New Query & Synopsis Workshops Offered!

It's been almost two years since I offered any online workshops. I've continued to offer both the query and the synopsis workshop at writer's conferences, but I realize that for many writers, the cost of conferences is prohibitive. With that in mind, I've decided to offer both my How To Write A Killer Synopsis workshop and my Query Writing 101 workshop online during the month of March. I've done my best to keep the cost as affordable as possible, including offering a discount if you purchase both workshops at the same time.

Purchasing the workshops separately would be $125, but if you register for both at the same time, you save $25! See the "Workshop Package" Paypal button on the sidebar.)

Please note that in order to manage the volume of query critiques, registration for the query workshop is limited.

Here are the details:

HOW TO WRITE A KILLER SYNOPSIS

When: March 12-15

Format: Yahoo group, lessons are emailed to group members once a day. Light homework is required. Read the lessons and do the homework around your own schedule.

Description: Learn how to write a killer synopsis in four days! Topics covered include:

*What a Synopsis is and what it is not
*When to write a synopsis
*Correct formatting
*How long a synopsis should be
*How to identify the Voice of your manuscript & use it in your synopsis
*Which plot elements need to be included
*How to break your plot up into three key areas
*How to identify plot arcs and emotional landmarks
*How to pace your synopsis

Cost: $50 - see "Synopsis Workshop" Paypal button on the sidebar.


QUERY WRITING 101

When: March 18-29

Format: Yahoo group, lessons are emailed to the group members once a day for the first five days. Homework is required. The rest of the days are devoted to my critiques and your revisions of your query letter. You do your coursework around your own schedule.

Description:

 Learn how to write an amazing query letter! Course focuses on basic query structure, do's and don'ts, how to target the right agent for you, and how to identify your basic plot and conflict to use in writing a stellar hook. Also includes three in-depth personalized critiques of your query letter, with chance to revise after the first two critiques.

Cost: $75 - see "Query Workshop" Paypal button on the sidebar.

The Query Handbook is HERE!

I'm excited to announce the publication of QUERY: Everything you need to get started, get noticed, and get signed! It's been fun to transform my workshop syllabus (along with some new material) into a concise handbook for you. Here's the description:

QUERY: Everything You Need to Get Started, Get Noticed, and Get Signed covers everything from basic query format to agent research to innovative strategies for creating a fabulous hook. The handbook gives examples, worksheets, and tools to enable every writer to query well. For writers seeking publication, QUERY will provide practical, usable assistance for every stage of the querying process.



I'm offering it at the introductory price of $2.99 for both Kindle and Nook. Happy querying!

QUERY-Palooza!

To celebrate the release of QUERY: Everything you need to get started, get noticed, and get signed, I'm hosting a QUERY-palooza the week of February 6th-10th. Do you need help getting an agent to sit up and pay attention to your query? Enter to win one of five free critiques!

Hurry! You have until Friday, February 3rd to enter. Go here for details.

Exciting news!

I continue to be approached by writers needing help with writing a compelling query or a killer synopsis. Soon, I'll be announcing a release date for my upcoming Query Writing Handbook. But today, I'm excited to announce that I will now make available for purchase my Synopsis Workshop handouts!

Writing a synopsis is much different from writing a book. In fact, it requires an entirely new skill set. A writer must be able to analyze voice and pacing, identify the key plot elements that must be included, understand which conflict arcs and emotional arcs must be included, format the synopsis correctly, weed out any extraneous details, and do all of this in just a page or two!

Sound overwhelming?

My handouts address all of the above. From answering basic questions like "When do I need to write a synopsis?" and "How do I introduce my main characters?" to teaching you how to break your story down into three key parts to make summarizing easy, I offer a comprehensive guide that walks you through the entire process.

The handouts arrive in a Word.doc attachment to the email address you provide through Paypal. See the sidebar for purchasing.

And stay tuned! I will soon have a release date for the Query Writing Handbook!

Exciting News!

Wish you had a query writing guru in your corner? Frustrated because you can't figure out how to write a condensed plot summary that makes an agent or editor want to request your manuscript? I've got great news for you!

While my publication deadlines don't leave me enough time to continue running query workshops, I'm currently working on putting my lessons and method together into a Query Writing Workbook. This workbook will be available in all major e-book formats for a bargain price, and will include how to research literary agents, what to include in your query, how to write an amazing hook, how to make your writing credentials (or lack thereof) work in your favor, what questions to ask an agent who is interested in working with you, and more!

I expect to be able to offer the Query Writing Workbook by the middle of August. Stay tuned for details.

Last Query Workshop EVER

Because of my recent book deal, I will be retiring from teaching workshops so I can focus on meeting my writing deadlines instead. The last Query Workshop I will ever teach starts this coming Monday, and I have plenty of openings. For more info on the course itself, click on the Query Workshop tab above.

Last Plot Workshop of the Year

The last Plotting Workshop of the year starts this coming Monday. I still have 4 spaces available for anyone who needs help with plot structure, pacing, character and conflict arcs, tension, high stakes, and more. Last chance to take this workshop and get a one hour online brainstorming chat with me!