Subject: Friend, Hello! News From the Creative Edge

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Hello & News From the Creative Edge

January 22, 2015

Hi Friend, Hello!

Some of you let me know that you wished for more notice about the special free summit for storytellers that's happening now through January 24th. Thanks for letting me know! I was still sick last week and was slow to get my marketing out. Sorry about that!

The cool thing is this event doesn't require your live attendance and you can download all the interviews once they're aired.

You can still sign up here: http://www.storytellerssummit.com/ See you there!


News From the Creative Edge

I'm deep in the middle of editing the third novel in my YA fantasy series (working title: Henrietta and the Horse Mesa). Each time I work on the story I feel a wave of confusion and fear. What if this third book isn't as good as the second? What if I disappoint my readers? I can't work with those thoughts and fear flying through me. So, I devised a way to make this project doable: I'm editing from the end of the book, scene by scene, working backwards, AND, I'm allowing myself to edit in 30-minute segments. Whew! I feel a sense of relief that this editing doesn't have to be done in any particular way, just in the way that works. And I am editing -- my approach is working. That's all that matters. (More about my YA fantasy here: http://author.bethbarany.com/ya-fantasy/.)

I also want to be working on something new. I need to feel that incredible feeling that comes from channeling a new story onto the page. (Editing isn't the same as writing new content, you know what I mean?) So I'm also resurrecting a book I wrote ten years ago, April's Folly, but only have the first three chapters and synopsis. Resurrecting this book will be a new experience, and so will the way I'll be sharing it: Chapter by chapter to my author newsletter subscribers only. 

I'm trying new things -- editing from the front to the back, and serializing a story -- so that I can stay engaged with my work, so I can touch the live wire that is my raison d'être of being an artist.

Are you at your creative edge? How are you staying connecting to your reason for being as a creative, as a novelist?

Share how you go to your creative edge with us on Facebook here: http://on.fb.me/1ExeHO5 or hit reply and share your creative edge experience with me. I'd love to hear it. Thanks!



More events from Beth Barany, Creativity Coach for Writers - land...

 Mid-January 2015: The final quarterly issue of the Author Entrepreneurship Magazine will be published. Coming soon! Topic: The Ins and Outs of Cover Design for Authors. 

What's next: I'm changing the focus and format a little for the magazine. Starting the beginning of April, I'll be posting weekly Q&As from other author entrepreneurs. If you are an author and help other authors as your business, and would like to be featured as a weekly guest, let me know. I'll put you on my list, and will be sending out the questionnaire some time in February. Thanks! 

For more conversation, you can join the Author Entrepreneurship Magazine Facebook group here: 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/authorentrepreneurship/



 January 21-24, 2015: Storytellers Summit, sponsored by creativity coach, Julia Roberts of Decoding Creativity: I am among 20 guests featured. Register for free here: http://www.storytellerssummit.com/.

Stories are elemental. They exist because it is how the human brain works. They have a power to explain, include, exclude and broaden our engagement. Come explore the power of the story.

It's all free and streaming audio online. After each conversation, the moderator, Julia Roberts, will chat with attendees in real time on FB and Twitter. You'll get a chance to learn, network, think and laugh.

FB: https://www.facebook.com/DecodingCreativity
Twitter hashtag: #storysummit https://twitter.com/search?f=realtime&q=%23storysummit&src=typd

The Storytellers Summit is a deep dive into how stories are crafted, how to use them to sell our creative work, how they can get inside our heads and keep us from working well, and how they can deliver with pictures and graphics. We'll even be talking about the differences between how men and women tell, sell and believe stories.

Join us for 4 epic days, 20 insightful, informative conversations, and unlimited online conversations on https://www.facebook.com/DecodingCreativity and on Twitter at #storysummit (#storysummit https://twitter.com/search?f=realtime&q=%23storysummit&src=typd).


Register for free today http://www.storytellerssummit.com/



♥ February 1, 2015: Registration is now open for the Group Coaching Program for Genre Novelists and ends soon. http://coaching.bethbarany.com/

Email me if you're wondering if this program is right for you.




March 7, 2015: Beth and Ezra Barany presenting at the 3rd Annual Day of the Book presented by JFK University, Pleasant Hill Campus, Pleasant Hill, CA. This free event is open to all. 

Join us! http://yourbookstartshere.com/day-of-the-book/

7 Keys to Preparing Your Novel Before You Write

In this talk with bestselling authors and writing teachers, Beth and Ezra Barany, we will help you brainstorm the steps to create your novel – from character development to plot structure to story themes and world building — so that you can start writing your novel prepared. For beginning and advanced writers, we'll offer bite-sized exercises to help you stretch your imagination and get excited for the writing process.


♥ April 2014: 30-Day Challenge to Preparing Your Novel self-paced course.

Sign up here to be notified when registration opens: http://30daywritingchallengefornovelists.bethbarany.com/



June 2015: Beth Barany is sponsoring a Genre Novel First Chapter contest as part of the San Mateo County Fair Literary Stage. 

This contest is open to writers worldwide. 

How to enter coming soon. 

Get ready! Polish your first chapter. Entries due: April 1st, 2015.

Prizes, of course!
1st Place Winner: Author Coaching Package (3 sessions) valued at $450 
2nd Place Winner: One Author Coaching session (valued at $150)
3rd Place Winner: A signed copy of The Writer's Adventure Guide by Beth Barany 

Rules
Submit chapter one (max 3,000 words) of your unpublished novel of any one of these genres: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction. No: Romance, Horror, Erotica. (NO SYNOPSIS OR PROLOGUE). You must include a one-paragraph Elevator Pitch. (Instructions here: (www.writersfunzone.com/blog/2014/09/08/start-novel-preparation-elevator-pitch) Open to unpublished or self-published authors only.

NEW THIS YEAR MULTIPLE NOVEL CONTEST ENTRY OPTION: Work may be also submitted to the Division 350 Publisher’s Choice novel chapter contest, but must keep with this contest’s 3000 word limit (separate entry fee applies).

Rules will be posted soon. See last year's here: https://sanmateocountyfair.com/contests/departments/literary-arts.



June 1-30, 2015: 30-Day Challenge to Preparing Your Novel live course. Sign up here to be notified when registration opens: http://30daywritingchallengefornovelists.bethbarany.com/.



July 2015Branding for Romance Authors (& Other Genre Novelists): How to Create an Online Presence, Network Using Your Author Blog, and Craft a Content Plan. An online course via Outreach International, an RWA chapter.

Sign up here: http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#JUL.



♥ October 2015: Writing Retreat in Paris, France.

All the juicy details here: http://paris.bethbarany.com/.

Email me if you'd like to join us for this 7-day writing adventure in the City of Lights.

Enjoy my tips on travel & writing here:
http://www.writersfunzone.com/blog/category/travel-writing-2/.


If you have any questions about my author coaching, book marketing, or publishing services, just reply to this email and we'll help you out within 24 hours during business hours, Monday through Friday, when we're not on holiday.

All our best,
Beth & Ezra


ABOUT US
Beth and Ezra Barany are award-winning, best-selling novelists, who have worked with over 100 authors to help them get their books written and published.

♥ Happily married for over 15 years, we’re passionate about writing, storytelling, and guiding authors to achieve their dreams.

We offer coaching and change work sessions, consulting, and book marketing services, including a social media and online platform assessment and cover design, for novelists. 




Top Photo Credit: by Vivienne McMaster
Bottom Photo Credit: by Beth Barany
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