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Timons “Tim” Esaias Offers Full Day with Selected Elements of Style and Improving Prose

01 Saturday Feb 2020

Posted by dtkrippene in Program Speakers, Write Stuff Writers Conference™

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Timon Esaias, Writing, Writing Conferences, Writing Craft, Writing Fiction, Writing Poetry, Writing Workshops

Esaias-pic-1

Tim Esaias

Timons “Tim” Esaias, adjunct professor at Seton Hill University for the Masters level program in writing popular fiction, will open the GLVWG Write Stuff Writers Conference™, “2020 Vision”, on Thursday, March 12, at the Best Western Lehigh Valley Hotel & Conference Center.

He will conduct a two half-day sessions on Thursday, March 12:  

What to Put In & What to Take Out:

How to remove meaningless stuff from your prose, and put content back in.

Selected Elements of Style

Key rules, the genre differences, and how to think about the morass of conflicting advice 

 

Then on Saturday, March 14, Tim will facilitate four sessions: 

Getting Conflict on the Page

Don’t Be a Bobble Head

Those First Few Lines

Writing Poetry for Genre Markets

 

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Biography:

Timons Esaias lives in Pittsburgh, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood, with his wife who is a physician. He writes satire, speculative fiction, poetry, and the occasional essay. His work has appeared in over a dozen different countries, and fifteen languages. He has been a finalist for the British Science Fiction Award (1998) and the Rhysling Award (5 nominations, Third Place 1997), and he won the Asimov’s Readers’ Award for Poetry (2005). He is a member of the Pittsburgh Poetry Exchange; a Member Demeritus of the Worldwrights; and a certified Rogue in Lair #1 of the Rascals, Rogues & Rapscallions.

** Click “Continue Reading” for Tim Esaias Interview and course syllabus **

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The 2019 GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™ — The Grand Event

22 Friday Mar 2019

Posted by dtkrippene in GLVWG Conference Schedule, Write Stuff Writers Conference™

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Author Voice, Book Marketing, C.Y.L.E. Literary, Character Development, Firefly Hill Press, Handling Rejection, Self-Publishing, Splickety Publishing, Talcott Notch Literary Agency, Writing, Writing Conferences, Writing Craft, Writing Fiction, Writing Flash Fiction, YA

 

Ben Wolf
Ben Wolf
Charis Crowe
Charis Crowe
Janeen Ippolito
Janeen Ippolito
Donna Brennan
Donna Brennan
Kathryn Kraft
Kathryn Kraft
Dr. Larry Schardt
Dr. Larry Schardt
David E. Fessenden
David E. Fessenden
John Gibbs
John Gibbs

Day 3 – Main Event – March 23, 2019

GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™ 

 Over 20 Workshops, Agent/Editor pitch sessions, Marketing Consults

Lunch and Keynote address with Ben Wolf

Bookfair, Flash Literature Writing Contest, and Door Prizes

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Dawn Sooy – Conference Chair

Announcements in Lehigh Room 7:30 AM – 8:20 AM

2019 Floor Plan corrected

Map of Rooms – So You Don’t Get Lost

********************

 

Debora Riley-Magnus
Debora Riley-Magnus
Donna Galanti
Donna Galanti
Danielle Modafferi - Firefly Hill Press
Danielle Modafferi – Firefly Hill Press
Stephanie Kehr - C.Y.L.E. Literary
Stephanie Kehr – C.Y.L.E. Literary
Tia Mele
Tia Mele

Agent Pitches and Marketing Consults will run concurrent to workshops. Advance registration required. Please check your appointment times upon registration.

 

********************

 

Saturday Overview

Sessions run concurrent in Cedar Crest, Muhlenberg, Lafayette, & Moravian Rooms

Lunch in Salon A & B with Keynote Address by Ben Wolf

Book Fair, Flash Fiction Contest

Door Prizes announced during Book Fair (must be present to win)

Saturday Schedule

 

Program Syllabus – Morning

Schedule 8 AM

Schedule 8 AM 2

Schedule 9 AM

Schedule 10 AM

Schedule 10 AM 2

Schedule 11 AM

********************

 

Lunch with Keynote Speaker – Ben Wolf

In Salon B

Schedule Lunch

********************

 

Program Syllabus – Afternoon

Schedule 1 PM

Schedule 1 PM 2

Schedule 2 PM

 

*********************************

 

Flash Literature Contest 

Flash Literature - 2018 Conference
Flash Literature – 2018 Conference
Flash Literature - 2018 Conference
Flash Literature – 2018 Conference

Don’t forget to stop by the Lehigh Room to vote on this year’s entries for the 100 word Flash Literature Contest for Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry.  

Use the color-coded note cards in your registration booklet to cast your vote for your favorite entry in each category. You may only vote for one entry in each category. Place your ballot in the box provided. You must be registered at the conference to be eligible to vote.

 Voting ends at 2:30 p.m. Flash Fiction officials will then tally the votes and announce the winners at the book fair after 3:30 p.m. Winners need not be present. However, winnings may include a certificate for book fair purchase which must be used at the 2019 conference.

 

 

*********************************

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Book Fair – Contest Results – Door Prizes – Networking Opportunities

Contest Winners, Door Prizes (Must be present to win)

Book Fair — All published GLVWG members are eligible to participate in the book fair if registered in advance by March 3, 2019, with contact book fair coordinator Sandra Almonte at glvwg.bookfair@gmail.com.

Detailed instructions for selling your book(s) at the Book Fair, please click HERE.

 

2018 Book Fair
2018 Book Fair
2018 Door Prizes
2018 Door Prizes
2018 Book Fair
2018 Book Fair

 

5:00 PM — Conference closes

Check this website in the next couple of weeks, where we’ll post pictures of the conference.

 

*******************************************************************

Article by D.T. Krippene – Social Media Chair

Dan Central Park 3

You can find DT at his Website – “Searching For Light in the Darkness“

his Facebook Page, and Twitter @dtkrippene

 

 

An Interview with Donna Galanti

11 Monday Mar 2019

Posted by GLVWG Write Stuff™ Blog in Book Marketing, Write Stuff Writers Conference™

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Book Marketing, MG Author, Networking, Social Media, Writing, Writing Fiction, Writing Tips

Article by Susan Golden

 

Donna Galanti 2

Donna Galanti writes thrillers for kids and grownups. She is the author of the bestselling paranormal suspense Element Trilogy and the children’s fantasy adventure Joshua and The Lightning Road series. Donna is a contributing editor for International Thriller Writers the Big Thrill magazine, a writing contest judge at nycmidnight.com, and regularly presents as a guest author at schools and teaches at writing conferences. She lived in England as a child and was stationed in Hawaii as a U.S. Navy photographer.

GLVWG member, Susan Golden, asked Donna a few questions.

**********

If I were to meet you at a conference, what is something you would tell me about yourself that would be intriguing.

In high school in the 1980s I was obsessed with Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and dressed up as Aragorn (what I envisioned he would look like at the time). Of course, no one knew who I was in my cloak and boots. I am a fantasy reader and writer at heart.

What have you learned from the mistakes made in marketing a product?

Not realizing that I am marketing myself first, in many instances. People often want to connect to you as a person first, so they can then be drawn in to your product. Also, it’s key to build a subscriber list and a cheerleading team before you market a product so that it already has momentum to sell when it’s available.

What is the difference between marketing and selling?

With marketing, it’s important to remember that this is about being focused on what the consumer needs. Find their need and fill it. With selling, this is really all about focusing on sales, and how to increase numbers and product.

Do you have a favorite or suggested reading regarding marketing?

The Social Media Examiner is a good blog to follow to keep up with social media marketing trends. I also follow Neil Patel who has great podcasts with marketing tips through his Marketing School program.

Based on your experience as a contest judge, what are the biggest mistakes made in submissions and what advice would you give authors when selecting and submitting works in contests.

I see many of the same mistakes made over and over in submissions. I see overuse of exclamation marks, situations that are not believable, too much dialogue and not enough action/reaction/setting, too many characters and names, all telling and no showing, and head hopping. With fantasy, I see a lot of made-up lingo, places, names that bog down the story and pull me out of it. I would suggest when submitting short works, to make it simple. Have 2-3 characters we can connect with and care about. Add in sensory details to enrich the story and add in action/reaction between characters to show us about them and their motivations.

What is the greatest lesson you have learned from your experience in moving from fledgling author to success?

I wish I’d learned about how to write a book before writing my first book. I took writing workshops after I finished that first book and it required going back and fixing a ton of things! However, I don’t regret the learning that took place afterwards because it taught me how to write a better book from the beginning. Keep learning your craft and keep filling your writer’s toolbox. And remember that this writing business is not GOING to be easy – it’s going to be worth it! Visit my Writers Corner for inspiration, advice, and resources on writing.

What one thing would you like to relate to the audience?

As authors we get out of our comfort zone when we write, but we must also publicly get out of our comfort zone and into a new community comfort zone – online and in person. Through doing this, I’ve networked with all kinds of professionals in the publishing industry that have helped me get an agent, get a publisher, get blurbs, get exposure and more.

How to start? 

  • Join a writer organization, general one or genre-based. Search online by your region. “writer’s organizations” + “region”.
  • Attend writer meetups. Search http://www.meetup.com and create one if none available.
  • Follow and connect with authors you admire.
  • Check out the Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers and pick a few to follow and engage with.
  • Connect with other debut authors. Search online for “Debut Author” + “Year” your book releases. You can band together to do shared promotion.
  • Connect with readers before your book comes out. Book bloggers are your friend. Follow them online, comment on their blogs. Ask them to review your book, do a cover reveal, or a giveaway.
  • Position yourself as an expert and share what you know. Giving a talk in-person or being on someone else’s blog instantly positions you as an expert.
  • Build a subscriber list. A subscriber list is your direct line to your readers, whether a blog or newsletter list. It’s the only community list you own. What if Twitter or Facebook went away? How would you reach your community? Through email.
  • Start with who you know. Tip: run a Rafflecopter contest and have entrants follow your newsletter or blog for extra entries.

Donna will be available at the GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™ on Saturday, March 23, 2019 to provide marketing advice for conferees on a first come, first serve basis. To sign up for a consultation session, follow the instructions on the registration form. Your actual times for the consult will be assigned after registration is closed, and will be attached to conference materials upon signing in.

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Donna Galanti Books

 

You can find Donna at https://www.donnagalanti.com/ and learn more about her recent book series, available on Amazon.

Be sure to follow her Facebook Page, and Twitter Feed @DonnaGalanti.

 

________________________________________________________________________

Susan Golden Headshot  Article by Susan Golden

An Interview with Janeen Ippolito

21 Thursday Feb 2019

Posted by GLVWG Write Stuff™ Blog in Presenter Interviews, Write Stuff Writers Conference™

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Book Marketing, Writing, Writing Coach, Writing Conferences, Writing Craft, Writing Fiction, Writing Romance

Article by Dawn Sooy:

Janeen Ippolito Headshot

Last month, Dawn Sooy introduced Janeen Ippolito on our Write Stuff Conference™ blog.  Janeen is an experienced teacher, editor, author coach, marketer, and Editor-in-Chief of Uncommon Universes Press, a small science fiction and fantasy publishing house. She’s also the cohost of the podcast Indie Book Magic. Whether brainstorming a plot twist, developing a course, or analyzing marketing angles, she’s happiest when creating solutions that get unique words written, polished, published, and noticed in the ever-changing publishing industry.

Dawn had the chance to interview Janeen before the GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™, where Janeen will give a half-day seminar March 22: Book to Market: Tips to Package, Promote, and Publish Your Book, followed by March 23 courses: Fundamentals of Fiction – Inside Out, and How to Write Romantic Subplots.

**********

If I were to meet you at a conference, what is something you would tell me about yourself that would be intriguing. Please do not use anything from your bio.

 I’m synesthetic, which means I have cross-wired senses. I can see, taste, and feel sounds. I can also see scents and I have conceptual synesthesia, which deals with the perception of time within space. 

 Who is your favorite authors? Why were they favorites?

 Gail Carson Levine. She has such elegant, creative, precise middle grade fiction that is timeless and great for all ages. Malcolm Gladwell, Brene Brown, and Mark Kurlansky are favorite nonfiction authors for their unique voices, insight, and perceptions. P.G. Wodehouse and Agatha Christie are favorites for their pitch-perfect humor and plotting, and are two inspirations for my own writing. 

 There are times when people relax at home, the read, crochet, and color in the Mandela pattern books. What is your favorite pastime when relaxing?

 Wood burning! I love sitting down and burning patterns and images into wood.

 What are common traps for aspiring writers?

1. Not taking time to understand your unique goals and reasons for writing. 

2. Giving up too soon. Writing is a learning process. The more you write, the better you’ll get. 

3. Writing in a genre you haven’t read at all. There are conventions, tropes, and word usages common to each genre. 

4. Comparing yourself, your process, or your journey to other writers. Every writer is unique. Focus on doing you and let others do them.

5. Publishing too soon. Invest in a good critique group. Invest in beta readers. Invest in craft improvement. Invest in an editor. Your work doesn’t have to be perfect (and it never will be), but make sure it meets a certain standard of quality. 

If you wrote a letter to your younger self, what would you say?

 You’re going to be okay. Relax and ease up on yourself. Follow your gut more and trust the journey. 

 How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? Do you have any plans for them?

 About 10, I think. There will be more. Since trying out drafts and abandoning them is part of my process, so there are a lot of relics on the road to publication! I have no interest in publishing any of my unpublished works or half-finished books, because the parts I like have already been recycled into better works.

 Question – What age did you start writing? What was your favorite genre at that time, and why?

 I started writing at age thirteen. At that time, my favorite genres were science fiction, fantasy, and mystery. I was raised with science fiction and fantasy, and I love the puzzle aspect of mysteries. 

 What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

 For my fiction, I do quite a bit of world building research and characterization research. However, I start writing while doing research. I pause and dig up ideas along the way. The first draft is part of my research process. I learn through the story what I need to learn more about. It usually takes me several attempts to get a draft I’m confident with, but on the plus side, I don’t have the months of pre-draft prep!

 What one thing would you give up to become a better writer?

 Pride. And I continually have to give it up to learn more! My writing process is nonlinear and always shifting, so I’m always learning new things, making new failures, and learning from those failures. Perseverance and humility are two essentials for writing success!

 You have two books published on World Building. What is the difference between these two books? Is one better than the other to use? 

World Building From the Inside Out – Textbook + Workbook is a quick-start reference guide and primer for world building with a strong cultural bent.

I wrote the textbook because I couldn’t find something out there that was quick, easy, and people-oriented (aka, how will your characters act within their culture) rather than place oriented (let’s make up names for the moon and stars and plants and etc).

I wrote the workbook because literally, a review said “can I get a workbook?” The workbook is separate so that you can flip through the textbook with one hand while writing down your answers in the workbook. 

 Irresistible World Building for Unforgettable Stories is a creative writing guide. It explains how to weave the world building you’ve created into your plot, characterization, and story themes. I wrote this book on client demand because I saw that authors would create these great fantasy worlds, but wouldn’t use those elements effectively within key story beats. So I created a resource to help!

Since they cover different aspects, writers will either buy one book (set of two) or the other, based on their need. But they often buy all three!

To read more on Janeen, visit:

·         Author Website: http://www.janeenippolito.com

·         Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/janeenippolitollc/

·         Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaneenIppolito

·         Instagram: @janeen_ippolito

·         Interview – World Building with Janeen Ippolito 

 

And don’t forget to check out her book series: The Ironfire Legacy

 

Janeen Book Cover 1
Janeen Book Cover 2
Janeen Book Cover 3

 

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Article by Write Stuff Conference Chair – Dawn Sooy

Dawn Headshot Updated

Dawn is a native of Eastern Pennsylvania, with plenty of experience the four seasons have to offer. Armed with a Computer Science degree, she worked in the tech industry until 2012. As an animal lover, she volunteers at the local animal shelter, sneaking in treats for the four-legged residents.

As a member of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group, Dawn fulfills the duties of Secretary, Conference Chair for the 2019 GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™, and is part of the 2019 Anthology team. She has published six short stories, the most recent, “Love Knows No Boundaries,” featured in the 2017 GLVWG anthology, “Write Here – Write Now.” She plans to contribute a story to the 2019 GLVWG anthology “Rewriting the Past.”

“From the Darkness” is her first novel, self-published in March 2018. This is based on a true story about a woman with bipolar depression.

Dawn and her husband Bob reside in Kempton, PA. Between them, they have four children, two grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Meet Janeen Ippolito — Presenter for the GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™ 2019

20 Sunday Jan 2019

Posted by GLVWG Write Stuff™ Blog in Write Stuff Conference Presenter, Write Stuff Writers Conference™

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Tags

Book Marketing, Writing, Writing Coach, Writing Conferences, Writing Fiction, Writing Romance

 

janeen ippolito headshot 2

“I’m Janeen Ippolito, and I’m determined to see the world filled with amazing books and endless to-be-read piles. I write speculative fiction and creative writing and marketing resources. I’m also an experienced entrepreneur, author coach, editor, teacher, and the president of Uncommon Universes Press. Whether brainstorming a plot twist, developing a course, or analyzing marketing angles, I’m happiest when creating solutions that get your books polished and noticed in the ever-changing publishing industry.”

janeen ippolito logo

Article by Dawn Sooy

In her spare time, Janeen enjoys sword-fighting, reading, pyrography, and eating brownie batter. Two of her goals are eating fried tarantulas (Hmm- do they shave the hair first? Janeen: sometimes! They didn’t when I ate some freeze dried tarantulas. Had an interesting texture.) and traveling to Antarctica.

Janeen is an Air Force kid raised all over the East Coast. She went to college in 2005 to study cross-cultural communication, writing, and teaching English as a second language.

Janeen lives in Berwick, PA across the street from the town’s prettiest cemetery, which she often walks around to clear her mind. Her favorite writing beverage is water (room temperature, no ice), her favorite color is dark red, and she has been known to write tragic scenes to fluffy pop songs. She also tends to solve problems while cleaning her house. She’s slightly addicted to buying book swag, especially when it involves dragons.

Plan to attend her Friday Afternoon Class – Book to Market: Tips to Package, Promote, and Publish Your Book. Should you aim for a traditional publisher or try to publish yourself? Is there a way to make selling books easier? And what social media should you really be using? Get clarity on your publishing and marketing options from publishing industry pro and marketing coach Janeen Ippolito. These three sessions take out the “overwhelm” and enable you to make decisions with confidence about your manuscript’s future.

Saturday, Janeen continues presenting at the GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™ on March 22 & 23, 2019 with topics including:

Fundamentals of Fiction – Inside Out. Have an idea for your story, but nowhere to start? Have the start of a draft, but unsure of how to finish it? Heard a lot of writing terms, but unsure where they fit into the big picture? This workshop is for you! It starts by targeting your core motivations with key questions, then breaks down the big task of writing a story into manageable chunks and simplifies the myriad of story-telling concepts into action-items that you can use in your work right now. Come away with a solid foundation for tackling your fiction writing project.

 How to Write Romantic Subplots. Think romance is just for romance novelists? Think again! Romantic subplots can enhance all kinds of fiction and broaden your reader base. Learn how to use romance to push plots effectively so that romance-fans AND non-romance fans will pick up your books!

To read more on Janeen, visit:

·         Author Website: http://www.janeenippolito.com

·         Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/janeenippolitollc/

·         Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaneenIppolito

·         Instagram: @janeen_ippolito

·         Interview – World Building with Janeen Ippolito

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Dawn Sooy

Dawn Sooy, GLVWG’s Conference Chairman, is a native of Eastern Pennsylvania, with plenty of experience the four seasons have to offer. Armed with a Computer Science degree, she worked in the tech industry until 2012. As an animal lover, she volunteers at the local animal shelter, sneaking in treats for the four-legged residents.

 

Registration for The Write Stuff Writers Conference Opens December 8

05 Wednesday Dec 2018

Posted by GLVWG Write Stuff™ Blog in GLVWG Conference Schedule, Write Stuff Writers Conference™

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Agent Interviews, Book Marketing, Editing, Speculative Fiction, Writing Conference, Writing Craft, Writing Fiction, Writing Workshops

Write Stuff Conference brochure 2019 V4

Write Stuff Conference brochure 2019

We want to give you a heads up about GLVWG’s The Write Stuff Writers ConferenceTM .  It’s taking place March 21 – 23, 2019 at the Best Western Lehigh Valley Hotel & Conference Center at 300 Gateway Drive, Bethlehem, PA.

We have Ben Wolf presenting on Thursday and Friday. AND he’s the Keynote Speaker on Saturday.

Registration opens Saturday, December 8.

Just in time to give yourself a present – or put on your wish list (hint, hint).

If you’ve attended our conference in the past, you know the value you get for your buck.

If you’ve never been to our conference – prepare for a great experience.

 

Write Stuff Conference brochure 2019 V4

Day 1: Thursday, March 21


Ben Wolf

Into the Deep: An Advanced Study of Speculative Fiction

*****

Day 2: Friday, March 22

Ben Wolf

The Three Pillars of Storytelling

Backstory: Your Secret Weapon to Engaging Readers

Writing Flash Fiction that Sells

Janeen Ippolito

Book to Market: Tips to Package, Promote, and Publish Your Book

 

Friday Evening Events

The Pixar Method with Charis Crowe

Page Cuts Critique Sessions ($10 Fee; Advanced registration required)

Followed by reception with snacks and cash bar

*****

Day 3: Saturday, March 23

Ben Wolf

Keynote Luncheon Speech — “Writing Through Adversity”

Presenters (in alphabetical order)

Donna Brennan

Strengthening Your Writing  (2-hour workshop –  Limited to 24 participants)

Getting Started Writing for Magazines

Putting Off Procrastination

Kathryn Craft

Those Critical First Pages

Say That and More: Writing Effective Dialogue (2-hr workshop. Limited to 24 participants)

Charis Crowe

Marketing Execution for Authors

Finding Your Author Voice

YA is Here to Stay (Cedar Crest)

David Fessenden

The Publishing Contract

The Writer/Editor Relationship

The Dreaded Outline: What Your English Teacher Never Told You

Editing Your Own Material (Muhlenberg)

Jon Gibbs

Are Your Characters Right for the Part (Hands-on session.)

The Seven-Sentence Solution (2-hr workshop. Limited to 24)

Janeen Ippolito

Fundamentals of Fiction – Inside Out

How to Write Romantic Subplots

Larry Schardt

Powerful Tools to Enhance Your Writing

Putting a Positive Spin on Rejection (Lafayette)

*****

Keep watching the GLVWG Website and follow the GLVWG Blog for updates, along with our Facebook Page.

An Interview with Michael Hauge

10 Saturday Dec 2016

Posted by GLVWG Write Stuff™ Blog in Keynote, Write Stuff Conference Presenter, Write Stuff™ Conference

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Plotting, Story Mastery, Storytelling, Writing, Writing Advice, Writing Conferences, Writing Fiction

michael-hauge-lecture

GLVWG’s Geoffrey Mehl, interviewed Michael Hauge, keynote speaker, special seminar and master class instructor for The GLVWG WriteStuff Writer’s Conference™, March 23-25, 2017 .

Michael is a story and script consultant, author, and lecturer who works with writers and filmmakers on screenplays, novels, movies, and television projects. He has coached writers, producers, stars and directors for every major film studio and network. He is also the best-selling author of Writing Screenplays That Sell and Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds: The Guaranteed Way to Get Your Screenplay or Novel Read. He has presented lectures and workshops to more than 70,000 writers and filmmakers around the world. In the words of Will Smith, “No one is better than Michael Hauge at finding what is most authentic in every moment of a story.”

Hauge’s Six-Stage approach to story structure divides any successful story into setup, new situation, progress, complications and higher stakes, retreat and final push, and aftermath. These stages are divided by five key turning points: opportunity, change of plans, point of no return, major setback and climax. For a more detailed explanation of his approach, go to this article on his website: STORY STRUCTURE: The 5 Key Turning Points of All Successful Screenplays

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Chris Redding Presentation at GLVWG

10 Monday Oct 2016

Posted by dtkrippene in Program Speakers, Tips

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Chris Redding, Editing, Ghost Writing, Professional Writing, Writing, Writing Fiction

chris-redding-sept-2016

Aren’t many writers out there, especially new authors, who don’t dream of hitting it big with a bestseller.  The odds of it are akin to winning the lottery.  Chris Redding gave a presentation at the GLVWG September general meeting and offered some tips for making money with the craft before you get published.  In the afternoon session, Chris gave us her top ten list of writing good fiction.  The following is a summary of her talks.

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Morning Session, September 24, 2016

How to make money before you get published

Writing for others is a good way to build a portfolio.

  1. Who can you write for? Here’s a few examples.
    1. Magazines – which are getting smaller, and more focused by subject matter.
    2. Newspaper contributions
    3. Beta Reading – Sites do exist where people will pay to beta read material
    4. Writing, Editing, Proofreading
    5. Speech Writing – Lot of corporate folks who need a ghost speechwriter.
    6. Ghost Writing – Penning someone else’s story
  2. What skills are needed?
    1. Writing ability – Seems obvious, but necessary to gain trust of potential client
    2. Professionalism and good Business Sense.
    3. Motivation, Perseverance, Discipline
    4. Goal Setting
  3. Start Broad. Look for specific jobs where you have expertise. If you’re into gardening, search for all on-line sites and publications that do gardening. A few more examples:
    1. The academic community can be very lucrative, especially students where English is not their primary language. Graduate students who need someone to pen their thesis.
    2. Reputable book review organizations are always on the lookout for credible reviewers
    3. Business writing for corporations, executives in need of someone to take their ideas and organize it into a presentation.
    4. Doctors who don’t have time to pen their articles.
    5. Short fiction for magazines. Chris mentioned the “Confession Market”, or short stories written in the 1st person for magazines such as Women’s World, or True Confessions.
  4. In choosing markets, look for news agencies, writers markets. Writer’s Digest and Publisher’s Weekly good places to look.
  5. For those without a portfolio, Chris suggested a few sites to browse, but cautioned a need for careful vetting of potential clients.
    1. Upwork.com, Freelancer.com, Guru.com
  6. Then, there’s the money side.
    1. When starting out, might have to accept lesser fees until established.
    2. Editors and Proofreaders may charge by the page or number of words
      1. Established, well-known editors charge hourly rates, ranging from $35 – $100 per hour.
    3. Ghost writing someone else’s book can run from $7,500 – $50,000.
  7. Things to consider with a writing job.
    1. Will it further your career?
    2. Most periodicals pay by the article, which usually have a defined word length. Some periodicals don’t pay, operating on the premise “the writer gets exposure”. Unless you’re desperate, suggest avoiding these.
    3. Pay careful attention to fee structure and fine print with bigger jobs
    4. With big projects, like ghost writing a book, or preparing materials in business, insist on a written contract. Always front-load the fee. Chris recommended at least 50% of the fee up front, 25% when rough draft is complete, the remainder upon completion. Agree on how many rough drafts will be allowed.
    5. Try to avoid ghost writing projects where potential clients unrealistically believe their story will be a bestseller, and offer percent of future proceeds.
    6. Always have an “out” in all contracts, if project isn’t working for you and the client.
  8. Problems you might encounter.
    1. Chris looks at all writing jobs with respect to how much of a “pain-in-the-derrière” a potential client might be.
    2. Client not making themselves available to keep the project moving in a timely manner.
    3. Subject matter not a good fit for your expertise, or not a good fit with potential client.
    4. How taking on writing jobs affects your work/life balance.
    5. Lot of nutty people out there. Go into all projects with your eyes open.

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Writing versus Producing

14 Tuesday Jul 2015

Posted by dtkrippene in GLVWG Author Blog

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Andrew Solomon, Beth Kephart, Creativity vrs. Productivity, New Yorker Magazine, Rainer Maria Rilke, Writing, Writing Fiction, Writing Passion, Writing Poetry

Author Brenda Havens, former journalist, recently published three children’s stories. She reflects on finding passion in the golden years—writing from the heart, rather than worrying about productivity.

From: Maurus - Depositphotos.com

From: Maurus – Depositphotos.com

Are you an older writer? The person waiting until retirement years to pursue this dream? Or maybe you have several decades of life left, but see yourself working full time into eternity in order to keep the bills paid.

You might simply be a Type A—someone driven to constant action, bored with leisure time. Determined to use every minute producing SOMETHING until the day you die.

And that’s the thing. Producing. Measuring. Getting so much done. Before we die. In reading a blog today by richly talented author Beth Kephart, I found her quoting Andrew Solomon in The New Yorker:

 “But Rilke is correct in that we must all write as though eternity lay before us. Enjoy the flexibility that span of eternity offers.”

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