Speaking & Training

Maybe you’re sitting on a half-dozen unfinished manuscripts. Maybe you’ve always wanted to write a book, but you can never seem to find the time. If you want to finally reach “The End” of your manuscript, you need to get clear on your goals and figure out your game plan.

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In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn how to:

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• Create effective writing goals that build upon each other

• Invent a reward system, track your progress, and celebrate your wins

• Discover a writing routine that works for your schedule and your life

• Troubleshoot writer’s blocks, including distraction and negative self-talk

• . . . and all the tricks and strategies you need to keep yourself in your chair, actually writing, week after week.

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In addition to the presentation, you will receive a free workbook to help you plan your writing journey.

Developmental editing, line editing, copy editing, proofreading, beta reading . . . What’s the difference?

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Reading through editors’ websites and publishing resources can be a labyrinth of jargon and confusing terms, making it hard to determine which is the right type of editing for you, your book, and your budget.

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In this workshop, you’ll learn:

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• What each type of editing entails

• When it typically takes place in the publishing process

• Which level of editing your manuscript needs.

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By the end, you will also understand the steps to the editing process, your full range of options, and your best next step.

Even “pantsers” don’t jump into page one completely blind. In order to start writing, you need to have a basic idea of who your characters are, what they’re going to do, and where they’re going to do it. The more details you build from there, the easier it will be for you when you start writing. We’ll discuss brainstorming:

• Character: backstory, personality, physical looks, quirks

• Plot: genre, theme, plot formulas, subplots

• Setting: location, time, relationship to characters

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Then we'll learn how to get these details onto paper and ready for your first draft.

It’s time to sit down and write in your Work in Progress. Then, inevitably, the irresistible, all-encompassing urge to clean your desk strikes. Or you just have to finally delete those pages of ancient emails. Or call your third cousin. Or . . .

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Procrastination, distraction, writer’s block—they strike every writer who sticks to it long enough. The only way to reach The End of your project is to figure out how to slay your procrastination monster and get the words back on the page.

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In this class, we’ll cover:

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• Types of procrastination

• How to determine the root reason of your procrastination

• Tools & strategies to regain motivation & focus