DID YOU MISS 12 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS IN JULY?

IT'S BACK!

12 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS TO ASK THAT TURN NEW IDEAS INTO STORIES

NEXT COURSE: SATURDAY NOVEMBER 2

Connie Flynn and Bootcamp for Novelists Introduce Bootcamp Classrooms
 
The Bootcamps formerly called Face-to-Face have been renamed Bootcamp Classroom since it's easier to say and it means the same thing. I'm curious about how you like the new logo. It's a little more girly and yet still has a whiff of testosterone, not to mention the blackboard that reminds us this is a learning experience.

The first renewed Bootcamp was well received by twenty-one authors at various stages of their careers. Watch for the testimonial page that will come up soon on the Bootcamp website ( http://www.bootcampfornovelists.com ). The 12 Essential Questions Classroom is designed for all writers from beginners to those who are seasoned and multi-published.  It's purpose is to help you pull together the story you want to write full enough that you will know WHAT to write when you leave the Classroom and head home to finally put it down on paper.

HERE ARE THE DETAILS:

WHAT: Twelve Essential Questions to Ask to Turn New Ideas Into Stories. An all-day fiction writer's workshop that begins with your idea and guides you through your story to the end using a series of questions that when fully
answered provide the basic structure on which to write your novel.

WHEN: November 2, 2013 TIME: 10:00am - 5:00pm

WHO: Taught by multi-published author and Bootcamp founder, Connie Flynn.

FOR: Anyone who wants to write a novel, from first timers to writers to multi-published authors who are starting their tenth or eleventh or one hundredth book.

WHERE: Vision Quest Bookstore 2225 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257 Cross streets: Scottsdale Road and Oak (SE side)

WHY: You've always wanted to write a novel and don't know where to start. You have a blockbuster idea that you can't quite pull together. You've written several books that you haven't been able to sell. Connie Flynn can help. Whether you've never written a word or are a multi-published author working on your trillionth novel, this workshop will fill the bill because the material and exercises are tailored to apply to the individual writer's needs. They focus on YOUR story content, YOUR story flow, and as YOU answer each question you'll find the parts that fit the unique circumstances of the novel YOU want to write.

CONTACT:  Connie at bootcamp4novelists@cox.net

FOR MORE INFORMATION
AND TO REGISTER:  
http://www.bootcampfornovelists.com

 REGISTRATION FEES:
Until October 6    $69 Save $26

After October 6   $79  Save $16

After October 20 or at the Door  $85

 If you are coming from out of town and need hotel recommendations email Connie at Bootcamp4Novelists@cox.net for information

BootCamp Face to Face Seminar

THE DANCE OF PLOT AND CHARACTER

. . . a full day seminar, taught by Bootcamp for Novelists co-founder and instructor Connie Flynn

WHEN: Saturday, June 23 30, 2012 10am to 5:30pm Doors Open at 9:30am

WHERE : Vision Quest Bookstore, 2225 N. Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
When we study novel writing we are forced to break its many elements
into smaller chunks in order to master each of them well enough to write
the powerful stories that are in us. Never is that truer than in the
study of plot and character. You hear writers say things like "I'm a
plot driven writer," or "My stories are driven by character." In the
long run this is impossible. Plots are boring unless we care about the
characters who live them. Characters never show their whole selves
unless pressured by strong plot events. It's a delicate dance that takes
place between plot and character and there are techniques that make the
dance easier to choreograph. This course deals with some of the techniques.

This is a hand-on seminar so come prepared to work. During the day, you
will learn how and why plot and characters move through a story and how
to intertwine them so that the people and events appear real and
natural. At the end of the seminar you will be able to block out a novel
in which characters create plot and plot pressures the characters to
bring about a story resolution that is almost inevitable, but not
necessarily predictable.

The morning session will cover the basics of building the focal
character and discovering how they will drive your story. Next, we'll
learn a four-act structure of loose boxes that define the story and
build its plot arc (defined as the change occurring within a story due
to the characters' decisions). And finally you'll be introduced to the
eight major scenes that will guide your story.

The afternoon session is about techniques to add credibility to your
focal character. You'll study what makes people tick and assign your
character attitudes, perspectives, opinions, and concerns that will help
you know them so well you'll know exactly how they'd react in any situation.

We'll end the day by aligning the eight major scenes to the focal
character's arc (defined as the change in their perspective caused by
the story events). We'll see how events that seem to change the
character are actually a result of the character's decision and how
plot/character integration is a delicate dance between these two.

FEES: $65 prior to June 10 and $80 after June 10. You can remit by
Paypal or contact me for address for mail payment.

THE DAY'S SCHEDULE:

9:30 Doors open/check in. Seminar begins.
Module 1: Characters Discovered Module 2: Boxes to Put Them In

1:00 Lunch --- Off-Site

2:30 Seminar resumes.
Module 3: The 8 Major Story Events Module 4: The Glorious Dance

5:30 Seminar Complete

For more information about Bootcamp for Novelists or to register, go to
bootcampfornovelists.com  or contact Connie directly at bootcamp4novelists@cox.net
--Connie Flynn

Bootcamp for Novelists Fall Courses

To Enroll or Get More Information Go to the Bootcamp website

July 22 to September 2
Late registration accepted until July 29
CONNIE'S 6-WEEK BOOTCAMP CLINIC . . .
C1 Applying the Hero's Journey

Mythology was made famous by Joseph Campbell and later applied to screenwriting and storytelling by Hollywood, yet the principles of this powerful tool to readers' subconscious common links are still only vaguely understood. Learn how the archetypes are actually placeholders and that the journey itself takes many forms. This course is six weeks long and features considerable discussion as well as exercises for employing the "Journey" method.
FEE: $48

August 5 to September 16
LINDA'S 6-WEEK BOOTCAMP CLINIC . . .
LS1 Secrets To a Killer Synopsis
Plus Query Letter and First Three Chapters

The best story in the world won't sell if the editor can't get past the query letter and the synopsis. Most publishers give very specific guidelines on what they want in a submission, but they don't tell you how to make your submission stand out among those hundreds of submissions they receive daily. In this class, you'll learn how to do just that, and you'll get direct feedback on your query letter and your synopsis. It is recommended that you have completed at least half of your manuscript in order to get the most from the class.
FEE: $48

September 2 to September 16
CONNIE'S FALL 2-WEEK SIDEBAR
SB1 Haiku Magic — a gentle journey into poetry

Haiku is a Japanese poem structure that is traditionally three lines long, each line is a specific length - line one is five syllables, line two is seven syllables and line three is again five.

Why haiku? Bootcamp students know I'm constantly after them to write concisely and make precise word choices. What better way to learn that skill than playing around with a form of simple poetry that limits you to seventeen syllables. Plus, it asks you to form a mental image with those few sounds. Talk about showing, not telling.

It also frees the creative mind, kind of like mental doodling. At $15, this course is a steal, and just what many of you need to relax those overworked mental muscles of yours.
FEE: $15

September 9 to October 7
7B Punch Up Your Prose w/Connie Flynn

You can have great characters, excellent plots,and zingy dialogue but if you don't write the story with brevity and clarity and evocative words you'll lose readers by page three. You'll learn how to stay in active voice, what excitement killers must be avoided and how to exploit sentence structure and punctuation to get the most out of your writing. engaging.
FEE: $28

October 28 to November 18
8P The Big Black Moment

Dramatic, powerful storytelling doesn't just happen. There's a plan. A story plan. The Big Black Moment is only one piece of the plan, but it's one of the most important and many writers fail to get it right. Most writers understand that this is the moment when all seems lost, but they don't understand why or what goes into making it that way. In order for TBB to be emotional, certain components must be there. In this class you'll learn what TBB really is and how you can make it the most powerful, emotional point in your story.
FEE: $28

BOOTCAMP PACKAGES ARE BACK!

Like regular Bootcamps, each of these package courses is a full four weeks and covers the same material as a regular Bootcamp. There will be a one-week break between each course and you still have the option of registering for each Bootcamp individually, just without the package discount.

PILLARS OF STRUCTURE PACKAGE
Begins September 30
1B - Creating Characters
2B -Dynamic Plotting
3B - Sculpting Scenes
4B - Conflict That Sizzles

These four courses develop your basic writing skills and give you the foundation for writing your book. You'll go through step-by-step exercises that can sometimes be frustrating but are designed to help you identify how to create the memorable characters, can't-put-it-down plotting, and tense, crackling scenes that are found in all the best books. Plus, knowledge at a bargain. Individual courses are $28 each. You''ll save $20 by enrolling in the combined package.
PACKAGE FEE: $92

TECHNIQUES OF THE PROS PACKAGE
Begins November 11
1P - The First Three Chapters
2P - Deepening Character
3P - Escalating Consequences
4P - Creating Strong Subplots

The advanced techniques in these four classes are designed to expand and build on your basic foundation skills to take your writing to another level. The lessons and exercises, using your own work, will give you hands on experience as you learn the concepts and practice the techniques that create the kind of stories that make a bestseller...complex stories with memorable characters that readers will remember long after they've turned the last page. Individual courses are $28. You'll save $20 by enrolling in the four-class package.
PACKAGE FEE: $92