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If you want to learn
how to write a story, but aren’t quite ready yet to hunker down and
write 10,000 words or so a week, this is
the course for you. Build Your Novel Scene by Scene will
offer you the impetus, the guidance, the support, and the deadline you
need to finally stop talking, start writing, and, ultimately, complete
that novel you always said you wanted to write.
We'll walk through the entire novel-writing process together, from
day one to a completed draft. To begin, we'll think about whether
or not your novel concept can sustain 200+ pages. We’ll spend time
doing the important work of outlining and assessing the narrative
arc of your story. We’ll think more deeply about your characters, their
desires, and their motivations. Then, the bulk of these next few weeks
will be spent writing your novel scene by scene by scene.
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- How
to develop “novel worthy” ideas;
- How
to create compelling, complex characters;
- The
fundamentals of narrative arc;
- Techniques
for outlining your novel;
- Proven
strategies for writing your novel, start to finish, scene by scene
- and
much
more!
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Course Starts Thursday!
January 28 - April 22
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Instructor:
Mark Spencer
Mark Spencer is the
author of the novels An
Untimely Frost, Ghost Walking, The Masked Demon, The Weary Motel (Omaha
Prize for the Novel, Faulkner Award for the Novel), and Love and Reruns in Adams County;
the best-selling nonfiction novel A Haunted Love Story: the Ghosts of the Allen
House; as well as the short-story collections Wedlock, Spying on Lovers (Bradshaw
Book Award), and Trespassers.
Mark is a professor of English and Creative Writing in the MFA program
and Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities at the University of
Arkansas at Monticello. Several times, Mark has been named to Who’s Who
Among America’s Teachers.
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Querying for Success
In this live webinar, instructor and literary agent Carlisle Webber
will show you how to grab an agent's attention with your query letter.
A critique of your query letter comes with your registration and the
final part of the webinar will include a live, anonymous query
critique.
Thursday!
January 28,
2021
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Writing Romance in Today's Market
In this live webinar, Kimberly Brower will provide an overview of
today's romance market, tips on making your novel the best it can be,
and information on the best ways to submit to agents.
February 11,
2021
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Copyediting Certificate Program
This workshop will provide training for aspiring copy editors in order
to give them practical and marketable workplace skills. If you complete
all the assignments and pass the comprehensive test, you will receive
documentation from Writer's Digest of your completion of the
Copyediting Certificate Program.
February 4 -
April 15
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As many writers
know, agents and editors won't give your work more than ten pages or so
to make an impact. Make sure you've got the kind of opening they're
looking for! In this invaluable event, you'll get to work with an agent
online to review and refine the first ten pages of your novel.
Work directly with
an agent from the comfort of your home!
Your
Registration Includes:
- 60-minute
online tutorial presented by agent and editor Paula Munier
- Online
Q&A session hosted by Talcott Notch Literary Services
- Networking
opportunities with your peers
- Feedback
from an agent on your first ten pages
Get personalized
feedback from agents with the Talcott Notch Literary Agency!
If your submission shows promise, they may ask you for additional
pages.
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8
Ways to Write a 5-Star Chapter One
When you
decide to go to a restaurant for a special dinner, you enjoy the
anticipation. You’ve committed to spending sufficient time and money,
and now you’ve arrived, and the place looks good and smells good. You
smile and order an appetizer. When it comes, you enjoy it as a
foretaste of the larger, more complex courses that will follow, but you
also savor it for what it is: a delicious dish, complete in itself. If
it’s a truly great appetizer, you recognize it as an exquisite blend of
flavor, texture and temperature. And you’re happy, because you know
you’ll be in good hands for the entire evening.
(10 ways
to start your story better.)
Isn’t that what it’s
like to begin reading a terrific book?
The first chapter is
the appetizer—small, yet so tremendously important. And so full of
potential. Read the
full article...
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Grist’s
solutions lab, Fix is launching a short story contest, Imagine
2200: Climate fiction for future ancestors. Submissions
close April 12. Imagine 2200 calls for stories (3,000–5,000 words) that
envision a just, and regenerative future. Winners will be awarded
$3000, $2000, and $1000 respectively, and nine additional finalists
will each receive a $300 honorarium. Winners and finalists will be
published in Grist Magazine. Judges include Adrienne Maree Brown, Kiese
Laymon, and Morgan Jerkins.
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Plot Twist Story Prompts: Take a Trip
For
today's prompt, have a character take a trip somewhere. It could be as
small as walking to the local convenience store for some milk or as
exotic as a trip to a foreign land. The point is to start in one
location and move to another.
(How to
Map Your Fantasy World.)
Travel itself
necessitates change in the plot, and locale is definitely something to
consider. But don't stop there. Consider how the travel occurs. Is it
by plane, train, or automobile? Carriage, balloon, or rickshaw? Perhaps
on foot or horseback? Mode of transport can play a big role in how it
impacts the story.
For instance,
traveling by bus may give your character the opportunity to strike up a
conversation with another character. However, it's hard to converse
with someone while rolling down the interstate on a Harley. Speaking of
which, a character on a Harley may give off different vibes than
someone on a moped or bicycle.
Read More...
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Looking for an
excellent publisher?
Atmosphere
Press is an independent full-service publisher for
books of all genres, from fiction to
poetry to non-fiction to children's picture books, and
beyond. Atmosphere’s exceptional editorial, design, and promotional
team embraces an author-friendly approach to getting your book out into
the world. They use a collaborative publishing model,
allowing you to retain your rights while Atmosphere helps make your
book awesome.
Submit your
full-length manuscript by January 31st
with no reading fee at atmospherepress.com/books/guidelines.
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This Week in Writing
1/25—Robert
Burns born 1759
1/25—W. Somerset Maugham born 1874
1/25—Virginia Woolf born 1882 (9 Woolf
quotes about writing)
1/27—Lewis Carroll born 1832
1/27—John Updike died 2009
1/27—J.D. Salinger died 2010
1/28—William Butler Yeats died 1939
1/28—The Shining
published 1977 (10 great
horror books)
1/29—Thomas Paine born 1737
1/29—Anton Chekhov born 1860
1/29—Robert Frost died 1963 (10 best
winter poems)
1/31—Zane Grey born 1872
1/31—Kenzaburo Oe born 1935
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Robert Lee
Brewer
Robert Lee
Brewer is a senior editor for Writer's Digest and former editor
of the Writer's Market book series. He is also the author of Smash Poetry Journal
and Solving the
World's Problems. Find him on Twitter at @RobertLeeBrewer
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Active Interest Media
5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA
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Active Interest Media, 5710 Flatiron Parkway, Suite A,
Boulder, Colorado 80301, USA
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This Week's
Webinar:
Querying
for Success: What Attracts an Agent to Your Submission
with Carlisle
Webber
January 28, 1:00 PM EST
Your query letter is the first interaction you and your
book have with an agent. If getting an agent is a job, this is your job
interview. In this live webinar, instructor and literary agent Carlisle
Webber will show you how to grab an agent's attention with your query
letter. A critique of your query letter comes with your registration
and the final part of the webinar will include a live, anonymous query
critique.
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Courses
Starting This Week:
Writing
Historical Fiction
Instructor: Donna
Russo Morin
In this workshop, you'll learn everything you need to know about
writing a historical novel. This includes how to find the facts you
need, how to organize those facts, how to write scenes utilizing
historical markers, and more!
The Art
of Storytelling 101: Story Mapping and Pacing
Instructor: Gloria
Kempton
Discover how the seven core competencies of storytelling—concept,
character, voice, plot, theme, scene construction, and style—combine to
create compelling narrative.
Writing
the Middle Grade Book
Instructor: Holly
Alder
Any middle-grade book author will tell you that writing an effective
book is more challenging than reading one! Take this online workshop
and learn the essential elements of writing for kids and how to break
into children’s publishing.
Marketing
Your Magazine Articles
Instructor:
Jack Adler
Do you have a great idea for an article but don’t know what publication
would be the best fit? Develop the skills you need to market your
writing through this online writing workshop. Take a chance and pitch
your writing to editors—you might just see your work in print and get
paid too!
Form
and Composition
Instructor:
Kelly Boyer Sagert
Proper grammar, punctuation, and mechanics make your writing correct.
In order to truly write well, you must also master the art of form
and composition. From sentence structure to polishing your prose, this
workshop will enhance your writing, no matter what type of writing you
do.
Build
Your Novel Scene by Scene
Instructor:
Mark Spencer
If you want to learn how to write a story, but aren’t quite ready yet
to hunker down and write 10,000 words or so a week, this is the course
for you. Get the impetus, the guidance, the support, and the deadline
you need to finally stop talking, start writing, and, ultimately,
complete that novel you always said you wanted to write.
Read
Like a Writer: Learn from the Masters
Instructor:
Mark Spencer
Because there are no hard-and-fast rules to writing, it’s important to
study what other writers have done and how they consciously make
narrative decisions and meticulously select details based on audience
and purpose. This course will demonstrate that the best way to become a
good writer is to study the writing of others, especially the work of
the masters.
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Upcoming
Webinars:
Writing Romance in
Today's Market
with Kimberly
Brower
February 11, 1:00 PM EST
The number of romance authors out there is growing, as
is the market, so standing out amongst the masses is incredibly
important. In addition to writing an amazing story, there are also many
other decisions you must make. In this live webinar, Kimberly will
provide an overview of today's romance market, tips on making your
novel the best it can be, and information on the best ways to submit to
agents.
Blogging Strategies
That Work in 2021
with Jane
Friedman
March 11, 1:00 PM EST
There are a lot of mixed messages out there about
blogging. When pursued with knowledge of the craft, blogging can be one
of the straightforward paths to build and engage a readership over the
long term for authors. In this 90-minute webinar, Jane Friedman will
teach you the principles of strategic blogging for authors and the best
practices she’s learned since she started blogging consistently in
2008.
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Featured
Courses:
Copyediting
Certificate Program
Instructor:
Kelly Boyer Sagert
February 4 - April 15
This workshop will provide training for aspiring copy
editors in order to give them practical and marketable workplace
skills. If you complete all the assignments and pass the comprehensive
test, you will receive documentation from Writer's Digest of your
completion of the Copyediting Certificate Program.
Mastering Amazon for
Authors
Instructor:
Rob Eagar
February 25 - April 22
Enroll in one of the most popular courses at
WDU! Mastering Amazon for Authors is the premiere online
course designed to help you maximize book sales at the world’s largest
retailer. Learn inside secrets from Rob Eagar, one of the most accomplished
book marketing experts in America. Rob removes the guesswork from
publishing and promoting your books on Amazon.
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Upcoming Boot
Camp:
Agent One-on-One:
First 10 Pages Boot Camp
with Talcott
Notch Literary Services
February 25-28, 2021
As you may know, agents and editors won't give your work
more than ten pages or so to make an impact. In this invaluable event, you'll get to work directly
with an agent to review and refine the first ten
pages of your novel. You'll learn what keeps an agent reading, what are
the most common mistakes that make them stop, and the steps you need to
take to correct them.
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EXPERT INSTRUCTORS | CONVENIENT ACCESS
INVALUABLE FEEDBACK
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Active Interest Media
5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA
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Not sure if the
course is right for you? Click
here to
register for a FREE preview webinar!
Did you know? Amazon sells nearly 50% of all print books
and over 70% of all e-books in America. These facts present a major
wake-up call for authors. If you want your book to reach its full sales
potential, then you must learn how to sell more books on Amazon.
Failure to grasp this reality means dire consequences for your book
sales.
It doesn’t matter if you’re self-published or
traditionally-published…if you write fiction or non-fiction…if you’re a
first-time author or an experienced veteran. Today, success for every
author hinges upon selling more books on Amazon.
Mastering
Amazon for Authors is the premier online course designed to
help you maximize book sales at the world’s largest retailer. This
self-guided video course provides in-depth instruction for authors at
every level. Learn inside secrets from Rob Eagar, a top Writer’s Digest
instructor and one of the most accomplished book marketing experts in
America. Rob removes the guesswork from publishing and promoting your books
on Amazon. His expertise will show you how to:
- Convert more sales when
readers view your book on Amazon
- Secure more persuasive
customer reviews for free
- Get your books noticed
on Amazon's huge website
- Build your author email
list using Amazon's massive audience
- Create inexpensive
Amazon ads that drive readers to your books
- Self-publish e-books
and paperbacks using Amazon’s KDP system
Rob’s instructional videos take you behind the scenes
into Amazon’s system. Discover how to self-publish any type of fiction
or nonfiction book. Learn how to create effective book ads and boost
sales, no matter your genre or experience level. In addition, Rob is
available to answer your questions during the course to help you make
rapid progress.
RECEIVE 2 SPECIAL BONUSES WHEN YOU SIGN UP TODAY!
- Marketing expert Rob
Eagar will personally review one of your books on Amazon’s website
and provide written recommendations to help increase your sales!
- Get a FREE e-book from
Rob: The Author’s Guide to Write Text that Sells Books
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- "Rob is a personable, professional and
upbeat instructor who makes you want to get all you can out of
Amazon, as an author. Great information, well explained, with
valuable tips, lists, and handouts. Money well spent!"
- “I LOVED this course. The wealth of information
from Rob Eagar’s videos was beyond my expectations. And, reading
Rob’s answers to questions from other students was nearly as
informative, because I had many of the same questions myself.”
- "PHENOMENAL, ROB! Mind blown. So
comprehensive. I feel confident moving forward as I launch my book
in both paperback and Kindle form. I feel like I have the tools
now to confidently navigate Amazon."
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Instructor:
Rob Eagar
Learn from one of
the most accomplished book marketing experts in America. For over 10
years, Rob Eagar has coached more than 450 authors, consulted with
numerous publishing houses, and helped clients hit the New York Times bestseller
list three different ways, including new fiction, new non-fiction, and
backlist non-fiction. In 2007, he launched his consulting
practice, Wildfire
Marketing, to help authors sell books like wildfire. Today,
Rob routinely consults with authors who’ve made the New York Times, USA Today,
and Publishers
Weekly bestseller lists!
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Active Interest Media
5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA
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Your query letter is
the first interaction you and your book have with an agent. If getting
an agent is a job, this is your job interview. You've got to distill
your book into about 200 words, convincing an agent to read it while
not spoiling them on the major plot points. In this
live webinar, instructor and literary agent Carlisle Webber
will show you how to grab an agent's attention with your query letter.
What You'll Learn:
- The
information that absolutely must go in your query
- What
information to include about yourself when you query
- How
to capture your novel in just one page
- and
much
more!
All registrants are
guaranteed a written
critique of their query letter by literary agent
Carlisle Webber. For the final part of the webinar, Carlisle will
conduct several live, anonymous query critiques.
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Instructor:
Carlisle Webber
Carlisle Webber
worked as a public librarian for years before deciding to move to the
business side of publishing. She attended the Columbia Publishing
Course and holds a Professional Certificate in Editing from UC
Berkeley. She is now an agent with Fuse Literary representing
high-concept commercial fiction for children, teens, and adults.
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Active Interest Media
5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 USA
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It’s time
that self-published authors earn the respect they deserve. All
that time you spent writing and rewriting, editing, and making
your own choices about covers, layout, and distribution
shouldn’t go unnoticed!
That’s why Writer’s Digest has been honoring self-publishing
writers for 29 years with the Self-Published Book Awards.
Here’s the
scoop: Submit your self-published, printed and bound book in
one of eight categories (mainstream/literary fiction, genre fiction,
nonfiction/reference, inspirational, life stories, early
reader/children’s picture books, middle-grade/young adult,
poetry) for a chance at:
- A Grand Prize
package that includes $8,000, a trip to New York City for
the Annual Writer’s Digest Conference and a feature
article about you and your book in the March/April 2022
issue of Writer’s
Digest.
- One of eight
First Place prize packages that include $1,000 in each
respective category and promotion in the March/April 2022
issue of Writer’s
Digest.
Every entrant
will also receive a brief commentary from one of our qualified
readers—all who have experience in their respective categories
and/or the publishing world.
Ready to earn the recognition you deserve? Send us your book,
which must have been published between 2016 and now, and we’ll
take care of the rest. You’ll be well on your way!
The best deal on entering will expire on April 1, so enter now!
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