Advancing Authors: Writer Coaching

After every scene plays out, it's important to give the protagonist (and the reader) a moment to reflect on what happened and think about what to do next. These “stop and think” moments are critical in making a novel emotionally satisfying, because this is where real character growth happens! Let's discuss the anatomy of these moments.

In this lesson, we'll cover:

- The 3 parts of a stop-and-think moment.

- Why these moments are so important.

- A common mistake when writing action scenes.

- How to maintain tension during these moments.

Download the scene structure checklist and get more resources at https://www.blockbusterYA.com/post/scene-structure-reaction

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© Blockbuster YA Author Coaching LLP

Created and produced by Tiana Warner and Stephanie Warner

Jingle:

Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Avoidance is changing your behaviour, so you don’t have to do something, feel something, or think something. If you are avoiding writing, you might find that you’re not only avoiding opening your computer, you’re also avoiding reading and listening to your favourite writing podcasts too.

What’s going on?

If you’ve been studying with us, you know that your THOUGHTS cause your feelings, which cause your actions. It’s not actually the writing you’re avoiding; it’s your own THOUGHTS about writing.

Everything starts with your thoughts. The problem with this is that when we are in avoidance, we are actually avoiding our thoughts, making it hard to overcome avoidance.

In this podcast/blog, learn why you are avoiding your thoughts in the first place and how you move through avoidance to get writing and live the life you want to live.

Created and produced by Tiana Warner and Stephanie Warner

Jingle:

Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Every scene in your book should include three key components that follow a nice arc. These arcs can be seen in virtually every blockbuster story, from Hollywood films to #1 bestselling novels. Failing to include these elements could mean losing your readers' interest or confusing them. So let's talk about how to structure your scenes.

In this lesson, we'll cover:

- The 3 parts to a scene arc.

- Examples of different ways this arc can manifest.

- The most important piece of every scene.

- How to keep your readers' rapt attention.

Download the scene structure checklist at https://www.blockbusterYA.com/post/scene-structure

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© Blockbuster YA Author Coaching LLP

Created and produced by Tiana Warner and Stephanie Warner

Jingle:

Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

You want to write a novel. You committed to it and you can’t wait to hold the finished book in your hands. You want this so badly that you even scheduled a time to write every day.

But more often than not, when that time to write comes, you don’t want to write.

What gives?

This is a frustrating pattern a lot of writers can find themselves in. We want one thing, but another part of our brain wants another.

The thing is, your brain is lying to you when it says it doesn’t want to write. You DO want to write. So instead of taking your brain seriously when it tells you “I don’t want to,” you need to remind yourself why you put it on your calendar in the first place.

In this blog & podcast, learn two simple brain hacks that can get you writing even when your brain is arguing that it doesn’t want to.

https://www.blockbusterya.com/post/brain-hacks-to-get-writing

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© Blockbuster YA Author Coaching LLP

Created and produced by Tiana Warner and Stephanie Warner

Jingle:

Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

No matter what genre you're writing, it's important to spend time building the world in which your story takes place. This comprehensive Worldbuilding Checklist will help you define the world that best suits your story, from weather patterns to cultures to which swear words your characters use. If you're writing speculative fiction (e.g. fantasy, sci-fi), you'll want to fill out as much of the checklist as you can. If you're writing a novel that takes place here and now, you'll have less worldbuilding to consider and can treat the checklist as optional.

This podcast episode will cover:

How your setting and plot should serve each other.

Making the most of the world you build.

How and when to convey worldbuilding information to the reader.

Inventing cultures for fantasy and sci-fi stories.

Download the complete worldbuilding checklist at https://www.blockbusterYA.com/post/worldbuilding

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© Blockbuster YA Author Coaching LLP

Created and produced by Tiana Warner and Stephanie Warner

Jingle:

Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Feelings are what drive every single action that we take. This means that how you feel is going to determine how many books you write, how much money you make, and how successful you are as an author. 

As a writer, you have to learn how to use emotions and be able to spot the ones that aren’t working for you. Your books depend on it. Get started with recognizing these 6, unhelpful emotions that are halting your progress.

Read the blog: https://www.blockbusterya.com/post/unhelpful-emotions

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© Blockbuster YA Author Coaching LLP

Created and produced by Tiana Warner and Stephanie Warner

Jingle:

Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Imagine The Dark Knight with a boring Joker. Or Thor without his siblings. Or a weak Darth Vader.

A well-thought-out antagonist has the power to make a story brilliant. Let's talk about how to make the best possible antagonist for your story. They will become your protagonist's worst nightmare, the spark that ignites your conflict, and a fleshed-out, three-dimensional character with realistic qualities.

In this lesson, we'll cover:

How to make an antagonist who is best suited to oppose your protagonist.

How to make your antagonist realistic and sympathetic.

How to 'wow' your readers with an epic opposing force.

Designing your antagonist's backstory.

4 steps to structure your antagonist's character arc.

Download the antagonist worksheet at https://www.blockbusterYA.com/post/antagonists

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© Blockbuster YA Author Coaching LLP

Created and produced by Tiana Warner and Stephanie Warner

Jingle:

Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Emotions are the reason we do anything, including writing novels. This makes emotions an important tool for authors. Learn six helpful emotions that can not only lead you to a published novel but can also make your writing incredible for your readers.

Blog: https://www.blockbusterya.com/blog/post/6-helpful-emotions-for-writing

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© Blockbuster YA Author Coaching LLP

Created and produced by Tiana Warner and Stephanie Warner

Jingle:

Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Before you start your first draft, you have to decide on what point of view, or "POV", to write in, as well as your story's tense. Do you write in first person or third person, and do you choose present tense or past tense? In this episode, we'll compare different approaches and talk about which options work for Young Adult and Middle Grade novels. We'll also talk about how to achieve a "deep POV", which is important in today's literary market. In this lesson, we'll cover:

- Different POV options available to you and their pros and cons.

- What a “deep POV” is and how to achieve it.

- How to properly write more than one POV.

- Which POVs and tenses are used in top bestselling books.

Download "deep POV" examples at https://www.blockbusterYA.com/post/point-of-view Join our community of YA/MG authors at https://www.blockbusterYA.com/forum

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© Blockbuster YA Author Coaching LLP

Created and produced by Tiana Warner and Stephanie Warner

Jingle:

Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Do you create writing schedules that only seem to work for short stints? Are you spending more time hating yourself for not writing than you are spending actually writing?

You're not alone. 

Many writers think in black and white ways when it comes to their writing schedules. But these perfectionist schedules are destroying your self-integrity and self-trust. Learn how to create a schedule that can repair your relationship with yourself and get you results.  

Read the blog: https://www.blockbusterya.com/post/scheduling-time-to-write

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© Blockbuster YA Author Coaching LLP

Created and produced by Tiana Warner and Stephanie Warner

Jingle:

Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/