Here are some of the kind comments people have made about my courses and my editorial assistance:

I am convinced that investing in professional critiquing made all the difference at a key point in my writing career. Working with Lorna gave me fresh insight and confidence. I would highly recommend Lorna's services to anyone looking to make their writing the best that it can be. (Katherine Clements, who has landed an agent and a three book publishing deal with Headline)

I've replaced desperation with determination! These courses simply could not have been better. (T.R.)

I chose Lorna as the editor for my novel, Lycopolis, because I'd attended at least half a dozen of her courses and so knew how organised and meticulous she is in her work: qualities you want in an editor! She did a fantastic job editing the whole manuscript at a very reasonable rate. Not only did she point out typos, punctuation mistakes, inconsistencies and so on, she also wrote a full and detailed report about the manuscript as a whole. On her advice, I cut my 135,000 word manuscript to a tight, fast-paced 85,000 words - and the excellent reviews that I've had from readers are a clear indication of how good this advice was. I have no doubt whatsoever that Lycopolis is a far better book as a result of Lorna's kind yet honest and thorough editorial advice, and I'm planning to turn to her again with my current novel-in-progress too. (A. Luke)

Thank you so much for the course on Saturday. It was really thought-provoking - but more than that, it was work-provoking! Your analysis of texts is so brilliant. I wish my school English Lit teaching had been as inspired. I also thought the setting was superb. (L. Carr, writing about Fictionfire's Essential Story Construction course)

Thanks also for a really inspiring day: we both enjoyed it very much and were impressed by the energy and zest you brought to it - I did come away feeling fired up to write more regularly and determined to get past the 'wall' that I had hit in developing the novel. (Sue C., writing about Essential Story Construction)

Thank you for a truly helpful and memorable class! Your research and the level of detail will be invaluable to me. I feel like today saw the peeling back of the blindfold that has been covering my mind's eye for so long! I'm also grateful for the collegial and non-judgmental environment you create in class. (M. A. Davies, writing about Essential Story Construction)

Yesterday's course was terrific! Good to have an in-depth look at crafting scenes - very helpful in my current writing struggles. Great venue too!  (P. H-J., writing about Fictionfire's Making Memorable Scenes course)

I very much enjoyed the fictionfire day last Saturday, because it was the right balance for me of stimulating teaching, having a go at writing and meeting other people with their unique perspectives. Thanks Lorna. (Sarah, writing about Fictionfire's Making Memorable Scenes course)

A value for money course with plenty of food for thought. (Brian, writing about Fictionfire's Shape Up and Make Your Pitch course)

Wanted to say thank you for an informative and well presented course on Saturday. Brian and I found it of immense value. Excellent detail. Made what could be a dry subject very accessible. (Susie, writing about Fictionfire's Shape Up and Make Your Pitch course)

Thank you so much for a really informative day! Not a second was wasted and I learned heaps about plotting which let me see the shape of my own work more clearly - I felt a glimpse of where I need to go with my story. Also, I appreciated the relaxed atmosphere in the class - there really was no pressure. (E.G., writing about Fictionfire course on plotting)

Lorna's day-long course on creating memorable scenes was one of the most thought-provoking, inspiring and informative sessions I've ever been to (and I'm a bit of a writing-class junkie!). I came away with a much better grasp of how both incident and writing style create a memorable scene; several new ideas for a work-in-progress; and an extremely useful handout that's challenging me to really hone and focus my writing. Lorna's experience, enthusiasm, kindness and writerly discernment make her a superb teacher, who runs organised, focused, yet fun and inspiring classes. (Ali Hale, www.aliventures.com)

Many thanks for a superb course. You are an exceptional professor. Your lectures were truly inspirational and I so appreciate your kind encouragement. I am now in the midst of rewriting my chapters to try to incorporate all I learned in such a short time! (C. Purchase)

Written to the course organiser: I attended Lorna Fergusson's terrific minicourse on writing memorable scenes. I cannot say enough good things about this wonderful lady. She was superb. Very well-organized, articulate and able to condense a lot of useful information into one session. Not a second wasted. It was one of the most useful writing classes I've ever attended. I hope to see her at future conferences, teaching similar units that are of use to more experienced writers. Her sessions would be of use to beginners - but her scope was such that those of us who've had previous writing experience could make new connections and learn to see things in different ways. Written directly to me: Honestly - it was one of the most useful (if not THE most useful!) writing courses I've ever attended. You're a natural teacher - that really came across. I was amazed at the wide variety of literature you'd read and analyzed. You made me want to read writers I've never considered reading by showing their technical skill in getting ideas and feelings across. (C.M.)

It was great to have an experienced teacher with such a passion for literature and without evident prejudices. The day has definitely had me reaching for writers that I usually wouldn't have thought to look at. I am always interested in plot and planning character development, but I really enjoyed the analysis you did with different works picking apart how authors create certain effects with their prose - it was the depth and detail that really interested me. (H. Cole)

Fabulous tutor. Lorna Fergusson was terrific. Well prepared, and highly informative and entertaining. (J.K.)

A superb instructor! Lorna made every class fascinating and a joy to participate in. As a tutor myself (University of Toronto, Canada), I sincerely appreciate her professionalism and spirit! (B.S.)

Thank you for being such an inspiration over the past few months. I've regained so much confidence as a writer and it's all down to you!  (P.M.)

Lorna not only helped me to identify the excitement and potential of my story but by respecting my unique ideas she instilled me with confidence as a writer. I so hope to gain more knowledge from her in the future. (Mentored writer W.S.)

Remembering the summer school at OUSSA always makes me smile. Your teaching was superb and quite inspirational. It spurred me on to write much more. (B.M.)

It was a marvellous week. Thank you for all the effort and enthusiasm you put into it. I enjoyed the summer school course enormously. I have learnt a great deal more than I thought there was to learn and appreciate now how much more in fact there is to learn. (G.McK.)

You may welcome hearing of any form of success deriving from your tuition. When I participated in your course I had just completed my Access course as a mature student and gained a place at the UEA to read English Literature. That went well and I started a research PhD at UEA in April last year. It is indubitably true to say that your inspirational input in July of 2004 has created a developing result - for which many thanks. (S.W.)

I thoroughly recommend these courses. Lorna's enthusiasm for her craft is infectious and my work benefited greatly from attending her classes. She will gently coax you to find your own voice. Miss her and miss out! (Jo Frank, playwright)