– April Patreon Class The Principles of Structure Plot structures like “save the cat” or the “7-point plot structure” are like recipes. They tell you how to make a specific kind of story. In this class, we look at the underlying principles that make structures work. Instead of being locked into someone else’s idea of […]
When you’re trying to figure out how to write a heist, this is a story where a team of people, each having a different role and individual part to play, accomplish something that they can only do by working together, and the story is moved by our interest in their interaction and how they […]
Join Mary Robinette Kowal for her monthly Q&A for her Patreon members! How it Works Join via Zoom! Mary Robinette records for the first 30-40 minutes for those who watch asynchronously After the public portion she turns off the recording for any questions that folks don’t feel comfortable being recorded It’s an ask her […]
– May Patreon Class Manipulating Tone & Mood Writing workshops tend to focus on structure or pacing, but tone and mood play as big a part in the experience of the reader. We’ll look at how to manipulate tone and mood through our imagery, word choices and sentence structures. Each Patreon class will be […]
Writing Excuses (Re)Generate Retreat 2024 Unlock Your Creative Process Sometimes maintaining momentum as a writer is hard. We all experience times of drought, where the ideas won’t arrive and the words won’t flow. Or times where the busy nature of life simply blocks us from hitting our goals. In either case, the answer often isn’t […]
– Second Quarter Book Club Family Reservations by Liza Palmer Once a quarter Mary Robinette hosts a book club for her Patreon members and June’s book will be Family Reservations by Liza Palmer. The book will be released on April 1st! Pre-order it on bookshop.org to support your local bookstore. Join by subscribing to her […]
– June Patreon Class Time Shifted Unlocking Session Our usual unlocking session, but six hours earlier to make it easier for people in Europe and Africa to join in. In this session, we’ll pick four volunteers at random to help unlock a thing that the writer is stuck on. It might be plot, character, voice… […]
One of the things about being a writer is that there are points in your career where you have to write, even when your surroundings aren’t conducive to it. In this workshop, we learn to write in between the moments of stress and when you find yourself too tired to write. Together we tackle […]
– July Patreon Class Mining Your Own History One of the ways to bring out your voice into a story is to make it more personal. This doesn’t mean copying an event exactly from your life, but extrapolating from related emotions or sensory details. Each Patreon class will be recorded and the recording, slides, and […]
Writing Excuses Scotland Research, Writing, & Swordplay Improve your writing skills while swinging swords, enjoying excellent food, and learning traditional Scottish dances. One of the most exciting challenges writers face is the creation of rich, immersive worlds for your readers. To do this well, we often look to history. Historical research can guide inspiration whether you’re […]
– August Patreon Class Grounding the Reader Throughout the story, the reader wants to be grounded. We’ll look at how to use description, setting, and sensory details to create a vivid sense of place and person. Each Patreon class will be recorded and the recording, slides, and any other class materials are made available to […]
September Patreon Class: Unlocking Session In this session, we’ll pick four volunteers at random to help unlock a thing that the writer is stuck on. It might be plot, character, voice… The idea is to give you a chance to talk it out in a safe setting with guidance from MRK to help you get […]
When you’re trying to figure out how to write a heist, this is a story where a team of people, each having a different role and individual part to play, accomplish something that they can only do by working together, and the story is moved by our interest in their interaction and how they achieve […]
October Patreon Class: Finding Funding for Writers with Guest Instructor Erin Roberts Navigating the writing life demands financial creativity. Explore income diversification beyond traditional publishing. Embrace opportunities like school appearances, copywriting, fellowships, consulting, and teaching. Learn about leveraging newsletters, Patreon, and self-monetization. Discover how an agent can combat imposter syndrome. Tips, tricks, and tools […]
November Patreon Class: Wildcard Based on what topics and needs are during the year, we’ll set this class together in September. Each Patreon class will be recorded and the recording, slides, and any other class materials are made available to the Patreon members after the class. In addition, members at this level receive access to […]