How to Write A Novel in a Month & WIN NANOWRIMO

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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 Use A Beat Sheet..

Even for your novel!

and finish that work in progress. 

In film and especially television writing the “beat sheet” is something that is needed to show your showrunner or director the beats of the script so they can approve the story before you spend hours and hours writing it. 

It helps them “see” it. It also helps you see the big picture. 

The beat sheet is an outline of your story in beats. What happens in the story beat by beat.

You open your notebook, notecards, or even Word/Scrivener (I like to use Scrivener for this) and literally write out the beats like this. 

Scene 1–this happens

Scene 2–this happens

etc.

Now, you may not know what happens in perfect order–so then just write what you want to happen out. This is why I love using post-its and or notecards and the stickies in Scrivener 

Scene-character finds out….

Scene–character makes this decision 

Scene-resolution 

If you are doing it this way, leave the scene # out until you figure it out. 

Most novels have roughly 66 scenes

When you are writing them out you are making a narrative plan for your story. 

Remember that every scene/beat moves the story forward. When you sit down to write your story you should always think of what is happening now and going to happen at the end. 

In novels, it’s always the end of the current book for your beat sheets. In television-it’s always the end of your current episode, unless you are working on your series bible and that’s a horse of a different color–but uses a lot of the same principals here. 

For a screenplay, it’s like a novel–your beats take the characters from A–the beginning to Z-the end. 

Example. You are writing a story about a man who wins the lottery but must spend it all in a week without giving it away in order to prove his love to the woman he loves–or something like that-just making this up as I go for this purpose. 

So your rough beats may go something like (this is when you are just figuring it out)

Scene–man goes into work

Scene–man buys lotto ticket

Scene–woman he loves tells him that all he cares about is money 

Scene–he makes a plan to prove to her that he doesn’t care 

Scene–man wins lottery 

Scene–woman tells him he must spend it all in a certain amount of time 

Scene-man buys a house

Scene-man buys a plane

Scene-time is running out scene 

Scene-man proves his love

Something like that—you would start with. 

your character—this is the first beat sheet. 

Harry Potter lives under the stairs 

Harry Potter discovers he’s a wizard

Harry Potter defeats Voldermort 

(basically book one–this is what happens)

If you want to write a love story, like a rom com it’s the same. 

Harry and Sally meet and drive to New York together 

Harry and Sally become friends 10 years later 

Harry and Sally get together

then you go back and fill it all in. 

I use the beat sheet method when I know where I’m going-as I generally am not an outliner-but it works and helps keep me on track. 

Why and how to put into action for story planning. 

WHY–to get organized and see the story and if it is even something that will work.

HOW–that’s up to you. You can use Word/Scrivener/Contour/Save the Cat on a computer 

You can use a notebook or notecards, post its. 

Just get it done so you have a road map for your story. 

Then you can start drafting. 

You can either do the beat sheet PRE or POST writing. 

You use it PRE/before drafting to avoid things like writing in circles and having the story go no where. 

You use it POST/revisions to fix story issues that you may be having. 

There is no right or wrong way here. 

For me, I like to pants it out for novels or screenplays with just an idea in my head first but always, and I mean ALWAYS, use beat sheets for making sure that it’s all working nicely. 

I highly recommend Save the Cat, and Story Fix both will help you with the concept of using beat sheets. Contour software has specific examples of the hero’s journey on films well known and loved so you can see the beats and calls to action for your main character. 

I have a new course for novelists called FROM NOTHING TO NOVEL and I’m inviting you to sign up now before Oct 1, 2020 to get a special thank you gift from me.

You can sign up below!

SIGN UP HERE

Why You Should Focus on Story First!

Tags

amwriting, Story, storytelling, writers community, writerslife, Writing

Forget About Being a Great Writer and Focus on Story First

Have you ever picked up a book that has been on the bestseller list for months and months and the author is all over the publishing news because all the movie deals coming in and how rich they are—and then the writing is bad, like really bad, and you think—WTF???Yup–been there, done that. Have you ever gone to the movies and so many things are wrong and yet the film is bringing in millions and millions and you cringe at the story mistakes? Yup–been there, done that.

This has been my philosophy for as long as I can remember. 

There is nothing wrong with being great with words or wordsmithing. I admit, it’s not my thing, but if you allow it to get in the way of the story, that is where you will have problems. 

The reason is that people come to you for the story not the words. 

STORY IS ALWAYS FIRST. 

The words should come LAST. 

The sequence of writing a novel should go something like this. 

FIRST DRAFT

REVISIONS

REVISIONS

REVISIONS

NEW FULL DRAFT– I do this from memory with a blank page.

REVISIONS on story, character, at the chapter level.

REVISIONS

Then workshop it. 

Then critique group.

Then if you are really sure this is the best version of your story you get to line edit. (usually about the 8th or 9th revision)

Sounds like a lot of work right? 

Yup, it is. 

Writing novels is hard. 

Think of it this way, if you were to make a wedding cake, you finish with the tiny details you start with the eggs, flour, sugar, etc. 

It’s the same with your story. 

Now, for the screen and TV writers out there, this is the same for you. 

if you waste your time writing clever dialogue, scenes, and jokes but the story isn’t working, your movie or your episode will most likely suck. 

Why? Because story always needs to be first. Great sentences and super clever jokes won’t and can’t carry a story.  

I STRONGLY recommend the below two books by Lisa Cron-they are game-changers.

WIRED FOR STORY & STORY GENIUS 

They will help you get to the root of your story and the exercises she has are invaluable

. 

EXERCISE Make a list of your top ten favorite books or movies (or both) and then write down what you love about it. I bet ya, it’s the story. It may be all the clever jokes or the witty dialogue but at the end of it, it’s probably the story. Example–THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN–very funny, lots of hilarity–but why do we love this movie? The STORY is solid. The character has a want and a need that isn’t happening for him until he is forced to change. Another example is the GILMORE GIRLS--talk about your witty dialogue but is that why you tuned in? Nope, it was the story of a mother and a daughter in a small town. The witty dialogue was just the flower on the icing on the cake. One more. TWILIGHT. Is the writing brilliant? Is she a wordsmith? No, but the story of two teens in love and one of them having a dark secret that is dangerous is one we know and instantly want to know more. Also, 50 SHADES OF GREY.

Now, are you ready to make your STORY stand out? 

I know that you are. It’s hard because it’s been drilled into our heads that we have to be these perfect writers to be successful but honestly, that’s part of it but more importantly is the STORY. 

Don’t forget that. 

STORY first! 

Then pretty words. 

If you like this blog please share on social media and with other writers. 

As well, please get onto my VIP email list so you are first to get weekly writing tips, announcements, and exclusive offers just for you.

XO happy writing!

The 5 Stages of Becoming a Successful Writer

Tags

fiction, fiction writing, screenwriting, TV writing, Writing, writing books, writing novels, writing tips

Hey everyone, I created a new e-book called the 5 Stages of Being a Successful Writer and you can grab it HERE

I created this to help you get past those mental roadblocks and limiting beliefs you may have around submitting your work and being successful. As a creative, we are taught to repeat the mantra of “I’m a starving…..” enter writer, artist, actor etc.. we have been trained to be the “broke….whatever” and I call BS on that. You can be a successful writer. I hope this is helpful to you!!

xo Stephanie

#writerslife #amwriting #writingcommunity #storytelling #screenwriting #TVwriting #novelwriting

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 And Why You Should Have Them

Happy Friday my darlings!

I hope you are amazing! I have a new website and blog but I’m also going to continue to post here–but you should swing by my other blog and get on my list

https://www.stephaniebourbon.com/blog/writing-goals

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 writer’s 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

Are You Writing A Novel? The NOVELRY Can Help!

Tags

novel writing, screenwriting, TV writing, writers life, Writing, writing advice, writing novels

Hello fellow novelists!

As you know I am building courses to help you reach your dreams.

Part of my concierge service is recommending amazing courses and workshops with other coaches because I believe that there is enough to go around and not every course is for every writer. When I work one on one with you we go over in detail what your dreams and goals are but when I’m not with you I can still recommend GREAT places for you.

In my new workbook coming winter 2020 (so in a month or two, or three MAX) you will do exercises that help you get to your storytelling path that you create or we can create together when we work one on one.

In the meantime, I am going to continue to share amazing places for you. One of them is THE NOVELRY and you can find out more and sign up HERE 

 

I’m super excited to share my affiliate link with you and I wish you the best in your writing. Please subscribe to this blog so you will be up to date with everything I am building for you.

As well, find me on social media, and grab a FREEBIE here as a GIFT as a token of my gratitude for your support.

Story Concierge Main Course Website HERE

Please follow me on social media

Twitter https://twitter.com/stepholivieri

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

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

and join the Story Concierge FB grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/StoryConcierge/

XO

Stephanie 

“Plot Twist” Sorry for Being Gone

Hello everyone! OMG, so I have been MIA for months.. seriously, SORRY.

We had to move on the fly, so there was that and after seven years of living in one place we had MANY boxes–MOST OF THEM BOOKS–you know, I’m a writer, so that took a while to get settled into our new flat.

Which is AMAZING. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

I live in Los Angeles, but outside of it in the burbs–the studio burbs. I first moved to Burbank to work at Disney and stayed for the trees, the small-town feel of it and pretty much most of the writing and or animation jobs I did were in the area. I LOVE Burbank, but wow it’s getting STUPID expensive and people are getting greedy. We moved to the neighboring Glendale and it’s just as great as far as the studios and the added bonus of it being slightly cheaper. We can walk to everything and it feels almost like a city–I mean, it’s no New York but New York isn’t even New York the way I remember it growing up.

This all said I hope you are following me on YouTube. I took one month off but for the most part, have kept up with my videos for writers.

If you haven’t subscribed please drop everything and head straight over there and do EET NOW! Please and thank you! MyYouTube

Here are a few updates…since I’ve been gone…does anyone else hear Kelly Clarkson singing? No? Just me? LOL

 

1. I completed a brand new novel—well, it’s not new in the way that years ago I came up with this idea but never finished it. I wrote it all over, from the blank page last month during NaNoWriMo—it’s a COMEDY! It is chick-lit–even though no one says “chick-lit” anymore–that’s like so ’00s so let’s call is mainstream fiction. I’m excited. I love it and I hope you will too when it comes out.
2. We moved. 4 miles east to a “city”. It took 6 weeks of packing and unpacking from the crack-arse of dawn to the wee hours of the night to get settled and I’m still unpacking.
3. I put my courses and stuff for writers on hold but LOOK HERE I have a new website.
4. My husband and I went to Hawaii for one week to celebrate our ONE YEAR WEDDING anniversary!!! Yes, I’ve been married for one whole year. It was really fun and needed, especially with the move.

 

So that’s about it.

I apologize for being gone, sometimes life just gets in the way of things but I’m grateful that you are here and for everything I have in my life.

Story Concierge Main Course Website HERE

Please follow me on social media

Twitter https://twitter.com/stepholivieri

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

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

and join the Story Concierge FB grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/StoryConcierge/

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!