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Steph Olivieri Bourbon ~ Writing Coach

~ I TEACH emerging female writers in tv/film & novels HOW to create stories to fall in love with✨© Stephanie Bourbon 2022

Steph Olivieri Bourbon ~ Writing Coach

Category Archives: Children’s books

Tips for Tuesdays

02 Tuesday Jul 2019

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Children's books, Novels, Writing (film & television)

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author, creative consulting, Story, story concierge, Writing, writing community, writing tips

66403207_10157444594668619_7646065848817287168_n.jpgHello Writers, this week has been a bear!! It’s July, it’s hot and nasty out AND my husband and my dog both need more of me than usual—that said, I’m happy to be there for them but it’s chipped into my mornings.

My little dog wouldn’t eat today so I went to the store and bought stuff to cook for him and he still wouldn’t eat but finally, he did and BOOM! It was noon.

AAAAARGH! 

So my writing TIPS for today are really just ONE. 

It’s OKAY to take a break when life gets crazy. I have been feeling guilty of not writing today but then, it’s 3:30 (pst) and I still have to work my dayjob.. so I’m giving myself permission to not write at the moment and get to the things that keep a roof over my head.

My tip, again, is to know that it’s okay when you have to take a break. 

Take that break.

Recharge.

Start over when you are ready.

When you write when you aren’t focused, you tend to make a lot more story, character and plot mistakes, and then you have to fix them later.

It’s okay to take a day off!!

www.judaniebean.com 

www.youtube.com/stephaniebourbon

GOALS for JULY

02 Tuesday Jul 2019

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Children's books, Novels, Writing (film & television)

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camp nano, creative consulting, Film, novel, Story, storytelling, Television, Writing, writing coach, writing tips

Hey Writers! OMG I am so sorry that I am so late with this post. If I told you, you wouldn’t believe the morning I had, and no, I’m not organized enough to post in advance.

I apologize!

WHAT ARE YOUR WRITING GOALS FOR JULY?

Are you part of #CampNaNOWriMo?

Do you have a deadline?

What are you doing?

I am spending July in CampNaNo, building my writing course #storyconcierge in Kajabi, and am excited about all the possibilities coming for writers.

This is short today as it’s 5:30 and let’s just say, I’m not over the food poisoning I got last night YET—ugh StoryConciergeFall2019

 

www.judaniebean.com

www.youtube.com/stephaniebourbon 

Writing Goals for the Week?

24 Monday Jun 2019

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Children's books, Novels, Writing (film & television)

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writers life, Writing, writing goals, writing tips

writinggoals

I actually have a pretty bad cold so I’m not going to write a long blog today. Sorry but please tell me, what are your writing goals for this last week of June??

www.judaniebean.com

www.youtube.com/stephaniebourbon

New Video How to Beat Writer’s Block

19 Wednesday Jun 2019

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Children's books, Novels, Writing (film & television)

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screenwriting, TV writing, writer's block, Writing, writing community, writing tips

Hello storytellers! Today I have a new video up tackling the dreaded writer’s block. Check it out, subscribe, share with your friends! And please comment here or there, so we can talk about it and help each other out!

#writingcommunity

How to Beat Writer’s Block

18 Tuesday Jun 2019

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Children's books, Novels, Writing (film & television)

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author, author life, Film, novel, story concierge, storyteller, storytelling, Television, writer's block, writers life, Writing, writing tips

tipswritersblock

 

So, there is this thing that writers say all the time when they are stuck. “I have writer’s block.” For many years I had no sympathy and would think or even say, “writer’s block is bullshit”, but I don’t believe that anymore. It’s a real thing. Sometimes we just get stuck, our muse is out drinking or whatever, we have no ideas coming in.

Well, it feels like that’s true, usually, it’s other things pushing their way forward. How to pay the bills, what if I get rejected on the story that is already out there, I’m tired, this story isn’t working, etc.. then, we procrastinate—and as writers, we are really good at that.

I find that when I get stuck, I refuse to call it writer’s block, when I’m stuck I find that if I force myself to write something it helps me get back to what I’m doing. Sometimes, I’ll work on another project, or even just getting out of the flat helps me a lot. Going to the gym helps me, hanging out with my crit group or friends helps as well.

I have posted just a few tips that work for me that you can print out and post-maybe they will help you too!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on it. Do you get it? How do you get unstuck?

Don’t forget to tune into my YouTube channel and subscribe–this week, I am talking about this very thing in a short fun video!

Sign up for my newsletter, freebies, and information on my Story Concierge course HERE

Join the FB group I created for all storytellers HERE

Follow me on social media  

Pinterest

Instagram

Twitter

xo Stephanie

Let’s Take Action on Your Writing Goals

17 Monday Jun 2019

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Children's books, Novels, Writing (film & television)

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author, Film, goals, novel, novel revisions, query letters, screenwriting, Television, writers life, Writing, writing goals, writing tips

writingaolsJune17

Another week and the year is almost half over! 

OMG; how did that even happen?

What?

No way.

In January you may have written down your goals for the year. Get an agent, finish your revisions, get a book deal, get a movie deal, speak at a conference, pay off debts, lose 20lbs, etc and then it’s the 3rd week of June and NONE of that has happened, and you feel like complete and total shit!

This is NORMAL

We always write more goals that we can possibly make so don’t worry, the important thing is that you have these goals. It’s okay if you don’t reach them.

For example. I was sure that I would have signed with a new agent by now. I started sending my novel out again and the rejections have come in. NOW the goal is to revise the book so it’s much stronger and then send it out again next year. It’s disappointing but it is what it is. We have a choice in life to either let the setbacks—or nonreaching of goals–destroy us or move on. Let’s move on.

What are your goals for the next 6 months? July-Dec 31, 2019?

Do you want to finish that revision? Write a new novel? Have a spec written? Have your pilot read by producers? Submitted to several agents?

Be specific and WRITE THEM DOWN!

Then, go deeper. 

What will prevent you from reaching these goals? 

What will help you reach them? 

What will you cut out of your life in order for it to happen?

I find that the more clear I am on goals the better chance I have at making them.

I know that you can do it too.

It takes work, but that’s okay.

I was at a WW meeting yesterday and the leader was talking about getting derailed from weight loss goals and how we have a choice to get back on the path or continue down the wrong way. She used this analogy. If you are in your car and you make a wrong turn, do you continue or do you turn around and get back on the right way? You know the answer, we all do.

I have lost 28 lbs this year. I wanted to have lost 50 by now. I’m a size 6 again and I feel great but that number nags at me. I focus on that instead of celebrating my loss. I have gone down 2 sizes. This is a huge accomplishment.

I also have a couple revise and resubmits for my novel and a couple requests, once it’s revised and yet my brain focuses on the fact that it’s 2019 and my book is still not signed, sold or delivered. Instead, I need to celebrate that I’m getting great feedback and I now have a plan.

See how that works?

I know you can do it. I’m asking you to take action and write out your writing goals for this week, this month, next month, and through the end of the year. What will help you get there, and what will possibly distract you?

TRUST ME. This will help you.

I hope that you all have an amazing week. 

Please find me on YouTube HERE

Sign up for my newsletter, freebies, and information on my Story Concierge course HERE

Join the FB group I created for all storytellers HERE

Follow me on social media  

Pinterest

Instagram

Twitter

xo Stephanie

Image

Query Tips

11 Tuesday Jun 2019

Tags

novel, query letters, query tips, screenwriting, TV writing, writers life, Writing, writing query leters

perfectquery

Writing queries is something that most writers find terrifying but I find it fun. A chance to get to talk about my novel??? AWESOME! 

I know that they seem hard, but really you can craft a perfect query with some very easy steps.

Remember always be personal to the agent you are querying and always FOLLOW the submissions listed on the agent’s website. This is super important.

Then your pitch needs to be quick and concise and contain a GREAT HOOK. This is what will sell your story.

I have taught writing queries for many years and worked 1:1 with writers perfecting theirs.

You can also find information just by googling. I have also included some links for you and please subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE because I’m going to be covering this in videos on my Story Concierge weekly show.

Eric Smith is an agent and writer who has given his expertise on his website. Check it out. https://www.ericsmithrocks.com/perfect-pitch

John Cusick is also an agent and writer who has given his expertise here. Check it out.

https://johnmcusick.wordpress.com/2015/07/01/a-pretty-much-foolproof-never-fail-silver-bullet-query-opening/

You can also find more information on QUERY TRACKER https://querytracker.net/

Thank you for reading and if you have any specific query questions please comment here or on social media. Please sign up for my VIP list and join my Story Concierge FB group.

Happy Writing xo 

Stephanie

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter | Filed under Children's books, Novels, Writing (film & television)

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New Video On Writing the Middle

05 Wednesday Jun 2019

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Children's books, Novels, Writing (film & television)

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Hey everyone so I have a new YouTube video out today and I’d love for you to watch, like, comment, subscribe and share. Today I am talking about those mushy middles of our stories!

Thank you for watching!!

 

I Hit 100 Subscribers on YouTube

29 Wednesday May 2019

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Children's books, Novels, Writing (film & television)

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author, Film, novel, screenwriting, storytelling, Television, TV writing, writers life, Writing, writing community, you tube

My brand new little channel hit 100 subscribers yesterday and YouTube sent me this fun little animation congratulations email. Hitting 100 is a big deal when you are brand new.

IMG_3480

They are so cute!

I started this channel to help writers and answer all the questions I get via my business, at conferences, when I’m speaking, when I work 1:1 with writers and see in social media groups. It’s a channel dedicated to YOU–the WRITER/STORYTELLER.

www.youtube.com/stephaniebourbon 

WATCH. LIKE. COMMENT. SUBSCRIBE. & SHARE with all your writer friends. 🙂 

I would LOVE to have you there.

d_bEfeFyK64

I am officially launching NEXT week. June 5th to be precise. I can’t wait.

THEN—there is MORE—in the fall I am launching my STORY CONCIERGE course—which you will love.

Everything you need to get on the right path with your specific and unique writing career will be in this course.

For a limited time this summer I am going to be giving the first writers & storytellers to sign up a lot of FREEBIES, including—-wait for it—–a ONE on ONE consulting package (WORTH $1500+) with me, AND FIVE FREE COURSES—yes, I am giving my course away for free. There are no conditions.

All you have to do is visit my new site www.judaniebean.com and sign up to be a Judanie Bean VIP to get all the news and when you do you will get the latest news BEFORE I post here or anywhere on social media.

wlogo

It’s like a first class seat for stowaway prices—FREE–just sign up and you’ll be first to find out how you can get my new course for absolutely nothing.

That’s it for this week.

There are some more links below that I know you will love.

Happy WRITING!!

JOIN the conversation STORY CONCIERGE CLOSED FACEBBOOK GROUP

YouTube for WRITERS & STORYTELLERS

PINTEREST 

INSTAGRAM

TWITTER

Writing Goals for the Week?

28 Tuesday May 2019

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Children's books, Novels, Writing (film & television)

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Tags

dialogue, Film, goals, novel, Story, story concierge, storytelling, Television, TV writing, writers life, Writing, writing community, writing dialogue, writing goals, writing tips

GoalswritingMay28

 

Happy first day of the new week—because yesterday was a holiday—I hope you did something fun.

My husband and I went to see the new Ryan Reynolds movie—Detective Pikachu and while we totally enjoyed it, I found myself wondering why I didn’t really care about the characters, especially the main character.

Did you see it? What did you think?

We also watched all of DEAD TO ME—and that was brilliant in every way.

The characters were so well developed. There was no telling-everything we found out we did in the right way-they ever used flashbacks effectively. Every episode ended with what I call a page turner (even in TV shows)—it made us binge instead of waiting for the next day. The dialogue was all perfect.

***THIS IS A SHOW TO WATCH TO LEARN craft of storytelling. I can’t recommend it enough.

***Warning if the F word offends you, then it’s probably not the show for you though.

Have you seen it?

So, I’m a day late in posting my goal post for the week-which usually I put out on Mondays. But, since I took most of the day off to recharge I figured that a lot of you did as well.

Now, it’s time to write down those goals!!!

Happy writing!!!

Please subscribe, share here and on social media.

For more on writing, news, tips, and tricks you can find me here!

www.judaniebean.com

www.youtube.com/stephaniebourbon

Join the STORY CONCIERGE FB GROUP 

XO Stephanie

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