Benefits of a Solid Concept and the Art of Pitching Your Story

Summer means Writers Conferences and pitching your story. You find yourself sitting at lunch next to a literary agent. How quickly and compellingly do you draw her into your story? How intriguing is your concept?

When friends ask what your story is about, rather than drone on about every single plot point, learn how to rattle off a pithy pitch that sends even people overhearing you begging for more.

Think of the concept and pitch as the seeds out of which grow action and characters interacting in a meaningful way.

Some writers won't write a word until they come up with a concept that renders them eager for more. Others don't tackle the task until they've finished writing and editing and are ready to query.

Wherever you are with your story, the time is never too early to ask yourself: What is your story about really? Brainstorm. Keep a notebook. Narrow down what your story is about to one or two lines and you're ready to pitch.

Concept, Logline, Pitch Workshop is the next workshop for all ages and all genres at A Path to Publishing.

Join literary agent and publishing insider Jill Corcoran and me and 22 other writers for the opportunity to refine your story concept, develop a log line and perfect your pitch.

Benefits of Pre-Pre-Plotting or the Art of Pitching Your Story

Summer means Writers Conferences and pitching your story. You find yourself sitting at lunch next to a literary agent. How quickly and compellingly do you draw her into your story? How intriguing is your concept?

When friends ask what your story is about, rather than drone on about every single plot point, learn how to rattle off a pithy pitch that sends even people overhearing you begging for more.

Think of the concept and pitch as the seeds out of which grow action and characters interacting in a meaningful way.

Some writers won't write a word until they come up with a concept that renders them begging for more. Others don't tackle the task until they've finished writing and editing and are ready to query.

Wherever you are with your story, the time is never too early to ask yourself: What is your story about really? Brainstorm. Keep a notebook. Narrow down what your story is about to one or two lines and you're ready to pitch.

Concept, Logline, Pitch Workshop is the next workshop for all ages and all genres at A Path to Publishing.

Join literary agent and publishing insider Jill Corcoran and me and 22 other writers for the opportunity to refine your story concept, develop a log line and perfect your pitch.

We Have a Winner!

In honor of launching The Plot Whisperer Workshop Series for writers, we raffled off a free copy of The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories, the basis of the 4 four-week workshop intensives.

In January 2014, literary agent Jill Corcoran brings her expertise in publishing and I bring what I know about plot. The program is powered by an innovative interactive video chat platform that allows you to participate with us directly--as though you're in the same room (think Skype on steroids! Jill likes to say. I'll be trying it out for the first time right along with you.)

You'll have homework, time to share your plot concerns and ask questions live from the comfort of your own home. The workshops are limited to 8 writers.

The winner of the raffle for The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories is Terri Makolonda. Congratulations, Terri!

***For help writing the 2 toughest scenes of your story, join me from the comfort of your home for this 1 1/2hour plot webinar hosted by The Writers Store: Writing Strong Crisis and Climax Scenes: The Two Keys to Screenplays That Connect with Audiences (and Hollywood)

***Sign-up for the virtual Plot Whisperer Workbook Workshops beginning January 2014 to get you writing smarter and faster and more joyfully with a deeper understanding of plot.  
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Take the PLOTWRIMO Pre-Challenge:

You have 2 weeks, 3 days and 19 hours to get a draft written in time for PlotWriMo. Beginning December 1st, follow the exercises on the Plot Whisperer blog to re"vision" and redefine the plot arc of your story. PlotWriMo is custom designed to ensure your success even during the busiest time of the year.
Begin 2014 ready for a powerful rewrite.
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The following resources support you in your pre-challenge:
1) Plot your story step-by-step with the help of The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories

2) Read The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master
named BEST BOOKS FOR WRITERS by Poets and Writers. The author provides insight on how to create works of fiction with powerful stories and focuses on how to devise a Universal Plot, plot lines and subplots, compelling scenes, and character transformation.
 
3) Refer to The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing for writing prompts for scene #1 to the very The End, one prompt at a time.
4) Watch the Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. Scroll down on the left of this post for a directory of all the steps to the series. 27-step tutorial on Youtube
5) Watch the Monday Morning Plot Book Group Series on YouTube. Scroll down on the right of this post for a directory the book examples and plot elements discussed.
For more tips about how to use plot and the Universal Story in your novel, memoir or screenplay, visit:

Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook (we hope you "like" it)

Plot Whisperer on Twitter

Plot Whisperer on Pinterest 

***** Knowing what to write where in a story with a plot reinforces daily writing practice and allows for more productivity in your writing. Whether writing a first draft or revising, if you falter wondering what comes next in a story with a plot, follow the prompts in The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing.

Today, I write.

A Path to Publishing Plot Whisperer Workbook Workshops

I delight in how a passing comment, a sentence fragment, a sigh can grow from nothing into something. In this case, that something is A Path to Publishing featuring The Plot Whisperer Workbook Workshop Series.

Like a story, what began as an idea has blossomed into 4 four-week workshop intensives based on the PWWorkbook. My literary agent Jill Corcoran brings her expertise in publishing and I bring what I know about plot. The program is powered by an innovative interactive video chat platform that allows you to participate with us directly--as though you're in the same room (think Skype on steroids! Jill likes to say. I'll be trying it out for the first time right along with you.)

You'll have homework, time to share your plot concerns and ask questions from the comfort of your own home. The workshops are limited to 8 writers.

In honor of the new plot series, we're holding a free give-away of The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories. You better your chances of winning each time you play in the special Rafflecopter giveaway.