Posts by WU Advertiser

Start and Finish Your Novel (and make it incredible)

By WU Advertiser / December 4, 2022 /


Hi Writers,

Let me guess: you’re working on a novel, but struggling to finish it.

Or maybe you’ve got a first draft and need guidance for revision.

I can help.

I’m John Matthew Fox, and I help fiction authors write better novels.

I gathered up the wisdom from fifteen years of editing novels, writing books of my own, and creating nine writing courses, and put it inside a book: “The Linchpin Writer.”

You should get this book if you want to:

  • Start or finish your novel
  • Write a novel that readers will squeal and swoon over
  • Get help revising your book
  • The book focuses on all the crucial points of your novel:

  • First character descriptions
  • How to surprise a reader
  • Ending a chapter
  • How to create emotion in a reader
  • And it gives advice on how you can write your first draft or revise what you’ve already written.

    If you’re a beginning writer, this will guide you through the writing process. And even seasoned authors with a few books under their belt told me they learned quite a bit.

    I don’t just repeat the typical writing rules: I teach you how to break those rules.

    And I don’t just give you a formula: I give you lots of examples that will inspire a variety of storytelling shapes.

    But don’t just trust what I’m saying. Read reviews:

    “I have read a lot of books on writing and editing fiction over the years, and this is one of the best.” – Jennifer Denver

    “The Linchpin Writer was terrific writing advice that made me want to drop everything and throw open my notebook.”
    – Audrey Bishop

    “Most craft books are quite prescriptive, sometimes vague, and often not all that valuable. John Fox’s book was entirely different. I’ve been writing for 15 years, and I took more away from this book than I have from any craft book I’ve ever read.”
    – Kieren Westwood

    So, here’s a little bit more about me. I am …

  • A developmental editor: I’ve edited hundreds of novels, helping my authors get selected as a Kirkus “Best Book of the Year” and sell as many as 90,000 copies.
  • A guide for writers: More than 20 million writers have visited my website Bookfox.
  • A course creator: I offer 9 writing courses on topics like writing your novel, crafting fantastic dialogue, and writing gorgeous sentences.
  • An author: My books include “I Will Shout Your Name” and “The Linchpin Writer.”
  • If you’re still not convinced, I’ll sweeten the pot:

    Buy this book before the end of the year and I’ll give you a free course on Point of View.

    That’s right, a free mini-course going through things like psychic distance, unreliable narrators, variations in omniscient POV, and how to overcome the limitations of your chosen point of view.

    All you have to do is order the print book or ebook, then email me the screenshot of your purchase confirmation (to john@bookfox.co), and I’ll give you access to the course.

    Book + Course = Genius-Level Writer
    Buy the book right now.

    Happy writing!

    ~John Matthew Fox

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    Make major progress on your fiction writing with an Odyssey Online class!

    By WU Advertiser / November 5, 2022 /

    Receive individual attention and in-depth feedback
    with an Odyssey Online class!
    Live, Intensive, Interactive.
    Bestselling, award-winning instructors.
    Only 3 classes per year.  Only 14 students per class.
    Application deadline 11/21.
    Don’t miss out!

    The Odyssey Writing Workshops Charitable Trust has offered world-renowned workshops for 27 years and has been an innovator in online classes since 2010.  Odyssey offers some of the top programs in the world to help writers improve.

    Odyssey’s online courses provide live class meetings, challenging assignments, one-on-one attention, and insightful, in-depth critiques.

    Classes:

    One Brick at a Time: Crafting Compelling Scenes
    Course Meets: January 3 – 31, 2023
    Instructor: Award-winning novelist Barbara Ashford
    Level:  Intermediate

    While writers often focus on their characters, plot, and setting, they seldom put as much attention on each scene–whether it is fulfilling its purpose in the story and whether it’s as strong as possible. Stories and novels are made up of scenes, so if your scenes are weak, your piece has little chance of success. A compelling scene engages readers intellectually and emotionally, changes something of significance to the story, and leaves readers eager to turn the page to find out what happens next. One of Odyssey’s most highly rated instructors, award-winning novelist Barbara Ashford, will explain how to design your scenes so they carry tension and power, how to track and develop the emotional beats in a scene to create strong impact, and how to diagnose and fix problems in scenes. Students will study effective scenes and weak scenes, discover the special needs of opening and ending scenes, and learn how to make sure all the scenes work together to create a powerful story or novel. These skills are invaluable for intermediate writers seeking to take their work to the next level.

     

    Emotional Truth: Making Character Emotions Real, Powerful, and Immediate to Readers
    Course Meets: January 4 – February 1, 2023
    Instructor: Award-winning editor/publisher Scott H. Andrews
    Level:  Intermediate to Advanced

    photo courtesy Al Bogdan

    According to Scott H. Andrews, editor-in-chief and publisher of the nine-time Hugo Award finalist and World Fantasy Award-winning online fantasy magazine Beneath Ceaseless Skies, the most common weakness in submissions is the failure to convey character emotions in a powerful way.

    In this course, Scott will explain the most effective techniques to convey character emotions realistically and powerfully on the page, so that moment by moment, you can create an authentic and evocative experience. He’ll show you which techniques work best for point-of-view characters, and which work best for non-point-of-view characters. He’ll also discuss how to handle multiple emotions, conflicting emotions, and complex emotions, because that’s when stories get really interesting. More than that, the course will cover strategies for developing situations and stories with strong potential for emotional resonance, and how to use character emotions to make every page a gripping read. The character’s emotions may draw readers to the character or repel readers from him, but either way, line by line and scene by scene, you’ll be able to give readers an authentic, powerful, involving experience.

    Angled Dialogue: Crafting Authentic-Sounding Dialogue to Convey Information, Escalate Conflict, and Advance Character-Driven Stories
    Course Meets: January 5 – February 2, 2023
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    You Can Make This Your Novel Year

    By WU Advertiser / October 23, 2022 / Comments Off on You Can Make This Your Novel Year

    Hello fellow writers,

    Kathryn Craft here. Today I’m here to tell you about my program, Your Novel Year, that pulls together everything I wish I’d known (and all the support I wish I’d had!) when writing my first novel. I’ve brought along some former participants to tell you about the benefits of this year-long, fully online, small-group mentorship.

    Your Novel Year is for writers whose novel projects could benefit from:

  • craft guidance
  • “Kathryn has the gift of being able to break down complex aspects of story structure into digestible, teachable bites.” —Teri G., 2018 participant

  • insight into the writer/reader experience
  • “I’m so excited to finally understand my story! If it weren’t for Kathryn, I’d still be stuck going down the wrong path. I’m so grateful for all I’ve learned this year.” —Nicole C., 2018 participant

  • examples from master writers
  • “While teaching the elements of story and giving practical tips for becoming a published author, Kathryn can conjure illustrative examples like nobody’s business.”         —Diane M., 2021 participant

  • a program tailored to your needs
  • “I’ve found Kathryn to be as flexible as she is wise, which is invaluable if you’re juggling writing a novel with other commitments.” —Joyce S., 2021 participant

  • expert feedback
  • “Kathryn shows techniques to make your prose stronger, gives invaluable feedback, keeps you on track with your novel, and is an excellent cheerleader for those with self-doubt.”                                                                                    —Lisa C., 2021 participant

  • social accountability
  • “The community forged with the other YNY participants was a welcome relief from the necessarily solitary task of writing.”    —Riina C., 2020 participant

  • encouragement to go the distance
  • “Kathryn’s personable style and deep knowledge of writing craft kept me engaged and interested and inspired.” —Wendy R., 2019 participant

    And because I have a warm, cozy place in my heart for the WU community, here’s a special opportunity for you!

    If your application is a good fit, and you mention that you learned of this program at WU, I will give you $50 off the program fee!

    Check out the brochure here. The program starts in January, and applications are now open.

    I’d love to help you make 2023 Your Novel Year!

    ~Kathryn Craft

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    DiAnn Mills Introduces CONCRETE EVIDENCE

    By WU Advertiser / October 9, 2022 / Comments Off on DiAnn Mills Introduces CONCRETE EVIDENCE

    Sometimes a smoking gun isn’t all that it appears to be…

    ROMANCE, SUSPENSE, AND ADVENTURE!
    DiANN MILLS DELIVERS ALL THREE IN CONCRETE EVIDENCE
    DO YOU HAVE YOUR COPY?

    Bestselling and award-winning author DiAnn Mills delivers a heart-stopping story of a faulty construction job, the discovery of a dead body, and a sinister plot.

    On the family’s Brazos River Ranch in Texas, Avery Elliott helps run her grandfather’s commercial construction business. Raised by Senator Elliott, Avery has never doubted her grandfather is the man of integrity and faith she’s always believed him to be …. until the day she finds him standing with a gun over the body of a dead man. To make matters worse, Avery’ just discovered a billing discrepancy for materials supposedly purchased for construction of the Lago de Cobre Dam.

    Desperate for answers, Avery contacts FBI Special Agent Marc Wilkins for help. As Marc works to identify the dead man Avery saw, threats toward Avery create a fresh sense of urgency to pinpoint why someone wants to silence her. With a hurricane approaching the Texas coast and the structural integrity of the Lago de Cobre Dam called into question, time is running out to get to the bottom of a sinister plot that could be endangering the lives of not only Avery and her loved ones but the entire community.

    Concrete Evidence is recommended for fans of the following:

  • Romantic Suspense
  • Christian Fiction
  • FBI Crime Solving Novel
  • Clean Romance
  • To view a short video promo about CONCRETE EVIDENCE, please CLICK HERE

    ———————————————————————–

    Praise For CONCRETE EVIDENCE

    “* VERDICT Mills . . . delivers another action-packed novel that offers intrigue and an adventurous ride. Recommend to fans of Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason, and Carrie Stuart Parks.”

    – LIBRARY JOURNAL, Shondra Brown

     

    “The confident plotting keeps the mysteries coming, and red herrings will have readers guessing the culprit through to the satisfying conclusion. Fans of Colleen Coble and Susan Sleeman will savor this thrilling standalone.”

    – PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY

    CONCRETE EVIDENCE by DiAnn Mills
    October 2022 Release
    Available in hardcover, softcover, audio, & ebook.
    ISBN-13:  978-1-4964-5190-3
    416 pages

     

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    Join the Fiction Intensive Writing Conference with Steven James

    By WU Advertiser / October 2, 2022 / Comments Off on Join the Fiction Intensive Writing Conference with Steven James

    Click HERE to sign up or learn more!

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    Your Novel Blueprint, and a FREE Writing Workshop August 22nd

    By WU Advertiser / August 21, 2022 /

    Remember that moment you first knew you wanted to write a novel?

    I’m guessing a story burned inside that you longed to share with the world.

    Maybe, like me, the joy of losing yourself in a favorite novel made you want to create your own world, characters, and story.

    Maybe you even dreamed of a career as a novelist.

    Whatever the spark, it ignited in your mind a vision: holding in your hands a published book that would reach droves of readers and put you on the map.

    You may have even started writing your novel. But if you’re like thousands of writers I’ve met over the decades, something discouraged you, stalled you, kept you from finishing:

  • Fear that you’re not good enough, so your story (and your message) remains only in your imagination — instead of getting to those who need it
  • The worry that no one would care, even if you did finish
  • Your crowded calendar kept you from writing
  • Procrastination became Writer’s Block, and your barely-started novel just languished
  • Or perhaps you actually finished a manuscript, but now you worry it’s nowhere near good enough to publish.

    Believe it or not, these roadblocks — varied as they seem — are rooted in the same problem. Let me show you what I believe that problem is and how you can solve it, reignite your passion, and actually finish your novel.

    But first, let me introduce myself so you can decide whether I know what I’m talking about. 🙂

    I’m Jerry Jenkins, author of more than 200 books, two-thirds of those novels — including the bestselling Left Behind series. (The Great American Read, a PBS TV series, ranked it among America’s 100 favorite novels of all time.)

    But I was anything but an overnight success. The first of my 21 New York Times bestsellers was my 75th published book. And Left Behind was my 125th.

    I began as almost every author does — unknown and unpublished. And I battled every obstacle I listed above and more.

    All I had was a dream, but I would not be deterred. I had a wife, young kids, and a full-time job, so my only choice was to approach novel-writing the hard way — learning everything I could through voracious reading, trial and error, and heavy self-editing.

    I couldn’t find the time to write; I had to make the time. Though I’m a morning person, for years I wrote from 9 p.m. to midnight.

    What would I have loved back then? A mentor.

    Knowing what I know now, I’m confident I could have shaved years off my learning curve had someone experienced in the craft shown me the way.

    Imagine going from unpublished to successful author as a journey. Most of the trials you’ll face could be eliminated if someone ahead of you simply pointed out the pitfalls to avoid and the shortcuts to take.

    Mentors already far down the path could easily reveal to you in a matter of minutes the many obstacles they had to overcome when they started, even if that part of their journey took them five years. Imagine making massive progress like that, avoiding the pain and frustration of trying to navigate the writing journey while wondering whether you’re still even on the right road.

    Good mentors answer questions you don’t even know to ask, so you don’t have to struggle alone to come up with a novel idea or polish the one you have. They help you find […]

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    Come and Play During Storyaday May

    By WU Advertiser / April 23, 2022 / Comments Off on Come and Play During Storyaday May


    Whether you’re easing back into a writing routine, need a break from your magnum opus, or just want to inject a little fun into your day…

    YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE STORYADAY MAY CHALLENGE

    New For 2022: 2 Ways To Play

    This year, for the first time, I’ve created a Fun-Size StoryADay challenge—one month, one story—to ease you (back) into a daily writing practice that fits your life.

    Your Perfect Writing Day

    Imagine opening your email each morning of May and finding an encouraging note, writing prompt or tiny task that will start you off on the right writing foot.

    No guilt, just an invitation to let your inner writer come out and play.

    What’s In the Fun-Size Challenge?

    Each day you’ll receive a tiny task to lead you through the process of writing one story during the month

  • Week 1 – Ideas and preparation
  • Week 2 – Developing your ideas and beginning to write
  • Week 3 – Working through the middle and ending the story well
  • Week 4 – Tidying up and planning ahead
  • PLUS anyone who signs up will have the option to enter the ‘review lottery’ and may get feedback on their writing, live on a group call.

    By the end of the month you will have a draft of a story that didn’t exist 31 days before.

    Perhaps you, like StoryADay writers Gabrielle, Marta, Kim, and Lex, will have created the draft that gets you your first, second or fiftieth fiction publication.

    Or maybe, like Laura, or E. Rankin, you’ll make your first paid sale.

    And how great would it be if, at the end of May, you are like StoryADay writer Michele who finally created “that daily writing habit”, or Robin who says “I have become a real writer”? Or Jeff, who says “every day, I have that desire to put in a little time with my writing and I’m confident that will always be there for me, now.”

    Even if you need to take a day or two off, the tasks are manageable enough that you’ll easily be able to keep up. Importantly, you’ll keep making progress towards your goals, throughout the month.

    (And don’t worry, for all you hard-core challenge fans, the classic 31 days, 31 prompts, start-and-finish-a-story-every-day version is still an option, with new writing prompts every day, and a lively community to keep you going!)

    If you’ve been looking for a way to break through your blocks, fight the fear that comes with perfectionism and high expectations, and simply have some fun with your writing again, join us this May for the free StoryADay May challenge.

    SIGN UP NOW

    (No need to decide which version of the challenge you want to try. Simply sign up HERE and I’ll send you all the details)

    ###

    Thanks,
    Julie Duffy

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    Blueprint for a Book Retreat

    By WU Advertiser / March 20, 2022 / Comments Off on Blueprint for a Book Retreat

    One of the main reasons people drag their feet on writing a book is that it feels like a giant commitment to make before you know if your book idea is any good. For some writers, the thought of writing 250 pages that go nowhere is terrifying. It’s like pouring time, energy, and money into a black hole.

    Wouldn’t it be so much better to KNOW that you had an idea worth pursuing and that you were on the right track?

    That’s what the Blueprint for a Book method is meant to do. Designed by six-figure author, book coach, and Author Accelerator CEO Jennie Nash, the Blueprint for a Book framework provides authors with a 14-step roadmap for your book so you exactly how to write forward.

    In Author Accelerator’s inaugural Blueprint for a Book Retreat, ten writers will work through the Blueprint with an Author Accelerator certified book coach over the course of several weeks. The program includes a writing retreat in Dubrovnik, Croatia in September, with the opportunity to meet your book coach in person and work together through your book’s next steps.

    Blueprint for a Book Retreat

  • Coaching begins in early August 2022
  • Retreat in Dubrovnik: September 22-25, 2022
  • Book coaching continues following the retreat
  • What will this unique writers’ retreat give you?

  • Answers to 14 foundational questions about your book.
  • Valuable feedback, accountability, and project management from an Author Accelerator certified book coach.
  • Honest feedback on every word you write.
  • A detailed roadmap for your book so you know exactly how to write forward.
  • New tools you can use with everything you write.
  • A cohort of like-minded writers to support and cheer you on as you go.
  • Have questions or just curious to learn more? Click HERE.

    Or ask Jennie your questions at Author Accelerator’s upcoming Q&A Session for Writers on April 14th at 1pm PT / 4pm ET. Click HERE to sign up!

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    A BREAKTHROUGH Experience for Writers of Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Horror

    By WU Advertiser / February 26, 2022 / Comments Off on A BREAKTHROUGH Experience for Writers of Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Horror

    Have you ever wished that you could attend your own private writing workshop that would teach you exactly what you need to know, at the right pace for you, and respond to your questions, problems, and needs in extensive one-on-one sessions?  That’s what Your Personal Odyssey is.

    * The Renowned Odyssey Lectures
    * Expert Feedback
    * Deep Mentoring
    * Directed study with Jeanne Cavelos,
    former senior editor at Bantam Doubleday Dell
    & winner of the World Fantasy Award

    Apply for the Session Best for You:
    June 6 (6 weeks)
    August 8 (3 months)
    November 14 (6 months)
    About the Program:

    For 26 years, the Odyssey Writing Workshops Charitable Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has offered its world-renowned, 6-week workshop, helping writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror make major improvements in their work.  Fifty-nine percent of graduates have been professionally published, and among graduates are award winners, Amazon bestsellers, and New York Times bestsellers.

     Now Odyssey is transforming into a breakthrough new program.  Students taking Your Personal Odyssey will receive the inspiring, transformative learning experience Odyssey is known for, but that experience will be customized to be more responsive to how each writer works and what each writer needs.

    Your Personal Odyssey combines the intensive, advanced Odyssey lectures with expert feedback and deep mentoring in an experience designed to maximize learning and improvement for each student.

    Odyssey is a phenomenal experience!  Jeanne works tirelessly to help each student grow and make meaningful progress by providing detailed critiques and meeting individually

    to develop learning goals and plans to achieve those goals.  Odyssey is truly life changing, and I can’t recommend it enough.

    –Meg Moira, Odyssey 2021

    Guest Lecturers:

    Brandon Sanderson, P. Djélì Clark, Barbara Ashford, Melissa Scott, Sheree Renée Thomas, Meagan Spooner, Gregory Ashe, E. C. Ambrose, Nisi Shawl, Scott H. Andrews, and Eric James Stone


    Guest Critiquers:

    F. Kuang, Elizabeth Hand, Kate Alice Marshall, Scott H. Andrews, Arley Sorg, and Neil Clarke

    Financial Aid:

    Six scholarships are available.

    Your Personal Odyssey will help you follow the unique path that is most helpful for you, that teaches you the skills you need to improve the most.

    Make no mistake, Odyssey will tear away all your comforting delusions about yourself as a writer. But something happens along the way, a painful—but ultimately hugely rewarding–process of discovering true worth, ability, and uniqueness that replaces those false delusions with the truth: you have a story to tell, and only you can tell it.

    –Meagan Spooner, New York Times bestselling author and Odyssey 2009 graduate

    Become the writer you’ve always known you could be!
    Application Deadline: April 1

    Odyssey also offers many resources for writers, including a podcast, online monthly discussion salon, blog, critique service, coaching, consultations, webinars, and online classes.

    Visit www.odysseyworkshop.org

    Questions? Email: jcavelos@odysseyworkshop.org

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    How to Make This Your Novel Year

    By WU Advertiser / January 30, 2022 / Comments Off on How to Make This Your Novel Year

    Hey there, WU Community, it’s Kathryn Craft here. We may have met—if not at one of the UnConferences, then in the comments of one of my posts. You may have noticed my ad on the sidebar this month. I’d love to tell you more about how my two great loves—writing and teaching—resulted in my program, Your Novel Year.

    The ground was laid twenty years ago. After floundering my way through my first novel, I knew I needed more education. Not in writing—I’d already been a published dance critic for two decades—but in storytelling. Since an MFA doesn’t necessarily help you get published, I took the $20K+ I would have spent on one and sought out amazing instructors to teach me how to structure a story that actually worked.

    That took me ten years.

    Now, anyone who knows me will tell you that I’ve learned all of my most valuable life lessons in the School of Hard Knocks, but eventually I started to wonder: did my education in storytelling really need to be one of them?

    If a magic wand would allow me to do it all over again—but better!—I’d:

  • arrange all the lessons I’d learned in a logical order
  • ask why story craft works sooner, so I’d have tools to use instead of rules to follow
  • compress those lessons into one year so I could apply them while drafting
  • identify an experienced editor—not a fellow novice—who could tell me when I was drifting off premise
  • find a capable moderator who’d ensure that small group interactions were useful
  • seek a mentor who could hold me to my goals, encourage me, and patiently re-explain with new examples when needed
  • spend a fraction of that money on a cohesive education so I still had funds to apply to marketing my novel when it was published
  • While I can’t go back, this wish list got me thinking. It would certainly bestow greater meaning to my life’s twisty journey if I could apply my teaching degree, my publishing experience, my fifteen years as a developmental editor and conference presenter—and that PhD equivalency from the School of Hard Knocks—to smoothing the path for those struggling with their own novels. So five years ago, I took all of these crinkled shoulda-coulda-wouldas, ironed them out, and used them to create my “Your Novel Year” program. A year of craft workshops, discussions, and feedback that participants can apply while drafting or revising their novels.

    Sound useful? My credentials, testimonials, and fees are in my brochure, HERE. If this program would suit you, I’d love to hear from you as soon as possible! I’ve been holding off the first workshop until the program fills, but we are getting ready to roll. Only two more slots exist. It would be my privilege to help you make 2022 Your Novel Year.

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    Be Your Own Best Editor by Katey Schultz

    By WU Advertiser / January 23, 2022 /

    Hi, I’m Katey and I support writers by teaching them how to apply thinking to language and integrate writing into their lives, sustainably. When I talk to writers, they often tell me they struggle with the revision process: what to change, why to change it, and how. In my Monthly Mentorship course, I help writers identify the invisible, decision-making moments of their creative processes. From there, I teach them how to use a unique, introspective process that helps them make their next best move on the page, over and over again.

    When students run into craft concerns, rather than shoot an email to a friend or give up, I teach them how to coach themselves by naming the challenge, then reflecting on the decisions made that brought them to that point. If we can name the decisions, we can then question them, which allows a space for a different decision–perhaps a more effective one–to arise. From there, we can write our way forward and see how this slight pivot feels. If it still doesn’t feel clear, I encourage students to learn how to leave their cues on the page and write past the trouble spot, trusting that they have tools for returning to it later. A foundational concept of Monthly Mentorship is that writers don’t have to solve all the challenges or make every word perfect before moving on. I believe writers need to learn to trust that writing is fluid and circuitous, and clarity comes in waves.

    This is an important concept because if we stop writing, if we think we can’t solve problems without external input, we’ll never experience that deeply private, deeply impactful, sense of momentum. We’ll never coach ourselves and we’ll never learn how to become our own best editor.

    This kind of work is invisible to our readers and publishers, and that’s fine. They read for entertainment and discovery, which is what we want. They don’t need to be able to see the micro-decisions we make along the way. But we need to be able to see them.

    That’s why being coached in how to coach ourselves is an absolute must when it comes to successfully writing for the long haul. It empowers us to become better writers on our own…not just for one project, but for every project…and we can do so with confidence as the years unfold.

    Because I’ve taught my Monthly Mentees the structural components of prose and they’ve seen how other writers in their Mentorship cohort work with this concept, they can now take that tool and make it their own. Flash forward five years and onto a different writing project, the writer has that tool for herself and knows immediately to modify it to that manuscript’s needs, and proceed. They’ve become their own best editor.

    If you’re ready for the deeper dive, explore what Monthly Mentorship is all about right here, then fill out the questionnaire and I’ll reach out for a free video or phone consult to discuss your goals, needs, and the best path toward becoming your own best editor, for life. The program for 2022-23 is already filling, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

    Learn more

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    The Fiction Intensive Virtual Writing Conference

    By WU Advertiser / October 30, 2021 / Comments Off on The Fiction Intensive Virtual Writing Conference

    The Fiction Intensive Virtual Writing Conference
    Take your project to the next level.
    Virtual (Zoom)
    November 5-6, 2021 

    Are you ready to pursue your publishing dreams? At the Fiction Intensive you’ll…

    * Master new skills.

    * Sharpen your writing.

    * Elevate your storytelling.

    * Increase your book’s visibility.

    Whether you’re new to the writing scene or a seasoned author, this conference offers strategic ways to improve your writing and guidance on what to do once your manuscript is complete.

    Join other writers from around the world in this event focused on excellence in fiction writing, where you will hear seminars and panels from professional editors, award-winning authors, experienced agents, marketing experts, and some of the country’s top fiction instructors.

    Speakers:
    Donald Maass (literary agent and writing expert)
    Don Bentley (bestselling author)
    Bethany Jett (author and marketing expert)
    Cyle Young (literary agent)
    Lynne Constantine (international bestselling author)
    Vincent B. Davis II (bestselling author and marketing expert)
    Marisa Corvisiero (literary agent)
    Tiffany Yates Martin (author and editor)
    KJ Howe (award-winning author)
    Tosca Lee (international bestselling author)
    Steven James (bestselling author and fiction instructor)

    You can write a better story. We’ll show you how. 

    We hope to see you there!

    Visit www.fictionintensive.com to register.

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    Backstory and Flashback: Monthly Mentorship with Katey Schultz

    By WU Advertiser / October 24, 2021 /

    Hi, I’m Katey Schultz and in my Monthly Mentorship program, I support writers by teaching them how to apply thinking to language and integrate writing into their lives, sustainably. We begin by studying sample texts, with the idea that we will eventually become practiced enough to apply whatever craft concept we’re working with, to our own work. In time, this approach improves a writer’s sense of clarity and independence in decision-making. Rather than thinking, “Ok, now what?”, MM writers learn how to decide and implement the best next steps in their drafts, based on the clues they have left themselves on the page.

    What to Leave In, What to Leave Out

    This month in Monthly Mentorship, we’re talking about structure. Structure is the actual building block of the prose itself. Scene, summary, exposition, backstory, flashback, etc. But selection is the content itself. How do you decide what to leave in, and what to leave out? What if you don’t know how to find the “clues” you’ve left yourself on the page? Which details matter, which flashbacks can be cut, and where will fewer words have a greater impact than extraneous words?

    By studying writers such as Raymond Carver, Joseph Bathanti, Mary Clearman Blew, Bill Roorbach and Rebecca McClanahan, and by working through the Integrative Assignment and craft lecture I provided, we are starting to answer these questions and make real changes to our drafts. We’re even experimenting with imitation! And even writers generating new, first drafts, can benefit from considering structure and the precise selection of their content. Which details will drive a plot? Which details will deflate it? How can the germinating idea for a piece of writing give us a clue about what needs to happen next?

    Connective Threads

    Paired with the prompts I’ve been providing for existing drafts or generating new writing, plus our livestream group conversations during Office Hours and Master Class, this month of study together is already making a real difference. The novelists in my program have clarity around their secondary characters, and what details to select based on the impact the novel needs at a certain juncture. Essayists in my program are considering their connective threads, and how they can be less subtle about stakes. Short story writers are looking at obstacles and making sure their characters have them, and that they appear using the most effective structural component of prose for their piece.

    Become your own best editor

    Curious about how to become your own best editor and writing coach? Intrigued by some of what I’ve said here? (For instance, do you know the difference between backstory and flashback? Or how structure and plot are interrelated?) Email me and ask a question about this post, or tell me about your own struggles. Let’s keep the conversation going.

    If you’re ready for the deeper dive, explore what Monthly Mentorship is all about right here, then fill out the questionnaire and I’ll reach out for a free video or phone consult to discuss your goals, needs, and the best path toward becoming your own best editor, for life. The program for 2022-23 is already filling, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

    Visit KateySchultz.com today to learn more!

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    Have You Ever Struggled With Book Cover Ideas?

    By WU Advertiser / October 10, 2021 /

    A good writer can transform any idea into a captivating, intriguing story. In writing, masterful execution can compensate for a mediocre idea. 

    You couldn’t say the same about book cover design as it’s, first and foremost, a marketing tool. 

    A proper cover should target a book’s genre, cater to your target audience’s preferences, and intrigue the viewer. A good idea — the main pillar of an effective cover design — helps achieve that. 

    So

    As a writer, you have two challenges: 

  • coming up with a good book cover idea;
  • finding a designer that can execute it well.
  • Here at MiblArt – book cover design company, we can help you with both challenges.

    If you ever struggled with a book cover idea or were unsure about the ones you have, we can provide you with ideas and consulting for free. 

    MiblArt team works with any fiction and nonfiction genres and has already helped dozens of authors get the covers that do their books justice.

    As for the book cover design itself, we offer 

  • No prepayment; You pay only when you love the final result.
  • Unlimited revisions;
  • 1 month of free revisions;
  • Quick turnaround (you get the first cover concept within 5 business days);
  • Take a look at the cover examples we have recently done.

    We want to help you get the book cover you’ll love. And if you need help with a book cover idea, feel free to contact us 

    Get cover idea or consulting for free

    What’s the most challenging thing for you during the book cover design process? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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