Sept. 9, 2016
Oakland, California
Hi Friend,
Recently a friend was doing a business attunement on me and asked me how I'm having fun.
I said, "Road trip!"
As you read this, I'm in LA at StoryExpo. We've driven down there from Oakland.
I like driving. I like getting out of town.
I need new vistas to have new ideas.
Travel is one of the ways I play.
How about you?
How do you play?
Are you bringing play into your writing space?
First, I like time-bound challenges. I think 30 days is doable. It's a month. It's an organic container most people can relate to.
Second, I need a roadmap: a way to start, continue, and finish, so I can get off the ride and move to the next stage.
Third, the process needs to be fun.
What's fun for me may not be fun for you, granted.
So define the characteristics of fun for you and incorporate those into your novel planning space.
Here's how:
1. List 3-5 items (or more) that make creative writing fun.
For example: I like short activities; writing in cafes; writing to music; a road map; reading aloud the day's work; anticipation for the next even more rewarding stage; a sense of progress; time and space to daydream.
2. How can you integrate 1 or all of your fun qualities or activities into your writing and planning time?
My items are pretty self-explanatory, but it wasn't always that way.
I wanted a roadmap for many years before I finally had enough experience to create one for myself.
Roadmaps are practical, useful, and can help diagnose where you're lost.
Writers who have taken the course in years past have told me how useful the class is:
"I found that even though I feel I know my main character quite well, asking about these details clarified things I hadn’t thought much about... " --Diana Pardee, writer, creative entrepreneur
"The novel that has been perplexing me for months upon months is now moving steadily along and the characters in the story went way further than the interview modes to share their favorite songs ... and memories along with the important turning points for the story that had eluded me all this time..." --Louise Foerster, Author
If bringing play into your novel planning process is what you want, then come join us for the October 2016 Plan Your Novel course.
Registration is now open and closes on Sept. 30.
(If you have a student coupon code, be sure to use it. Email me if you misplaced it. :) )
♥ FUN UPCOMING EVENTS
September 14, 10 am PT/1pm ET: "For Novelists, Beyond the 5 Sense: Deepen Your Connection with Your Readers" (Special TED-Practice Talk)
You're invited!
Free and open to my community.
I will be practicing a potential TED talk with my community as a graduation from my speech writing class with KC Baker.
Zoom call-in details here:
This call will be recorded, but private for my use only, since it's a practice talk.
I'll send 2 more reminders: day before and day of.
September 27, 5 pm PT: Special Community Webinar on Getting Ready for Nanowrimo
Free and open to my community. Ezra and I will be sharing some fun tips on how we get ready for Nanowrimo. We'll also be announcing winners, giving away prizes, and generally having a great time with you.
Zoom call-in details coming soon. This call will be recorded and available to all who sign up for it.
October 1-31, 2016: Plan Your Novel 30-Day Plan Your Novel course
If you've been stuck on planning your novel, the problem may be that there isn't enough conflict; that you don't know your characters well enough; or, you've lost your why. Or something else. Like not knowing where to begin.
In our Plan Your Novel course, we give you a roadmap, help you heighten your conflict, help you get to know your characters better, and encourage to discover your why alongside your character's motivations.
If you want to have fun while planning that novel you've always wanted to write, and get ready for National Novel Writing Month that starts November 1st, then come join us. We'd love to have you!
Sign up here:
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