Project Fundamentals: Introduction
Lesson 2 from: Write Your Book: Start Strong and Get It DoneJennie Nash
Project Fundamentals: Introduction
Lesson 2 from: Write Your Book: Start Strong and Get It DoneJennie Nash
Lessons
Class Introduction
04:14 2Project Fundamentals: Introduction
03:24 3Why Write this Story?
09:03 4What's the Point of your Story?
08:00 5Who's your Ideal Reader
24:35 6Write a Catchy Elevator Pitch
30:48 7Write an Engaging Title
06:28 8Genre Specific Elements
14:21Story Structure: Introduction
01:52 10Define your Protagonist and their Desires
12:00 11Choosing your Narrator
16:26 12Where does your Story Start and End?
11:14 13Graph your Story
14:29 14Write a Two-Tier Outline
42:56 15Start Writing: Introduction
01:11 16Write your Opening Scene
33:31 17Write your Closing Scene
18:35 18Strategic Plan: Introduction
00:47 19The No-Excuses Book Map
19:53 20Create a Plan for Success
10:37 21The Power of Getting Coached
18:03Lesson Info
Project Fundamentals: Introduction
The first thing we're gonna do is look at project fundamentals. Just the basic idea of what writing a story is about. So this is a moment that I, again I think it's just so critically important and if you're watching this class, you're already 99% ahead of every other writer because most writers don't stop for even a second and think about what they're doing. They, you know, usually we're called to writing 'cause we have a story that's haunting us. It's in our head, it won't let us go. That's the thing that people always say is, I've been trying to write this book for so long, I've been, I've started, I've stopped, I've wanted to do this since I was a child. Or you know, I have three chapters and I keep doing the same ones over and over and over again. All those ways of being stuck as a writer, I think can be solved by just taking a minute and thinking about the project in a really big picture way. Usually what we wanna do is just plow in and start writing and start trying to describe ...
that story or idea in our head because it's fun. I mean writing is really fun and what's fun about it, especially in our chaotic world is it's quiet, you're in charge, you get to be in control. If nobody interrupts you, you get to, you know put this words on the page and make this world and there's something very therapeutic about that and most people who are called to be writers love that. They also love the reading aspect of being a writer. They like to sit and be immersed in someone else's story, and in someone else's world. So that part is fun and so it's natural to wanna leap ahead to it and immerse yourself in it and all of a sudden you have 300 pages you've written that don't actually hang together. That don't actually have internal logic. That don't actually make sense and that are never gonna work. So, what we're doing is just a pause to step back and ask some big questions before you write forward. And I promise you, this is gonna save you years of frustration and that is not an exaggeration. In my work as a book coach, one of the things I do is help people rescue books. So I have agents and editors at publishing houses coming to me, or very well established writers coming to me with projects that just aren't working. Something's wrong, they're flat, they're just not getting the attention that the writer wants, there's just something not working right. And my job is to figure out what it is and when I rescue a book and try to solve the problems these are exactly the questions that I start with with every single writer. Whether they're a New York Times Bestseller with three books under their belt. Or somebody who's just landed a top agent but the book is not getting picked up by a publisher. Whatever the problem is, this is the solution. It will solve everything so that's why we're gonna start here so you don't have to go through that years of frustration writing off in the wrong direction.
Class Materials
Bonus Materials with Purchase
Ratings and Reviews
Nom Johnson
This is the first class I purchased on CL. I listened in on the Live Streaming day, taking notes furiously while feeling sooo blessed to finally have found such an outstanding industry expert who knew -- really knew -- what writers problem areas and blindspots were. Furthermore, Jennie is a GREAT teacher who doesn't just tell her listeners how to do things smarter but takes us by the hand and leads us through smart exercises or great stretches of well laid out logic that is deeply illuminating on how to do our job, LOADS better! And that, in the 1st draft instead of the 5th or 10th (if we're still tenacious enough to be hanging in by then.) I purchased it because streaming quality was poor (not sure why, I have top rate streaming package; made me think it could be a CL purposeful thing) and the course content too great to not own. I've started relistening, and will do so as many times as I need to in order to receive full benefit from Jennie's obvious expertise and great instruction. For ANYONE starting out in the world of novel or memoir writing, I DEEPLY RECOMMEND you get this course along with Lisa Cron's Story Writing one. With the 2 of them you will have done yourself the biggest favor EVER on the learning curve of the art -- and the science -- of writing the best book you're capable of.
Denise
Loved watching Jennie give this class. She brings great clarity to the writing process that for so long for me, has been so daunting. I can't wait to learn more from Jennie who's passion for writing is incredible, but also her heartfelt compassion for us writers is nothing I have ever seen. Thank you Jennie. ~Denise
Deborah Lucas
I love listening to Jennie Nash, especially for free any day. But I found this class to be so valuable, I bought it in a flash. I recommend it for anyone working on a novel. Even if you are well into a manuscript, this class will give you structure to understand your plot/emotional trajectory as well as the audience you are writing for. I can't say enough good things about it. FABULOUS!!!!