Lessons
Class Introduction
01:13 2Reading, Listening and Participating
09:29 3Community Keeps You Writing
02:55 4Don't be Vague and Avoid Cliche
03:56 5Using Your Five Senses to Build a World
03:20 6Pacing: Write Slow, Write Strong
09:45 7Place is a Character
03:34 8Shame Will Shut You Down
07:12Lesson Info
The First Fifty
The first 50 pages, I had this thing happen to me where I had a few different projects, and I wasn't sure which one to go with, which one was the good one, you know? So I picked one. First 50 pages, I'm cruising, I'm so glad I picked this story, I'm having so much fun. I hit that 50th page, around there. This was the wrong project. Why did I think this was the right project? This stinks. I don't know what I'm doing. How am I going to get 200 more pages out of this? I gotta go do the other project instead. I go start the other project. 50 pages in, same thing happens. I go back to the other project. I'm like, "Oh, I get it." For me, when I'm starting a project, I'm filled with possibility, I'm inspired, I know how to enter the story, I figured that out. So I get in it, and then it's that, it's the hard part. The hard part of writing happens. So I learned that feelings aren't facts. Just because I'm feeling like this is the wrong project doesn't mean that it is the wrong project and that...
any project that I go, the same thing is going to happen. I'm the problem. It's like when you realize that you've been the problem in your relationships, and you're just like, oh god, you know? It's actually been me. So, yeah. There's me. 50 pages in, wait a second. Maybe this is the wrong, how am I going to do it? See your project through. Just see your project through. And it's hard. I know it's really hard. I started a screenplay, and I don't, I'm really feeling like it was the wrong screenplay, but I know because I've learned my lesson writing novels. It's the same thing. I have to just finish this project before I start something else. Otherwise, you will have little half-finished projects here and there, and they'll make you feel crazy. And you will have done all this work and not really have anything to show for it. And it can really get you down. I really, really believe in sticking with your project through thick and thin. Any problems you're having you're going to have with whatever else you run away to. So there's just no easy way through a book. There's going to be moments of flow and moments of hardship, and you just have to stick with it.
Class Materials
Free Bonus Material
Ratings and Reviews
Bev
This was an inexpensive course that in my opinion offered great value. Michelle touched on a lot (operative word touched) of information that is informative and validating especially for those of us who are newbies in the world of writers. This is not a course of delving deep into specifics. For me this was a delightful afternoon spent with a writer who shared information and insights from her personal experience. I have some great notes from this course which I can actually apply. Thank You Michelle.
Tara
So i'm kind of in this place right now in my writing where I'm having a hard time moving forward and doing the work to finish. Listening to Michelle has helped me get more comfortable with realizing that if I ever want to get anything done I need to do that work. She left me feeling more amped up to continue my work. This is the kind of class that might help you come to the realization of what you need to do to finish your work or it might give you a different view of what you might need to do. I consider myself a novice writer so I think this course is definitely good for people who are starting there writing journey.