Steve Alcorn (born 1956) is an American entrepreneur, engineer, inventor, author and educator recognized for his contributions in the theme park industry and his work as a writing instructor.
Early life and education Alcorn graduated from the Harvard School for Boys (now Harvard-Westlake School) in 1973 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from UCLA in 1977. He was a Hughes Aircraft Company master's fellow from 1977 through 1979.
Career In 1982, Alcorn joined Walt Disney Imagineering (then known as WED Enterprises) as a consultant, where he worked on electronic systems for Epcot Center. In 1986, he founded Alcorn McBride Inc., a company specializing in audio, video, and show control equipment for the themed entertainment industry. Under his leadership, the company's products are utilized in major theme parks worldwide.
Writing and teaching
In 2001, Alcorn founded Writing Academy, an online writing school that has served over 100,000 students across 22 courses. He is also the author of books on the craft of writing, including "How to Fix Your Novel," "101 Writing Tips," and genre-specific guides covering mystery, romance, science fiction, and screenwriting. In 2026, he published "Harnessing the Machine" and "Easy OpenClaw," books about building AI assistant partnerships.
His books include "Building a Better Mouse," co-authored with David Green, which details the creation of Epcot's electronic systems, "Theme Park Design: Behind the Scenes with an Engineer," and "Journey Into Imagination," co-authored with Jim Carstensen, about the opening of that classic Epcot attraction. He has also written novels such as "A Matter of Justice" and "Everything In Its Path.https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B001K8IBR0
Personal life Alcorn is the husband of ex-Disney Imagineer Linda McBride Alcorn.
Publications
Theme parks
Alcorn, Steve; Green, David (2024). Building a Better Mouse: The Story of the Electronic Imagineers Who Designed EPCOT. . Alcorn, Steve (2020). Theme Park Design: Behind the Scenes with an Engineer. . Alcorn, Steve (2025). Curious by Design. . Alcorn, Steve; Carstensen, Jim (2026). Journey into Imagination. .
Writing books
Alcorn, Steve (2012). How to Fix Your Novel: Simple Techniques to Improve Your Manuscript and Get It Published. . Alcorn, Steve (2013). Adapting Novel to Screenplay: Everything In Its Path. .
Alcorn, Steve (2016). Write Your Life Story: Brainstorm, Write and Publish Your Autobiography. . Alcorn, Steve; Alcorn, Dani (2016). Writing Young Adult Fiction: Brainstorm, Write and Publish Your Own Bestseller. . Alcorn, Steve (2025). Short Story Writing: Crafting Powerful Fiction in Fewer Words. . Alcorn, Steve (2025). Writing Non-Fiction: Plan, Write, and Publish Your Non-Fiction Book. . Alcorn, Steve (2025). Travel Writing: Turn Your Wanderlust into a Career. . Alcorn, Steve (2025). Mystery Writing: From First Clue to Final Twist. . Alcorn, Steve (2025). Science Fiction and Fantasy: Mastering the Craft of Speculative Fiction. . Alcorn, Steve (2025). Writing Suspense and Horror: A Guide to Creating Tension and Terror. . Alcorn, Steve (2025). Romance Writing: The Essential Handbook for Aspiring Romance Authors. . Alcorn, Steve (2026). Comedy Writing: Master the Art of Making Readers Laugh. . Alcorn, Steve (2026). Writing for Children: A Complete Guide from Picture Books to Middle Grade. . Alcorn, Steve (2026). 101 Writing Tips: A Daily Companion for Writers. .
AI books
Alcorn, Steve (2026). Harnessing the Machine. . Alcorn, Steve (2026). Easy OpenClaw: Set Up Your Own AI Assistant in an Afternoon. .
Fiction
Stevens, Sharon (2008). Ring of Diamonds. . Alcorn, Steve (2012). A Matter of Justice. . Alcorn, Steve (2025). Everything In Its Path: A Novel About the Saint Francis Dam Disaster. . Alcorn, Steve (2025). A Stranger From Afar: The Sequel to Everything In Its Path. . Alcorn, Steve (2025). Twisted Time: A Novel and a Writer's Guide to Structure. . Alcorn, Steve (2025). Thorn Among the Roses. . Alcorn, Steve (2025). Jett and the Quantum Selector. . Alcorn, Steve (2025). Jett and the Quantum Meltdown. . Alcorn, Steve (2025). Jett and the Quantum Universe. .
Children's books
Alcorn, Steve (2007). Travel Kid. . Alcorn, Steve (2014). Orlando ABC. . Alcorn, Steve; Alcorn, Linda (2016). Molly Builds a Theme Park. .
References
External links Imagineering Class Alcorn McBride Inc. Inc. 5000 Writing Academy Steve Alcorn personal site Themeperks Press AI Partner School