Previews of Coming Storyfix Attractions

Yesterday I ran a post on how to recognize story structure in movie trailers.  You can also see it shine through in book jacket copy and, if the reviewer is any good, reviews.

I offer that because today’s title might confuse you, at least if you spent any time with yesterday’s post.  Because today isn’t about that.  It’s about what I have planned in the near-term for this site.  Which means, for you.

First off, as we near the 1000 subscriber milestone after six months online, I’d like to offer my heartfelt thanks for your support.

I’d also like to state my goal for 2o1o.  I’m one of those self-help seminar grads who believes that throwing it out there is an important step in making it happen.  So here goes: I’m shooting for 3,000 subscribers by the end of next year.  Double the growth rate of the first six months.

This is good news for you.  Because to accomplish that, I need to really jack the quality and relevance of the content you find here on Storyfix.  Which is just as important a goal as the number itself.

So count on it.

Also, I could use your help.  The best growth strategy strives for referrrals from satisfied subscribers.  So if that’s you, and if you know a writer who might benefit from this material, I’d appreciate you sending them here.  You snag ’em, I’ll bag ’em… with killer content.

Upcoming Guests

I’ve recently launched a series of posts from published authors, who bring a unique perspective on both process and product.  If you haven’t read the articles by Jim Frey, Jennie Shortridge or April Henry here on Storyfix, then you’ve missed something special.

There are more on the way.  Bestselling YA author and National Book Award nominee Deb Caletti is up next, within the next two weeks.  And I have commitments from New York Times bestselling authors Chelsea Cain, Phil Margolin and Lisa Jackson, so look for those within the next couple of months. 

There will also be guests who bring expertise in specific narrative skills, such as Bill Johnson on characterization, and Pat Bertram and Carolyn Howard-Jones (see below) on using social media and newsletters to build an author base, as well as their take on writing great stories.

Next Killer Skill Series

Among the most impactful offerings here on Storyfix have been two series — one on Story Structure and the other on building compelling characters.  I’ve been thinking about the next series, and I think I have one you’ll like: getting published.

I’m planning a ten-part series on the requisite steps authors need to get published, and in a legitimate commerical manner.  Not that I have anything against self-publishing or small presses (doing the latter myself), they’re certainly legit.  But let’s be honest, we all want that New York logo on the spine of our published work.  Having been there, I know what it takes and what it means, and it may not be what you think it is.

Look for this to begin in December.

Reviewers Wanted

Not long ago I announced that I’d found a publisher for my next novel, Whisper of the Seventh Thunder.  It’s coming out in February from Sons of Liberty Publishing, a small but hugely courageous and big-thinking east coast house.

If you are a book reviewer who places reviews on established sites and/or newspapers and magazines, and if you’d like to review it, let’s talk.  I can arrange to have a ARC sent your way.

And if you’re not a professional reviewer, I’d welcome your online reviews to sites like Amazon.com and elsewhere once the book is released.  If nothing else, you’ll see all the principles I write about here on Storyfix put into play in this story of apocalyptic prophesy gone terribly, inevitably wrong.

Member of a Writing or Critique Group?

Then click HERE.  You missed a great opportunity, and the window’s still open.

Story Structure – Demystified

Yeah, that’s my new ebook, which has been out nearly three weeks now.  It’s selling pretty well, but the most gratifying aspect of the experience for me has been the reader feedback. 

Here’s one from Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a published author on writing well, a writing coach and guru, a writing teacher at the university level (see the credits below her quote, pretty cool).  I’d sent her the ebook to review, here’s her initial response:

You can read more about the ebook here, and you can order it here.

A Case Study in Soft-edge Structure in a Character-Driven Story

On a final note, here’s a movie you should see.    It’s called An Education, with a script by noted novelist  Nick Hornby.

Why?  For starters, it’s the best-reviewed flick out there right now, bar none.  And it’s worth every gold star it’s receiving.

If you’re a writer, though, it’ll deliver more than a terrific movie-going experience.  It’s a clinic in story structure, and it’s not remotely a high concept thriller.  Thrillers often make it easy to spot the Plot Points and the Mid-Point, which thus makes it easy to sense the progression of the four contextual parts.  Character-driven stories can be harder to analyze, even though those same parts and milestones are there.  You can see them in this film if you know what to look for, and moreover, you can sense how and why they empower this story to greatness.

In addition, this movie is one of the strongest thematic narratives I’ve seen in a while, and the character-arc is astounding.

It’s a case study in serious, even literary storytelling, and I recommend you run, not walk, to the nearest theater to check it out.  And take a notepad to jot some notes (sit in the back so you can use the light of your mobile phone).

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