New York Times Bestselling author Michael A. 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 character creation to world building, practical plotting devices, dialogue development and character voice creation tools. This program is a practical, kick-in-the-pants place to start your career.
Characters are king in literature and New York Times Bestselling author Michael A. 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.
When can you quote your favorite poem or song? When can you write an “authorized” sequel? What is the status of fan fiction? Do you have rights in ‘shared world’ fiction? How can you protect your own work? Is it safe to send your novel to a publisher? What are the limits of fair use? What do you own? We’ll cover what every author should know with respect to copyright in literary works. A must for serious writers.
There’s no doubt the Internet is a great writing tool. But if you spend too much time hooked to it, you won’t have time to write. We’ll show you what resources are worth using, what you should stay away from, and how to avoid Internet addiction. We’ll also look at web pages, blogs, Twitter, and various writer-help sites.
Can you use real characters in fiction? Can Uncle Roger sue you if you put him in a book? Is Attila the Hun fair game? Is changing the names enough to solve the problem? Do disclaimers at the front of the book work? When should you consult a lawyer? How can you protect yourself? Join us for an explanation of defamation and privacy and learn how to distinguish risky material from content you can use. A must for writers.
Many writers dream of doing this full-time ... writing as a “day job.” Indeed, you can make a living as a writer, even if you don’t hit the bestseller lists and find your pot of gold. We’ll look at short-term and long-term goals, non-fiction markets that can help pay the bills, and various things you can do to make this a reality.
Where can you sell your short stories? Even though fewer anthologies and magazines are being printed in 'this day and age', there are lots of places looking for good pieces. We'll provide a list of markets where you can submit short fiction, as well as discuss what you can do to move your submissions from the 'slush' pile and onto the stands.
In some cases the plot of a book drives the characters. However, characters that instead drive the plot can make for a more compelling story. In this hour we'll focus closely on how to grow your plot from your main characters.
New York Times Bestselling author Michael A. 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 workshop gives you the insider knowledge that will separate you from all of your peers.
Craft the end at the beginning! Work your story backward! Simply decide how you want your tale to conclude, and we'll help you figure out how to get there from page one.