Three retreats.
One Goal.
Discover, Create and Publish
the novel in you!
Are you just starting and need someone to walk you through the process? Are you further along and just want to sit down with someone who understands books and talk through your story? Maybe smooth out some rough parts? Get some direction on how to make it stronger, tips on making it shine? How about feedback on promotion and even a chance to pitch it to an agent? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a coach to help you on the journey?
Yeah, we think so too. And that’s why we’ve designed three continuing education retreats in conjunction with the purposes of My Book Therapy – to help writers discover the novel inside. From idea to plot, to story problems, to polish, promotion and pitch, MBT Coaching retreats will help you take the story brewing in your heart and make it a reality.
Storycrafters Retreat
October 29-31, Minneapolis, MN
(Registration Now Open!)
Come with an idea - leave with a story!
How do you take your ideas and turn them into a story? How do you know if it’s commercial? Where do you start?
This retreat, set just outside of Minneapolis during the beautiful fall season is designed for a writer who knows they have a story to write…but needs help putting it together into a plot. Come with your idea, leave with a game plan.
We’ll teach you story structure, and then go step by step in the character creation and plotting process, explaining how to determine each step, and then coach you as you apply it to your story. We’ll brainstorm ideas with you, and you’ll receive a workbook that will act as a map when you get home. Finally, we’ll share a few secrets that will propel your book from average to award-winning.
For beginners to advanced writers who just want a guide along the way, The Story-crafters Weekend will jumpstart your novel on the road to publication.
Learn More about the Storycrafters Retreat!
Wordsmithing Weekend
The MBT Deep Thinkers retreat
February 10-16, Clearwater, Florida
(Details and Registration TBA)
A great story is both the storycrafting and the wordsmithing. Designed to meet the individual needs of every writer and their story, this retreat concentrates on the prose on the page.
With teaching in the morning and writing time in the afternoon, this is a true writing retreat. Designed to help you craft great prose, the Book Therapists will give your book “on the spot” therapy to work out kinks in your plot and help you layer in emotion for your scene. You’ll having a writing mentor within arm’s reach, for watever you need.
Stay for all five days, or just the weekend, but plan on writing, and learning the tools to deepen your craft. With a limited number of participants, you will be encouraged and challenged to think deeply about this story…and the next one.
Set in beautiful Florida in the middle of February, the Deep Thinker’s Retreat is all about great writing.
The Summit Conference*
April 29-30, St. Louis, MO
(Details and Registration TBA)
It’s all about reaching the top.
The end of your writing journey isn’t a finished book…it’s a published book. This retreat will teach you how to create a proposal that sells, from synopsis, to marketing plan, to pitch. We’ll show you how to craft a powerful synospis, a pitch that grabs the attention of an agent or editor and a proposal that sells.
First, you’ll learn, step by step how to craft a synopsis from award-winning author of 30 novels, Susan May Warren. We’ll also work through the construction of a query letter, and the elements of a compelling first chapter. Then she’ll teach you how to craft a pitch that will attract the attention of editors and agents.
Then, you’ll learn how to craft a solid marketing plan and proposal from renowned agent Chip MacGregor, President and owner of MacGregor Literary. Then, you’ll get a chance to pitch it to him, and get gut-level feedback on what is working in your pitch, and hands on advice on how to fix what isn’t. Most of all, you’ll get insider advice on what to do next, and how to sell your book.
Set at a private lodge in St. Louis MO before the summer writing conference season, it’s the perfect time and place to reach the summit on this last leg of your writing journey.
*PREREQUISITE: A previous MBT Retreat (Storycrafters or Deep Thinkers), OR attendance at How to Write Best-selling Fiction through The Master Seminars, OR a private Book Therapy session with Susan May Warren/My Book Therapy
Let us help you reach your publishing destination!
