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Write a novel in a month

Keep on writing, keep on writing

By on November 18, 2013 in 1. Discover your story, 2. Create Your Story, 4. Writer’s Life, Inspiration and Life Coaching, 7. Search by Author:, Encourage Me!, House Calls, Susan May Warren, Writers Q &A

I wrote a novella last week. 31, 160 words. That’s over 5K a day. Now, here’s what we all have to keep in mind – many of these words will have to be rewritten or deleted. I will have to go scene by scene and make sure I’ve inserted storyworld, and the 5 Ws to anchor the scene. I’ll have to ask what the main emotion of the scene is, and how to strengthen it. I’ll have to tighten my writing, make it clearer, make sure I’m not overwriting.

I’ll have to make sure I am telling the story between the quotes, and that I am wrapping up my dialogue with the right meaningful action and body language, adding zingers.

And, I’ll have to make sure I all the ingredients of the Scene Tension Equation.

All these things are in my brain as I’m writing, trust me. But, if I want to forget ahead and give myself something to work with, then I have to be like Dori in Finding Nemo.

Don’t look back. Forget everything but my goal….reaching the end. (or, P Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way)

But how do we keep that focus? I know it can be hard, because even in the middle of a scene you suddenly think: WAIT! I just came up with something BRILLIANT and I need to add it into chapter 3!

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Some Shameless Storycrafter Retreat Promotion!

By on October 14, 2013 in 2. Create Your Story, 4. Writer’s Life, Inspiration and Life Coaching, How do I get started?, Susan May Warren, Writing Conferences

Where did the time go? That’s the thought I had as I hung up with an aspiring writer after spending two hours helping her with a novel. We had so much fun brainstorming her book the time slipped away.

I love helping writers find their story. And I’m blessed when I receive feedback like this:

“Something in your approach (all those check points and lists) caused some pieces to click into place that hadn’t before so that I could think better about the process.”

My favorite moment in teaching – when I hear an “ah ha!” or someone looks up at me with a sparkle of understanding in their eyes.

That’s what the MBT Storycrafter’s Retreat is about – helping you unlock your story. Whether you’ve written a handful of stories or are just starting out, we’ll spend a weekend working together to help your publishing dreams and goals come true.

You come with an idea, and leave with a story.

I’m going to brag for a moment on a few of my former attendees:

Mulit-published non-fiction author Beth Vogt showed up thinking that she’d just listen in, pretty sure writing fiction wasn’t for her. After I barred the door and told her to “come to the dark side,” she discovered she had a fiction voice. Look for her 3rd novel with Howard to hit the stands this spring!

Marketing guru Melissa Tagg knew she had a story in her- but she just didn’t know how to untangle it from her brain. She wowed us with her first chapter – and walked away on fire to write. Her first book came out with Bethany House last month!

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Some Frasier Contest Encouragement

By on March 25, 2013 in 1. Discover your story, 4. Writer’s Life, Inspiration and Life Coaching, 7. Search by Author:, Encourage Me!, Susan May Warren, Writers Q &A

This is the final week to enter the Frasier Contest!  So, I pulled an interview I did with our Events Coordinator Melissa Tagg that offers a bit of encouragement as you put together your entry! Have a great writing week – and don’t forget to enter the Frasier Contest!  Details HERE:  http://frasier.mybooktherapy.com  XO! Susie May

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From Good to Great: Editing basics

By on March 4, 2013 in 1. Discover your story, Quick Skills

            In honor of national Grammar Day, I’m going to post the MBT Good to Great Checklist!  See, it’s not only about WHAT you write.  It’s HOW you write it.  We often say it’s about story.  And it is.  But a good writer can make any story compelling…..a bad writer can take a great story and blow it.  Yes, there are mediocre writers out there, but the story compensates.  And there are fabulous writers out there, writing a story that doesn’t deliver. You have to have structure AND art to deliver a powerful story. An author’s voice is ART.  It’s how you express the story.  It’s the one component that is more instinct than rules.  However, before you can start to express yourself through your […]

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