Hey! If you've ever wanted to hear me talk about plot, but you haven't been able to make it to a conference; or if you've heard me talk about plot before, but you'd like the opportunity to get guaranteed personal feedback on your query + the first 250 words of your novel; or if you'd like to ask me a question live, or you just like hanging out on the Internet . . .
I'm excited to announce that I'll be doing a webinar called "How to Plot and Structure Your Novel" through the good people at Writers' Digest, coming up on Thursday, June 23, at 1 p.m. The webinar will cover the elements of plot, principles of structure, some practical techniques for examining your novel's story and structure, and especially tension and stakes -- why we readers care about the plot events and how writers keep us caring the whole book long. (I've been thinking about this a lot since Second Sight came out, so I have some new things to say here.)
The way webinars work: You'll hear me talk over your telephone or computer, while you'll see a PowerPoint presentation live over the Internet. You can submit questions in the course of the presentation, and I'll try to answer them as I go. Finally, as a bonus, all participants will be invited to submit a 250-word query plus the first 250 words of their manuscript, and I've promised to critique every one. (I'll offer a special discount for participants on Second Sight as well.) And if you can't attend the live session, you'll be able to access a recording of the event for up to a year afterward.
Interested? Please click this link to get more information and/or register: Take me to Cheryl's webinar!
And thank you very much!
Sunday, June 05, 2011
Announcing: A Plot + Structure Webinar!
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Nice! Thanks! Good job!
ReplyDeleteI'm really enjoying my solitary ramble through Second Sight, multiple times (still getting my mind around the enlarged braincells that book produces).
ReplyDelete--I fear you interrupt. More material??! In the Intimate Style of the book, but More so!! In Such an Accessible Format!! Exceedingly Generous offer!!
('Stakes and tension' sound like a mental rack;) but it does not follow that stretched aptitude and fat-brain must be unwelcome.
Do it, folks. Click through. GOOD STUFF.
Sounds like a great opportunity, but I'll sadly be at work.
ReplyDeleteCheryl, do we have to really pay 89 bucks to do this??
ReplyDeleteI'd love to have this opportunity though..You are such a very smart person who helped me so much with Second Sight. You're basically my hero. I'm a teenager who wants more than anything to be a published author. I feel like this would help me even more and the opportunity for THE Cheryl Klein to look at my work would be phenomenal..You're the editor of Millicent Min and Harry Potter, for Christ's Sakes! But 89 dollars? Is there a less expensive way to do this?
ReplyDeleteThank you and much love.
Dear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteWe have a lot to learn. The price is someone's life: time, money, mistakes/experience. Knowledge is a gift, the price is set by the giver, who best judges the worth. We can have it fast, cheap or good but not all three. (This is cheap). 'Published authors' are ubiquitous, thanks to technology. How about wanting "more than anything" to be a darn good writer, one who writes and loves it? You'd be in a much smaller, elite group. Write more. Think clear. Patience like a panther.
Hi, Anon,
ReplyDeleteI understand people are hard pressed for money right now. Having recently heard Cheryl speak, I can vouch she is worth every cent. Plus a quick search online will show you that one pays upwards of $200-300 easily for a professional critique or to attend a writing conference.
That said, at the very least, consider purchasing her book. If you haven't already, you will find great information there to help craft your book.
Best of luck with your writing. I wish I'd had the foresight to begin writing seriously in my teens. Sounds like you're well on your way.
Kristin G.
Already signed up for your webinar. Can't wait to start. In the mean time, I'm busy turning the pages of Second Sight into blocks of yellow highlights. : )
ReplyDelete@H.Brinkerhoff:
ReplyDeleteDo you not think I want to be the best author I can be?! Of course I do. And you think I don't love writing?! Stop being stupid.
I realize "knowledge is a gift" but for $89 I can learn more in other places. And please don't bother telling all that rubbish "patience like a panther, write more, think clear" stuff. Its ridiculous and sounds VERY pompous and annoying. I'm a teenager and I don't have all the money in the world, nor all the time in the world. But just for your information, I spend almost all of my free time writing and reading; So really stop being insulting. Thank you.
@Kristin: Thanks for these kind words, that are actually very helpful. I did buy her book, which was excellent. And thanks for the money tip, I appreciate it. Just I'm saving all my money that I have for college, and writing supplies, like paper and pens. Its hard for me to think of spending $89. I'm sorry!
Thank you Cheryl for this amazing blog:)
Anonymous-
ReplyDeleteAs a reader of your writing, I have to say you are putting it out, Writer, and are doing just fine. I quit the unintentional insulting, unless you happen to take one last offense at my *absolute enjoyment* of your post. Including the good to Kristen and Cheryl.
You are right. I am wrong.
I will LOVE reading your work.
...panther...hmmm. Jaguar more like...
The webinar just finished. On the listening end, the only thing that feels "off" is that there is no way to say "Thank you, I gained from, and appreciate what I just heard!" after it ends. Efficient use of time, though.
ReplyDeleteI comment here, to see if Blogger will let my comment through, after Anonymous's fine, passionate and rightful slashing. (I did sound snobby- a hint of whine does that to this mother of teenage writers). I want to publicly post that this hour and a half was so worth the cost! Advantages of a conference, plus advantages not possible at a conference- ability to listen in my own environment and during life ongoing.
And conference talks are not supposed to be recorded-copyright. But the biggest plus now it's over, and everyone is back to work, is that I get to replay, re-hear, re-read and re-absorb, and re-apply Cheryl's actual material to my work, over, over and over for a year! Looking forward to it. So cool.(Instead of referring back to my own incomplete notes,scribbly cryptic and eventually lost.)
Thank you, and *please* do it again when you are ready to give Second Sight another update- or before.