Larry Brooks
Bestselling novelist Larry Brooks has been writing professionally for the past three decades,
including a long list of teaching credits at writing workshops and seminars. For years he was
a writer/creative director in the corporate communications world, scripting over 700 marketing
and training videos and writing several warehouses full of brochures, speeches, web copy and
other corporate oddities. He began writing and teaching fiction full time in 1999, shortly after
the sale of the agency he co-owned, and – not coincidentally – just before the publication of his
first novel.
Larry brings three proven core competencies to his role of story coach at Storyfix.com.
As a novelist…
He is author of four nationally bestselling novels, including:
- “Darkness Bound” (2000, NAL/Onyx), a USA Today bestseller
- “Pressure Points” (2001, NAL/Onyx)
- “Serpent’s Dance” (2003, NAL/Signet)
- “Bait and Switch” (2004, NAL/Signet), starred
review and Editor’s Choice (July) from
Publisher’s Weekly, which also named it to their
“Best Overlooked Books of 2004” (the only paper-
back so named) and “Best Books of 2004” lists.
Publishers Weekly calls Larry “a master of terror and suspense,” and his editor at NAL/Signet,
Dan Slater, said, "By far, Larry Brooks is the most imaginative, compelling, and suspenseful
author on our list. With each successive book, Larry tops himself with his superbly crafted
plots and engaging characters."
For more bio, blurbs, brags and other cool stuff, visit Larry’s author website:
www.booksbybrooks.com
As a screenwriter…
Two of Larry’s screenplays were written on assignment for a Hollywood producer, and two
others have been optioned. He is an eight-time quarterfinalist-or-better in the prestigious annual
Nichol Screenwriting Fellowship competition, including a 2002 Finalist slot (top ten scripts out
of 6011 entries) for the screenplay adaptation of his first published novel. Another of his
scripts was an award winner at the Portland Creative Conference competition in 1996. He has
been teaching screenwriting since 1985, and credits his study of the craft with his success as a
novelist. He employs this cross-discipline approach in the application of his Four Corners
developmental model, which emphasizes a structural approach while empowering character
development and thematic depth.
As a teacher, writing coach and writer’s advocate…
Larry has been teaching writing workshops and leading seminars around the nation for the past
two decades, using The Four Corners Of Story model to help writers at all levels further their
writing goals. He has been “reviewing, chewing and renewing” manuscripts for individual
writers over the course of his writing and teaching experience.
Larry has been named a Mentor for the Oregon Writers Colony, and is active with such
organizations as the Willamette Writers and the Oklahoma Writers Federation, among others.
Booking A Workshop or Seminar
Larry Brooks is an accomplished teacher of writers at all levels of the craft. He has lead many
workshops and seminars over the past 20 years on a variety of topics.
His core curriculum for The Four Corners of Story is a full symposium with 16 hours of
classroom time, and is supported by worksheets, checklists, media and participative activities.
He has adapted the curriculum for workshops of all lengths, some as short as one hour, and
audience venues. Specific topics can be isolated and custom-developed for virtually any time-
frame or audience-need required.
The following announcement for a weekend seminar hosted by the Oregon Writers Colony
provides a glimpse at the breadth and tone of this experience, and a roster of breakout topics
for shorter workshop sessions:
“Your Novel: Unblocked, Unleashed and Uninhibited”
- This will be a comprehensive, kitchen-sink, whole-enchilada “how-to-get-it-
down-on-paper” workshop, with a goal of delivering tools that will produce a
“workable” first draft. Those who have taken my “Four Corners” classes in
the past will experience a strong sense of déjà vu, since this workshop drills
deeply into those basic elements of story and the mysteries of structure. But
that’s not all, folks. It also includes: how to write effective scenes; how to
write edgy; how to write visually and viscerally; how to unblock; how to light
the pages on fire; developing the music of your “writing voice”; how to
differentiate your work from what the insensitive tyrants on the publishing
side call “the slushpile,” and anything else, on topic, that you want to
discuss. Bring your ideas, your outlines, your partially finished manuscript,
your finished work, your preconceptions and your misconceptions, and be
willing to subject them all to self-imposed vivisection, as seen through an
exciting new creative lens.
organization. References are available.
- Feedback
"Trying to keep character, plot, setting and theme all working in my stories at the same time
felt like juggling way too many flaming torches. Then I heard Larry Brooks' four-corners
approach to plotting and I stopped worrying about getting burned."
“Larry Brooks' insights are well thought-out and he's available for give-and-take to help you
further understand the problem(s) in your script. He knows how to critique work without
critiquing you - meaning if your writing is weak, he'll say what you need to hear but at the
same time, you end up inspired to get back to work.”
“I so much enjoyed the whole conference, particularly your lectures. It will take me days to
sort out the rich tapestry.”
“I wanted to tell you that I enjoyed your presentation. You helped me to clarify some of my
thinking on the development of a novel. I decided to start, that is to actually take up pen and
paper and start writing fiction.”
“Larry, I want to thank you for a great workshop. You really said some things I needed to
hear. Do you share your definition of writer's block? If so, I'd really like to have it to post in
my writing room to remind me that I'm the one controlling it!”
“Thank you so much for your participation in the OWFI Writers' Choice Conference.
Everyone loved your sessions. You did an excellent job.”
“The workshop gets 100% from me. Your teaching style is informative and
entertaining. Liked the film clips, too. No suggestions for improvement.”
“I don’t want my money back… I think I owe you quite a few more dollars. I was such a
sponge all weekend long! Loved the humor, don’t change a thing, and thanks a million.”
“Within the time frame allowed, you covered an amazing amount of material with good humor
and wisdom, all seasoned with your own experience. Good stuff.”
“Excellent seminar. I got more out of it than I though (I would). Clear, easy to understand
information and guidelines. You know how to write and how to explain.”
“I appreciate your generosity of spirit. I have taught for years. I have conducted workshops.
Yours was excellent. In the tremendous battle to create art, by your writing and more
importantly your gift to us of what you know, you are a warrior.”
“I have never received so many pieces of the puzzle to writing. The squares to create each
100 pages is the best! I cannot imagine what you could have done to make it better. Your
experience and humor made it so helpful and memorable.”
“The entire process and concept of structure helped clarify what I have been attempting for
the last 10-12 years. Thank you – I want to go home, get out my 3 by 5 cards and get
started.”
“Larry is very knowledgeable. I enjoyed his enthusiasm, and the videos enhanced the points he
made. Great speaker. One of the more informative workshops I’ve been to in a long time.”
“This was a 10 for me!”
”I like best your preparation and your generosity of time and personal experience. Your
openness, too, and the way you created a safe place for everyone to ask questions. Fiction
intimidated me before your presentation. I’m inspired to give it a try. Thanks, I rate your
seminar a 10.”
“This seminar is great for the type of writers here; this group is a pretty high level of practice
and writing. Best for me was the structure outline and beat sheet information. Until our recent
seminar with you I was writing by intuition almost exclusively. This will be freeing and more
efficient by many months. Satisfation rank: 10-plus, and inspired.”
“My rating for this seminar is a 10-plus. This means I received much more than anticipated.
Thank you for your participation, production, caring, etc.”
“I completely enjoyed the seminar. Your structure was well thought out, the content was very
useful. The pace was good. Thank you for your time and talent. If the opportunity presents
itself again, I will definitely sign up for another of your lectures.”
“The most valuable thing for me today and yesterday was the realization I now had tools to get
a grip on my story idea. I can see how to control the damn thing, how to find the trail, and
better yet, now to make the map. Also of immense value – your openness, your enjoyment of
the group. I’m feeling empowered to do my book, really for the first time. I’ve felt like I was
kidding myself until this weekend, and what the hell was I going to do? Quit? Fake it?
Struggle? Now I can see a way to start, and FINISH! I owe you big time.”
“I got the most excited about writing scenes, but I got so much out of all of it. Am excited
about writing again and eager to try the right brain type of writing. Your presentation and
examples were great, as always. Rate it a 10. It was great. This was my third conference
with you and I’ll come back again and again.”
“Larry Brooks filled me with hope.”
(Originals of all quotes on file.)
