Writers

Writing is tough work. Anyone that tells you any differently is probably fibbing. And the more you learn, the more you realize how much there is to learn. So I’ve built this page as a way to provide some of the resources that have helped me. You’ll find a mix of my own blog posts and links to other sites to help you out. And as I learn more, this page will grow with me.

Writing Better

Through the journey of completing manuscripts, I’ve learned more each time. Books, websites, and classes provided light bulb moments that helped me understand the craft of writing. If you are on your journey, here are the resources I found that changed my writing for good:

Finding Your Voice

Blog Series by Yours truly (that’s me)

Craft, Structure and Story

Save the Cat – Blake Synder – BEAT SHEET

Blake Synder wrote a book called Save the Cat — it’s meant for screenwriters, but it’s an amazing tool for fiction writers, as well. This book will help break down the structure and scene elements for your story. It is a great resource to help you get past the moment of “Well I know how it starts and how it ends…”

Storyfix.com

The day I discovered Storyfix.com [website] was a day I got nothing else done. I spent hours reading through the goldmine of posts. I suggest you read everything on this site, but this is a great place to start: Story Structure Roadmap : These posts include exercises to follow — do them. Reading these alone won’t give you the same understanding as sitting down with a few good movies and hashing out the structure just as he suggests.

Post #1: Holy Grail of Storytelling
Post #2: Introducing the 4 Parts of the Story
Post #3: Five Missions for the Set-up (Part 1) of your story
Post #4: The Most Important Moment in your Story : The First Plot Point
Post #5: Part 2 of your story: The Response
Post #6: Wrapping Your Head Around The Mid-Point Milestone
Post #7: The Part 3 Attack
Post #8: The Second Plot Point
Post #9: Pinch Points
Post #10: Part 4 – The Final Act
Post #11: Epilogue – the Fine Print

Margie Lawson’s Academy Classes and Workshops

There is so much to be said about the classes and workshop that the amazing Margie Lawson offers. Her invaluable EDITS system, her pushes to write better, deeper and with more emotion — from character to setting to putting tension on the page, Margie’s classes are worth every minute, three times over. Over the years, I’ve taken a number of in-person workshops, including a full weekend retreat with the fabulous Sacramento Valley Rose chapter. In 2013, I was lucky enough to attend Margie’s Immersion Master class – one week at her house, immersed with 6 other writers on our work and Margie’s lessons. It was exhausting, exhilarating and taught me so much. I will be going back.

There isn’t a class of hers I don’t recommend, I highly suggest them all. You could start with Empowering Your Character’s Emotions.

You can find some of my Margie-related blog posts on my blog:

Revisions and Editing

A series of blog posts by Katrina Stonoff:

Methods, Organization and Ways to Create & Edit

WIP Notebook – Plotter or pantser, no matter what way you write, there is always a need to be organized. Out of that need, I created a tool to help myself called the Work In Progress Notebook — and it was suggested to me that others might find it useful, as well.

There are lots of ways to organize, and being a bit of an organization and project management nerd, I’m always looking for new ones. So as I review different options and post about them, I add them here. Hopefully you’ll find the ways and methods that click for you.

Mindmeister — How Writers can use this Mindmapping Tool to organize their research and thoughts.

Community

Writing is a solitary endeavor, but the communities that exist for you in your genres are a worthy, wonderful resource for support, help, and so much more.

Top Writers Blogs & Communities

There are more writer blogs out there than you could possibly have the time to read. Reviewers, writers, agents, communities… so many to choose from, not enough time. I encourage any writer to seek out all the blogs you can and check them out for yourself. Find the community that speaks to you. So I’m sharing the ones that I’ve gotten useful information and time well spent from. These are the blogs and communities I return to time and time again.

On Marketing

Establishing Your Brand — More to come here!

Book Promotion and Marketing Plan

Websites 101

What the Published Author Needs | on Romance University
What the Newly Published Author Needs | on Romance University
Do I Really Need a Website? | on Romance University

Social Media

There are great ways to use social media and not-so-great ways.

Twitter Do’s and Don’ts
5 Steps to Using Twitter : How to Get Started | on Romance University
Facebook Mistakes and how to avoid them
Using Facebook: Getting Started | on Romance University

Two great books to read:

We Are Not Alone by Kristen Lamb
Are You There Blog, It’s Me, Writer by Kristen Lamb

Book Videos

A workshop that walks through each aspect of a book video — whether you’re creating your own or hiring someone else to do it for you, this is information you should have.

Do you need a book video? How to decide. | on Romance University
Going Pro: When to Turn Your Book Video over to the Professionals | on Romance University