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Phyllis Taylor Pianka

PHYLLIS TAYLOR PIANKA (aka Winter Ames) has published twenty novels with twenty-two translations, including a six-hundred-page historical trilogy, The Thackery Jewels. Other novels include Midsummer Madness, a Harlequin Intrigue, A Coventry Courtship, and The Tart Shoppe. Her book How To Write Romances (Writer's Digest) is in its seventh printing and is scheduled to be reprinted in paperback. She self-publishes seven how-to booklets for writers. Her short stories and articles have appeared in many national magazines such as Woman's World and Writer's Digest . She is a columnist for The Writers Connection, taught writing the novel for UC Berkeley's extension courses for five years, and lectures at colleges and club meetings across the United States.

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Comments from Students

The class I took with Phyllis Pianka on Writers.com was my first formal training in writing fiction. I did it because it fit around my busy schedule, and I had reached a point where I knew I needed some unbiased feedback. Phyllis was thoughtful and took a lot of time with everyone, and gave me some very useful suggestions. But the pleasant surprise of the class was getting to know other struggling writers online, several of whom I still correspond with. It was a nurturing, helpful experience, facilitated by an experienced writer who willingly shared her insights. The course gave me the confidence to go to Breadloaf Writers' Conference, and to keep working and editing my book. I've been fortunate, and my book will be published in April by Touchstone Books of Simon & Schuster. I definitely think my first step was an important one on this remarkable path. -- Susanne Dunlap, Author of "Emilie's Voice," www.emiliesvoice.com

In 2003, I enrolled in Phyllis Taylor Pianka's "Introduction to Fiction" and "Constructing the Novel" courses, because I had received enough positive feedback from editors to take my writing seriously, as well as enough suggestions to realize I had a lot to learn. With Phyllis' guidance, patience, and insightful comments I was able to land an agent who got me a two book deal with St. Martin's Press. My debut novel, Faking 19, will be in stores March 1,2005, and my second book, Art Geeks and Prom Queens, will be available in September 2005. I've recently agreed to write three more young adult books for them for 2006. I enjoyed every second of her classes, and found the feedback from both Phyllis and the other students to be invaluable. I would recommend these courses to anyone looking to improve their writing. -- Alyson Noel

I took Laurie's first class a while back (and even had a few of the essays I wrote in class published in Skirt! Magazine). After that, I went on to take Dennis Foley's and Phyllis Pianka's classes on writing/constructing the first novel. Since then, I've sold the book I began in class to Penguin (SO LYRICAL is coming out June of '05) and am contracted to write the sequel to it, which I am just beginning to draft. In addition, I've completed a second novel which my agent is current shopping to various publishers. Writers.com got me started, my determination kept me going, and this is a very happy ending (or should I say beginning) for me. Thanks! -- Trish Cook

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Phyllis is a wonderful teacher, and should serve as a role model to others about how teaching should be done. She is gentle, loving and giving, but always directly on target with her critiques and suggestions.... I will recommend your classes to a friend, and I intend to take Phyllis' course again in June. Now that I've about completed my first novel, I'm already working on my second, and could desperately use her help. -- Maribeth Durst

My writing improved so much during the ten weeks that I can't imagine anything being done to better help me. -- Barb Leachman

As always your classes are first-rate, professional, well organized, helpful, and informative. I've always had a good experience with them. All of your instructors have been great but Phyllis is exceptional among your fine instructors. I can't say enough about her and how much she helped me during the class. While taking the class, I felt she was gently looking over my shoulder guiding me. -- Leonard Hardy

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I have nothing but praise for this teacher and class. She was committed, prepared, perceptive and to the point. -- Cheryl Caligiuri

First and foremont, Phyillis was WONDERFUL! She was kind, patient--and always, always right on the mark! I learned a great deal from her because of her special clarity to zero right in. Please pass on my highest compliments to her. She's talented beyond measure. And how wonderful of her to share that with us "wannabe's". -- Jean Ziemer

I loved the class! Phyllis was kind and thoughtful with our tender toes, while giving us terrific suggestions and advice. I learned as much about writing reading her critiques of the class assignments as I have with my own offerings. She has the ability to cut through our meanderings and guide us to a tighter product. Definitely, I will recommend your program to other writers. -- Judy Patrick

I thoroughly enjoyed Constructing the Novel. I hadn't planned on taking another class so soon, but when I saw that Phyllis would be teaching it, I jumped right in. I think she is wonderful and have learned so much from her. The format of the classes is very effective and I feel that my writing is improving with each session. I'll be back! -- Sue Scott

I think Writers.com is an extraordinary experience. When I signed up, I was very skeptical but thought it was a small price for the experiment. Little did I know that I'd find a teacher who has poured her heart (and an unthinkable amount of time) into helping us and a group of talented classmates who do the same... The content was excellent. Phyllis spent an unbelievable amount of time thoughtfully and enouragingly critiquing our work. Fellow classmates did the same. In addition, Phyllis taught very specific skills and provided written "lectures" on technical matters. I would and have recommended the program to many friends. I plan to come back in the Spring. Need to take a break so I can apply what I learned from Phyllis and finish the novel I've been working on for the last year. -- Ann S. White

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It is a backward compliment, I suppose, but after taking the Writers.com course, "Intro to Fiction" with Phyllis Pianka in summer 2000, I gained some confidence that I might be ready to tackle a Masters in Writing course at my college alma mater here in Southern New Jersey. I'm enrolled in a college course now, "Literary Journalism" which is cre tive non-fiction. My course is not any better than writers.com, just different. The course is $1000 whereas yours was around $200 as I recall. I received valuable, detailed feedback on assignments from Phyllis, as I do in my present college course... I liked the comaraderie that quickly glued our class participants together. ... Phyllis was a very warm instructor who knew how to be supportive yet constructively critical at the same time... I'll be back to your courses probably when this one ends... Your instructors are rich in background and the price is right... I'll be back. -- Anne Murphy

Very happy with all. Phyllis Taylor Pianka was very encouraging, read all my assignments v. carefully and picked up on things that I couldn't spot myself and made all the difference to the quality of my work. The discipline of the format which forced you to produce or at least polish a chapter a week was excellent and very rewarding... This course, though demanding, was much better for me and because the teacher was so encouraging that even when I hit a wall I wanted to plough through it and get the work done because I knew the feedback would be worth it, good or bad... I would wholeheartedly recommend this class to anyone who was serious about turning themselves from a dabbling amateur into a professional writer. -- Andrea Hensher

(Phyllis) was knowledgeable, pleasant, cooperative in the extreme (my assignments consistently went over the 1250 word limit), and she partnered her criticisms with compliments. She never made me feel unworthy (which is easy to do), and when I asked for encouragement she gave it...Thanks to you and your staff for your courtesy, your prompt attention to questions and problems, and your professionalism. -- Judy Komorita

Your writing classes are great! I have taken two and both were fantastic! ... The classes kept me motivated and I was able to see the problems in my writing better after seeing it through the eyes of my classmates... I am anxious to take another class. Both previous classes have been a tremendous help. I think one more and I will have really addressed my problem areas. They tend to build on one another which is nice. -- Melissa Gould

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The lessons and assignments were fine. Phyllis was knowledgeable and very skilled at critiquing. Overall it put me back on track re: the use of past tense and improved my own critiquing skills. The synopsis assignment and feedback proved very useful. I would highly recommend the class and Phyllis... My advice to future students; have at least the first four chapters already written. [for the "Constructing the Novel" class.] Then you will receive the maximum benefit as you use the assignment time to rewrite from the previous week's feedback. -- Michael David Lawrience

Extremely happy. The only thing you could have done to help me more would be to become my publisher! :) Phyllis is such an excellent teacher--her suggestions and encouragement have meant everything to me. Other students were also not only supportive, but also insightful. Together, the combination was such that I feel motivated to finally complete my novel! I now know where some of my weaknesses lie, how to fix them, and what works in my writing. Phyllis also provided valuable instruction about the submission process--hard lessons that I doubt I would have learned at all on my own. Specifically, about assignments: this format worked perfectly for the class. Phyllis offered lectures to help solve various problems in the novel creation process. Each week we turned in 1250 words of our work in progress, along with a current assignment related to the lecture topic, also from our novels. The format was perfect. It forced me to deal with issues I'd been avoiding (assignments) and helped me regain my discipline and focus by essentially honing a scene or chapter each week. It was perfect. In fact, though the lectures have ceased, I'm determined to maintain the pace instilled by the class... I have recommended classes to friends and would do so again. This is my third class with Writers on the Net, and I'm sure I'll be taking more. Each time, the experience keeps getting better and better. This was by far the most strenuous -- and most excellent! -- to date. -- Lyn Gardner

Phyllis is a wonderfully friendly and sincere teacher. It was immediately obvious that she has a lot of experience and really knows what she's talking about. I've taken three classes through Writers on the Net, and thus far, she's the best teacher I've had.... Kudos on finding such excellent teachers. -- Christine O'Connell

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