ah, the writing life

Writers need love and support. They need how-tos and tips and opportunities to deepen their craft. They need information, resources, and encouragement to get from ‘idea’ to ‘The End.’

That’s what A Writer’s Roadmap is all about.

Pat Dobie, Our Illustrious Founder

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Are you a fiction writer with a project in mind?

Join me for FICTION’S BIG-PICTURE FUNDAMENTALS, a 5-week online course that will transform your writing life. Eight modules, two live Zooms with Pat, and major progress on your novel or story.


Are you a writer & avid reader who wants to work with books?

Join me for DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING FOR FICTION, a 6-week Zoom course that takes you inside a developmental edit. You’ll edit a real MS and get my feedback on your work. Intense, yes, but SOOOO rewarding.


Latest on the Blog

  • How to Research Historical Fiction

    How to Research Historical Fiction

    Writers often have a bunch of tabs open on their internet browsers. Sometimes we go incognito, because we look up some weird, weird stuff. Crime and mystery writers might look up police procedures, stages of putrefaction, how to kill someone, types of poison…but not just that. Car models, flowering shrubs in a particular part of …

    Read more


  • Should I Give Up on Writing a Book?

    Should I Give Up on Writing a Book?

    My friend X has been trying to write a book for about 8 years now. Not because she WANTS to, but because she knows it will increase the visibility and credibility of her business–she trains people to get comfortable with public speaking in all environments, from business presentations to TED talks. For X, the book …

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  • Is Your Manuscript Ready for Publishing?

    Is Your Manuscript Ready for Publishing?

    Here’s a handy quiz to help you figure that out. First, allow me to set the scene (fiction-writing joke). How books get into readers’ hands In a perfect world, our books would spring fully formed from our minds into the bookstores and online emporiums. In the actual world, our books spring in dribbles or fountains …

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