A Path to Publishing Special PlotWriMo Tour and Giveaway

I am thrilled to host 2 amazing ladies on 1st 10 pages today, along with the fabulous program they have put together to help authors get their book published and to learn how to revise their own novels in a manner that will make manuscripts shine!

I have to say that as both a screenwriter and author, I’m doubly inundated with webinars and other online programs for writers.  One of the underlying factors of starting this blog years ago was to help writers of all kinds sort through the never-ending stream of online offers in the cottage industry aimed at writers honing their craft.  So to that end, I try a lot of them out for you.  When I heard of Jill Corcoran and Martha Alderson’s PlotWriMo for revising your novel in a month video series, it was perfect timing as I was in the midst of a massive amount of notes from my editor for my MG novel.  In case you’re a screenwriter, don’t go anywhere, because one of the things that impressed me the most was how many of the principles they go over, also apply to screenwriting.  In other words, it’s all about making your story the best it can be.  The other big thing that struck me was how this process can be adapted to help if you are in the beginning phases of manuscript, not just revision mode.

I was hooked from the first introduction video (which is FREE!) then I binge watched the whole series the first day, frantically making notes and doing the assignments.  But before I get too far ahead, let’s take a look at what the program is all about.

VIDEO SERIES
They currently offer writers two video series with more in production:

1) PlotWriMo: Revise Your Novel in a Month – 8 videos, 5.5 hours + 3- hands-on exercises

Congratulations! You have written a draft of a novel. You’ve accomplished what many writers merely talk about and dream of doing – you have written an entire story from beginning to end. When you finish celebrating, it is time to revise: to re-envision and rewrite what you’ve written into a novel that agents, editors and readers will devour.

Writing a great plot involves craft and skill and know-how. Before you undertake a major rewrite, first consider your story from all angles with the help of step-by-step instruction and daily exercises. You know you’re ready to rewrite when you’ve checked all the essentials elements for creating an exciting story with compelling characters and a meaningful plot.

Video #1 you can check out for FREE.

Here’s a rundown of what the rest focus on, but each dovetails and is chock full of additional nuggets of joyous aha moments, so the rundown is far from all inclusive.

2) Who is reading your book and how to make your story universal for them

3) Hitting the energetic markers

4) Showing vs. Telling or more aptly put, writing in scene vs. writing in summary and why you need to do both (Being a screenwriter, this one really hit home for me)

5) Making the climax worthy of everything that comes before

6) Foreshadowing in tone, dialogue, setting, objects etc… and tying it all together with theme

7) The author’s voice vs. the manuscript’s voice vs. the character voice (another bell ringer for me) plus cadence, pacing and word choice.  Actually #7 is loaded with so much stuff you just need to watch it.

8) A recap as to tying it all together and tackling your pages at the word level.

There’s another series that I’ve heard nothing but love for:

2) How to Write and Sell a Picture Book with a Plot

7 videos explain how to plot, write and sell picture books + provide exercises how to immediately integrate the concepts into your own unique story. Learn about all the different kinds of picture books, examples of character-driven and action-driven picture books, how to develop winning picture book concepts, what are the major turning points in every great picture book with a plot, writing, voice, character goals and motivation, how to revise, testing your theme and take-away, who to submit to and so much more…

Here’s How the Video Series Work

Each video includes an in-depth look at the specific elements promised and how to consider these essential story principles as you write, revise, rewrite, sell your story.  Writing assignment(s) guide you with step-by-step instruction.

Whether you decide to watch all the videos in a row and then go back and do the exercises or jump right in to the 1st video’s exercise, work at your own pace and take more or less time on the step-by-step exercises. The series are designed to fit into even the busiest of schedules. Sign-in and watch video lectures, complete homework assignments, and ask questions in a public forum on a timetable that fits your needs.

Why do I love these amazing women so much?  Well they know what they speak for one, but they truly love story and helping writers take their stories to the next level.  They are so generous with their time, you know you’ve made a great investment. I introduce you to Jill and Martha!

Martha Alderson, author of The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master, is known as “The Plot Whisperer” for the help she offers writers worldwide. She is the founder of PlotWriMo: Revise Your Novel in a Month and the award-winning blog The Plot Whisperer.  Her website can be found here, http://plotwhisperer.blogspot.com/ and I highly recommend her books on plot structure novelists and screenwriters alike.

These ladies not only brought us these amazing author tools, but also offer another service with 2 levels of Participation (Participants and Observers):

Office Hours – 2nd Thursday of every month 9:30-11:30am Pacific online 

ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS: 8 authors each have 15 minutes to work with The Plot Whisperer Martha Alderson and Literary Agent Jill Corcoran on whatever you want help with. Read part of your manuscript, query, discuss energetic markers, concept, brainstorm plot, characters, etc and receive feedback you can immediately apply to your work.

Active participants must watch either Plotwrimo: Revise Your Novel in a Month or How to Write & Sell a Picture Book Videos. This gives us a common language and baseline understanding of underlying plot and story concepts for better communication.

Receive a critique of your First Pages, Query, Concept, or get help with your Characters, Where to Start your Story, Crisis, Climax, etc. It is your time… your choice

OBSERVERS: 15 observer spots. As an observer, you do not participate/read your work, but listen and learn from others during these sessions.

GIVEAWAY! 

AND NOW, JILL AND MARTHA ARE OFFERING SOME AMAZING PRIZES TONIGHT. SO BE SURE TO ENTER AND SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THIS EVENT AND THEIR WONDERFUL VIDEO SERIES!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HINT, HINT: All you have to do is comment below and you are entered for a chance to win!

SO MUCH HARD WORK FROM THESE LADIES! LET’S SEE WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THESE VIDEOS AND SERVICES:

“The amount of time, heartache, frustration, and hell that these videos are saving me from is immeasurable.”
“Don’t wait until you have a first draft to get the video series. If you have an inkling of a concept, get the video series. The videos will show you how to define your energetic markers. You’ll learn the difference between crisis and climax. The 8 videos constitute a ‘top to toe’ writing course. 
Jill Corcoran & Martha Alderson, thank you for giving me the opportunity to call myself a writer with pride.” Dolly D Napal

Last, but not least, these ladies offer a fantastic workshop to help people actively learn from the A PATH TO PUBLISHING services.
A Path to Publishing Workshops

Tailor-make an advanced workshop for writers who have watched the series to ask questions and receive feedback on your own individual story.  All of the details are at A PATH TO PUBLISHING.

AND THERE’S MORE:

A Path to Publishing Facebook Group 

Everyone is welcome to join A Path to Publishing Facebook group created by Literary Agent Jill Corcoran and Plot Whisperer Martha Alderson as safe, smart, fun alcove for writers and illustrators to share and learn about the craft of writing and the book biz. This is NOT a place to sell your books but a wonderful forum for us all to advance our skills, our creativity, and our dreams plus learn about what Jill and Martha are up to at A PATH TO PUBLISHING.

Be sure to follow along and see what others are saying about these services and how they have helped them! Read individual reviews and more information about how this video series can help you AND ENTER TO WIN ALL WEEK LONG!

Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions on how useful this series really is or how it works.