Keystroke Medium

Josh, Scott, and Chuck continue their discussion of K. W. Weland's book Creating Character Arcs https://amzn.to/2TaqnJn

Hosts: Josh Hayes, Scott Moon, C. Steven Manley

00:00 Opening remarks

-Discord server is up! https://discord.com/invite/t96CVRD

-Keystroke Coffee is live! https://keystrokemedium.com/product/keystroke-coffee/

-Use Plottr! https://plottr.com?ref=190

05:11 Weekly update—The xx Edition

Scott: Close to the end of Orphan Wars #3, and Blue Sun Armada #2. Podium is launching The Last Reaper series on audio.

Chuck: Mental breakdown = New desk. Noodling around with the ending of Jack Dark #2.

Josh: Listening to the first Tranquility #1 on audio. Wrapping up Tranquilty #2, outlining Tranquility #3, and working on Sentinel #1. Shipping to England.

02:15 Main Event— LIVE! Creating Character Arcs - Part 2

-Touched upon positive character arc in part 1; this episode will be flat and negative.

-Josh’s character arc types are flat.

-Chuck didn’t read the book, yet he has opinions!

-‘The lie they believe’ is ambiguous, but there are examples.

-The debate over what arc to use and which one needs an arc.

-Plot arcs vs. character arcs and genre dependency. Ex. Die Hard (plot arc) with a flat character arch (McClain) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095016/

-Flat arcs don’t mean their arcs and decisions don’t matter.

-Book 1 is often a character arc, but later books may not be. Ex. Captain America: The Winter Soldier. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1843866/

-A slight political digression. -The negative character arc. Ex. Star Wars Episode I-III with the caveat that it could’ve been the best if the writing wasn’t so bad.

-Arthas from World of Worldcraft https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dpbWpPrTnk

-The point of no return. -A rant about Star Wars prequels. Ex. Walter White in Breaking Bad https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903747/

-Is Breaking Bad a negative change arc or a flat arc with a negative change prologue?

-Perhaps just the first episode is the negative character arc?

-What about Vic Mackey in The Shield? https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286486/

-Tea with the Dalai Lama… -What’s the most significant negative character arc that you’ve written? Ex. D Fens in Falling Down https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106856/

-Segue into Michael Douglas films. -Josh’s beard is a negative change arc. -Sandor Clegane isn’t a negative character arc, but his motivations and beginnings are negative in George RR Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire.

-The same with Beth Dutton in Yellowstone.

-Writing a negative character arc, you need to be conscientious of the foreshadowing vs. flat or positive character arcs.

-The next book is Cheryl St. John’s Writing With Emotion, Tension, and Conflict: Techniques for Crafting an Expressive and Compelling Novel https://amzn.to/3dL3UcI

59:54 Closing remarks

***

Coffee and Concepts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRuoHj6opw0

Writer’s Journey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydLaFFntB4Q

Storytelling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYRzwuQeK9Q

Become a Medium today! https://keystrokemedium.com/mediums/

***

Don't forget to Like and Subscribe and get involved with the mayhem and shenanigans in the live chat! http://www.youtube.com/c/keystrokemedium

If you have any thoughts or ideas for show topics or if you have authors you'd like to see on the show, let us know. Visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KeystrokeMedium

For all the latest and greatest KSM Gear, check out our store at: https://keystrokemedium.com/ksm-store/

Also, subscribe to Sci Fi Explorations for the best discounted and free books we come across through our contacts: http://www.scifiexplorations.com

***

Keystroke Medium Anthologies

Kingdoms of Iron and Stone - https://amzn.to/2GjbE6I

Horizons Beyond - https://amzn.to/2SrJ6uX

Farthest Reach – https://amzn.to/2UZINeo

The Writing Dream – and How to Make it to Happily Ever After – Keystroke Medium’s first non-fiction book. https://amzn.to/2UZINeo

If you enjoy this podcast, please

All stories begin with an idea. You take that idea and map out your story. But for many of us new authors, the question is, how? Sticky notes on a poster board, a detailed list in a notebook, or perhaps bullet notes in word?

Enter, Plottr--an author’s tool to not only plot your story, but keep track of story time lines and so much more, all in one easy-to-use application.

We've got Ryan and Cameron from Plottr here to dig into this author-friendly tool live on The Writer's Journey.

Hosts: Lauren Moore, Kalene Williams Special Guests: Cameron Sutter, Ryan Zee, Josh Hayes

00:00 Opening remarks and introductions

-Discord server is up! https://discord.com/invite/t96CVRD

-Keystroke Coffee is live! https://keystrokemedium.com/product/keystroke-coffee/

-Use Plottr! https://plottr.com?ref=190

02:02 Main Event – Plottr Novel Plotting

-The genesis of Plottr.

-Intuitive nature of Plottr.

-Josh’s workflow in Plottr. -The simplicity and speed of the templates to break through the initial ‘blank page’.

-The beat sheet method as an example.

-Plottr’s integration (Scrivener, Snowflake Pro, Word, Atticus).

-Backing up your work in Plottr.

-Yes, you can dictate into Plottr (using Dragon Dictate or built in dictation software).

-Chronological timelines.

29:21 Spotlight: Try Plotter today! https://plottr.com?ref=190

32:20 Main Event — Plottr Novel Plotting, Continued!

-How to get up to speed on Plottr. -The visual nature of plottr.

-Potential for developmental editing, and it IS being used this way!

-Sample timeline of Plottr. -Top three new features coming! -Plottrs still pants!

58:28 Closing remarks

***

Try out Rob McClellan’s Mod Farm for your website building needs. Use the link for a KSM discount! https://modfarmdesign.com/keystroke/

Coffee and Concepts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRuoHj6opw0

Keystroke Medium Live! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1qSwdjsN9Q

Storytelling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYRzwuQeK9Q

Become a Medium today! https://keystrokemedium.com/mediums/

Don't forget to Like and Subscribe and get involved with the mayhem and shenanigans in the live chat! http://www.youtube.com/c/keystrokemedium

If you have any thoughts or ideas for show topics or if you have authors you'd like to see on the show, let us know. Visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KeystrokeMedium

For all the latest and greatest KSM Gear, check out our store at: https://keystrokemedium.com/ksm-store/

Also, subscribe to Sci Fi Explorations for the best discounted and free books we come across through our contacts: http://www.scifiexplorations.com

***

Keystroke Medium Anthologies

Kingdoms of Iron and Stone - https://amzn.to/2GjbE6I

Horizons Beyond - https://amzn.to/2SrJ6uX

Farthest Reach – https://amzn.to/2UZINeo

The Writing Dream – and How to Make it to Happily Ever After – Keystroke Medium’s first non-fiction book. https://amzn.to/2UZINeo

***

If you enjoy this podcast, please leave us a review and rate the show on iTunes, Podbean, Stitcher, or wherever else you found us!

Lisa talks about the secret squirrels who like her books and what's new from her view!

Come sit and have a coffee and a chat!

Let's talk about words and how to write them!

Hosts: Josh Hayes, Scott Moon, C. Steven Manley

00:00 Opening remarks

-Discord server is up! https://discord.com/invite/t96CVRD

-Keystroke Coffee is live! https://keystrokemedium.com/product/keystroke-coffee/

-Use Plottr! https://plottr.com?ref=190

05:11 Weekly update—The CLAP of Valor Edition

Scott: Close to the end of Orphan Wars #3, and Blue Sun Armada #2. Podium is launching The Last Reaper series on audio. Chuck: Mental breakdown = New desk. Noodling around with the ending of Jack Dark #2.

Josh: Listening to the first Tranquility #1 on audio. Wrapping up Tranquilty #2, outlining Tranquility #3, and working on Sentinel #1. Shipping to England.

21:27 Main Event— LIVE! Writing Roundtable -- June 2021

-Chuck finished the first Gray Man book and has some thoughts. https://amzn.to/2RFCbSQ

-Scott did not enjoy the first book in audio form. -Establishing too much too soon. -Werecoyotes are cool.

-Thoughts on Wrath of Man https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11083552/

-The ‘build and switch’ -Similar to Vantage Point https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443274/

-Comparisons of Wrath of Man vs. John Wick.

-In praise of John Wick https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2911666/

-Action scenes—fine balance of too much detail and too little. -The toll of a fight.

-In praise of They Live https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096256/

-Thoughts on Dean Koontz and his approach to fiction (in How to Write Best Selling Fiction) https://amzn.to/2U7cDPw

-Josh is watching Film Courage https://www.youtube.com/user/filmcourage

-What the hosts are reading.

-Scott is listening to Ruins of the Earth: Ruins of the Earth, Book 1 by Christopher Hopper and JN Chaney https://amzn.to/2UEVoFv

-In praise of John Carpenter films.

-How tight When Harry Met Sally was in terms of writing. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098635/

-Chuck enjoyed The Hardy Boys https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11252090/

-How groundbreaking The Matrix was when it came out. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/

-Scott loved Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash thought it was hard to get into https://amzn.to/3hfSChP

-The difficulty of the surprising but inevitable ending.

-Watch party?

1:03:29 Closing remarks

***

Coffee and Concepts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRuoHj6opw0

Writer’s Journey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydLaFFntB4Q

Storytelling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYRzwuQeK9Q

Become a Medium today! https://keystrokemedium.com/mediums/

Don't forget to Like and Subscribe and get involved with the mayhem and shenanigans in the live chat! http://www.youtube.com/c/keystrokemedium

If you have any thoughts or ideas for show topics or if you have authors you'd like to see on the show, let us know. Visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KeystrokeMedium

For all the latest and greatest KSM Gear, check out our store at: https://keystrokemedium.com/ksm-store/

Also, subscribe to Sci Fi Explorations for the best discounted and free books we come across through our contacts: http://www.scifiexplorations.com

Keystroke Medium Anthologies

Kingdoms of Iron and Stone - https://amzn.to/2GjbE6I

Horizons Beyond - https://amzn.to/2SrJ6uX

Farthest Reach – https://amzn.to/2UZINeo

The Writing Dream – and How to Make it to Happily Ever After – Keystroke Medium’s first non-fiction book. https://amzn.to/2UZINeo

***

If you enjoy this podcast, please leave us a review and rate the show on iTunes, Podbean, Stitcher, or wherever else you found us!

Lights! Camera! ACTION! Three authors. One mega journey.

It will all begin with an idea. But the ever-elusive The End won't be caught that easily.

Lauren and Kalene have tracked down the one and only Poppa Chuck Manley to guide them through the perils of reaching The End! Can they tackle the inciting incident? Will they be able to plot their way out of the murky middle? Can they secure their HEA?

Stay tuned, because this time on The Writer's Journey, they will go from idea to story in one episode, LIVE!

***

Today’s spotlight is on Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass - Set your work-in-progress apart from the competition and write your own breakout novel today! https://amzn.to/2TN6qId

Walt's coming back at you with more content, and possibly cookies.

Publisher/Editor Chris Kennedy, along with editor and author, Jamie Ibson, and best-selling author KC Ezell, join the Monday Morning Crew to talk about the latest anthology in the We Dare series from Theogony Books. Buy your copy of We Dare: No Man's Land here: https://amzn.to/2THHylf

Hosts: Josh Hayes, Scott Moon | Guests: Kacey Ezell, Chris Kennedy, Jamie Ibson

00:00 Opening remarks -Discord server is up! https://discord.com/invite/t96CVRD

-Keystroke Coffee is live! https://keystrokemedium.com/product/keystroke-coffee/

-Use Plottr! https://plottr.com?ref=190

03:33 Weekly update—Frozen Hosers Edition

Kacey: Released two anthologies and No Game for Knights and her daughter graduated high school. A number of projects in the works. -Setting up word sprints in Discord using a writerbot. -Figuring out process and hitting wordcounts and goals.

Chris: Finished a novel for the Lawless universe.

Chuck renamed a story he wrote… finishing his 11 book series.

Jamie: Working on short stories for anthologies, including Canadian zombies.

Scott: Working on Blue Sun Armada #2 and Orphan Wars #3. Sold a bunch of antiques from her grandmother. Using Plottr.

Josh: Blood and Steel: A Military Sci-Fi Series (Tranquility Book 1) is released! Submitting to anthologies and UNDER the wordcount! Doing a lot of dictation. Discusses some of the Dragon 15 Pro features.

https://amzn.to/3t8DlUI 38:00 Main Event— LIVE! We Dare - No Man's Land Panel

-The origin of the idea for No Man’s Land anthology.

-Discussions of upcoming anthologies.

-Want to be on the mailing list for new anthologies?

1. Join the CKP Newsletter https://chriskennedypublishing.com/newsletter/

2. Join the CKP Factory Floor https://www.facebook.com/groups/461794864654198

3. Join the Discord channel https://discord.gg/8Axz2mjm3D

59:20 Closing remarks

Building a beta reader team, and identifying your ideal audience.

Ever read a sentence in a book that makes you stop and go "Dang..." You read it again, just to be sure. Oh yes, that was one excellently crafted bit of words there!

And we at TWJ, with our bestie, Ellen, want to delve into yours!

But why stop at the good stuff? We're digging into one-liners--the good, the bad, and the ugly--and finding ways together to make each sentence better.