Advanced Plotting Techniques With Chris Eboch from SCBWI 2017

I'm giving a workshop on "Advanced Plotting Techniques" at the SCBWI conference in LA today. Here's the handout for attendees.

Fast Start Options:

• Start in the action, at a moment of change. Then work in the back story.
• Start with two people on the page.
• Start with a scene, with action and dialogue. Use description and summary modestly, and only if really needed.
• Start in the middle of a fight or other conflict.
• Start with a cliffhanger – something powerful about to happen.
• The inciting incident – the problem that gets the story going – should happen as soon as possible, but not until the moment is ripe. The reader must have enough understanding of the character and situation to make the incident meaningful. Too soon, and the reader is confused. Too late, and the reader gets bored first.
• Try starting with a small problem that leads to the big problem, or is an example of the main problem.
• See also “Beginnings” Label below right

Plot Tricks:

·      Use the rule of three – the main character should try and fail at least twice before solving the problem on the third try. In long works, use this for each challenge.

·      Increase the complications – at each step, more is at stake, there’s greater risk. If each scene has the same level of risk and consequence, the pacing is flat and the middle sags.

·      Up the ante – offer a better reward or more serious consequences.

·      A time deadline increases tension.

·      Give it a twist – new information that changes everything but still makes sense (Darth Vader is Luke’s father).

·      If you get stuck on “What happens next?” try looking from the antagonist’s POV. What are they doing to stop your character? Other characters can also add complications.

·      Keep your chapters short, and make sure every one has dramatic action.

·      Use the Plot Outline Exercise from Advanced Plotting (Kindle on sale 50% off July 7-14)

·      More important and dramatic events should be written out in detail, others can be summarized.

·      Use shorter words and sentences to speed the pace.

·      See also “Plotting” Label below right.
·      See also “Cliffhangers” Label below right

Story Analysis Resources:

• Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, by Renni Browne and Dave King
• Scene & Structure, Jack M. Bickham
• Writing the Blockbuster Novel, by Albert Zuckerman
• Advanced Plotting: a tool for analyzing your plot, articles on fast starts, developing middles, plot points, cliffhangers, and more advice on making your work stronger.
• The Plot Arc Exercise as a free Word download
• Chris’s Write Like a Pro! blog has writing craft tips.
• Visit Blockbuster Plots for Writers for a test that shows whether your writing is more character driven or plot driven.
• Doug Eboch’s blog on Screenwriting uses movies for story analysis
• Strong starts, by Keith Cronin
• Plot Maps by Lee Wardlaw, Project Mayhem
• Example of plot mapping via Caroline Starr Rose
• The Blake Snyder Beat Sheet
• Links to cool plot tools via Molly Blaisdell
• Janet Fox’s Diagram of Plot Points for different systems
• Dianne K. Salerni shares her plotting technique
• Beyond Story Mountains & Arcs: The Many Shapes of Stories, by Vicki Vinton shows how to analyze the stories of others.
•  QueryTracker: How to Plot (or Revise) Your Book
•  Annie Neugebauer's Novel Plotting Worksheet
•            Jenny Meyerhoff's Plotting Worksheet

Chris Eboch’s book Advanced Plotting helps writers fine-tune their plots. Advanced Plotting is designed for the intermediate and advanced writer. If you struggle with plot or suspect your plotting needs work, this book can help. Use the Plot Outline Exercise to identify and fix plot weaknesses. Learn how to get off to a fast start, prop up a sagging middle, build to a climax, improve your pacing, and more.

Get Advanced Plotting from Amazon (Kindle on sale 50% off July 7-14).

Chris offers novel critiques for $2 per page ($100 minimum). Contact Chris for details and recommendations.

Chris Eboch is the author of over 40 books for children, including nonfiction and fiction, early reader through teen. Her novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventure; The Genie’s Gift, a middle eastern fantasy; and the Haunted series, about kids who travel with a ghost hunter TV show, which starts with The Ghost on the Stairs. Her writing craft books include You Can Write for Children: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and Books for Kids and Teenagers, and Advanced Plotting.

Learn more at https://chriseboch.com/ or her Amazon page.

Chris also writes for adults under the name Kris Bock. Kris Bock writes action-packed romantic suspense involving outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. The Mad Monk’s Treasure – free at all e-book retailers – follows a treasure hunt in New Mexico and has been called “Smart romance with an Indiana Jones feel.”

Counterfeits starts a new series about art theft. What We Found is a mystery with romantic elements about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the woods. Whispers in the Dark involves intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page

Earning a Living as a Writer, with Chris Eboch SCBWI 2017

I'm giving a workshop on "Earning a Living As a Writer" at the SCBWI conference in LA today. Here's the handout for attendees.

Trade Book Advances: $2000-$30,000 and up. May take several years to receive all payments. Difficult to control or predict sales. Some small publishers do not pay advances.

Royalties: Passive income that can last for years. Requires a royalty agreement that earns out. May take years after the book sale. Difficult to control or predict sales.

Work-for-Hire Books: Flat fee (usually), quick turnaround time, assigned topics. Pays from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Good for building a resume. Can be steady income.

Self-Publishing: Upfront costs, especially with images. Potentially passive income for years. A way to make use of unsold manuscripts. Very tough market, especially for middle grade and younger. Create something unique and in demand.  Know how you’ll reach readers.

Magazine Articles: Generally low pay for children’s magazines, but can be several hundred dollars. Make use of your research from other projects. Build a resume, show expertise.

Educational Test Passages/Assessment: Can be good pay for small jobs ($60-$400 for less than 1000 words). Requires ability to write a variety of genres, topics, and targeted grade levels. Mainly seasonal work. Those with teaching experience could write test questions.

Teaching: Community colleges, senior centers, summer programs, etc. Online: correspondence schools, webinars. One-on-one mentoring. Often low pay but builds resume/authority.

Critiques: Requires experience as an editor/teacher as well as a writer. Reputation counts. Pay can be $25-$50 an hour or more.

Copyediting/Proofreading: Requires specific expertise and training. Can be excellent money.

School Visits: Pay varies greatly. Helps market your books. If you’re not a well-known author, focus on what you’ll teach kids – help them do better on tests, foster love of reading, tie in to science or social studies curriculum.

General Info

Making a Living from Writing? – Chris on sources of income.
Laura Purdie Salas shares her 2014 income and sources.
How to Be a Healthy, Happy Freelancer/Writer 

Marlo Garnsworthy at Wordy Bird Studio shares great advice on time management, organizations, clerical work, accountability and other practical aspects of running your own business.

The SCBWI discussion boards have sections on work for hire, self-publishing, magazines, contracts, taxes, and more.

Upod: “a place for freelancers to support, inspire, amuse, inform, advise, celebrate and hire each other.” (I have not tried it.)

Kelly James-Enger “Dollars and Deadlines” blog on ghostwriting, articles, etc.

The Well Fed Writer by Peter Bowerman

Secrets of a Freelance Writer by Bob Bly

Time management:

Programs such as Slimtimer track your hours per project (I have not tried it.)

Work for Hire/Test Passages

Yes! You Can Learn How to Write Children’s Books, Get Them Published, and Build a Successful Writing Career, by Nancy Sanders

Writing Children’s Nonfiction Books for the Educational Market, by Laura Purdie Salas

Evelyn Christensen’s list of Educational Markets

Writing for the Education Market: job leads on WFH, inc test passages

PARCC Samples of test passages: under the Assessments tab, see "practice tests" and "released items"

Get Curriculum Development Jobs: job postings in curriculum development

Education Writers Association has job listings, mainly full-time in-person
Linked In has a freelance job search site now.  

Magazine Articles

Magazine Markets for Children’s Writers, and Children’s Writers and Illustrator’s Market list possible magazines. The SCBWI “Magazine Market Guide” is in The Book, included with membership. Get magazine samples at your library, school, or house of worship; requests sample copies from the publisher; visit publishers’ web sites – many have online samples.

List of Magazines for Children with links to the websites from the Monroe County Public Library

School Visits

Skype An Author Network for online visits

School Visit Experts: advice on programs and biz tips

Chris Eboch is a popular writing teacher who gives workshops around the country. She writes fiction and nonfiction for all ages, with over 40 traditionally published books for children.

Chris Eboch’s book Advanced Plotting helps writers fine-tune their plots. Advanced Plotting is designed for the intermediate and advanced writer. If you struggle

with plot or suspect your plotting needs work, this book can help. Use the Plot Outline Exercise to identify and fix plot weaknesses. Learn how to get off to a fast start, prop up a sagging middle, build to a climax, improve your pacing, and more.

Get Advanced Plotting from Amazon (Kindle on sale 50% off July 7-14).

Chris offers novel critiques for $2 per page ($100 minimum). Contact Chris for details and recommendations.

Chris’s novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventure; The Genie’s Gift, a middle eastern fantasy; and the Haunted series, about kids who travel with a ghost hunter TV show, which starts with The Ghost on the Stairs. Her writing craft books include You Can Write for Children: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and Books for Kids and Teenagers, and Advanced Plotting.

Learn more at https://chriseboch.com/ or her Amazon page.

Chris also writes for adults under the name Kris Bock. Kris Bock writes action-packed romantic suspense involving outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. The Mad Monk’s Treasure – free at all e-book retailers – follows a treasure hunt in New Mexico and has been called “Smart romance with an Indiana Jones feel.”

Counterfeits starts a new series about art theft. What We Found is a mystery with romantic elements about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the woods. Whispers in the Dark involves intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page.

Advanced Plotting Kindle #Sale - Improve Your Writing for Less Than $3

“The Plot Outline Exercise is a great tool!” 

Advanced Plotting is 50% off for the Kindle – only $2.99 – from July 7-14.

Advanced Plotting is designed for the intermediate and advanced writer: you’ve finished a few manuscripts, read books and articles on writing, taken some classes, attended conferences. But you still struggle with plot, or suspect that your plotting needs work.

This book can help.

The Plot Outline Exercise is designed to help a writer work with a completed manuscript to identify and fix plot weaknesses. It can also be used to help flesh out an outline. Additional articles address specific plot challenges, such as getting off to a fast start, propping up a sagging middle, building to a climax, and improving your pacing. A dozen guest authors share advice from their own years of experience.

Read the book straight through, study the index to find help with your current problem, or dip in and out randomly — however you use this book, you’ll find fascinating insights and detailed tips to help you build a stronger plot and become a better writer.

Readers say:

This really is helping me a lot. It's written beautifully and to-the-point. The essays really help you zero in on your own problems in your manuscript. The Plot Outline Exercise is a great tool!

I just read and—dissected—your well written  book: Advanced Plotting. It's now highlighted in bright orange and littered with many of those little 3M sticky labels.  GOOD JOB. There are too many just-for-beginners books out there. Yours was a delight.

Advanced Plotting is helping me to be more focused, to stop and ask the right questions, to dig deeper.

Get it now at Amazon. Advanced Plotting is free with Kindle Unlimited, or pick up the paperback for $9.99 and add an e-book copy for only $.99. 

Chris Eboch is the author of over 40 books for children, including nonfiction and fiction, early reader through teen. Her novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventure; The Genie’s Gift, a middle eastern fantasy; and the Haunted series, about kids who travel with a ghost hunter TV show, which starts with The Ghost on the Stairs. Her writing craft books include You Can Write for Children: How to Write Great Stories, Articles, and Books for Kids and Teenagers, and Advanced Plotting.

Learn more at https://chriseboch.com/ or her Amazon page.