My new blog

Hello writers!

I just want to thank you for following here for all these years! Seriously you warm my heart!

I have a new blog started on my actual website that has my courses and stuff for writers.

https://www.stephaniebourbon.com/stephanie-bourbon-blog

I will try to reblog my blogs from there to here but the best thing to do is to get on my VIP list so you get notified everytime I have a new blog post–AND You will get exclusive offers just for being a VIP.

https://www.stephaniebourbon.com/stephanie_bourbon_creativeconsultant

I have a lot of new things coming up this spring so head over now!

Thanks for being amazing writers!!

XO Stephanie

Do What You Love

Tags

creative life, do what you love, screenwriting, TV writing, Writing

Happy Sunday! Usually I blog on Wednesdays but I decided to toss in a bonus blog this week because this has been on my mind a lot! Here’s a little reminder if you are stuck in a rut!

DO WHAT YOU LOVE and accept nothing less for your life and career. 

 TRUTH ~ when my mother was sick with lung cancer about two months before she died when she knew it was growing again and she would need at least one more surgery that would probably leave her paralyzed from the waist down she said to me “if I make it out of this, I’m going back to painting. I hate graphic design.” I knew she wasn’t making it out of it. I hoped, but I knew she wasn’t going to, and this crushed me. I thought, “I don’t want to be dying and have regrets like that.” It changed the course of my life. You see, society tells us from the moment we are born that we need to do certain things. Get a college degree, get married, own property, pop out some kids, and have a steady career that makes money.Art and everything creative is fine for a hobby but not for a career. Why is that? EVERYONE enjoys art.

Yes even those who pretend that they are so above it all that they don’t own a TV, go to the movies, go to concerts, etc.. and yes all that POP CULTURE stuff? All the commercial films and TV shows, and books, etc.. all that is ART TOO.  I once had a friend of mine go off on an article she read about an actor on set who was wasted and he was caught from mandatory drug testing on that set. She was pissed off because she felt that it was a “nothing industry” and wasting money that should be going to something else.  I was like, “Um don’t you watch movies? Shouldn’t the sets be safe?” only to get an F you and delete from her FB friends list.  Movies are art. TV is art. Comics. Video Games.Books….etc.  This is all art! Sorry if I got distracted about this but as a creative, I’m passionate about it and I refused, and have refused my entire life to accept anything less for my career. Full transparency here—I don’t own a house and I don’t have kids. I always thought I would have those things but the kid thing didn’t happen because like in my career in my life I refused to get married just to get married. I watched my mother get divorced in her 40s and marry the man she really loved at 49. She didn’t love my father in the way she should have. I asked once when I was in my twenties, why she married him and she said, “because that’s what we did back then”  It made me sad so while I always hoped that I’d get married in my thirties and have kids, when I hit my thirties the universe had other plans and started killing off members of my family almost yearly, it was devastating, and at the time I was working in animation-which I did love-but it wasn’t my dream, it was a great job in the entertainment industry. But dating and marriage? That just wasn’t a priority as I had to survive.   Survive grief and survive my career.  *** BTW I met the man I love in my early 40s and married him in my late 40s and I’m so happy that I waited.I made it work because I always knew that I had to continue to do what I love. What is that? Working in entertainment. Being a creative. Storytelling and everything that goes with that.  

I have a chapter in a new book called She Did It And So Can You that explains what I did to make this work for me. And there are 16 other stories too. You can get that HERE it just hit number 1 on Amazon and is an international bestseller. 🍾❤️ I want you to really think about what you are doing 40 hours a week and ask yourself these things. Is it what I LOVE?Does it bring me JOY? If I was dying today would I have regrets?  Be honest with yourself. If the answer to the top two are no and the third is yes, please make a plan of action to do what you love.  A friend & colleague sent me this email today  “I’ve been studying all kinds of self help things lately, and they all boil down to what you said in your email about the book: Following what makes you happy.  I’m so glad you found that out while you are young!” It’s important to always do what you love!  In my upcoming career course, STORY CONCIERGE, for female writers who work in (or want to) film, television, and novels I go deeper into this and WHY it’s important to always follow your dreams. 

You can get on the waitlist HERE and by signing up for that list you will get access to free trainings that are coming this spring.  I want you to be happy and never have regrets. Do what you love always!  If that is writing, then write. If it’s painting, then paint. If it’s having a boring desk job, then have a boring desk job!  Don’t let society or ANYONE tell you what you need to do and or how to live your life.  Okay, that’s my extra blog for today. Come back on Wed for some writing craft or career tips to help you succeed and reach your dreams!!  xo Stephanie Here is a YouTube video I did from 2019 on this very subject CLICK HERE

Follow me on social media Twitter https://twitter.com/stepholivieri

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stepholivieribourbon/

JOIN MY FREE FB GROUP https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenwritersstorytelling/

Find out more about what’s new https://www.stephaniebourbon.com/JudanieBean

It’s Okay to Take A Day Off-what we learn from Ferris

Tags

am writijng, Ferris Bueller, writers life, Writing, writing community

Writers!! 

Some days it’s just too hard to do anything, especially in 2020. 

Last week I hit a wall, and thus I skipped everything-including my blog which is a day late this week too. This is a big no-no in the business world but I’m only one person. 

I felt guilty about it all last week, all weekend, and yesterday when I literally crashed out for 8 hours in the middle of the day. 

You see, in life “shit happens” and I am one of those, like the great Cristina Yang in Grey’s Anatomy who always says “I’m fine” even when I’m not. I won’t bore you with the details but just apologize for being absent for these few days. I’m sorry, do you forgive me? 

NOW, let’s talk about the importance for creatives to take a day off! 

Please head over HERE and read all of this and STORY TIPS from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off!

I loved this movie so much when I was a teen and I still love it now. I wrote a blog on the importance of taking time off AND I give story tips from this movie, so here over.

I have loved having this blog here but the other one is my new blog on my website where you can get HEAPS of FREEBIES

XO Stephanie

thanks for reading and being here for all these years!

How to Write A Novel in a Month & WIN NANOWRIMO

Tags

NaNoWriMo, novel writing, women writers, writers community, Writing, writing novels, writing tips

I have been doing NaNoWriMo for many many years and I LOVE it. In fact, I love it so much that I’ve created a new course all about writing a novel in a month, it’s called

FROM NOTHING TO NOVEL and it’s going to get you from the blank page to a completed novel in just a month—now, you will need to revise said novel–but don’t worry, I’ve got you covered because included in my new course, is a special bonus on revisions. AND, since I run a concierge service for writers, you know I will give you lots of options for courses, workshops, and books on revising that I KNOW you will LOVE. Find out more here https://www.stephaniebourbon.com/from-nothing-to-novel

I’m super excited about this course because after spending the summer with writers and talking to writers of all genres and levels finishing a novel seems to be the thing that they need the most help with and since writing a draft fast is my JAM, I created this course.

I also blog about it on my OTHER BLOG—I know I know, I have more than one blog–I’m a writing slut that way. LOL for lack of a better term.

You can read that blog here https://www.stephaniebourbon.com/blog/how-to-write-a-novel-in-a-month-win-nanowrimo

I give some tips but I will also share them here.

5 Things you can do to get ready are:

1. Choose WHO & WHAT your story is about.
2. Choose your schedule
3. Choose a writing buddy or writing pod
4. Create accountability check-ins with that buddy or pod
5. Create folders on your desktop AND email to save your work

READ THE OTHER BLOG HERE for more details https://www.stephaniebourbon.com/blog/how-to-write-a-novel-in-a-month-win-nanowrimo

Thank you for reading and I hope that I will see you in my new course, and in my FACEBOOK page for women writers which you can find here https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenwritersstorytelling

Sorry dudes, I love ya, but this one is just for women writers. We need a save place to support each other and lift each other up in our writing. Thanks for understanding!!

Happy writing,

Stephanie

How to Crush That Query

Tags

novel, novel writing, query letters, query tips, screenwriting, screenwriting tips, Writing, writing community, writing query leters, writing tips

 

Hello, Writers & Storytellers,

so I have started a new blog that is attached to my course and membership site which is hosted on Kajabi and I’d love you to head over there and check out my blogs that post every #writerwednesday but it’s okay if you still love it here too!

This week I wrote about CRUSHING YOUR QUERY LETTER. 

Here is the link to the blog over there. TAKE ME THERE NOW

Now, I’ll write about queries here as well! 

It’s not a difficult task to talk about our stories, right? You love telling friends and family and co-workers all about your novel, screenplay, or new idea for a TV pilot–it flows easily but for some reason when we go to write that query letter we get completely locked and it never comes out right.

Why?

This is like playing golf or any sport really, it’s a MENTAL GAME. You psych yourself out that this query is the most important piece of writing and your life depends on the outcome and then you forget how to write and you forget how to talk about your manuscript in a way that draws people in.

The pressure is too much!

It shouldn’t be.

So what I want you to do is change the way you think about queries and trust me, they will get easier.

Also, it is not the end of the world, whomever you are sending it to may or may not be the agent for you, so stop pressuring yourself.

I want you to be successful and I know you can do it! You can, you just completed and revised your screenplay, your novel, your children’s picture book, your TV pilot so you can do this!

I want you to head up to the link I posted before and to make it easy, here it is again.

TAKE ME THERE 

And if you still need more help, I’m offering a FREE look at your query for the entire month of July–meaning you can email me your query and I will look at it and give you some general feedback to help you get it right!

You can get in touch by emailing me at Stephanie@judaniebean.com and put CRUSHINGMYQUERY in the subject line.

Okay, that’s it for this edition of #writerwednesday and I hope you have a super day, week, month, and get that query written!!

YOU GOT THIS! 

XO Stephanie

It’s Been A While & I’m Celebrating

Tags

screenwriting, TV writing, Writers, writers life, Writing, writing community

So I started a new blog that is on my website and I love this one so much that I promise not to go away forever but all my business coaches tell me that I need to focus on the one connected so I will do both!

Today I posted this

https://www.stephaniebourbon.com/blog/i-m-celebrating-the-positives

And I’d LOVE you to hop over and read it!!

More tomorrow, I promised.

Meanwhile, I’d love for you to come check out all the new things I am offering for writers just like YOU HERE

and please make sure to choose one and sign up so you will be on my list to get all the specials early for being a VIP.

Thank you for reading and being with me all these years!!

I couldn’t do any of it without you!

 

XO XO Stephanie

Writing Goals Aren’t Just Important-They Are Invaluable

Tags

Film, novel, screenwriting, TV writing, writers life, Writing, writing advice, writing goals, writing tips

Good morning writers,

I hope you are amazing!

I also hope that you are writing down your writing goals for the week ahead. I find that when I have my plans or goals written out in a list I tend to stick to them and actually make them much more than when I say, “I’ll write whatever whenever I have time.”

That’s why for me #NaNoWriMo is so great. I always get an entire novel drafted. It pushes me to stick to daily word count goals.

Here are some quick and easy tips to make those writing goals work for you so you will accomplish more and get that draft done faster.

1. Make daily goals-this can be word count or page count or scenes, whatever you need. Write them down somewhere that you can see them.
2. Get an accountability partner to check in with. You don’t have to check-in everyday-there are no rules but whatever you want just check-in.
3. Make the goals fun. Maybe you meet with your partner at a coffee shop every day for an hour, maybe you chat on the phone or via social media. Mix it up and have fun.
4. Cross them off as you do them-this is like getting a star in school-just feels good.

Now for some don’ts.

1. Don’t edit your writing as you go
2. Don’t compare yourself to other writers you see on social media
3. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t make the daily goal–today is a new day.

 

I hope this is helpful and that you all have a very productive week!!

BONUS for reading. I have created a writers GOAL sheet JUST for you and it’s FREE!!!

You can get it here, make as many copies as you want, hang it up so you can see it and check off those goals as you make them! 

Happy Writing!

XO

Stephanie

BTW I’m taking a holiday with my husband for our first wedding anniversary AND we are moving apartments this month so I may post less than normal but you can find me on social media and I hope you join the STORY CONCIERGE FB group!

Tips for a Successful NaNoWriMo

Tags

creative consulting, NaNoWriMo, nanowrimo2019, novel writing, Novels, Writing, writing advice, writing novels

Hello WRITERS

First of all, I apologize for taking some time off from this blog. As many of you know, I am in the process of creating my signature online course STORY CONCIERGE and several mini-courses that will be budget-friendly and take less time to complete as we are all so busy and a lot of us don’t have a ton of money to spend on courses.

This said, I am rolling everything over to my course platform KAJABI and even this blog will roll over, so please be patient with me.

I also started a YouTube channel this summer and am taking the month of October off as life has gotten so busy and if you follow me on social media, you know that we are also moving apartments AND jetting over the Pacific Ocean to enjoy our one year anniversary in Hawaii.

There are no enough hours in the day.

SOOOOO I am doing #NaNoWriMo as I have done it every year since 2006 and one year when it first started before that. I love it.

I am going to be posting weekly videos AND FB lives AND Instagram stories all November giving support, tips, insights, and anything else that YOU need to have a successful month. 

You may add me as a buddy at https://nanowrimo.org/ I am stephnewyork

Here are some quick and easy tips!!

1. Be open to whatever story you are writing–meaning–just be free and free write
2. Don’t edit–just write
3. Make a schedule. Usually, during NaNo I set aside a couple hours every month to write BEFORE I do anything else. Well, maybe you can’t do that but try to schedule this in–you will be more likely to do it if it’s on your calendar.
4. Make a daily word count goal.
5. Aim to finish before the end of the month so you have time to spare.
6. Do NOT compare yourself to others
7. Don’t expect this to be perfect right out of the gate.
8. Don’t outline in October—I find those who do this often fail because they are trying to stick to an idea, whereas it’s better to just write. If you must outline, just do it as simple as possible as a guide, not a detailed map.
9. Do go to write-ins online and in-person with other writers.
10. HAVE FUN!!

Here is a FREEBIE—a goal sheet download for writers-—this can be so helpful for NaNoWriMo or any of your writing goals WRITER GOAL SHEET DOWNLOAD

Happy Writing xo 

Stephanie

BTW I’m taking October off from this blog as well but you can find me on social media

Join the STORY CONCIERGE Free FB group https://www.facebook.com/groups/StoryConcierge/

Twitter https://twitter.com/stepholivieri

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/JudanieBean/ 

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stepholivieribourbon/

 

Writing For Children!

Tags

Children's books, kid lit, kidlit, Picture Books, Writing, Writing for kids, writing picture books

Hello writers! 

This fall is going to be insanely busy for me, so I’m going to cut back and only post once a week to go with my YouTube videos. Then, hopefully, after things calm down I can get back to more than once a week.

This week’s video (YOU CAN WATCH IT HERE) is all about writing for children, and more specifically writing picture books.

This is something that I am asked about all the time, I see questions asked in kid lit groups on Facebook and other social media sites, and when I meet people out in the world.

It seems that everyone has an idea or wants to write a picture book. 

That is amazing. I believe that picture books can change the world. They are important, they are fun, they can teach lessons, they open up reading to children and the list goes on.

So YAY, you want to write one? 

Well, there are things that you need to know about writing them.

Please pop over to YouTube and watch the short video I created for YOU. AND grab your free PDF just for watching—and for being someone who reads my blog you can get your copy here too. 

I want to share this information with you because I want you to succeed AND I want children to read your book.

Let’s go!! 

Thanks for reading xo Stephanie

www.judaniebean.com

www.twitter.com/stepholivieri

 

 

The Importance of Writing Goals for Writers

Tags

dreams, goal setting, goals, making your goals, screenwriting, setting goals, Writing, writing community, writing goals, writing tips

Good Morning Writers! 

Happy Monday, happy new week and new month coming soon!

I hate summer but I love August because it means that fall is coming-even though, August is always one of the hottest months of the year but there is hope. And HOPE is something that I can build my days around.

This brings me to goals and why they are so important.

Let’s use the example of summer and fall.

What is my goal? To be cooler and enjoy cooler days? Sadly, we are in summer so I can’t do anything about the weather, but I can have the goal to make the best out of it. Go to an air-conditioned coffee shop once a day, to hit the gym, go to a mall–anything to reach the goal of being cooler.

The point is that I can take small steps to reach that goal of cooling off.

So if your goal is to be Quentin Tarantino and have 9 films out? or 10–I think he once said that his goal is to do 10 and then stop. If this is your goal but you don’t have a screenplay finished, an agent, and don’t live in Los Angeles then you have to start making those goals smaller. Keep the big dream there, but make smaller more reachable goals.

1. You need to move to Los Angeles–or want to–you should for anything in the film industry–but that’s another kettle of fish. You want to move here, so your goal could be saving money every week into a special bank account just for your big move.
2. You want an agent? Your goal could be to research one agent every week while you are building a submission list. Or finding out which screenwriting conferences have agent guests and pitch sessions.
3. You want to have 9+ films made and on the big screen? Well your immediate goal is to finish the one in front of you and how you do that is write every day. Even if just 10 minutes.

See how this works?

Dreams and goals are different.

Dreams are what we aspire to and goals are how we get there. 

If you are a novelist and you want a bestselling novel with a movie deal–you need to make daily goals to reach that. What are you doing today to make that happen?

Some things you can do.

1. Write every day.
2.  Share your work with your crit group.
3. Submit to agents.

So your weekly goal can be, write for 1 hr a day, share 5 pages with my critique group, and research or send queries (only on finished polished work) to agents.

It’s important to have these goals to keep us grounded in our bigger dreams!

I know that you can do it.

One way that I have found useful for the last 12 years is having someone to keep me accountable. Some programs call it an accountability buddy, someone you check in with daily. And some just do it in groups. However you choose to do it, just find someone to check in with.

Drop in the comments below on how you are going to work on your goals this week?

I’ll tell you mine are to write for 30 minutes a day this week. I have a crazy busy workload and have massive videos to shoot so realistically more than 30 minutes isn’t going to happen, but I will put in 30 minutes.

Tell me your plan!!

And let’s have an amazing week!! 

XO~ Stephanie

https://www.judaniebean.com/

https://www.youtube.com/stephaniebourbon