I finished writing Sushi and Suspicions and turned it in! To celebrate, I ate my favorite peach jelly from Minamoto Kichoan ! I was a bit surprised to realize at the end of the book that there wasn’t as much romance as in some of my other books, maybe because there were a lot of characters in this book compared to other romantic suspense novels I’ve written. Sushi and Suspicions will be releasing in June in the multi-author box set Summer Suspicions . Even though it’s a box set, each Christian Romantic Suspense novel in it is a full book, so it’s a great deal! Preorder Summer Suspicions for only 99 cents!
Any writers interested in taking my online classes? Info is below. I'm also offering a new Story Sensei service, Pitch Coaching. Info is below also.
Online classes in August
My wrists are starting to feel better, so I’ve decided to hold four online classes in August for anyone who’s interested:
Synopsis writing online class ($30) August 1 - 15
Characterization online class ($30) August 1 - 15
Self-Editing online class ($40) August 15 - 30
Deep Point of View online class ($40) August 15 - 30
Each class (except for Self-Editing) is essentially the same as my worksheets, but in the class, I’ll be giving individual feedback on your homework. Many people have taken my classes multiple times, each time using a different manuscript, because they found the personalized feedback more helpful than just using my worksheets.
At the bottom of the post is more information on each of the classes.
Pitch Coaching
For those of you going to RWA conference at the end of this month or perhaps ACFW conference in September, I am now offering pitch coaching to help you write your pitch and even practice it if you’d like.
You will email me your story synopsis, or if you don’t have a synopsis, just email me a message explaining what your story is about. No need to be professional, I just want to know what your story is about.
Then we will schedule a 30-40 minute telephone conversation. Over the phone, I will help you to write your 5-sentence pitch based on the email message you sent to me and also by talking to you about your story. If time allows, I can also coach you on any questions the editor might ask about your story and how you can answer them.
I will call you using Skype but you don’t need a Skype account because I can call landlines and cell phones using my Skype service. The reason I use Skype is because I have an app that can record our Skype conversation, and after the call I’ll give you a link where you can download the MP3 of our conversation. This way, you won’t need to take notes and you can listen to the conversation whenever you want.
Cost is $45. If you're interested, email me at storysensei {at} gmail {dot] com and I can send you a PayPal email invoice. Once you send me the email with your story information, we can schedule our telephone conversation.
Information on the August online classes:
Synopsis writing online class ($30) August 1 - 15
For two weeks, I’ll be working with you to write a synopsis for your manuscript during the class. By the end of the class, you will have:
1) a one sentence hook for your manuscript proposal
2) a five sentence pitch, which you can also use in a query letter
3) a comprehensive 2-page single spaced synopsis for use in a proposal or submission
4) a character synopsis to include with your 2-page synopsis or in place of it
5) if your manuscript is completed, a full chapter by chapter synopsis (usually anywhere from 4-10 pages) for if an editor asks for a more complete story synopsis, OR at the very least, the means to write one if your manuscript is not yet completed.
Cost is $30. If you're interested, email me at storysensei {at} gmail {dot] com and I can send you a PayPal email invoice. The class will be online at my Story Sensei class YahooGroup. You may need a Yahoo Profile to join the YahooGroup, but you don't need to use a Yahoo email address--you can use your regular email address with the Yahoo Profile you create.
http://help.yahoo.com/tutorials/prof/prof/prof_start3.html
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/profiles/notifications/notif-04.html
Characterization online class ($30) August 1 - 15
This online class will help you develop your story characters. By the end of this class, you will have:
1) a solid grasp of who your character is—and I’m not talking just favorite ice cream flavor
2) your character’s flaws and heroic qualities to make him/her truly sympathetic to the reader
3) the character’s unique qualities to make him/her stand out from all the other characters on the Barnes and Noble shelves.
4) your character’s desire and external goal (you’d be amazed at how this can change from your original ideas about your character as you dig deeper and discover who your character is!)
5) the motivation behind your character’s actions—and not something done over and over again, but something really juicy and unique that shapes your protagonist to make him/her a richer, deeper character
6) conflict and obstacles that directly impact your character’s external goal
7) the riveting climax of the story—both external events and also internal arc
Cost is $30. If you're interested, email me at storysensei {at} gmail {dot] com and I can send you a PayPal email invoice. The class will be online at my Story Sensei class YahooGroup. You may need a Yahoo Profile to join the YahooGroup, but you don't need to use a Yahoo email address--you can use your regular email address with the Yahoo Profile you create.
http://help.yahoo.com/tutorials/prof/prof/prof_start3.html
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/profiles/notifications/notif-04.html
Self-Editing online class ($40) August 15 - 30
During this intensive 2-week online class, I’ll be teaching you how to self-critique your own manuscript, from high-level structural self-editing to line-editing. By the end of the class you’ll have:
1) A good large-scale view of your story structure and character arc, and knowledge about how to fix any problems in that area
2) Tips for how to revise more emotion into your writing
3) Tools for solving pacing issues
4) A quick list of technical writing errors to look for in your writing and in others’ manuscripts
5) An understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses in terms of critiquing yourself and critiquing others
6) Resources for finding your ideal critique partner and/or group
It'll be similar to the Critiquing Yourself and Others class that I gave via the FF&P RWA chapter in March, but it'll focus more on Deep Point of View and Technical Writing Mistakes. Also, if you took my Characterization class before, a few of the lessons will look familiar, but the rest of it will be entirely new. I will giving homework for you to self-edit your manuscript as well as my feedback on your homework, to help you polish your prose and identify any particular writing issues you might personally have. The feedback will be very targeted and focused on YOU and YOUR manuscript. This class will also have lessons 6 days a week for 2 weeks, so it'll be a bit more intense than some of my other classes.
Cost is $40. If you're interested, email me at storysensei {at} gmail {dot] com and I can send you a PayPal email invoice. The class will be online at my Story Sensei class YahooGroup. You may need a Yahoo Profile to join the YahooGroup, but you don't need to use a Yahoo email address--you can use your regular email address with the Yahoo Profile you create.
http://help.yahoo.com/tutorials/prof/prof/prof_start3.html
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/profiles/notifications/notif-04.html
Deep Point of View online class ($40) August 15 - 30
Want to rivet your reader to the page? Want to make your writing richer emotionally? Want your characters to be more vivid? Learn ways to draw the reader into the mind, body, and soul of your characters through deep point of view techniques. By the end of the class you’ll have:
1) Ways to strengthen the emotional writing and draw the reader deeper into the character’s point of view
2) An understanding of the structural elements of a scene to help you know when and how to add deep-POV emotions
3) Tips for how to tweak wording in order to deepen point of view on a minute level, which contributes to a richer point of view for the manuscript as a whole
4) A finely honed radar for spotting “Telling” and shallow POV through exercises
The online class consists of lessons, homework, and fun exercises for you to see lots of deep and shallow POV examples. You’ll learn lots of simple techniques to help you deepen your character’s point of view. I’ll be posting lessons 5 days a week for 2 weeks, so this class will be a bit intense.
Cost is $40. If you're interested, email me at storysensei {at} gmail {dot] com and I can send you a PayPal email invoice. The class will be online at my Story Sensei class YahooGroup. You may need a Yahoo Profile to join the YahooGroup, but you don't need to use a Yahoo email address--you can use your regular email address with the Yahoo Profile you create.
http://help.yahoo.com/tutorials/prof/prof/prof_start3.html
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/profiles/notifications/notif-04.html
Online classes in August
My wrists are starting to feel better, so I’ve decided to hold four online classes in August for anyone who’s interested:
Synopsis writing online class ($30) August 1 - 15
Characterization online class ($30) August 1 - 15
Self-Editing online class ($40) August 15 - 30
Deep Point of View online class ($40) August 15 - 30
Each class (except for Self-Editing) is essentially the same as my worksheets, but in the class, I’ll be giving individual feedback on your homework. Many people have taken my classes multiple times, each time using a different manuscript, because they found the personalized feedback more helpful than just using my worksheets.
At the bottom of the post is more information on each of the classes.
Pitch Coaching
For those of you going to RWA conference at the end of this month or perhaps ACFW conference in September, I am now offering pitch coaching to help you write your pitch and even practice it if you’d like.
You will email me your story synopsis, or if you don’t have a synopsis, just email me a message explaining what your story is about. No need to be professional, I just want to know what your story is about.
Then we will schedule a 30-40 minute telephone conversation. Over the phone, I will help you to write your 5-sentence pitch based on the email message you sent to me and also by talking to you about your story. If time allows, I can also coach you on any questions the editor might ask about your story and how you can answer them.
I will call you using Skype but you don’t need a Skype account because I can call landlines and cell phones using my Skype service. The reason I use Skype is because I have an app that can record our Skype conversation, and after the call I’ll give you a link where you can download the MP3 of our conversation. This way, you won’t need to take notes and you can listen to the conversation whenever you want.
Cost is $45. If you're interested, email me at storysensei {at} gmail {dot] com and I can send you a PayPal email invoice. Once you send me the email with your story information, we can schedule our telephone conversation.
Information on the August online classes:
Synopsis writing online class ($30) August 1 - 15
For two weeks, I’ll be working with you to write a synopsis for your manuscript during the class. By the end of the class, you will have:
1) a one sentence hook for your manuscript proposal
2) a five sentence pitch, which you can also use in a query letter
3) a comprehensive 2-page single spaced synopsis for use in a proposal or submission
4) a character synopsis to include with your 2-page synopsis or in place of it
5) if your manuscript is completed, a full chapter by chapter synopsis (usually anywhere from 4-10 pages) for if an editor asks for a more complete story synopsis, OR at the very least, the means to write one if your manuscript is not yet completed.
Cost is $30. If you're interested, email me at storysensei {at} gmail {dot] com and I can send you a PayPal email invoice. The class will be online at my Story Sensei class YahooGroup. You may need a Yahoo Profile to join the YahooGroup, but you don't need to use a Yahoo email address--you can use your regular email address with the Yahoo Profile you create.
http://help.yahoo.com/tutorials/prof/prof/prof_start3.html
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/profiles/notifications/notif-04.html
Characterization online class ($30) August 1 - 15
This online class will help you develop your story characters. By the end of this class, you will have:
1) a solid grasp of who your character is—and I’m not talking just favorite ice cream flavor
2) your character’s flaws and heroic qualities to make him/her truly sympathetic to the reader
3) the character’s unique qualities to make him/her stand out from all the other characters on the Barnes and Noble shelves.
4) your character’s desire and external goal (you’d be amazed at how this can change from your original ideas about your character as you dig deeper and discover who your character is!)
5) the motivation behind your character’s actions—and not something done over and over again, but something really juicy and unique that shapes your protagonist to make him/her a richer, deeper character
6) conflict and obstacles that directly impact your character’s external goal
7) the riveting climax of the story—both external events and also internal arc
Cost is $30. If you're interested, email me at storysensei {at} gmail {dot] com and I can send you a PayPal email invoice. The class will be online at my Story Sensei class YahooGroup. You may need a Yahoo Profile to join the YahooGroup, but you don't need to use a Yahoo email address--you can use your regular email address with the Yahoo Profile you create.
http://help.yahoo.com/tutorials/prof/prof/prof_start3.html
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/profiles/notifications/notif-04.html
Self-Editing online class ($40) August 15 - 30
During this intensive 2-week online class, I’ll be teaching you how to self-critique your own manuscript, from high-level structural self-editing to line-editing. By the end of the class you’ll have:
1) A good large-scale view of your story structure and character arc, and knowledge about how to fix any problems in that area
2) Tips for how to revise more emotion into your writing
3) Tools for solving pacing issues
4) A quick list of technical writing errors to look for in your writing and in others’ manuscripts
5) An understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses in terms of critiquing yourself and critiquing others
6) Resources for finding your ideal critique partner and/or group
It'll be similar to the Critiquing Yourself and Others class that I gave via the FF&P RWA chapter in March, but it'll focus more on Deep Point of View and Technical Writing Mistakes. Also, if you took my Characterization class before, a few of the lessons will look familiar, but the rest of it will be entirely new. I will giving homework for you to self-edit your manuscript as well as my feedback on your homework, to help you polish your prose and identify any particular writing issues you might personally have. The feedback will be very targeted and focused on YOU and YOUR manuscript. This class will also have lessons 6 days a week for 2 weeks, so it'll be a bit more intense than some of my other classes.
Cost is $40. If you're interested, email me at storysensei {at} gmail {dot] com and I can send you a PayPal email invoice. The class will be online at my Story Sensei class YahooGroup. You may need a Yahoo Profile to join the YahooGroup, but you don't need to use a Yahoo email address--you can use your regular email address with the Yahoo Profile you create.
http://help.yahoo.com/tutorials/prof/prof/prof_start3.html
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/profiles/notifications/notif-04.html
Deep Point of View online class ($40) August 15 - 30
Want to rivet your reader to the page? Want to make your writing richer emotionally? Want your characters to be more vivid? Learn ways to draw the reader into the mind, body, and soul of your characters through deep point of view techniques. By the end of the class you’ll have:
1) Ways to strengthen the emotional writing and draw the reader deeper into the character’s point of view
2) An understanding of the structural elements of a scene to help you know when and how to add deep-POV emotions
3) Tips for how to tweak wording in order to deepen point of view on a minute level, which contributes to a richer point of view for the manuscript as a whole
4) A finely honed radar for spotting “Telling” and shallow POV through exercises
The online class consists of lessons, homework, and fun exercises for you to see lots of deep and shallow POV examples. You’ll learn lots of simple techniques to help you deepen your character’s point of view. I’ll be posting lessons 5 days a week for 2 weeks, so this class will be a bit intense.
Cost is $40. If you're interested, email me at storysensei {at} gmail {dot] com and I can send you a PayPal email invoice. The class will be online at my Story Sensei class YahooGroup. You may need a Yahoo Profile to join the YahooGroup, but you don't need to use a Yahoo email address--you can use your regular email address with the Yahoo Profile you create.
http://help.yahoo.com/tutorials/prof/prof/prof_start3.html
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/profiles/notifications/notif-04.html
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