At MBT we’re all about trying to give you the best tools to create powerful stories. That’s why I asked our MBT Brainstorming Coach Michelle Lim to write a book about brainstorming techniques that help a writer create conflict in their stories. I’ve discovered that many authors just get stuck while brainstorming, and their stories lack spark or twists. Michelle’s book is a powerful tool to help an author think outside the box and create powerful twists and turns in their story. I’ve asked her here to today to chat with us about her new book: Idea Sparking: Brainstorming Conflict into your Novel. What prompted the idea for this book? Since I was a teenager I loved plot. If the story kept me turning pages by flashlight after bedtime, […]
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Conversations: Creating Scene Tension
I could see Sally’s breath crystallize in the air as she jogged up to the coffee shop door. Bruised and soggy leaves layered the parking lot – red, gold, purple. The sun had just baked the frost from the pink chrysanthemums blooming outside. Our little town crouched at the edge of winter – we could feel it in the air. The crisp tension of autumn, when any day we’d wake to a snowfall. The door jangled as Sally opened it. She caught my eye. “Sorry I’m late.” She dropped her backpack onto her chair. “Field trip day at school and I forgot to sign a permission slip. Congratulations on the game Friday night. I heard your son ran for a touchdown, and the other made a sack. I’ll bet it […]
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A Marketer’s look at Synopsis
This section is based on my book, “Silent Danger: A Training Novel” that was released by WCC Press earlier this month. Susie and the My Book Therapy team do an amazing job of explaining craft and the synopsis, so if you’ve ever read their lessons and you think you don’t need this, keep reading. What I’m trying to show here is how a synopsis is about more than summarizing your story. It also gets you in the marketing mindset and helps you start to think of unique angles you can take…………. Excerpted for “Silent Danger” Published by Writing Career Coach Press. Permission for one-time use granted. Synopsis: In a synopsis you have typically between 1-3 pages to do a bunch of things. You have to: • Set up the scene […]
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Don’t be overwhelmed: A game plan of what to do after a writers’ conference!
Are you home from the ACFW conference? Finally unpacked? I hope you came home filled with encouragement and new ideas on how to make your writing breathtaking. I came home to a clean house and smiling sons. Nice! Conferences can be overwhelming, between the requests for proposals or full manuscripts, new story ideas, craft lessons, marketing epiphanies and loads of new friends. Don’t be overwhelmed. Here’s a game plan of what to do after a writers’ conference: Organize your contacts: Sit down a make a list of everyone you met, from editors to fellow authors, to newbies. Reach out: If they are editors or agents who gave you their time, even in an elevator to listen to your proposal, thank them. If they asked you for a submission, thank them and tell them that you’ll be […]
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