Fiction with James Scott Bell
Writing a Novel They Can't Put Down
At a Glance
- For writers of novel length fiction in any genre
- Tips and tricks for both plotters and “pantsers”
- Secrets for taking your novel from competent to unforgettable
What are readers, agents, and editors looking for in a novel? Simply this: a book they can't put down. Everyone wants a story that pulls them into a fictive dream and keeps them there to a satisfying ending. These days, that's the only kind of fiction that has a chance to sell and go wide. Fortunately, what works to make this happen is part of a craft that can be learned.
In this workshop James Scott Bell, #1 bestselling writing teacher and winner of the International Thriller Writers Award, will teach you the essentials you need to sell in today's competitive marketplace. You'll learn the foundations for a plot that will never fail, how to create characters that “jump off the page,” the secrets of page-turning scenes, and more.
The LOCK System foundation for you novel
- What makes for a compelling Lead character
- How to get reader emotions involved
- The one essential secret to a high stakes Objective
- How to create the strongest Confrontation possible
- What it means to Knock Out the reader at the end
A deeper understanding of Structure
- The Disturbance
- The Doorways of No Return
- The Mirror Moment
Character that Jump off the Page
- The 5 essentials of unforgettable characters
- Exercising for coaxing out the extras in your characters
How to write a novel with no dull parts
- Scene structure
- Page turning secrets
- Voice
Dialogue: The fastest way to improve any manuscript
- The essentials of great dialogue
- Tools for talk
Writing for Children with Linda Howard
So, you want to be a children’s book author! What do you need to know and do to get your book looked at by editors, and maybe even published?
Come learn about the ins and outs of children’s book writing and publishing. We’ll explore spiritually and emotionally developmentally appropriate writing for babies to teens, dig into the financial side of the publishing business, talk about what makes a good proposal, compare good and not so good writing samples, and more.
Come ready to interact with your peers. This will be a collaborative four days. The goal is for you to come out feeling confident in your next steps as you pursue writing for kids.
Self-Publishing A-Z with Robin Patchen
In the self-publishing track, we’ll cover the essentials of self-publishing from start to finish.
On Day 1, you’ll get an overview of self-publishing, including key terms, benefits, drawbacks, and prerequisites for success.
On Day 2, we’ll dive into turning your manuscript into a polished, publishable product, covering formatting, covers, ISBNs, and uploading to platforms like KDP and Draft2Digital.
On Day 3, we’ll focus on marketing strategies, including building a newsletter, social media tips, and an introduction to paid advertising.
Finally, on Day 4, we’ll touch on the business side of self-publishing, from managing finances to handling taxes. We’ll end with an extensive Q&A, ask me (almost) anything session.
Whether you’re new to self-publishing or looking to improve your process, this track will give you the tools and confidence to succeed.
Nonfiction (Long Form) with Marci Seither
- What are the types of non-fiction books? Memoir, self-help, devotional, topical….
- Discover the kind of articles can you write to start building your buzz and increase your audience BEFORE you book is released.
- Brainstorm your themes.
- Research – where to go…and how to keep it organized.
- The art of a great interview to add a deeper layer.
- Developing SHOW-DON’T-TELL fiction techniques to pull readers into your story.
- Outline your chapters in a way that makes sense.
- Create a proposal – whether you are looking to self-published or pursue traditional publishers.
- Elements for the cover which include finding the right influencers and gathering endorsements.
- Create a Mission Statement ~ so you can describe your book in 30 seconds.
- Building your team.
- Becoming an expert in your field.
- Think outside the box –
Professional Track with Barb Roose
Session 1: Dynamic Discoverability: Which Platform Fits Your Strengths?
There are lots of options available to reach potential readers, but which platform is right for you? You’ll have an assessment tool to help you evaluate the platforms you’re using. You’ll also learn Barb’s ABC strategy to help you balance the best platforms for your audience and message so that you can strategically grow your audience, influence, and sales.
Session 2: Creating Your Signature Messages and Communicating Them Online or Pitching to Event Planners
Whether you’re a non-fiction speaker or novelist, at some point, you’ll need to connect with your audience either online or in-person. One of the best ways to grow your audience is understanding which messages open the door to access the fastest. As a long-time teacher who speaks over 20 times a year , Barb will help you discern your unique signature themes that connect best with your target audience and you’ll workshop topics that can convert to social media content or conference keynote messages.
Session 3: Beyond Your Book: Making Money as an Author
Books are great, but they rarely pay the bills. How can you leverage the book you’ve written and turn it into passive or active income? This session outlines a variety of income streams you can develop and you’ll receive a step-by-step walk-through and guide on how to develop a monetization strategy for your book.
Session 4: Creating a Sustainable Content Plan: How to Manage Multiple Platforms Without Burnout
When it comes to content, authors need to develop a path to follow for a long time, not just a good time. Barb will provide three anchors as foundation for creating your social media/email marketing strategy as well as three arrows for goals to shoot for so that you can stay focused on the big picture of what’s will grow your career rather than wasting your time and energy running after trends.