PLOTRIMO: Revise Your Novel Blog Tour

Today, I’d like to introduce you to two amazing ladies, along with the fabulous program they developed to assist authors get their book published and to learn to revise in a manner that will make manuscripts shine!

Jill Corcoran is the founder of Jill
Corcoran LiteraryAgency and
co-founder of A Path to Publishing

Martha Alderson, author of The Plot 

Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure 

Any Writer Can Master, is

 known as “The Plot Whisperer.”  

Congratulations on creating an entire story from beginning to end. When you finish celebrating, it is time to revise: to re-envision and rewrite what you’ve written into a novel that agents, editors and readers will devour.

That’s where Martha and Jill come into the picture. They have developed several programs to help you. If you’ve written a draft of a novel, you’ve accomplished what many writers merely talk about and dream of doing. 

I've taken their CONCEPT WORKSHOP and have rented their videos for revision. WIth Martha's knowledge of plot and Jill's quick grasp of concepts, together they are the experts you need to turn your manuscript into a published piece.

Thanks to the PlotWriMo Revise Your Novel in a Month videos, all writers can find something to improve their chances for publication. The videos take you step by step through the revision process. I am currently using it to revise my YA Contemporary novel.  

THINGS THAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM THE PlotWriMo VIDEOS

.    How to revise your story concept and develop your characters

.    How to approach your revision

.    Character transformation and goals

.    Concept and development of the energy in your story

.    Scenes and themes

.    Climax

.    Beginnings and Endings

.    Manuscript voice

.    Detailed revision

The PLOTRIMO: Revise Your Novel is a program that will teach you the skills needed to make your plot an outstanding one.

Before you undertake a major rewrite, first consider your story from all angles with the help of step-by-step instruction and daily exercises.

You know you’re ready to rewrite when you’ve checked all the essential elements for creating an exciting story with compelling characters and a meaningful plot.

What’s that you say? You don’t write novels. Your dream is to be a published picture book author. Martha and Jill offer something for you, too.

How to Write and Sell a Picture Book with a Plot

7 videos explain how to plot, write and sell picture books and provide exercises that immediately integrate concepts into your own unique story.

Learn about the types of picture books, examples of character-driven and action-driven picture books, and how to develop winning picture book concepts.

Check out their A Path to Publishing Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/apathtopublishing

Everyone is welcome to join A Path to Publishing Facebook group. It’s a safe, smart, fun alcove created by Jill and Martha for writers and illustrators to share and learn about the craft of writing and the book biz.

This is NOT a place to sell your books, but a wonderful forum for us all to advance our skills, our creativity, and our dreams, plus learn about what Jill and Martha are up to at A PATH TO PUBLISHING.

JILL AND MARTHA ARE OFFERING SOME AMAZING PRIZES TONIGHT. SO BE SURE TO ENTER AND SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THIS EVENT AND THEIR WONDERFUL VIDEO SERIES.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ROCK STAR SANTA Giveaway

Christmas trees are up and decorated in stores and even in some houses. Santa's helpers will soon be arriving daily at stores, even to local bakeries. 

They must make sure those Christmas Eve cookies are scrumptious!

So, in catching the "Holiday" spirit, I'd like to giveaway a signed copy of 

ROCK STAR SANTA and his sparkling red scarf, designed and fashioned by me.

"Great," you say. "I can use the book for a stocking stuffer or for one of my kid's school, Brownie, or Cub Scout grab bags. And I could certainly use a new red scarf for the holidays."

"Sure you can. That's the beauty of a Christmas giveaway, but you need to do a little something first.

SANTA’S ROCKIN’ REINDEER RHYMING CONTEST

Santa’s been performing his Christmas concert for years. He’s a rock star! But he’d only be singing Jingle Bells without his rockin’ reindeer band. This is your chance to tell us about those crazy reindeer.

1. Choose your favorite rockin’ reindeer and write a 4-8 line poem about him/her. You can check out the pictures below. Mrs. Claus will dye her hair red and rock out to the best poem.

Dancer and Dasher

Vixen and Donner

Cupid and Prancer

Comet and Blitzen

 

Winner will receive:

1. A signed copy of ROCK STAR SANTA

2. And, an authentic ROCK STAR SANTA sparkly, red scarf.

Entries should be in by December 15th so Santa can send you the book and scarf before this year’s Christmas Eve Concert.

You have a whole month for rocking, rollicking fun.

Enjoy the rhymes!

Contest sponsored by: JINGLE BELL JAMS

Herazade's Intriguing Tale

Since I’ve been hosting other author's characters, I thought I’d take this opportunity to interview the characters from my new e-book, Scheherazade’s Secret, which was released this week from Trowbridge Books, as a novelette.

I’d like to introduce Herazade.

Herazade nods. “Hello.”

“So, Herazade, I’m sure the readers would like to know more about you and Scheherazade’s Secret. Could you tell us something about yourself?”

“Well, when the story starts, my sister and I are nothing more than beggars. Our father is dead and the only things we have to remember him by are his stories.

“So your life circumstance is not ideal.”

Herazade shakes her head and sighs. “No. In fact we must be clever when we steal our food, for without our wits or our hands we would starve to death, thanks to him.” Herazade tilts her head toward the last chair on the stage.

King Shah-Bizhan, the tyrannical king, leans forward in his seat, stroking his wiry, white beard. “Let’s not exaggerate the facts, girl. You would have all the riches of my kingdom if you marry me.”

Herazade answers. “If I didn’t use my wits and my stories, neither my sister, nor I would live to even taste a honeyed fig, but you made it difficult. Thanks to Papa’s stories and this dented, old lamp, we survived your horrid plan.

King Shah-Bizhan: “Bah! It wasn’t just you. My traitorous son helped you.”

“Next to Herazade, is the most heart-stopping, swoonworthy male character in YA novels, today. He’s got a body like the statue of David, and a heart filled with love, not only for Herazade, but for all of the people in his kingdom.”

Herazade clasps his hand and a crimson haze blossoms on his cheeks.

“You’re embarrassing me, Gayle.”

Herazade cheeks blush, too. “I’m sure the readers would love to know him as well as I do. His name is Prince Sanjar.”

 “Prince Sanjar, what do you have to say? You’re seated between these two. Is that on purpose?”

“Yes. My father is a tyrant. Since my mother betrayed him, he trusts no woman. While I was away in the Far East, he decided to take a virgin each night, as his wife, and then kill her in the morning, after he sought his pleasure. When I returned and learned of his plan, I was appalled. And then to discover my true love was soon to be one of his victims was unbearable. He had his men lock me away, until both Herazade and her sister would be dead. I can’t tell you my heart's joy, when I discovered she was alive.”

Herazade smiles.

“You defeated the King, where others could not. Can you tell us more?”

“Let’s just say, my father was watching over me and the rest is history.”

“Thank you, Herazade. Prince Sanjar, how did you know about the three fig trees and the desert Kasbah you took you lovely wife to on your wedding night?”

A smile spreads across his handsome face. “Let’s just say a certain Djinn had something to do with it.”

“I can still see the tumult in your relationships, even now that the story is over. So can you tell my readers where they can find Scherazade’s Secret to read your story for themselves?”

It’s available as an e-book for Kindles, Nooks and all other e-readers.

Links :

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D154606011&field-keywords=scheherazade%27s+secret

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/scheherazades-secret-gail-cimino-krause/1120456383?ean=2940150492950