PlotWriMo: Revise Your Novel Blog Tour

I am excited to host two inspiring women today, along with the fabulous program they have put together to help authors get their books published and to learn how to revise their own novels in a manner that will make manuscripts shine!

I first met Martha Alderson at the 2004 East of Eden Writers Conference in Salinas, CA. From there, I participated in one of Martha’s plotting workshops where I learned her butcher paper plotline method. I was working on Moonlight Dancer at the time and plotted the whole thing with Martha’s expert guidance while imbibing her luscious sun tea. What a magical day that was! I’ve also worked with Martha via phone consultations. And I bought her book Blockbuster Plots: Pure & Simple. It’s dog-eared now.

So, I guess you could say I’m a groupie.

Now, Martha has joined with Jill Corcoran to create the PlotWriMo series just in time to help me revise my completed young adult manuscript.

And although I’ve never met Jill Corcoran, I find her to be an engaging presenter who complements Martha’s system very well. It’s so helpful to see an agent’s take on the writing process! In the videos Jill explains how the concepts of plotting and revising work together to enhance the success of any manuscript. I can attest to the value of their step-by-step guidance. I also believe if you watch the first video for free (see details below), you will go on to purchase the series…and thank me for it later.

Here are the details of the PlotWriMo program. (Note: Martha and Jill also have a picture book video and are in production of other videos to come.)

1) PlotWriMo: Revise Your Novel in a Month

http://apathtopublishing.com

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.

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You can watch the first video for free to get a sense of what it’s all about. Check it out here. I definitely recommend that you do this. You’ll be hooked and want to dive right in with the assignments. I love the way Jill brings in book examples to back up the concepts. (I even ordered some of the novels she highlighted.)

 Here’s How the Video Series Works

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. It’s so fun to jump right from the presentation into your own hands-on revisions.

You can watch all the videos in a row and then go back and do the exercises or view the 1st video’s exercise, work at your own pace and take more or less time on the step-by-step exercises. The series is 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.

I’ll introduce you to Jill and Martha now.

Jill and Martha not only developed these amazing author tools, but also offer another service with two levels of Participation (Participants and Observers):

 Office Hours

2nd Thursday of every month

9:30-11:30am Pacific

on-line http://apathtopublishing.com/office-hours/

Active Participants and Observers

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.

WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THESE VIDEOS AND SERVICES:

Reviews of the series:

“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

 “I have been writing, writing, writing, and reading about writing, but I knew I was still missing the mark. How I write and rewrite books will be forever changed for the better.” Wendy McLeon MacKnight

 Last, but not least, Martha and Jill offer a workships to help people actively learn from the A PATH TO PUBLISHING services.

A Path to Publishing Workshops:

http://apathtopublishing.com

We often tailor-make an advanced workshop for writers who have watched the series to ask questions and receive feedback on your own individual story.

A Path to Publishing Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/apathtopublishing/

Everyone is welcome to join A Path to Publishing Facebook group created by Literary Agent Jill Corcoran and Plot Whisperer Martha Alderson as a 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. Read individual reviews and more information about how this video series can help you!

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

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