Day Five: 2-Week NaNoWriMo-themed Blog Book Tour for the New Plot Whisperer Book

Today The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master is featured at:

*Friday, October 21st
Kelly Klepfer of Novel Rocket
In asking me to write about what can be learned from the Universal Story, Kelly opened the door for me to write about my passion. Wisdom of the Universal Story allows for effortless writing during Nanowrimo and leads to a more fulfilling life.

AND

Deana Barnhart at Deana Barnhart
Deana asks me questions about why I wrote the book and gives me the opportunity to address the part of the book I am most passionate about along with advice to writers, old and new.

She is offering a book giveaway

****She is offering a free book giveaway.

Master Schedule of the 2-week blog tour for the Plot Whisperer book.

For step-by-step guidance into pre-plotting your novel, memoir, screenplay, refer to:
The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master

For more about the Universal Story and writing a novel, memoir or screenplay, visit the Monday Plot Book Group series (A directory to this 2nd plot series is to the left of this post and scroll down a bit) and visit the first Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. (A directory of all the steps to the 1st plot series is to the right of this post.)
and visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook (for up-to-the-minute news on plot events, giveaways and inspiration)
Plot Whisperer on Twitter

Day Four: 2-Week NaNoWriMo-themed Blog Book Tour for the New Plot Whisperer Book

Today The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master is featured at:

*Thursday, October 20th
Mary Baader Kaley at Not an Editor
Mary asks me questions about plot and the Universal Story as they specifically pertain to writers and critiques.

****She is offering a free book giveaway.

Master Schedule of the 2-week blog tour for the Plot Whisperer book.

For step-by-step guidance into pre-plotting your novel, memoir, screenplay, refer to:
The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master

For more about the Universal Story and writing a novel, memoir or screenplay, visit the Monday Plot Book Group series (A directory to this 2nd plot series is to the left of this post and scroll down a bit) and visit the first Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. (A directory of all the steps to the 1st plot series is to the right of this post.)
and visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook (for up-to-the-minute news on plot events, giveaways and inspiration)
Plot Whisperer on Twitter

Day Three: 2-Week NaNoWriMo-themed Blog Book Tour for the New Plot Whisperer Book

Today The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master is featured at:

*Wednesday, October 19th
Becky Levine at Moving Forward on the Writing Path

Becky is the author of The Writing & Critique Group Survival Guide.
We both share a love of writing and exploring the elements of a good story. Having known me for years, Becky gives a long-view of the Plot Whisperer book.

****She is offering a two free books giveaway.

Master Schedule of the 2-week blog tour for the Plot Whisperer book.

For step-by-step guidance into pre-plotting your novel, memoir, screenplay, refer to:
The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master

For more about the Universal Story and writing a novel, memoir or screenplay, visit the Monday Plot Book Group series (A directory to this 2nd plot series is to the left of this post and scroll down a bit) and visit the first Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. (A directory of all the steps to the 1st plot series is to the right of this post.)
and visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook (for up-to-the-minute news on plot events, giveaways and inspiration)
Plot Whisperer on Twitter

Day Two: 2-Week NaNoWriMo-themed Blog Book Tour for the New Plot Whisperer Book

Today The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master is featured at:

*Tuesday, October 18th
Teresa LeYung Ryan at Love Made of Heart
Teresa LeYung-Ryan is a writing career coach, manuscript consultant and author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW.

Teresa and I have been friends for years, long before her first novel, Love Made of Heart, and my first plot book.
Hers is a more personal impression of energetic markers and thematic significance.

****She is offering a free book giveaway.

Master Schedule of the 2-week blog tour for the Plot Whisperer book.

For step-by-step guidance into pre-plotting your novel, memoir, screenplay, refer to:
The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master

For more about the Universal Story and writing a novel, memoir or screenplay, visit the Monday Plot Book Group series (A directory to this 2nd plot series is to the left of this post and scroll down a bit) and visit the first Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. (A directory of all the steps to the 1st plot series is to the right of this post.)
and visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook (for up-to-the-minute news on plot events, giveaways and inspiration)
Plot Whisperer on Twitter

Day One: 2-Week NaNoWriMo-themed Blog Book Tour for the New Plot Whisperer Book

Today The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master is featured at:

Janet Fox at Through the Wardrobe
Guest post on revision techniques for writers wanting to use the structure and spirit of Nanowrimo for a major rewrite. Before you jump into Nano and begin writing, first follow the tips I provide on Janet's blog about how to re"vision" your story.

Master Schedule of the 2-week blog tour for the Plot Whisperer book.

For step-by-step guidance into pre-plotting your novel, memoir, screenplay, refer to:
The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master

For more about the Universal Story and writing a novel, memoir or screenplay, visit the Monday Plot Book Group series (A directory to this 2nd plot series is to the left of this post and scroll down a bit) and visit the first Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. (A directory of all the steps to the 1st plot series is to the right of this post.)
and visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook (for up-to-the-minute news on plot events, giveaways and inspiration)
Plot Whisperer on Twitter

2-Week NaNoWriMo-themed Blog Book Tour for the New Plot Whisperer Book

In celebration of the two-week blog tour to welcome the successful release of The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master, I am giving away 4 free autographed copies of the book.

To enter, simply comment on each of the fourteen following blogs that hosted a stop along the tour. As one writer says of the experience: "I feel like I just took in a 2 hour writing workshop in a few minutes."

Winners are chosen randomly and awarded The Plot Whisperer book AND a Scene Tracker Kit.

Master Schedule

The following writers are participating in the 2-week NaNoWriMo-themed Blog Plot Book Tour The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master

Blog Plot Book Tour Master Schedule
Week One
*Monday, October 17th
Janet Fox at Through the Wardrobe
Guest post on revision techniques for writers wanting to use the structure and spirit of Nanowrimo for a major rewrite. First, follow the tips I provide on how to re"vision" your story.

*Tuesday, October 18th
Teresa LeYung Ryan at Love Made of Heart
Author and writing coach, Teresa and I have been friends for years. Hers is a more personal impression of energetic markers and thematic significance.

*Wednesday, October 19th
Becky Levine at Moving Forward on the Writing Path
Becky is similar to me in her love of writing and exploration into the elements of a good story. Having known me for years, Becky gives a long-view of the Plot Whisperer book.

*Thursday, October 20th
Mary Baader Kaley at Not an Editor
Mary asks me questions about plot and the Universal Story as they specifically pertain to writers and critiques.

*Friday, October 21st
Kelly Klepfer of Novel Rocket
In asking me to write about what can be learned from the Universal Story, Kelly opened the door for me to write about my passion. Wisdom of the Universal Story allows for effortless writing during Nanowrimo and leads to a more fulfilling life.

Deana Barnhart at Deana Barnhart
Deana asks me questions about why I wrote the book and gives me the opportunity to address the part of the book I am most passionate about along with advice to writers, old and new.

Week Two

*Monday, October 24th
Shreve Stockton at Honey Rock Dawn
As the author of the best-selling memoir, The Daily Coyote, Shreve shares first-hand experience with my plot techniques.

*Tuesday, October 25th
Lia Keyes
I write about how the book helps writers prepare for NaNoWriMo. No amount of pre-plotting can get you to the prize on the last day of November. A smart writing strategy can...

*Wednesday, October 26th
Sherrie Petersen at Write About Now: Ramblings from a Fledgling Novelist about Reading, Writing and Life in a Small Town
In our interview together, Sherrie takes me back to how I became the Plot Whisperer and why I started the YouTube Plot Series -- for free.

Charissa Weaks at A Day in the Life of An Author
Charissa read The Plot Whisperer book before our interview together. She commented on how the book affected her and reveals why I wrote this book for her and all the other writers who start out writing by the "seat of her pants". Charissa asks me specific questions based on the book.

*Thursday, October 27th
Vivian Lee Mahoney
In our interview together, Vivian celebrates The Plot Whisperer book and the sense of empowerment the book offers. I had the sense her questions were personal (thus, universal) and my answers were important to her.

Interview about the Universal Story


*Friday, October 28th
Uma Krishnaswami
I met Uma years ago during a plot consultation. That she teaches writing in the MFA/Writing for Children and YA program of Vermont College of Fine Arts and came to me for plot help thrilled me -- both that she came from such a prestigious literary school and that she came from such a prestigious literary school.

In her interview with me about the Plot Whisperer book, she challenges me about plot...

Linda Joy Myers (President, National Association of Memoir Writers) at Memories and Memoirs
Linda and I met each other years ago through Teresa LeYung Ryan. Linda has always been passionate about teaching wounded people how to use memoir writing as a healing tool. As the women she works with begin to heal, they also get serious about their writing.

Linda always swept in with a spirit of discovery. Because she did, everyone else did, too. Because of Linda's warm and real and accepting embrace, the depth to which we could move into plot and the Universal Story revealed yet another layer.

Debbie Ridpath Ohi
 at Inky Girl
I smile as I write this and, at the same time, I am speechless...

Truly, I am speechless...

Go see for yourself the most incredible, amazing, generous, loving, incredible... did I already say that? I could say it 1000 times more and still not convey the depth of my gratitude to Debbie. What a talent...

For step-by-step guidance into pre-plotting your novel, memoir, screenplay, refer to:
The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master

For more about the Universal Story and writing a novel, memoir or screenplay, visit the Monday Plot Book Group series (A directory to this 2nd plot series is to the left of this post and scroll down a bit) and visit the first Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. (A directory of all the steps to the 1st plot series is to the right of this post.)
and visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook (we hope you "like" it)
Plot Whisperer on Twitter

Pre-NaNoWriMo Plot Key Scenes

Today's Monday Plot Book Group (click to watch the video) covers four key scenes or, in the Universal Story, Energetic Markers that are found in every novel, memoir, screenplay.

As early as possible, attempt to identify these four energetic markers and then allow the rest of the story fall into place around these key scenes.

The energetic markers are:
End of the Beginning Scene
The Halfway Point Scene
The Crisis
The Climax

For step-by-step guidance into pre-plotting your novel, memoir, screenplay, refer to:
The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master

For more about the Universal Story and writing a novel, memoir or screenplay, visit the Monday Plot Book Group series (A directory to this 2nd plot series is to the left of this post and scroll down a bit) and visit the first Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. (A directory of all the steps to the 1st plot series is to the right of this post.)
and visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook (we hope you "like" it)
Plot Whisperer on Twitter

Pre-NaNoWriMo Character Considerations

As you decide whether you're going to dive into NaNoWriMo again this year and find yourself mulling over story and character ideas, keep the following in mind.

An opening line or scene or conflict or dilemma may catch your fancy but rather than linger there for very long, take the inspiration you're given and stretch the ideas all the way to the climax of the story.

In other words, constantly ask yourself what the climax scene may look like. In so doing, consider the traits the protagonist will need to have in order to prevail at the climax.

Such a search opens possibilities for the traits she will be missing at the beginning of the story, the flaw she'll have to overcome to be triumphant in the end and what traits she now has at the beginning that are going to interfere with her forward progress toward her goal.

This exercise will serve you well during the first week of November, which represents the beginning writing portion of the entire project and the time you'll want to incorporate the traits she embodies at the beginning to foreshadow the journey she'll have to undertake.

For step-by-step guidance into pre-plotting your novel, memoir, screenplay, refer to:
The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master

For more about the Universal Story and writing a novel, memoir or screenplay, visit the Monday Plot Book Group series (A directory to this 2nd plot series is to the left of this post and scroll down a bit) and visit the first Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay? on YouTube. (A directory of all the steps to the 1st plot series is to the right of this post.)
and visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook (we hope you "like" it)
Plot Whisperer on Twitter

Pre-plot for NaNoWriMo

Today's Monday Plot Book Group (click to watch the video) covers thematic significance or the deeper meaning of your story.

It's never too early or too late to begin asking yourself:

What does my story means to say?

Or, if you plan on writing a story during November for NaNoWriMo, what sorts of themes do you find bubbling to the surface?

For step-by-step guidance into pre-plotting your novel, memoir, screenplay, refer to:
The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master

For more about the Universal Story and writing a novel, memoir or screenplay, visit all the other Monday Plot Book Group in the series (A directory to this 2nd plot series is to the left of this post and scroll down a bit) and visit the first Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay?on YouTube. (A directory of all the steps to the 1st plot series is to the right of this post.)
and visit:
Blockbuster Plots for Writers
Plot Whisperer on Facebook (we hope you "like" it)
Plot Whisperer on Twitter

Universal Story and the Mythic Journey

The Mythic Journey Joseph Campbell so passionately explored and shared with the rest of us and Christopher Vogler so brilliantly captures by in his book Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers is part of the Universal Story.

The Universal Story is the heartbeat of the universe. It's in the undercurrent of every breath you take, every story you tell yourself, and all the stories you write. The Universal Story represents the movement of everyone and everything changing and evolving as part of the bigger story of all of nature and world around us undergoing constant change and evolution.

An understanding of the Universal Story helps you arrange a story or when, having written, you find yourself mired and lost or simply curious about where you are and where you are headed or, at least, the general direction in which you are moving.

Character transformation in a story mirrors the Universal Story of rebirth. Rebirth contributes to the evolution of us all and delights those who harbor a secret belief in miracles. A character reunited with a long lost part of herself speaks to the possibilities in our own lives. Our inner intelligence whispers of the timelessness of birth, growth, death, and rebirth.

Stand away from all the words of your story and reconnect with the core or heart of the story itself. Examine the themes and the deeper meaning of the story. In viewing your stories minus the words, you can see a story worth the time and attention it is going to take to get it right

As your story evolves, you evolve, too...