Tonight: Batter Up for ACFW at MBT PitchFest Online Chat

photo by justino307/stock.xchange.com


I leave for the 2010 ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Conference in--gasp!--four days! I've got to pack. But first I have to figure out what I'm going to wear. And I've got to make sure everything's settled on the home-front before I slip away from motherhood for a few days and focus on being a writer.

And while I'm packing and preparing, I've got to practice my pitch for my novel!

Actually, I'm not stressing about my pitch, thanks to the MBT (My Book Therapy) Polish and Promotion conference I attended last May. The insights from bestselling author Susan May Warren and literary agent Chip MacGregor helped me craft a strong pitch for my contemporary romance.

What about you? How are you feeling about your pitch for ACFW--or any other conferences you plan to attend?

If you're looking for a chance to polish your pitch, join us at the Batter Up for ACFW PitchFest at the online MBT Chat tonight at 8 p.m. ET ( 7 p.m. CT). Spend two hours--or however much time you have available--interacting with other writers as you polish your pitch to perfection! Learn how to zero in on your hook--that first sentence that grabs an editor, agent or publisher. And then discover how to write a premise that feeds their interest, while focusing on the most important elements of your story.

For some warm-ups, read the following blog posts:
Pitch Practice by Susan May Warren
Pitch Fest: The Why and Why Not by Beth K. Vogt
Pitch Fest: The Hook: How Ironic! by Teri Dawn Smith
Pitch Fest: Premise Practice ... and a Promise: It's Really Not So Hard!

Pitch Fest: Why? Why Not?

Learning about verbal pitches from Susan May Warren and agent Chip MacGregor at the 2010 MBT Pitch and Promotion Conference

As bestselling author Susan May Warren mentioned in yesterday's MBT Pitch Practice post, at the heart of every good pitch is your passion for your story.

Thanks to Susie, there is a marvelous method for harnessing your passion and crafting an a-ma-zing pitch. That's what this Blog Fest is all about!


The Why: the plot element driving your character through the story
To focus your pitch, you must return once again to your main character(s). No groaning and thinking, "I am so over trying to get inside my character's head! I want a book contract!" Crafting a compelling verbal pitch helps you present yourself confidently, which brings you one step closer to your dream.

1. Ask you character, "Who are you? What is your identity and why?" Then delve into their answers--yeah, that whole conversation with imaginary characters we fiction writers do--and look for their core values. Things like freedom, loyalty, family or honesty. Their core values move them through the story.
Example: Your heroine values safety/security--and she's got her planned/canned happily ever after with her "Safety Patrol Boy" fiancé .

2. Ask your character, "What are you good at? Why?" Look for unique skills, abilities, personalities, physical attributes, legacies or knowledge. Competence = uniqueness.
Example: Your heroine, a graphic designer, is a bit of a control freak who makes sure she doesn't color outside the lines in her personal life.

The Why Not: what prevents your character from accomplishing his/her goal
One of Sir Isaac Newton's laws of motion states: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The Why Not is equal in menace and strength to the character's Why.

The Why and Why Not war against each other. To discover the Why Not look at your character's goal--security? to protect someone?--and turn it inside -outside-upside-down into the opposite goal.
Example: Your heroine buried her love for her adventuresome, daring father--ever since he abandoned her. Being with him was her happiest time--but all she wants now is security. (Funny, how her fiancé's appealing brother reminds her of her father.) Does she really want security--or does she want a man she can trust enough to risk with?

So you have your Why and Why Not, the building blocks of your pitch. How do you weave this into your pitch? Why + Why Not = essential elements of your plot. Use these to discover the dramatic irony in your story. To learn about irony, go to MBT Ponderer Teri Dawn Smith's post: Pitch Fest: The Hook: How Ironic!

After you read Teri's post, find out why MBT Ponderer Melissa Tagg promises writing a premise isn't that hard--even though it initially freaked her out! Then join Susie and the MBT Ponderers on Monday night, September 13 at 7 p.m. (Central) for a Pitch Practice Chat!

I'm heading to Seattle to attend the Beyond My Book Therapy: A Polish, Promotion & Pitch Retreat. (Yay!)

Award-winning author Susan May Warren will teach, step by step, how to craft a synopsis and a query letter, plus how to construct a compelling first chapter. Then, she’ll show how to craft a pitch that will attract the attention of editors and agents.

Professional marketing expert Jim Rubart, president of Barefoot Marketing, will reveal the seven fundamentals of successful book promotion.

Finally, renowned agent Chip MacGregor, president and owner of MacGregor Literary will offer gut-level honesty on what is working in the pitch and hands on advice on how to fix what isn’t.

Don't you want to pack your bags and come along? Start planning now to attend My Book Therapy Coaching Retreats in 2011. Meanwhile, I'll have lots to share with you in the weeks ahead.

~Roxanne Sherwood

Focusing on Fiction: My Book Therapy Retreats

I admit it: I have a split personality when it comes to writing.

For years, I lived my life as a contented non-fiction writer. Immune to the lure of the Dark Side of the writing world, I suggested medication to my fiction writing buddies who listened to voices.

One day, burned out on deadlines, I wandered over to the Dark Side--just for the fun of it. And I've never looked back.

I've straddled the line between fiction and non-fiction for a couple of years now. But it was only during this past year that I asked myself the question: Am I serious about writing fiction?

To help answer my question, last October I attended Susan May Warren's StoryCrafter's Retreat, which focused on story structure, character creation and plotting. Susan's step-by-step approach was practical, helpful--and personal. There were all of 12 attendees at the conference--and by the end of the weekend we were committed friends!


Because I had such a productive time at the first retreat, I attended the February Deep Thinkers retreat, which was co-taught by Susan and author Rachel Hauck. Once again, the retreat size was kept small. Most of the attendees from the first conference came to this one, as well as some new friends. Susan and Rachel critiqued 15 pages of our manuscripts and our 3-5 page synopsis of or works-in-progress.


When it came time to register for the Polish Promotion and Pitch Retreat , I asked my husband, "Well, I guess the question is, 'Should I go?'" He said, "The question is, 'Why wouldn't you go?'"


And he was right.


I'm heading to Seattle in May to learn all about query letters, book promotion, and pitching a fiction book from Susan, Jim Rubart, and agent Chip MacGregor.


Want forward motion in your fiction this coming year? Consider investing in Susan's retreat series. Participate in one of the retreats--or all three! It will be time and money well spent--and you'll make some life-long friends along the way!

The Value of Voice

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken."

~ author Oscar Wilde

Just back from the My Book Therapy Deep Thinkers Retreat, which took place in Melbourne, Florida last weekend.

I'm still trying to process all the wonderful writing insights shared by bestselling authors Susan May Warren and Rachel Hauck, while unpacking, doing laundry and generally getting back to normal life.

Whatever that is.

One of the last things Susan and Rachel talked about was a writer's voice. Those are my actual notes scribbled in red in the photo. I'm addicted to fine line Sharpies right now, but that is so beside the point! I've found myself returning to this page in the Deep Thinkers Retreat workbook. It's about adding color or word painting.

One statement Rachel made has replayed in my head this past week: "The foundation to every novelist is their voice."

I agree with her--and I also think that every writer--whether you write fiction or non-fiction--has a voice. I also think it is imperative for a writer to discover her voice. Rachel suggested one way to do that was to ask God, "What is my voice?"

Being in a critique group also hones your voice. It's vital that your crit partners understand and respect your voice--that they not squelch it.

I'll be honest here: I once trampled all over Scoti's voice. She writes with passion and emotion, what I sometimes call an "opera" voice. I mean that as a compliment. Scoti's voice is full and rich.

In the early years of our group, I critiqued an article Scoti wrote--and in the process I stripped her voice right out of it. Someone else, who knew Scoti better than I did, commented on my mistake.

And I realized she was right--and I was oh, so wrong.

I apologized and determined to respect Scoti's voice.

As Susan said, "Voice equals personality on the page."

Discovering your voice and then polishing your voice so that it adds depth to your writing takes time. You have to know yourself as a writer--and it helps if you are connected with other trusted writers who know you too.

Here's one way I know I'm writing in my voice: When someone reads something I wrote and says, "It sounds just like you were talking to me--just like we were sitting together in your kitchen," that's when I know my writing is reflecting my personality.

What about you? How have you developed your writer's voice? When do you recognize it?

Great Resource: My Book Therapy Ezine

In a cold, remote, Siberian apartment, Susan May Warren dreamed of writing a novel and longed for an online community of other writers. In time, Susie became an award-winning, multi-published author, but it took a bit longer for the online community she'd envisioned. Eventually, she founded a mentoring/critique service, My Book Therapy, along with award-winning author Rachel Hauck, and started an online community. The My Book Therapy community of writers is called Voices because it's the place where your inner writer finds a voice. Voices are writers who desire to connect with other writers and who want to take their craft to the next level. Now, Susie and Rachel have launched a great writing resource: Voices. The My Book Therapy Ezine, an online magazine, written by the Voices.

I can't say enough about this quarterly online magazine that blends a community of writers with informative articles on writing craft, industry, encouragement and more. You'll need to read it yourself at

Voices: The My Book Therapy Ezine

Some of the Featured Articles this month include:
--A Word of Encouragement: Stay the Course by Reba J. Hoffman, Ph. D as My Book Therapy’s prayer coordinator
--Consulting with the Specialists: Jim Rubart, a media pro and Chip MacGregor, a top agent
--Tax Tips: Hobby Loss Interpretation for Writers by Danica Favorite-McDonald
--From Author Sighting to Author Signing by Leah Morgan
--Contests, Chats, Upcoming Releases, and so much more.
Lisa Jordan, a Genesis finalist, is the editor of The My Book Therapy Ezine.

~Roxanne Sherwood

My Book Therapy Storycrafters Retreat Blog Tour

In an opportunity only dreamed of by unpublished writers, Award-winning authors Susan May Warren and Rachel Hauck will mentor you in person. Now, they'll help you apply the ideas, secrets, and tips they've taught at My Book Therapy to your manuscript.


From Here to There –
Going from raw idea to a drawn-out plot

How do you take your ideas and turn them into a story?
How do you know if your idea will sell?
Where do you start?

This working storytellers retreat, set just outside of Minneapolis during the beautiful fall season is designed for a writer who has an idea…but needs help putting it together into a plot.

Come with your idea, leave with a game plan. We’ll teach you story structure, and then go step by step in the character creation and plotting process, explaining how to determine each step, and then show you how to apply it to
your story.

We’ll brainstorm your ideas with you, share essential secrets of storytelling, and finally, you'll take home a filled-out workbook that will act as a map as you write your novel.

For beginners to advanced writers who just want a guide along the way, the From Here to There Storycrafter's Retreat will jumpstart your novel further down the road to publication.



Storycrafting & Coaching Retreat for Writers
Friday, October 23, 2009 1:00 pm -
Sunday, October 25, 2009 11:00 am (Central Time)

Riverwood Inn & Conference Center
10990 95th St. NE
Otsego, MN 55362

For more information, visit here.

This such a fabulous opportunity to be mentored by award-winning authors Susan May Warren and Rachel Hauck.

1) How can I make the most of the MBT Storycrafter Retreat?

Come with a story idea! And, if you can, ponder on the kind of person your characters are, as well as some of the key elements you want in your story. We’ll take it from there. ☺

2) How much of my story needs to be written before the MBT retreat? How well do I need to know the characters or the plot?

You should know the setting, the basic theme (although that might change) and a general idea of who your characters are. It would also help to know what genre you want to write in. If you come without an idea, then we can give you some brainstorm techniques to get you started. You know, we believe there is a novelist in everyone – so, come prepared to find your inner novelist!

3) I'm a "seat-of-the-pants" writer. How can the MBT retreat help writers like me?

I’m both a plotter and a SOTPer – meaning, I like to have the major points of my story fleshed out, and then discover each scene. Even if you are the most extreme SOTPer (meaning, you sit down without an idea and let the story flow), you still need to know WHO your character is, what is fears are, what his dreams are, and a bit about his spiritual journey. We’ll teach you how to gather up these elements, and how to put them together in a story, so at least you’ll know what you are shooting for! Even if you decide NOT to put it together in a plotting roadmap, you’ll have the major points figured out and therefore a target in which to aim.

4) What if my idea isn't sellable?

Oh….we’ll figure out how to make it sellable. ☺

5) What is the maximum number of writers the MBT retreat can accommodate?

We’re capped at 36 – we want to make it intimate and focused, so we’ve decided to keep it to a manageable size.

6) If I can't attend the retreat (even though I really, really want to!) will any of the material be available made afterward?

Nope, sorry. It’s a hands-on retreat, personalized, and it’ll look different every year, depending on the group. (and yes, we’re going to make it an annual event, in October, in Mpls!).

7) Why should I go to this retreat, over, say, a writer’s conference?

A writer’s conference, like ACFW or Write to Publish, or any conference that has a host of agents and editors there, is designed to PITCH your work. Yes, they have beginning writer’s classes, (which I often teach), as well as great networking opportunities, but for a writer who is still in the throes of their novel, they are better off going to a retreat (like the Storycrafter’s retreat) to really learn how to write their novel, so that they are ready to attend a writer’s conference and make the most out of it. That’s why we designed it to be focused, inexpensive and at a time of year where you can go home and hunker down to write your novel. The Storycrafter’s Retreat (as well as the MBT Deep Thinker’s weekend in February – come with 3 chapters and a synopsis – and the Beyond Book Therapy: Proposal, Promotion and Pitch conference in Seattle in May) is designed to prepare you for these major conferences, so you can sit down in front of an editor or agent and pitch your amazing story and have them go – Wow! Send it to me asap! ☺

In short – attend the three MBT retreats, and then you’ll be prepared to attend ACFW. (or any of the other amazing conferences around the nation!)

Be sure to visit the other blogs on tour for even more great information.

August 24 -- Visit Patricia at Reading N Writin
August 25 -- Visit Laura at Lighthouse-Academy
August 26 -- Visit Roxanne at The Writing Road
August 27 -- Visit Julie at The Surrendered Scribe
August 28 -- Visit Audra at Rugged Stories with Heart
August 29 -- Visit Pattie at Fresh-Brewed Writer
August 30 -- Visit Lisa at Musings

LOVE TO WRITE Tour: Blog-a-Book and Contest

Write a book with My Book Therapy Voices in 2009!

I've been a behind-the-scenes--a.k.a. lurking--participant of an innovative online writing project. Authors Susan May Warren, Rachel Hauck and Sarah Sumpolec are the masterminds--and "book therapists"--behind the Blog-a-Book idea. Here's what's you can get involved with:

Remember those games you used to play where your friend started the story, and you finished it? Or the “Choose your own ending” books? Ever wanted to be a part of the story process, giving input on the character’s decisions, learning how to write a book as you go? Me too!

Here at My Book Therapy, we love to write, and we love to teach writers how to find their voice. So, in 2009 we’ll be writing a book together! Starting in January, we’ll create characters, a plot, develop conflict, the black moment, the epiphany and finally…the happy ending. Then, week by week, you’ll be a part of the creation process, voting on the next step of our hero’s journey, watching the book take life, and learning the nuances of crafting a story. You’ll Blog-A-Book with the My Book Therapy authors and get tools to help you how to write your own novel.

And, at the end of the year, we’ll have a book we’ve all created, something that we’ll publish! And, best of all, the proceeds will go to support IJM, an organization that fights human trafficking around the world.

I’m really excited about our new project, and can’t wait to see what the collective mind put together.

So, Come and Blog-A-Book. Learn. Fellowship. Bless.

My Book Therapy…Discover the writer in you.

Check out their book from the Inside...Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you! From The Inside...Out will teach you how a story is structured then take you through the process of creating and marketing your novel. Topics include: Character-driven plotting, How to HOOK your reader, The elements and flow of SCENES, How to build STORYWORLD, Secrets to Sizzling Dialogue, Proven Self-Editing techniques, Synopsis and Query letter writing, How to manage your writing career ...and everything in between!

Now, about the contest:
Enter the contests for the LOVE TO WRITE blog tour! You have two chances to win!

Want to win a copy of From the Inside…Out: Discover, Create and Publish the Novel in You for your very own? Leave a comment here and tell us what kind of novel you have in YOU.

AND

Do you already have your novel down on the page? Does it need a little THERAPY? Enter to win 10% off a Book Therapy Session (that’s a savings of $30+) by leaving a comment here and telling us a brief synopsis of your story!

All winners will be chosen at random. Contest ends 2/28 and the winners will be announced on March 2nd!