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September 13, 2019
Oakland, CA
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| | "In improv the philosophy is, there are no mistakes. When you trust that there are no mistakes, you are off the hook. No one is watching you, grading you, judging you--not even you! Everything is as it should be in the moment."
-- Jorjeana Marie, IMPROV FOR WRITERS: 10 Secrets to Help Writers and Screenwriters Bypass Writer's Block and Generate Infinite Ideas* (2019)
*I'm loving this book!
I dip into it, get inspired, and go work on my work-in-progress (WIP).
For years, I've been wishing for a book like this because the one improv class I took while I was working on my first YA fantasy, Henrietta The Dragon Slayer, really helped me.
It helped me get into character. It helped me get in touch with her emotions. And it helped me really embody her. I didn’t realize it, but at that point I was still on the surface with her.
Trusting, feeling, moving around as if in her body, and getting specific with all the feels helped me write a story in which a reader said, "Such a good imaginary world that I was able to place myself in it right from the start - loved reading about Henrietta's quest, her struggles and her fears." (Sairaika on Amazon)
Some writing tips for you to play with*: - How can you get specific in your work?
- What powerful specific sensory details can you add to your WIP?
- How can you bring the reader deeply into you story, so the readers can feel it so much they cry, or cheer, and read deep into the night?
Unfortunately I won’t be able to be there because I will be presenting on “Use Fiction Tools to Jazz Up Your Nonfiction Book” at Women in Consulting's mini writer's conference. More on that below.
(*Grammar alert: Yes, you can end a sentence with a preposition, says Grammar Girl.) |
| | | Good News! Community Kudos!
I'm starting a new feature of sharing good news and celebrations by our newsletter subscribers, blog contributors, and students and co-teachers at Barany School of Fiction.
So -- send me your news so I can include it in our weekly Friday newsletter.
♥
Congrats!
Mellissa Green is the author of dark Intergalactic Culinary thrillers to teleport readers into the stars and beyond. With her patron's support, she will create dark Intergalactic Culinary thrillers and a booktube channel.
♥
A big congrats and shout out to Hugh Tipping for being 48 pages to the end of his second revision of his 160,000-word fantasy novel.
Because you celebrate the small steps as well as the big! ♥
Reminder: Send me your news so I can include it in our weekly Friday newsletter. Just hit reply and let me know!
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| | | Upcoming Workshop
“Use Fiction Tools to Jazz Up Your Nonfiction Book”
Thursday, September 26, 2019, 1-7pm: I’ll be presenting at the mini-conference “Getting Known as an Authority in Your Field: Writing Your Book” on how to “Use Fiction Tools to Jazz Up Your Nonfiction Book” for Women in Consulting.
Location: College of San Mateo.
Registration is now open. More information here: https://wiconsult.org/write-your-book.
♥
More upcoming events and workshops are listed here. |
| | Registration Open!Plan and Write Your Novel: 60-Day Challenge
After 5 years of teaching 2 courses in the fall, this October Ezra and I are doing something a little differently. We're combining our planning course with our writing support group for one course: Plan and Write Your Novel: 60-Day Challenge.
Are you ready?
This course comes with weekly support and teaching calls, over 30 lessons with lifetime access, a private community of your peers, and 2 experienced teachers working alongside you.
Write the novel you've aways dreamed of writing.
We have some fun bonuses this year: - e-book edition, Plan Your Novel Like A Pro and its workbook
- Story Structure course
- Create Compelling Characters course
- "How to Generate Your Story Idea" upcoming webinar
- "How to Develop a Writing Practice" upcoming webinar
Sign up by Sept 13th to attend the two live webinars. Class size is limited. All the details and how to register here:
Registration closes Sept. 27.
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| | Have a happy and creative week! Happy writing!
Best,
Beth
♥
On the Writer's Fun Zone blog this week: ♥
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| NEWEST BOOK! Plan Your Novel Like A Pro
This book will help you get excited to plan your novel. The tools shared here are designed to spark your muse and give you confidence when you sit down to write your story. Plan Your Novel Like A Pro: And Have Fun Doing It! is for organic writers and pansters who want a roadmap to follow, so that they can let their creativity loose.
** Is this you? => Are you a podcaster or blogger and would like to feature PLAN YOUR NOVEL LIKE A PRO on your channel? Review copies available. Please hit reply and let me know. Thanks!
♥
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| | | You have been reading the Creativity Sparks Newsletter!
Welcome!
You may share this content intact and with no changes with this attribution:
BTW, I'm a working novelist too, with two series published in two genres, and more on the way. :)
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| | ABOUT BETH BARANY
Beth Barany is creativity coach for writers, a teacher, workshop facilitator, and speaker, who helps fiction writers experience clarity, so that they can write and polish their novels, and proudly publish them to the delight of their readers.
Owner of the Barany School of Fiction, an online training hub, Beth takes great interest in how humans learn, create, and grow, and includes all her students’ life experiences, including the ancestors, into the moment.
Want a course to help you prepare to write your novel? Discover the comprehensive Plan Your Novel course here, co-taught with award-winning, bestselling thriller author, Ezra Barany.
She's also an award-winning novelist and writes magical tales of romance, adventure, and mystery to empower women and girls to be the heroes in their own lives.
beth@bethbarany.com
Barany School of Fiction
Writer's Fun Zone blog
Photo Credit: by c. 2018 Ezra Barany
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| | | Here be the legalese: In connection with the operation of this newsletter and business, Creativity Sparks includes affiliate links, including links to Amazon.com (“Affiliate Links”). Barany Consulting earns a commission from the Affiliate Links which commission is based on the number of sales that are made as a result of users of the Newsletter clicking over to the Affiliate Link and purchasing from the Affiliate Link a product and/or service. Thus endth the legalese. |
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