Creating strong character arcs in a series presents some specific and unique challenges. In this video I explain a couple of different methods for handling a character arc in a series (even if you’re a pantser!).
How to Write a Scary & Strong Antagonist [Novel Boot Camp 2]
Creating a terrifying antagonist can be just as hard as creating an endearing or likeable protagonist. In this video I’m going to go over the most common pitfalls and mistakes that could weaken your antagonist.
Seven Reasons Readers Don’t Care About Your Characters [Novel Boot Camp 1]
A strong connection to your characters (not necessarily likeability) is important. If readers don’t care about your characters, they’re probably not going to keep reading. In this video I go over the seven most likely reasons that readers don’t care about your characters and what you can do about it.
Novel Boot Camp: Workshop #1 Submission Form
Welcome to the fourth annual Novel Boot Camp! I’m so excited to be back for another year of writing tips and workshops!
If you participated last year, welcome back to another year of Boot Camp! If this is your first time participating, thanks for joining us! Novel Boot Camp is a ton of fun and a great opportunity to get free feedback on your novel.
If you don’t know what Novel Boot Camp is, check out the full schedule.
Today I’m opening up the submission form for the first workshop. I will be posting my feedback in two parts: this Friday (August 4) and next Friday (August 11).
Novel Boot Camp (Writing Workshop) – Schedule of Events
Need help with your novel? Join the fourth annual Novel Boot Camp and whip your story into shape!
What is Novel Boot Camp?
Novel Boot Camp is a free writing course and workshop for aspiring novelists. It includes video lectures, discussion questions, and three writing workshops with both professional and peer critiques.
You can view the videos by subscribing to my YouTube channel, but if you’d like to answer the discussion questions or participate in the workshops, please follow this blog so you receive updates to your email.
The Schedule
Week One – Characters
(July 31 – August 4)
Monday, July 31: Workshop #1 Submissions Open!
We’ll kick off Novel Boot Camp, and submissions will open for the first workshop. During Workshop #1 I will be critiquing your novel openings and providing a brief paragraph of feedback. Last year, I critiqued over 100 novel openings! I will be critiquing novel openings in the order they are submitted. Unfortunately, I probably won’t be able to get through all submissions.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: Let’s Talk About Characters!
A video about writing characters will be posted each day.
Friday, August 4: Workshop #1 Critiques Will be Posted!
I will be posting half of my critiques today and half next Friday so if you don’t see your opening posted, make sure to come back next week!
Week Two – Worldbuilding
(August 7 – 11)
Monday – Thursday: Let’s Talk About Worldbuilding!
A video about worldbuilding will be posted each day.
Friday, August 11: Workshop #1 Critiques Will be Posted!
The second half of the first page critiques will be posted today!
Week Three – Write Like a Pro
(August 14 – 18)
Monday, August 14: Workshop #2 Submissions Open!
Submissions for Workshop #2 will open. This will be a peer critique session, but I will be offering my critiques as much as possible. Due to time limitations, I may not be able to include every participant in the critique session so please submit early to ensure your spot.
Monday – Thursday: Let’s Talk About Writing Like a Pro!
A video will be posted each day on how to write like a pro and avoid amateur mistakes.
Friday, August 18: Workshop #2 Posted for Peer Critiques!
Please stop by to critique the work of other writers today and all next week!
Week Four – Writing the Middle of Your Novel
(August 21 – 25)
Monday, August 21: Workshop #3 Submissions Open!
Submissions for Workshop #3 will open. This will be a query letter critique session. Due to time limitations, I may not be able to include every participant in the critique session so please submit early to ensure your spot.
Monday – Thursday: Let’s Talk About Writing the Middle!
A video will be posted each day about writing the middle of your novel and the unique issues it presents.
Friday, August 25: Workshop #3 Critiques Will be Posted!
I will be posting my query letter critiques today!
Week Five – Editing & Revising
(August 28 – 30)
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: Let’s Talk About Editing and Revising!
A video will be posted each day with tips on how to approach novel revisions.
Want to Join Novel Boot Camp?
There is no sign-up form for Novel Boot Camp. Simply follow the blog (RSS feed and an email notification form are available in the sidebar) so you will receive notifications of the workshops and videos.
If you want to participate in the workshops, you will need at least 250 words of your first chapter and/or a query letter. You do not have to participate in all three workshops, and if you don’t want to participate in any of the workshops, that’s okay too! You can still hang out with us in the comments section here and on YouTube.
I hope to see you all there!
QUESTION: If you’re planning to participate in Novel Boot Camp this year, what are you most excited to learn about?
Want to connect with other Novel Boot Camp Participants?
Novel Boot Camp – Writing Workshop – August 2017
Summer is right around the corner and that means Novel Boot Camp is almost here!
Novel Boot Camp is a month of writing workshops (on this blog) and video lessons (on YouTube) beginning August 1st. If you didn’t participate in Novel Boot Camp last year, you can still check out the blog posts and videos.
This year I want Novel Boot Camp to be better than ever, so I would love to have your feedback.
- What topics would you like to see covered in the videos?
- What workshops would you like to see?
- Do you have any ideas for how to make Novel Boot Camp better than ever?
Please leave your comments down below or send me your suggestions on Twitter @EllenMBrock!
If you want to participate in Novel Boot Camp, all you need to do is follow my blog. If you aren’t interested in the workshops and want to see only the videos, you can just follow my YouTube channel.
I’m so excited for Novel Boot Camp! I hope you’ll join me in making this the best year ever!
Revise & Resub: Win a Month of Professional Editing!
I’m so excited to announce my involvement in a brand new editor-run contest: Revise & Resub. If your manuscript is complete and you’re ready for some final polishing to make your novel and query shine, then you won’t want to miss this contest!
Pitch to Publication: Get Free Editing & Pitch to Agents!
If you have a completed manuscript, this Saturday you can submit to an exciting writing event called Pitch to Publication.
Writers will pitch their manuscripts to three of fifteen participating editors (myself included, of course!) for the chance to be selected as an editor’s mentee for the entire month of November. That’s right, you get a full month of free editing! Then, the agent round starts on December 2nd and you could be chosen for representation.
For more details and guidelines, please check out the official rules.
You can check out each editor’s manuscript wishlist in this handy cheat sheet.
There are also in-depth profiles on each editor.
You can check out the participating agents here.
Please hang out with us on Twitter using the hashtag: #p2p16.
What I’ll be Looking For
If you are interested in submitting to me, I will be looking for a manuscript that wins over my heart. Something with a unique idea that really makes me stand up and take notice. I will be accepting middle grade, young adult, and adult. I would especially love to see stories with darker tones, such as horror, thrillers, and dark fantasy and science fiction.
I’m also a sucker for ragtag groups and unlikely friendships, ghosts, mental illness, psychological horror, twists and turns, subtle clues, twist endings, moral ambiguity, non-romantic relationships (friends, family, etc.), and deep complex characters.
I am not interested in genre romance for adults or young adults.
I really hope you will consider participating, and please help spread the word to other writers who could benefit from this exciting event!
I am thrilled to get to spend a whole month working with a deserving and talented mentee!
How to Self-Edit Your Novel
In this video I discuss how to go about the daunting process of self-editing your novel. Even if you intend to use beta readers, a freelance editor, or both, knowing how to do a thorough self-edit is a vital skill that will help advance your writing career.
Novel Writing Q&A | Answering Your Questions – Part 1
Let’s hang out and talk about writing! In this video I answer some of your novel writing questions. A complete list of questions is available below the video with time stamps.
Ellen Brock 