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SUMMARY:2-DAY SEMINAR | The Quest for Clarity: The Blueprint Method to Structure Your Nonfiction Book or Memoir
DESCRIPTION:Writing a nonfiction book or memoir with authority requires command over your material and your ideas. Learn how to focus on what matters most so you’re prepared to craft a compelling book proposal.\n\n\n\nNarrative Nonfiction and Memoir \n\n\n\nLive on Zoom | Saturdays\, June 7 & 14 @ 2:00-4:00 pm  EDT \n\n\n\nEven before you write a proposal\, distilling a book’s core is an essential first step in understanding what you’re writing about\, how you’re telling the story\, and who that story is for. These foundational structural elements help capture the attention of agents and publishers. \n\n\n\nIn this two-session course\, you will complete a mini-blueprint to help you clarify and strengthen several key aspects of your book’s structure. You’ll learn how to articulate why your book is needed and why you’re the right person to write it\, define its central point\, and craft a compelling killer sentence or early logline. \n\n\n\nYou’ll also develop book jacket copy\, brainstorm multiple draft titles and subtitles\, and determine your book’s dominant style—whether it’s an exposé\, a reinterpretation of history\, a memoir focused on family\, trauma\, or something else. In addition\, you’ll identify the structural “container” for your book\, such as a collective or chronological narrative\, and create (or make a good start) on an outline for the book that conveys a sense of momentum from one chapter to the next. It’s a summary of the story’s logic. \n\n\n\nParticipants will complete most or all of the mini-blueprint before our second class\, and we’ll review selected examples of participant work to highlight what’s working well and why\, along with common pitfalls to avoid. You will gain a much deeper understanding of your book—bringing you one step closer to writing a strong commercial nonfiction book proposal. \n\n\n\nRead more about Amy’s take on this topic here. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this insightful four-hour live seminar\, you’ll learn to:\n\n\n\n\nDISCOVER the elements of a blueprint that will help organize your research and ideas and nail the thesis of your book.\n\n\n\nACTIVATE the blueprint’s tools to uncover your ‘why\,’ the point of your book\, and your ideal reader.\n\n\n\nDRAFT an outcome-based outline that begins to reveal your chapter flow.\n\n\n\nEXPLORE the power of drafting titles\, jacket copy\, and other succinct elements that reveal your book’s purpose and focus.\n\n\n\nUNLOCK your book’s sense of urgency\, timeliness\, and undeniability.\n\n\n\n\nCan’t make the first session? No worries. We’ll send you the replay by Wednesday! \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis seminar is ideal for writers who have a rough idea for a nonfiction book and no idea how to develop it\, as well as writers who have already produced many words but don’t know how to continue and have no discernible structure or outline.\n\n\n\nFor writers planning a memoir\, this seminar will help you find the focal points for your story and define its emotional center.\n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔All registrants receive the recording. ✔ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR instructor\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAmy L. Bernstein is a professional nonfiction book coach helping subject-matter experts and memoirists to develop sellable manuscripts. Amy’s reputation as a results-oriented coach is growing\, as senior literary agents and publishers send authors needing direction and polish her way. She is a former award-winning journalist\, executive speechwriter\, and communications director in the George W. Bush and Obama Administrations. Amy is also a published author\, poet\, and essayist. Her new nonfiction book\, Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears\, Finding Inspiration\, was short-listed for the Eric Hoffer Grand Prize and won first place as best book of self-help and inspiration from BookFest 2025. \n\n\n\nTestimonials from past students:\n\n\n\n“I love your enthusiasm\, your clarity\, your compassion\, and your humor! Great presentation. And it didn’t feel rushed at all. I look forward to the recording.” \n\n\n\n“It’s like you got inside my head and told me everything that I’ve been wondering about for the past 6 months. Thank you Amy!” \n\n\n\n“Thank you for the Master Class on how to write a book proposal for a nonfiction book. The class was absolutely first-rate! Your approach really helped take the edge off the process for a first- time book writer.”  \n\n\n\n“Amy Bernstein is a wizard. I entered her workshop with a proverbial problem – something was missing from my writing. Within 30 minutes of her instruction\, the words came. Don’t walk to her workshop\, run!” \n\n\n\nTHE FINE PRINT \n\n\n\nWe understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course\, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers. \n\n\n\nBefore the class\, you may request a full refund. \n\n\n\nPlease keep in mind that no refunds or credits will be issued after class begins. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@writingcraft.com \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Organizer\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLocation
URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/seminar-the-quest/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Seminars
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250503T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250503T170000
DTSTAMP:20260516T001802
CREATED:20250325T204033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250424T154745Z
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SUMMARY:SEMINAR | Exactly What Publishers Want From Authors: The Key Steps to Landing a Book Deal
DESCRIPTION:Master the steps to getting your book deal and stand out in a competitive market\n\n\n\nAll Genres \n\n\n\nWhat do publishers want? How do they decide which book to make an offer on? What are the many steps between you and a book deal? For aspiring authors eager to see your book on the shelves\, but puzzled by the mysterious process of getting published\, this seminar will uncover the intricate decision-making process that book publishers use to select manuscripts. \n\n\n\nBy the end of this seminar\, you will have a thorough understanding of the inner workings of the publishing industry and be equipped with the knowledge and tools to dramatically increase your chances of a deal. Whether you’re a first-time author or looking to enhance your publishing strategy\, this class will be your gateway to unlocking the doors of the literary world. \n\n\n\nAll registrations will receive a publication/query readiness checklist. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this insightful three-hour live seminar\, you’ll learn to:\n\n\n\n\nUNDERSTAND the key factors publishers consider when evaluating submissions\, including market trends\, target audiences\, and profitability.\n\n\n\nEVALUATE manuscripts using industry criteria such as story originality\, writing quality\, and thematic relevance.\n\n\n\nNAVIGATE the decision-making process by understanding who reviews your manuscript and their role in securing a book deal.\n\n\n\nDECODE the financial side of publishing\, from advances and royalties to the approval criteria for publication.\n\n\n\nSTAY AHEAD of industry trends and insights that shape publishing decisions.\n\n\n\nANALYZE real-life case studies of successful books and what made them stand out.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis seminar is ideal for writers:\n\n\n\n\nSeeking literary representation\n\n\n\nWho are self-published and looking to transition to traditional publishing\n\n\n\nWith finished nonfiction manuscripts who want to pitch directly to publishers without an agent\n\n\n\nWanting to gain a deeper understanding of the publishing industry\n\n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔All registrants receive the recording. ✔ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR PRESENTER\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWith over 30 years of publishing expertise\, Amy Collins has sat on all sides of the desk in the publishing world. As an agent with Talcott Notch Literary Services\, Amy champions a diverse range of authors—her clients have secured deals with top publishers across genres like fantasy\, romance\, horror\, and thrillers. Her non-fiction clients focus on cookbooks\, pop-culture\, lifestyle and humor.  \n\n\n\nA former book buyer\, publisher\, and sales director\, Amy blends her sharp market insights with an unwavering commitment to her clients’ success. Beyond representing authors\, Amy is a USA TODAY bestselling writer herself\, with several non-fiction titles to her name\, including It’s the Little Things (Simon & Schuster/Adams Media). She’s a trusted voice in the industry\, regularly featured in Writer’s Digest Magazine and a speaker at major conferences worldwide. \n\n\n\nTestimonials from past students:\n\n\n\n“I found Amy to be savvy about publishing\, down-to-earth\, and funny as hell.” – Nancy McMillan \n\n\n\n“I just want to say how much I have enjoyed this class. Your professional generosity is so refreshing and valuable. I think every single person in our class felt seen and personally guided. I know I certainly have.” – Pam O’Hara \n\n\n\n“This class was a gift not only to my career but to my spirit. As a writer who finds pitching and promoting myself anxiety-provoking\, I appreciated Amy’s breaking down the intimidating into a plan of small\, easily actionable steps. She is a generous teacher who inspires as well as she informs.” – Karen Novak \n\n\n\n“This session made me realize I didn’t hate pitching. I just didn’t truly understand its power and how to personalize it to my needs toward those I want to reach. Now I can’t wait to get started.” – Louis H. Mitchell \n\n\n\nTHE FINE PRINT \n\n\n\nWe understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course\, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers. \n\n\n\nBefore the class\, you may request a full refund. \n\n\n\nPlease keep in mind that no refunds or credits will be issued after class begins. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@craft-talks.com \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Organizer\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLocation
URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/seminar-exactly-what-publishers-want/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Seminars
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250405T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250405T160000
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CREATED:20250122T195931Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250327T143117Z
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SUMMARY:SEMINAR | Deep Characterization for Fiction: Uncovering Secrets\, Relationships and Your Character’s Inner Life
DESCRIPTION:Do you feel like your character isn’t fully speaking to you? Dive deep into the mindset\, psychology\, motivations\, and relationships of your characters to produce stunning results.\n\n\n\nTo truly capture a character’s voice\, motivations\, and subtext\, it’s essential to imaginatively live in their skin. Characters drive your story\, and fully inhabiting their consciousness and uncovering their hidden mysteries will infuse new life into your narrative. This seminar is a guided deep dive into both the inner and outer worlds of your characters. \n\n\n\nThrough a series of immersive exercises\, you’ll start by exploring your character’s outer world in unique ways: drawing\, mind-mapping\, and sensory charts. These activities will allow you to experience your character’s surroundings in a fresh\, impactful manner. You’ll also take a meditative journey into your character’s inner world\, exploring how their environment influences their thoughts\, reactions\, and inner dialogue. This process will help you uncover histories and relationships within your story that you may not have discovered yet. \n\n\n\nBy the end of this seminar\, you’ll feel equipped to live inside your character’s skin\, with a repeatable set of exercises and techniques to deeply understand the characters in every story you write.  \n\n\n\nThere will be a break at the halfway point of our session. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn this seminar you’ll:\n\n\n\n\nENTER a flow state and imaginatively immerse yourself in your character’s world\n\n\n\nMASTER techniques for eliciting emotional depth through setting and past memories\n\n\n\nMEDITATE to explore your character’s emotions and relationships in a profound way\n\n\n\nCREATE a mind-map based on emotion and character motivations\, while avoiding forced or inauthentic plot elements\n\n\n\nDEVELOP an ongoing emotional and analytical connection with your character\, allowing them to speak to you \n\n\n\nALLOW your character to drive the narrative\, ensuring their actions remain grounded in their authentic motivations\n\n\n\nDISCOVER character objectives through non-analytical means\, so you always understand why your characters do what they do\n\n\n\nREFINE your story’s POV and voice to reflect the evolving discovery of your character\n\n\n\nUTILIZE these exercises to overcome writer’s block and reignite your inspiration\n\n\n\n\nEvery registrant will receive a manual of exercises that can be used to continually deepen their character work. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis seminar is ideal for fiction writers in all genres who:\n\n\n\n\nFeel intimidated or confused about characterization\n\n\n\nStruggle to convey their characters in a lifelike manner\n\n\n\nFeel their characters aren’t speaking to them\n\n\n\nWant to understand their characters’ motivations but aren’t sure where to start\n\n\n\nSeek to go beyond analytical character analysis and fully inhabit their character’s world\n\n\n\nStruggle to emotionally connect with their character’s inner world or bridge the gap between inner and outer worlds\n\n\n\nAre drafting or significantly revising a work-in-progress\n\n\n\n\nWho this class may not be suited for:\n\n\n\nThe class focuses on delving deeply into both the inner and outer worlds of your character for fiction writers and illustrators. Writers of memoir or narrative nonfiction will need to create their own workarounds for many of the immersive exercises\, which is possible but won’t be directly provided by the instructor. \n\n\n\nClosed captioning is available. ✔All registrants receive the recording. ✔ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nABOUT YOUR PRESENTER\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBRITTA JENSEN’s novel\, Eloia Born\, won the 2019 Writer’s League of Texas YA Discovery Prize and was long-listed for the Exeter Novel Prize. Subsequent publications include a sequel\, Hirana’s War\, Ghosts of Yokosuka\, and the forthcoming Orphan Pods as well as short stories “Why Not Ophelia” in the Castle Anthology of Horror- Femme Fatales\, and “Noise in the Woods” in Mixed Bag of Tricks. Her stories explore themes of persevering through disability\, found family\, and the intersection of love and various cultures on new worlds. For the past twenty-two years she has taught creative writing and edited books. Friends often refer to her as a polyglot— a product of living twenty-two years overseas in Japan\, South Korea\, and Germany before settling in Austin\, Texas with her awesome capoerista/tailor husband. She loves coaching authors and editing books with The Writing Consultancy and Yellowbird Editors.  \n\n\n\nTestimonials from past Character Immersion Workshops for SCBWI\, Westbank Library\, The Writer’s League of Texas\, schools & TWC Workshops:\n\n\n\n“I got so much out of the Character Immersion Workshop and can’t wait to use it on more of my characters!” –Lynne Kelly\, author of Song for a Whale\, The Secret Language of Birds and Chained. \n\n\n\n“The class was so rich with ideas and wonderful exercises. Our group will be talking about some of your ideas for weeks to come\, I’m sure!”-Maureen Turner Carey\, author & librarian\, Westbank Library \n\n\n\n“I can’t express enough how much this workshop was a breakthrough for me\, but for the rest of the characters I have written since. I keep going back to the material because I had been stuck on an important character who was acting only on the surface of herself: she was showing up in the right scenes and saying the right things. When I put her through this Immersion Workshop I discovered her core motivation which will allow a more purposeful character to have much more impact those same scenes and those same lines.”-Marc Hess\, author \n\n\n\n“A breakthrough for me was better understanding my character through the POV of another. When writing from another character’s POV\, so much more was revealed that both clarified and verified things swirling around in my head\, but couldn’t yet breakthrough.”-Kellie McCants\, author and actor \n\n\n\nTHE FINE PRINT \n\n\n\nWe understand that life can get in the way of your plans. We want you to be able to get the most out of your course\, and our refund policy is designed to balance your need for flexibility with our deadlines and obligations to our teachers. \n\n\n\nBefore the class\, you may request a full refund. \n\n\n\nPlease keep in mind that no refunds or credits will be issued after class begins. \n\n\n\nQuestions? Please email Info@craft-talks.com \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Info\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEvent Organizer\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLocation
URL:https://writingcraft.com/event/seminar-deep-characterization/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Seminars
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