New York Times Bestselling author Michael Stackpole presents his three week program for preparing yourself to write a novel. This set of 21 exercises is broken down to give you everything from characer creation to world building, practical plotting, devices, dialog development, and character voice creation tools. This program is a practical, kick-in-the-pants place to start your career.
All writers make mistakes . . . we'll give you tips on how to avoid some of them. Calling agents and editors every week to check on manuscripts? Paying people a fee to represent you? Using British spelling because you think it looks cool? Mixing fonts to make the manuscript look pretty . . . listen to authors and editors give you advice on what not to do.
New York Times Bestselling author Michael Stackpole walks you through the basics of setting yourelf up for success. From developing good cre habits, working past simple, career killing mistakes, and setting up writer's critiquing groups, to acquiring the physical tools needed to start writing; Mike covers it all. You're about to start on the most difficult and exhilarating journey of your life, and this seminar will show you what to pack.
Characters are king in literature, and New York Times Bestselling author Michael Stackpole brings you a toolbox full of techniques to create compelling and memorable characters. Readers read for and remember characters, and after this course, yours will be unforgettable, which will keep them coming back for more.
So, you've got your pile of 100,000 words. What now? New York Times Bestselling author Michael Stackpole guides you through the intricacies of actually editing your novel. He'll cover those tough questions, like what needs to be trimmed, where do things need to be tightened, and what to do when characters are present, but just not engaged in the story. He'll even provide that key bit of advice so you know when your book is ready to send away.
So you've got a manuscript, and you want to sell it . . . but where? We'll look at markets for novels, short stories, and articles. And we'll teach you how to search for hungry marketplaces you can pitch to. We'll even give you a list of publications and publishers that will help.
How much work should you do before you start your novel? Some authors make detailed outlines. Others jot only a few notes. We'll discuss the pros and cons of putting in a lot of effort upfront, including character sketches and spreadsheets to track hair color and scars.
Sometimes getting published is being in the right place at the right time with the right pitch. Our panelists go over the ins and outs of self promotion and how to approach that editor, agent, or publisher without seeming pushy or obnoxious.
New York Times Bestselling author Michael Stackpole unravels the mysteries of creating compelling plots. A novel is a huge undertaking, written over weeks or months, and the plot has to hold it all together. From creating an outline to maintaining flexibility, this seminar gives you the insider knowledge that will separate you from all of your peers.