The purpose of Cec’s mentoring clinics is to teach people to write from their own personalities and with their own style. Too many try to copy successful writers, and Cec reads a lot of purple prose in the first edits. Cec is gratified to realize that even within the span of a few days, writers make significant progress.

Format for Cec Murphey’s Mentoring Clinics

This is how he does it.

To attend, every writer must have a laptop with a USB port. They must also be able to use Microsoft Word. Anyone who signs up should be able to be present for the entire time from the first evening through the closing ceremony.

After registration, one month before the clinic, writers may send Cec the first five pages of their manuscript. Cec will work on it with them and return it. He promises at least one edit before the clinic but not more than three. They may write fiction and nonfiction (anything except poetry and picture books).

When Cec believes they’ve mastered the first five pages, he tells them to move on. One woman did 71 excellent pages during the 2005 Atlanta clinic. Most of them end up with fewer than 20 pages.

When Cec edits, he uses Word Comment Boxes. On the first edit, he sends them an attachment on how to use comment boxes. He also sends another attachment on how to format manuscripts so they look professional and editor-ready. When they return their manuscript for the next editing, they remove all of Cec’s comments so he can see the manuscript as if for the first time.

Two days before the clinic, Cec sends a copy of all manuscripts to everyone who registered. After the clinic, they have one month in which they may send Cec their manuscripts two more times.

The tuition is $500 if paid at least one month before the clinic. After that, the cost is $549. There are a limited number of scholarships available, based on need.

Tuition includes the first evening meal and two lunches. The host suggests nearby motels and tries to arrange a discount. (Even though everyone is on their own for evening meals, the host will suggest a nearby restaurant and encourage everyone to attend.) Cec leaves immediately after he eats so he can return to the manuscripts. Most of the writers choose to stay for a social time; a few hurry back to their hotels to write.

On the evening of the initial meeting, usually Wednesday about 5:30, everyone eats dinner together and gets acquainted. Cec explains the process, answers any questions, and provides a list of common problems he’s observed of the entire group.

Formal meetings begin the following morning at 8:45. Cec downloads all manuscripts for everyone on flash drives. Attendees are free to look at the others’ manuscripts. Some writers need the visualization to see that they’re not the only ones with writing problems.

On Thursday, or the second day, writers work independently until 4:00. At that time, they turn in their manuscripts (unless they choose not to do so). Cec edits them and has them ready when they arrive Friday morning.