER CLASS: Lights, Camera, Novel! Script-Writing Secrets for Novelists

WriterUniv.com,

(limited to 25 people) Prerequisite: Must have a story idea you are interested in developing. Stories don’t only come from novels. We see them at the movies, on our TV screens, live on stage or in our favorite video games and comics. As novelists in the modern world, our competition for readers’ attention often isn’t[…]

Find out More

August 2026

Aug 03

Aug 03, 2026All Day

Advanced Self-Publishing

Hearts Through History,

Advanced Self-Publishing Aug 3- Aug 14, 2026 Hearts Through History [Forum Workshop] There’s never been a better or easier time to self-publish or be an indie author! But the market is crowded and there’s a big difference between doing it and doing it right! Author Hillary DePiano hasn’t just self-published over three dozen titles for[…]

Find out More

October 2026

Oct 10

Oct 10, 20262:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Save the Book: A Novel Approach to Writing Cinematically [Zoom Workshop]

Romance Writers Online,

Save the Book: A Novel Approach to Writing Cinematically Presenter: Hillary DePiano October 10, 2025 2 pm EST 90 minutes $15 (Free for RWO General Members) Unlock your creativity and conquer writer’s block in this Zoom workshop on using scriptwriting tricks to take your novel to the next level! Draw on techniques used in theatre,[…]

Find out More

The post Upcoming Writing Workshops: 2026 Teaching Schedule appeared first on Hillary DePiano.

On November 1st, The She Bear will release in eBook and paperback at all major retailers. The pre-order for the eBook is already up most places and the paperback will slowly populate to retailers on it’s own unknowable schedule.

This will be the fifth play in the Fairly Obscure Fairy Tale Plays series and it’s one of my favorites so I’m hoping people love it as much as they loved the others!

The She Bear

by Hillary DePiano
An adaptation of The She-Bear from Giambattista Basile’s The Tale of Tales (Il Pentamerone, Lo cunto de li cunti).

When a pack of wolves nearly tear the prince apart, the very She-Bear he’d been hunting saves his life. As man and beast heal from their wounds, the prince starts to wonder: Is he losing his mind? Or has he really fallen in love with a bear? Magic and mayhem, romance and the ridiculous dance hand in paw in this modern adaptation of the Italian fairy tale where love is the best kind of madness.

• Comedy / Fantasy
• One Act
• 30-45 minutes
• 1 Male 2 Female 1 Any
• Cast size: 4-10+ (ensemble of wolves & the prince’s hunting party can be as large or small as needed)

Features

• Small cast with majority female roles.
• Opportunity to add additional performers and an ensemble as needed.
• Great length for drama competitions and classroom study.

The post Coming November 1st: The She Bear in eBook and Paperback appeared first on Hillary DePiano.

Registration opens today for my in-person writing workshop at the Linden Library on Creative Non-Fiction. While this event is free, you do need to register ahead of time to attend so please make sure to do that on the events page here.

The post FREE Non-Fiction Writing Workshop at the Linden Library on Nov 8th @ 2 PM appeared first on Hillary DePiano.