Must-Have Moments in Your Novel by Jennifer A. Nielsen

I've decided it doesn't matter what Jennifer Nielsen is teaching, I NEED IT.

There are the acts in a story:

ACT I Intro
ACT II Mayhem Ensures
ACT III Resolution

ACT I

1.     Intro to the world (like the intro to the Shire)

#1 key moment ~ intro to the voice

2.     First clash with the antagonist

3.     First decision (leave the shire)

#2 key moment ~ The hero’s fatal flaw

4.     Intro subplot

a.     It needs a purpose

b.     Works into the resolution

c.     Could be conflict, info, parallel plots, suspense, etc

#3 key moment ~ subplot must have a purpose

5.     Hero confronts THE conflict (I’ll take the ring)

a.     Is it unexpected?

b.     Is it a turning point?

c.     Is the hero wildly unprepared?

#4 key moment ~ Does your reader know what both your hero and your villain want?

#5 key moment ~ Are the stakes high??

 

ACT II

1.     Antagonist shows his strength; he must be stronger than the hero

2.     Allies appear for the hero

3.     Problems and more problems

a.     RIGHT HERE if you have writer’s block, your characters don’t have enough to do

4.     Crisis point ~ No turning back (Gandalf dies, Frodo can’t go back)

a.     #6 key moment ~ Exact moment your hero can’t turn back

5.     Dark night moment ~ protagonist goes on their own to move forward

a.     #7 key moment ~ when all is lost, what gets your hero to her feet again?

ACT III

1.     Resolution of the problem defined in Act I

2.     Confrontation

a.     The hero might lose but…

b.     The hero is victorious

3.     Resolution

a.     How has the hero grown?

#8 key moment ~ Reader is satisfied and all the threads have been closed

Keynote speaker Jason Wright #Betheone

 Jason Wright was the keynote speaker at #storymakers19. He talked about being the one. Whatever that means to you #Betheone 

Be the one to open the door for someone else, take the time to listen to a friend or stranger, show kindness

#Betheone

 

 ALSO, what if...your book changes YOUR life?

2019 Keynote Speaker, Jason Wright

Jason Wright is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author.
Jason is also a regular columnist for Fox News and the Northern Virginia Daily. Articles by Jason have appeared in over other 100 newspapers, magazines and web sites across the United States including The Washington Times, The Chicago Tribune, and Forbes.
Jason is also a popular speaker who speaks on the miracle of opening doors, faith, failure, the Christmas Jars movement, the lost art of letter writing, and many other topics. He has been seen on CNN, FoxNews, C-SPAN, and on local television stations around the country.

Slow Burn Romance by Kasie West

"There’s so much more to a kiss than the kiss. We’ll discuss how to craft a story that will have your
readers begging for the HEA. We’ll discuss elements such as conflict, characters, history, tension,
emotion and how to use them to build a perfect romance. And then, of course, we’ll talk about crafting the perfect kiss."


History

In order to know the future of your characters, you need to know their past
You need to know their personal history
You need to know their relationship history

Conflict

Check each chapter for conflict
What are your characters goals?
What are their obstacles?

Time

Throw your love interests together often, so they can learn more about each other
Show them being vulnerable

Dialogue

Chemistry comes through dialogue!

Moderation

Accidental touching
Build up the physical contact
How does the contact make them feel? (Sometimes you show this, sometimes you tell)

The Kiss

There is usually a BEAT right before the kiss
The kiss is more powerful writing from the emotions that surround the kiss

You ain't Shakespeare

Basically...write YOUR story.
Stop stressing about perfection in your writing.
You ain't Shakespeare.

Only love will truly save the world DIANA

The Magical Muse by Jennifer Nielsen

To say Jennifer A. Nielsen is amazing is a HUGE understatement. There are so many positive adjectives I can use to describe her! It would take up this whole post. She's an influencer, teacher, writer, friend, listener, centered, true-to-self, best friend anyone would beg to have. She's kind, sweet, funny, smart, insightful, witty...did I say amazing yet?
(I know, I know, fan girl much?)(I truly want to be Jen when I grow up).
When you're with her and talking to her, she is laser-focused on you and you alone. She proved to be the one with sound advice for a friend in need over the weekend.

We learned a lot about being creative!

First, ask yourself:
Where am I creative?

WATER is the #1 element to creativity.
WHY Water?
It supports the body, so the body relaxes and the brain relaxes and creates a cocoon.
The relaxed brain creates DOPAMINE, which creates peace in us.
(I was totally skeptical about this. I mean, when will I get to a waterfall or sit in a hot tub?? The next morning I was thinking about a hole in my plot while I was showering and BAM! The thought came and I solved the problem!).

BLANK page
Staring at a blank page works. Most ideas being with a single spark. Only you can grab it.

COLLECT stupid facts
Did you know there is a DOG MAYOR? And he's won THREE times?

LISTEN to music and pick up on lyrics

ASK what if? What if that happened? Or he said that? Or she did this?

MAKE up back stories to other stories or to strangers you meet. Why does that guy keep looking at pictures of the same girl, over and over again? For the two hour flight?

LOOK for details. Why is he carrying yellow roses?

COME up with more than one plot point...come up with at least 5.
SET limitations on your characters (limitations are the mother of creativity).
PLAN your incubation period. ⇨ WRITE down your questions you have about your plot, character, etc and go about your day. You've given your subconscious brain a task and it will answer your questions.

TRUST your imagination! You're in the right place!

Blessed, honored pioneers!

Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), Washday on the Plains, 1938, oil on canvas, 42 x 94 1/2 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, gift of the Teichert Family Collection.

This week we celebrate Pioneer Day on July 24, which is Utah’s state holiday. Minerva Teichert produced scenes of her Mormon Pioneer heritage in the living room of her Cokeville, Wyoming ranch home and participated in civic celebrations of Pioneer Day. Washday on the Plains conveys the resolute commitment of the pioneers’ posterity to remember the heroism and dedication of their forebearers in trekking to the Mountain West. Minerva made sure that the vital role of women in this epic was not forgotten. These industrious pioneers embody both strength and beauty in their crisp patchwork fashions.