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hey welcome back this is the third of
- Hey welcome back.
three videos in the video series revised
This is the third of three videos
with confidence and if you haven't
in the video series Revise with Confidence,
already seen video one and video two I
and if you haven't already seen video one and video two,
encourage you to stop and go back and
I encourage you to stop and go back and watch those
watch those because one does build on
because one does build on the next,
the next and this one won't make quite as much sense unless you've seen the
and this one won't make quite as much sense
first two so there are links to those
unless you've seen in the first two,
videos above take a look and then come
so there are links to those videos above.
on back here in the first two videos we
Take a look and then come on back here.
took a look at the first and second
In the first two videos, we took a look at the first and second steps
steps in the simple 3-step process that
in the simple three step process that we are using
we are using to help you determine once and for all whether your writing is
to help you determine once and for all if your writing
really any good and whether you're wasting your time
is really any good, and whether you're wasting your time.
those three steps are gain fresh
Those three steps are gaining fresh perspective
perspective on why you worried in the first place
on why you worry in the first place,
distance yourself so you can see
distance yourself so you can see yourself as a writer
yourself as a writer more objectively and use simple tools to advance your
more objectively, and use simple tools
skills as a writer and don't forget that
to advance your skills as a writer,
formula of gained fresh perspective plus
and don't forget that formula of gain fresh perspective
distance yourself plus use simple tools
plus distance yourself plus use simple tools
equals you as a more confident writer in
equals you as a more confident writer.
today's video we're going to be looking
In today's video, we're going to be looking at
at a variety of simple tools you can use
a variety of simple tools you can use
to advance your skills as a writer I'm
to advance your skills as a writer.
gonna share with you some of the tools
I'm going to share with you some of the tools
that I've used to advance my own skills
that I've used to advance my own skills as a writer
as a writer to progress from a novice
to progress from a novice writer constantly worrying
writer constantly worrying whether my
whether my writing was any good
writing was any good to a published writer working everyday here in the shed
to a published writer working every day here in the shed
with words with writers like you we are
with words with writers like you.
going to take a closer look and learn
We are going to take a closer look and learn
from the examples of those four writers
from the examples of those four writers
that you've heard me mention again and
that you've heard me mention again and again.
again we'll look at their stories a little more closely you will take some
We'll look at their stories a little more closely.
time on your own to think about the
You will take some time on your own
tools you're already using to advance
to think about the tools you're already using
your skills as a writer and determine
to advance your skills as a writer
which new tools you'd like to invest in
and determine which new tools you'd like to invest in
to ensure that you're doing all you can
to ensure you're doing all you can do
do to make sure your writing is the best
to make sure your writing is the best it can be
it can be because don't forget you're no
because don't forget, you're no longer asking
longer asking is my writing really any
is my writing really any good,
good instead you're asking how can I
instead you're asking, how can ensure my writing
ensure that my writing is as good as it could possibly be
is as good as it can possibly be?
I'm also going to give you a sneak
I'm also going to give you a sneak preview
preview into my premium online course
into my premium online course,
which is a companion course to this
which is a companion course to this video series.
video series the course is called
The course is called "Revise with Confidence:
revised with confidence C or writing like an editor and it uses the same
See Your Writing Like an Editor," and it uses the same simple three step process
simple three-step process that we've
that we've been using, only this time,
been using only this time it applies it
it applies it directly to your work,
directly to your work so you are going
so you are going to gain fresh perspective
to gain fresh perspective on your writing itself you're gonna step back
on your writing itself, you're going to step back
and distance yourself from your writing
and distance yourself from your writing
so you can see it more objectively like
so you can see it more objectively like a reader
a reader or like an editor and you're
or like an editor, and you're going to use
going to use some very specific simple
some very specific simple self-editing tools
self editing tools that you can apply immediately to your own work so you can
that you can apply immediately to your own work
see the benefit of using good tools to
so you can see the benefit of using good tools
revise your writing I am going to be
to revise your writing.
opening up enrollment soon so I will
I am going to be opening up enrollment soon,
tell you more about that in a little bit
so I will tell you more about that in a little bit.
but for now let's jump in and talk about
But for now, let's jump in and talk about
using simple tools to advance your
using simple tools to advance your skills.
skills there are three basic categories I'd like you to focus on study practice
There are three basic categories I'd like you to focus on:
and feedback and then I want you to do
study, practice, and feedback.
those all over again it's like rinse and
And then I want you to do those all over again.
repeat study practice feedback over and
It's like rinse and repeat. Study, practice, feedback.
over as you watch this next bit what I'd
Over and over. As you watch this next bit, what I'd like you to do
like you to do is jot down any notes or ideas that arise for you because shortly
is jot down any notes or ideas that arise for you
I'm going to ask you to pause the video
because shortly, I'm going to ask you to pause the video
and do some reflecting on what tools you
and do some reflecting on what tools you have already used
have already used to advance your
to advance your writing skills
writing skills and what tools you would like to add just think about for a
and what tools you would like to add.
moment all the tools you can use to
Just think about, for a moment, all the tools
study you can read books in the genre in
you can use to study. You can read books in the genre in which you're writing,
which are writing craft books books that inspire your creativity books by authors
craft books, books that inspire creativity,
who are doing something particularly
books by authors that are doing something particularly well
well that you want to emulate below in
that you want to emulate.
the resources download page I am
Below in the resources download page,
including a link to a list of books that
I am including a link to a list of books
I highly recommend that have been very
that I highly recommend that have been very helpful to me
helpful to me if you'd like to check that out
if you'd like to check that out.
what else can you do to study you can
What else can you do to study?
take courses in workshops you can enroll
You can take courses and workshops,
in courses like the companion course
you can enroll in courses like the companion course
revise with confidence or hundreds of
"Revise with Confidence," or hundreds of other
other great online courses that you can
great online courses that you can find
find that are out there you can take an
that are out there, you can take an in-person workshop
in-person workshop or class the local university or Adult Ed program you can
or class at the local university or adult ed program,
enroll in a degree program like the MFA
you can enroll in a degree program
program that's focused specifically on
like the MFA program that's focused specifically on
creative writing of course you can watch
creative writing.
videos you can watch videos like this
Course you can watch videos.
you can listen to great TED Talks a lot
You can watch videos like this. you can listen to great TED talks.
of those are very inspiring there are a
A lot of those are really inspiring.
lot of instructional videos to that you
There are a lot of instructional videos, too,
can find in places like lynda.com and
that you can find in places like Lynda.com,
I'll include a link in the resources
and I'll include a link in the resources page
page that you can find below don't
that you can find below.
forget to use your library to study
Don't forget to use your library to study.
librarians are often underutilized and
Librarians are often under-utilized,
if you tell your librarian what you're
and if you tell your librarian what you're interested in,
interested in what you're looking for he
what you're looking for, he or she can guide you to
or she can guide you to all kinds of study tools that might be helpful to you
all kinds of study tools that might be helpful to you.
plus libraries are just great places to work you should also really attend
Plus libraries are just great places to work.
writing conferences and retreats there
You should also really attend writing conferences
really is no better place to snatch up
and retreats. There really is no better place to snatch up good tools
good tools and make connections with
and make connections with other writers
other writers that you can compare notes with then conferences and retreats I
you can compare notes with than conferences and retreats.
guarantee that you will not go to one of
I guarantee you will not go to one of these
these and not walk away with some kind
and not walk away with some kind of new tool
of new tool that you can add to your toolbox and finally Google it or do an
that you can add to your toolbox. And finally, Google it, or do an Internet search on it.
internet search on it I am constantly surprised by the number of people who
I am constantly surprised by the number of people
don't actually think to type their
who don't actually think to type their burning questions
burning questions into a search engine
into a search engine.
if you are wondering whether your
If you are wondering whether your dialogue's any good
dialogues any good and how to write
and how to write great dialogue,
great dialogue go to your search engine type in write great dialogue and see
go to your search engine, type in "write great dialogue,"
what pops up you will get a lot there
and see what pops up.
and you can that you can study
You will get a lot there, and you can study everything
everything you everything that turns up there
that turns up there.
the next thing you can do is practice
The next thing you can do is practice.
now what is it what is there to say
Now what is there to say about practice?
about practice sit yourself down at the writing desk and write complete writing
Sit yourself down at the writing desk and write.
exercises and assignments that you've
Complete writing exercises and assignments
uncovered as you've study copywriters
that you've uncovered as you study.
whose work you admire so you can tease a
Copy writers whose work you admire
path apart how they have actually done
so you can tease apart how they've actually done something,
something study their sentences their
study their sentences, their characters,
characters their structure their plot
their structure, their plot.
look up words in your thesaurus and your
Look up words in your thesaurus and your dictionary,
dictionary check your grammar your punctuation and check those things as
check your grammar, your punctuation,
they arise if you have a question ask it
and check those things as they arise. If you have a question, ask it then,
then and apply what you've learned it's
and apply what you've learned.
the best way for you to really begin to
It's the best way for you to really begin
learn the craft of writing and to
to learn the craft of writing and to continually
continually learn the craft of writing I
learn the craft of writing.
use grammar girl all the time great
I use Grammar Girl all the time.
online source and you'll find a link to
Great online source, and you'll find a link to her work
her work again in the resources page that you can download below beyond all
again in the resources page that you can download below.
else keep writing right right right
Beyond all else, keep writing. Write, write, write.
finally get feedback you can get
Finally, get feedback.
feedback from other writers individually
You can get feedback from other writers individually,
you can get it from writing workshops or
you can get it from writing workshops
online critique circles you can get it
or online critique circles,
from professionals like me you can get
you can get it from professionals like me,
get it from people who are great readers
you can get it from people who are great readers
in your genre however you can find people to read your work do it if you
in your genre. However you can find people to read your work, do it.
don't already have people who who read
If you don't already have people who read for you,
for you I will include a link in the
I will include a link in the resources page
resources page that you can download to
that you can download to a blog post I wrote
a blog post I wrote called working with the readers and that might give you some
called "Working with Readers," and that might
ideas about where you can get started
give you some ideas about where you can get started
finding somebody also learn how to be a
finding somebody.
reader of your own work there are myriad
Also, learn how to be a reader of your own work.
ways that you can get enough distance to
There are a myriad of ways that you can get enough distance
see your work like a reader or like an
to see your work like a reader or like an editor,
editor to see your work more objectively
to see your work more objectively,
and that's exactly what we do in the
and that's exactly what we do in the
online companion course revise with
online companion course, "Revise with Confidence:
confidence see your work like an editor
See Your Work Like an Editor."
it's why I designed the course in the
It's why I designed the course in the first place,
first place to give you one-stop shopping to see all the different ways
to give you one stop shopping to see
that you can read your work like a
all the different ways that you can read your work
reader or like an editor in that course
like a reader or like an editor.
we explore 11 different ways of gaining fresh perspective on your own writing
In that course, we explore 11 different ways of gaining fresh perspective on your own writing
and distancing yourself so that you can
and distancing yourself so you can see your work
see your work more
more objectively.
we also dig into five specific self
We also dig into five specific self-editing tools
editing tools that you can apply immediately to your own work so you can
that you can apply immediately to your own work,
instantly see the benefit of learning
so you can instantly see the benefit
some new tools and how it can improve
of learning some new tools and how it can improve
your writing so you can make that your
your writing so you can make your writing
writing the best it can be
the best it can be.
I'm going to give you a closer deeper
I'm going to give you a closer, deeper sneak peek
sneak peek into that online course in just a few minutes but first I want to
into that online course in just a few minutes.
share with you some of the tools that
But first, I want to share with you
I've used over the years to advance my
some of the tools that I've used over the years
own skills as a writer in case some of
to advance my own skills as a writer
my experience sparks some ideas for you
in case some of my experience sparks some ideas for you
about what you might do next maybe
about what you might do next,
things you haven't thought of and before
maybe things you haven't thought of,
the end of the video we're going to
and before the end of the video,
pause and give you some time to reflect
we're going to pause and give you some time
on what you've done and on what you need
to reflect on what you've done and on what you need to do next
to do next to advance your writing
to advance your writing skills.
skills so as you're listening jot down
So as you're listening, jot down any notes
any notes you'd like to capture as you listen to to my story
you'd like to capture as you listen to my story.
again there might be something in my
Again, there might be something in my experience
experience that you've not already considered for yourself
that you've not already considered for yourself.
the year after gret I graduated from Antioch which was 2006
The year after I graduated from Antioch, which was 2006,
I applied Forbes living in New Hampshire
I applied for, I was living in New Hampshire at the time,
at the time and I applied for and got a
and I applied for and got a small grant
small grant from the New Hampshire Arts
from the New Hampshire Arts Commission
Commission to work one-on-one with Brad Kessler on my novel Brad Kessler is the
to work one on one with Brad Kessler on my novel.
author of birds in fall a novel and also
Brad Kessler is the author of "Birds in Fall,"
a terrific nonfiction book if you
a novel, and also a terrific non-fiction book,
haven't already read it called goat song
if you haven't already read it,
a seasonal life a short hear a short
called "Goat Song: A Seasonal Life, A Short History
history of herding and the art of making
of Herding and the Art of Making Cheese,"
cheese lovely book so Brad read the
a lovely book.
Vigilant my first novel that quiet
So Brad read "Vigilant," my first novel,
literary one that I've mentioned and he
that quiet literary one that I've mentioned,
told me it was the research draft and
and he told me it was the research draft,
what he meant by that is that I had
and what he meant by that ist that
taken everything I had research that I
I had taken everything I had researched,
was all excited about and I had loaded
that I was all excited about, and I had loaded it
it into the novel in a way that really was not pleasant for the reader to read
into the novel in a way that was not pleasant for the reader
so that was super helpful took me back
to read, so that was super helpful,
to the drawing board and I had to I had
took me back to the drawing board,
to peel out all of the research that I
and I had to peel out all of the research
had added in and let it just inform the work
that I had added in and let it just inform the work.
right after Antioch I also did something
Right after Antioch, I also did something
that has proven to just be tremendous
that has proven to just be tremendous,
which is that I gathered three of my
which is that I gathered three of my Antioch friends,
Antioch friends and we made a pledge to each other to keep each other on track
and we made a pledge to each other to keep each other
and keep each other posted and what we
on track and keep each other posted
were doing in our writing life we meet
on what we were doing in our writing life.
every month at the beginning of the
We meet every month, at the beginning of the month online,
month online to check-in and report in
to check in and report in on what we've been doing,
and what we've been doing what we've been up to and every six months we write
what we've been up to, and every six months,
a writing life contract which we write
we write a writing life contract,
for ourselves that sets forth our goals
which we write for ourselves that sets forth our goals
for the next six months it's been super
for the next six months.
helpful and we've been doing it now for
It's been super helpful, and we've been doing it now
10 years every single month without fail
for 10 years every single month without fail.
I've written about that in a guest post
I've written about that in a guest post
that I will link to in the resources
that I will link to in the resources download
download that you can find below if you
that you can find below if you have any interest
have any interest in seeing that I
in seeing that.
include a sample writing life contract
I include a sample writing life contract,
so that might be useful for you and then
so that might be useful for you.
after that on the strength of my Antioch
And then after that, on the strength
experience and as I got more confident
of my Antioch experience and as I got more confident
at a writer as a writer I finally had my first short story published and that was
as a writer, I finally had my first short story published,
seven years after that grub Street workshop wild Swan was a finalist for
and that was seven years after that Grub Street workshop.
the Fulton prize and was published in
"Wild Swan" was a finalist for the Fulton Prize
the Adirondack revue in the fall of 2007 and because of that I was invited to
and was published in "The Adirondack Review," in the fall of 2007, and because of that,
read the short story in New York City at
I was invited to read the short story in New York City
the New York Center for independent
at the New York Center for Independent Publishing,
publishing so that was quite quite a thrill and lest you think that one thing has nicely led to another here's a look
so that was quite a thrill. And lest you think that one thing has nicely led to another,
at all the rejections I got before wild
here's a look at all the rejections that I got
Swan was accepted these are all the
before "Wild Swan" was accepted.
rejections I've ever gotten there are a
These are all the rejections I've ever gotten.
lot of them but wild Swan in particular
There are a lot of them.
there were 39 of them but the 40th was
With "Wild Swan" in particular, there were 39 of them,
an acceptance so what was I saying in
but the 40th was an acceptance, so what was I saying
that first video about how this business
in that first video about how this business of writing
of writing is right for the rejection
is rife with the word rejection,
well I am no stranger to it but wild
well I am no stranger to it, but "Wild Swan"
Swan did get published and that led me
did get published, and that led me to getting
to getting a full ride scholarship to
a full ride scholarship to the
the 2008 Key West literary seminars they
2008 Key West Literary Seminars.
paid for everything
They paid for everything, and I got to work
and I got to work in a master fiction
in a master fiction workshop there
workshop there with Lee Smith who is a wonderful southern writer it's published
with Lee Smith, who is a wonderful southern writer,
all kinds of books great teacher and
has published all kinds of books, great teacher,
much like Bruce Mahara had told me years
and much like, Bruce Mahar had told me years ago,
ago Lee gave me some encouragement to
Lee gave me some encouragement to keep going.
keep going she read a portion of
She read a portion of "Vigilant,"
Vigilant and she said something like darling in her lovely southern accent
and she said something like, darling, in her lovely Southern accent,
which I won't even try to attempt but
which I won't even try to attempt,
basically she said now you just have to
basically she said, now you just have to finish
finish the darn thing so I did finish it
the darn thing.
and that's the novel that's currently
So I did finish it,
sitting on a shelf that's the quiet
and that's the novel that's currently sitting on the shelf,
literary one that agents didn't think
that's the quiet literary one that agents
they could sell in this particular
didn't think they could sell in this particular climate,
climate and I'm focusing now I'm trying to sell my second book which I might
and I am focusing now on trying to sell my second book,
also independently publish I'm not sure
which I might also independently publish,
yet after wild Swan is when Alligator
I'm not sure yet. After "Wild Swan" is when Alligator Juniper published
juniper published leaving the ledges
"Leaving the Ledges."
that was a finalist for their fiction competition and that's the story I began
That was a finalist for their fiction competition,
under Bruce Mijares tutelage seven years
and that's the story that I began under Bruce Mahar's tutelage seven years earlier,
earlier and basically while wild Swan
and basically "Wild Swan," "Leaving the Ledges,"
leaving the ledges that was followed by
that was followed by a string of publications
a string of publications from 2009 to 2014 fiction nonfiction flash fiction
from 2009 to 2014, fiction, non-fiction, flash fiction,
short memoir and then I stopped
short memoir, and then I stopped submitting
submitting because I wanted to focus on
because I wanted to focus on finishing
finishing my second novel formerly
my second novel formerly called "Prelude,"
called Prelude some of you might know
some of you might know that, and now called
that and now called this is how it begins I was also because I was working on Prelude I applied for
"This is How It Begins." I was also, because I was working on "Prelude,"
and got a really significant research
I applied for and got a really significant research grant
grant from the Elizabeth George
from the Elizabeth George Foundation.
foundation I'll include a link to them and the resources page to the Elizabeth
I'll include a link to them in the resources page too.
George foundation gave me a grant to
The Elizabeth George Foundation gave me a grant
live and study and write in Warsaw in
to live and study and write in Warsaw in Poland
Poland for a whole month and I also
for a whole month, and I also spent 10 days
spent ten days down in Washington DC at the u.s. Holocaust Memorial Museum so I
down in Washington D.C. at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum,
did a lot of research therefore this is
so I did a lot of research there for
how it begins right now the full
"This is How It Begins."
manuscript is being read by a number of
Right now, the full manuscript is being read
literary agents and as I said I might I
by a number of literary agents, and as I said,
might publish it independently I'm not
I might publish it independently.
quite sure yet
I'm not quite sure yet.
so what is my story have to do with you
So what does my story have to do with you?
I was able to I hope you were able to
I was able to, I hope you were able to make note
make note of some of the things that maybe you heard so that you could see
of some of the things that maybe you heard,
how I invested in my writing life and
so that you could see how I invested in my writing life,
maybe that sparked some some thoughts
and maybe that sparked some thoughts
for how you can invest in your life as
for how you can invest in your life as well.
well the categories again study practice feedback repeat so what does my story
The categories again, study, practice, feedback, repeat.
have to do with you first of all I hope
So what does my story have to do with you?
you were able to take some notes that
First of all, I hope you were able to take some notes
about the ways that I invested in my advancing my skills and how I touched on
about the ways that I invested in my, advancing my skills,
each of those three categories study
and how I touched on each of those three categories.
practice get feedback I applied for and
Study, practice, get feedback.
received funding so I could study with
I applied for and received funding so I could study
some accomplished writers at Key West
with some accomplished writers, at Key West,
and during a month and a half away from
and during a month and a half away from my day job,
my day job where all I had to do was study and work on my novel mind you
where all I had to do was study and work on my novel.
there are many many grants that I
Mind you, there are many many grants that I applied for
applied for and didn't get but I did get a few and each of those helped to
and didn't get, but I did get a few, and each of those
advance my skills immeasurably and led
helped to advance my skills immeasurably
me to the next thing I also submitted
and led me to the next thing.
and submitted and submitted and I
I also submitted and submitted and submitted,
submitted my work to scores of literary
and I submitted my work to scores of literary journals
journals until my work did get published
until my work did get published,
and one thing that was interesting instrumental to my learning is that
and one thing that was instrumental to my learning
throughout all this time all these years
is that throughout all this time, all these years,
I also invested in my continuing education I paid to attend three
I also invested in my continuing education.
different AWP conferences that's the
I paid to attend three different AWP conferences,
Associated writers and writing programs
that's the Associative Writers
conferences in Vancouver New York and
and Writing Programs Conferences in Vancouver, New York,
Washington DC and I paid to attend
Washington DC, and I paid to attend
several writing a treats here in Maine
several writing retreats here in Maine.
I took some online courses and I read
I took some online courses, and I read and studied
and studied scores and scores of books and also studied the business of writing
scores and scores of books, and also studied
I took some online courses about how to
the business of writing.
have a business being a writer and
I took some online courses about how to have a business
during all those years I kept writing
being a writer, and during all those years,
and I kept sharing my work with my
I kept writing, and I kept sharing my work
Antioch group every month and with some
with my Antioch group every month
other trusted readers I hope that
and with some other trusted readers.
hearing about my experience also helps
I hope that hearing about my experience
you to feel companioned we all choose
also helps you to feel companioned.
two different paths but we all
We all choose different paths, but we all, ultimately,
ultimately want the same thing which is to write and be read
want the same thing, which is to be write and be read.
because while I was progressing through
Because while I was progressing through all those
all those wonderful years of learning
wonderful years of learning
and all those learning experiences I was
and all those learning experiences,
also sometimes discouraged and I
I was also sometimes discouraged,
sometimes questioned whether my writing
and I sometimes questioned whether my writing
was really any good and whether I was
really was any good and whether I was just wasting my time
just wasting my time and my money but
and my money.
here's the deal
But here's the deal.
no matter how discouraged I got there
No matter how discouraged I got,
was still nothing I loved more than
there was still nothing I loved more than
sitting down at the writing desk and
sitting down at the writing desk and mucking around
mucking around with words and sentences and stories I never lost sight not once of that magical moment in that first
with words and sentences and stories. I never lost sight, not once, of that magical moment
writing workshop when that character
in that first writing workshop when that character
named Polk appeared to me and demanded
named Polk appeared to me and demanded
that I put him on the page when that
that I put him on the page.
happened I decided I have to invest in
When that happened, I decided I have to invest in myself
myself as a writer and I've been doing
as a writer, and I've been doing it ever since,
it ever since and I am grateful for every single moment of it
and I'm grateful for every single moment of it.
now before I ask you to pause to reflect
Now before I ask you to pause to reflect
on your writing life's journey let's
on your writing life's journey,
take a closer look at the four writer's
let's take a closer look at the four writers
you've heard me mention over and over
you've heard me mention over and over again.
again I'd like for you to learn from their experience to each of these
I'd like you to learn from their experience too.
writers Shannon Huffman Polson Tim
Each of these writers, Shannon Huffman Polson,
Queenie Maureen C berry and SK Lamont decided to
Tim Queeney, Maureen C. Berry, and S.K. Lamont
further invest in their writing lives by
decided to further invest in their writing lives
coming to me for guidance about how to
by coming to me for guidance about how to see their work
see their work more objectively like an editor
more objectively, like an editor.
Shannon Huffman Polson you remember is
Shannon Huffman Polson, you remember,
the author of the memoir north of Hope a
is the author of the memoir
daughter's Arctic journey and a series
"North of Hope, A Daughter's Arctic Journey,"
of essays the way the wild gets inside
and a series of essays, "The Way the Wild Gets Inside,"
field notes from Alaska
"Field Notes from Alaska."
Shannon is currently Finnick finishing up another terrific memoir about her
Shannon is currently finishing up another terrific memoir
time as an army pilot and it was great
about her time as an Army pilot,
to work with such a serious writer who
and it was great to work with such a serious writer
is so eager to continue to learn and to
who is so eager to continue to learn and to grow.
grow despite her already capable skills
Despite her already capable skills,
she came to me because she could no
she came to me because she could no longer identify
longer identify which details in her manuscript might benefit from an
which details in her manuscript might benefit
additional look she couldn't see clearly
from an additional look.
because of her proximity basically to
She couldn't see clearly because of her proximity basically
her own effort now she's able to see
to her own effort.
sentence-level opportunities for
Now she's able to see sentence level opportunities
improvement as well as thematic gaps
for improvement as well as thematic gaps
that she can now fill in
that she can now fill in.
learning how to see her work more
Learning how to see her work more objectively,
objectively like an editor will help her
like an editor, will help her not only with this memoir,
not only with this memoir but with her next book and her next Shannon told me
but with her next book and her next.
that she feels like her work now is
Shannon told me that she feels like her work now
stronger on every level I encourage you
is stronger on every level.
to take a look at her website I have
I encourage you to take a look at her website.
included a link on the downloadable
I have included a link on
resources page below then there's Tim
the downloadable resources page below.
Queenie he is the author of the novel
Then there's Tim Queeney.
George in London a novella I'm sorry
He is the author of the novel "George in London," a novella.
George in London is the novel and also a
I'm sorry, "George in London" is the novel,
novella the borealis incident which he
and also a novella, "The Borealis Incident,"
did for Steve congolese Perseid collapse
which he did for Steve Konkoly's
Kindle world and he's also written a trilogy of thrillers in the perihelion
"Perseid Collapse" Kindle world, and he has also written a trilogy of thrillers
Series tim is currently working on a new
in the Perry Helion series.
novel called the Brooklyn devil which is set in 1969 in New York City in
Tim is currently working on a new novel called "The Brooklyn Devil," which is set in 1969
Connecticut and the main character is a
in New York City and Connecticut,
world war two veteran whose son is a
and the main character's a World War II veteran
prime age to go to Vietnam like Shannon
whose son is of prime age to go to Vietnam.
Tim sought me out so he could get a
Like Shannon, Tim sought me out so he could
fresh look at his own work what happened
get a fresh look at his own work.
for him is that he was able to confirm
What happened for him was that he was able to confirm
that his intention behind his work was
that his intention behind his work was coming through,
coming through which he hadn't been
which he hadn't been certain of,
certain of and he also confirmed that
and he also confirmed there were still a few things
there was still a few things he could clarify and that by clarifying he could
he could clarify, and that by clarifying,
also apply similar similar
he could also apply similar clarifications
clarifications to different areas in the rest of the manuscript you can find a
to different areas in the rest of the manuscript.
link to Tim's website also on the
You can find a link to Tim's website
resources page which you can download below then there's Maureen berry she is
also on the resources page which you can download below. Then there's Maureen Berry.
the author of salmon from market to
She is the author of "Salmon, From Market to Plate"
plate as well as the forthcoming shrimp from market to plate she's written a
as well as the forthcoming "Shrimp, From Market to Plate."
memoir called hurricanes handcuffs
She's written a memoir called
pepper spray and scrambled eggs which is
"Hurricanes, Handcuffs, Pepper Spray, and Scrambled Eggs,"
also forthcoming and she sought me out
which is also forthcoming,
with questions about her forthcoming
and she sought me out with questions about her forthcoming
Nick Delgado crime thriller she came
Mick Delgado crime thriller.
away feeling like she could finally see
She came away feeling like she could finally see
where she was overriding and where she was under writing and knowing how to
where she was overwriting and where she was underwriting,
identify for herself where to streamline
and knowing how to identify for herself
her prose and where to amplify it is
where to streamline her prose and where to amplify it
gonna serve her exceedingly well with
is going to serve her exceedingly well
the rest of this manuscript and every
with the rest of this manuscript
future book she writes take a look at
and every future book she writes.
Maureen's website you will find a link
Take a look at Maureen's website.
also again in the down
You'll find a link, also again, in the downloadable
resources page below and then finally I
resources page below.
worked with SK Lamont SK is the author
And then finally, I worked with S.K. Lamont.
of the forthcoming novel Cady Reeves and
S.K. is the author of the forthcoming novel
the dragon's heart and what a terrific
"Katie Reeves and the Dragon's Heart,"
story it is I really enjoyed it
and what a terrific story it is.
SK wanted to be able to read her story
I really enjoyed it. S.K. wanted to be able to read her story as a reader
as a reader instead of her writer and identify any writing habits that might
instead of a writer and identify any writing habits
be getting in her way of approving her
that might be getting in her way of improving her work.
work now she's able to distance herself
Now she's able to distance herself
and see Cady Reeves and the dragon's
and see "Katie Reeves and the Dragon's Heart"
heart through fresh eyes she can see one
through fresh eyes.
particular point of view peccadillo that
She can see one particular point of view,
she is now going to be able to avoid
peccadillo, which she is now going to be able to avoid
while revising the rest of her manuscript check out eske's website -
while revising the rest of her manuscript.
and again that link is below in the
Check out S.K.'s website too, and again that link is below
downloadable resources page nothing
in the downloadable resources page.
makes me happier than seeing writers
Nothing makes me happier than seeing
invest in themselves learn something new
writers invest in themselves, learn something new
that they can immediately apply to their
that they can immediately apply to their own work,
own work and then see immediate
and then see immediate improvement.
improvement it's really wonderful now I
It's really wonderful.
would love to have us pause and think
Now, I would love to have us pause and think about you.
about you I'd really love to learn more about what your experience has been so
I'd really love to learn more about what your experience
please take a few minutes and think
has been, so please take a few minutes
about your answers to the following questions
and think about your answers to the following questions.
what have you already done to advance
What have you already done to advance your skills
your skills as a writer what learning
as a writer?
experiences have you invested in that
What learning experiences have you invested in
felt well worth it and when you reflect
that felt well worth it?
on all you've done in your writing life
And when you reflect on all that you've done
so far what makes you most proud or happy or excited think about the variety
in your writing life so far, what makes you most proud or happy or excited?
of tools we talked about in each of the
Think about the variety of tools we talked about
three categories study practice get
in each of the three categories:
feedback I'd love it if you would share
study, practice, get feedback.
your comments in the in the section below the comments section below if you
I'd love it if you would share your comments in the section below, the comments section below,
are comfortable doing that it's possible
if you are comfortable doing that.
that your answers might spark some new
It's possible your answers might spark some new ideas
ideas with other writers who are participating in this series and of
with other writers who are participating in this series,
course you can browse through and see
and of course, you could browse through
what other writers have done and that
and see what other writers have done,
could spark some ideas for you as well
and that could spark some ideas for you as well.
so take a minute now pause the video
So take a minute now, pause the video,
reflect on and answer these questions
reflect on and answer these questions,
and then come on back welcome back we
and then come on back. Welcome back.
have spent a fair amount of time
We have spent a fair amount of time together
together over the last several days
over the last several days.
thank you so much here is your key
Thank you so much.
takeaway there is no reason for you to
Here is your key takeaway.
keep worrying about whether your writing
There is no reason for you to keep worrying
is really any good or whether you're
about whether your writing is really any good,
wasting your time and that you'll have
or whether you're wasting your time
nothing to show for all your hard work
and that you'll have nothing to show for all your hard work.
you learned in the first video that the
You learned in the first video that the rush
rush to crank out a first draft and
to crank out a first draft and publish quickly
publish quickly can lead to sloppy
can lead to sloppy writing that probably isn't
writing that probably isn't all that good and that that's okay you consider
all that good, and that that's okay.
the importance of reframing the question
You consider the importance of reframing the question itself
itself from is my writing really any
from "Is my writing really any good?"
good - how can I make sure that my
to "How can I make sure my writing is
writing is as good as it can possibly be
as good as it can possibly be?"
you also explore the psychology behind
You also explore the psychology behind the self doubt
the self-doubt so many of them us have
so many of us have about the quality of our work
about the quality of our work and how
and how they begin in childhood
they begin in childhood oh how we're sort of primed for that low self-esteem
and how we're sort of primed for that low self-esteem
from the get-go and how we exist in a culture of rejection and that culture
from the get go, and how we exist in a culture of rejection,
can really damage our damage our
and that culture can really damage our self-esteem too
self-esteem - and our confidence you
and our confidence.
also learned though that you are not
You also learned, though, you are not alone,
alone that you're in good company and
that you're in good company, and you're in good company
you're in good company with thousands of writers with the likes of Alice Munro
with thousands of writers, with the likes of Alice Munroe,
and those that I've worked with those
and those that I've worked with,
folks that we just had a chance to take a look at all those people have pushed
those folks we just had a chance to take a look at.
beyond their concerns to ensure that
All those people have pushed beyond their concerns
their writing is the best that they can they can make it in the second video you
to ensure that their writing is the best they can make it.
are able to hear about the dangers of
In the second video, you were able to hear about
not being fully aware of the type of
the dangers of not being fully aware
writer that you are and how that can get
of the type of writer that you are
in your way - we took a look at how to
and how that can get in your way too. We took a look at how to step back
step back and figure out what to do if
and figure out what to do if you don't like
you don't like the style of your own writing right you can fret you can quit you can face the truth you can refuse to
the style of your own writing, right? You can fret, you can quit, you can face the truth,
settle or you can do some combination of
you can refuse to settle, or you can do
those things you also looked at the
some combination of those things.
psychological tendency that we have
You also looked at the psychological tendency
towards self handicapping that is both
that we have towards self handicapping
protecting you and getting in your way
that is both protecting you and getting in your way,
and you also heard that you can choose
and you also heard that you can choose
to ignore that tendency and push beyond
to ignore that tendency and push beyond it
it like you're doing right now by by
like you're doing right now
participating in this video series
by participating in this video series.
and finally today you've had a chance to
And finally, today, you've had a chance to explore
explore a variety of tools in three
a variety of tools in three different categories
different categories that will help you to advance your skills as a writer what
that will help you to advance your skills as a writer.
is all of this add up to you will
What does all of this add up to?
remember that my goal for you by the end
You will remember that my goal for you
of the series was to help you get beyond
by the end of this series was to help you
your worries about whether your writing
get beyond your worries about whether your writing
was any good and instead to focus on the
was any good, and instead, to focus on
writing itself and do it's necessary to
the writing itself and do what's necessary
take your writing to the next level I
to take your writing to the next level.
hope I know that you have gotten beyond
I hope by now you have gotten beyond those worries
those worries and that you're turning
and that you're turning your attention
your attention to the writing itself
to the writing itself.
today we explored a lot of different
Today we explored a lot of different ways
ways in which you can invest in your
in which you can invest in your writing life
writing life and advance your skills as a writer very soon I'm gonna be showing
and advance your skills as a writer. Very soon, I am going to be showing you
you how you can take what you've learned
how you can take what you've learned
during this video series and expand on
during this video series and expand on it,
it so that you can get straight to work
so that you can get straight to work
and focus on the writing soon I'm going
and focus on the writing.
to be opening up enrollment in the
Soon, I am going to be opening up enrollment
companion course revise with confidence
in the companion course
see your work like Anna's here writing like an editor so I'm gonna miss I'll
"Revise with Confidence See Your Writing Like an Editor."
send you full details about that course
So I'm going to send you full details about the course
really soon but let me tell you a little
really soon, but let me tell you a little bit
bit about what you're going to get inside the online course which is
about what you're going to get inside the online course,
essentially you're going to apply the
which is essentially, you're going to apply
same simple three steps that we did
the same simple three steps that we did
during this video series directly to
during this video series directly to your writing itself,
your writing itself which allows you to see your writing more objectively like
which allows you to see your writing more objectively,
an editor so you can revise it more confidently so in the companion course
like an editor, so you can revise it more confidently.
what you would do is gain pressure fresh perspective for different ways on your
So in the companion course what you would do is gain fresh perspective four different ways
writing so that you can be more open
on your writing, so you can be more open minded
minded about your own work you'll also
about your own work.
experience experiment with seven
You'll also experiment with seven different methods
different methods for getting distance on your work so that you can again see
for getting distance on your work
it more objectively and finally you're
so that, again, you can see it more objectively,
going to use five simple self editing
and finally, you're going to use five simple
tools that you're going to apply
self editing tools that you're going to apply
directly to your own writing so you can
directly to your own writing,
immediately experience the benefit of
so you can immediately experience the benefit
using some of these tools to improve
of using some of these tools to improve your work.
your work you'll see instant instant changes
You'll see instant changes.
inside the course to get you set up and
Inside the course, to get you set up
in the right frame of mind for learning
and in the right frame of mind for learning,
you're gonna decide which piece of your
you're going to decide which piece of your own work
own work that you'd like to focus on
that you'd like to focus on throughout the course,
throughout the course and you're gonna
and you're going to check in with yourself
check in with yourself on your attitude towards the revision process you'll have
on your attitude towards the revision process.
a chance to watch a sometimes
You'll have a chance to watch a sometimes mind-blowing video
mind-blowing video that will give you
that will give you insight into
insight into what kind of observer you
what kind of observer you are
are and what that means about the way
and what that means about the way you might want
you might want to approach revision
to approach revision.
you're going to consider one story from myriad perspectives taking a page out of
You're going to consider one story from myriad perspectives,
the photographer's handbook so you can
taking a page from a photographer's handbook,
see just how many fresh perspectives
so you can see just how many fresh perspectives
there can be you're gonna have a chance
there can be.
to translate a piece of poetry so you
You're going to have a chance to translate a piece of poetry
can experience firsthand the critical
so you can experience first hand the critical importance
importance of paying close attention to every single word and actually thanks to
of paying close attention to every single word,
popular demand from earlier participants
and actually thanks to popular demand
who loved the translation exercise even
from earlier participants who loved the translation exercise
though or maybe because it is the most
even though, or maybe because it is the most challenging
challenging lesson in the course I've
lesson in the course, I've added
added a bonus translation exercise as a
a bonus translation exercise as a follow up
follow-up so that you can translate your
so that you can translate your own work,
own work which is even better forgetting
which is even better for getting you to think hard
to think hard about the importance of choosing right word the right words
about the importance of choosing the right words.
you're gonna get to play around with
You're going to get to play around with seven unique methods
seven unique methods that will enable you to read your work as if it were
that will enable you to read your work
someone else's or to read it like a
as if it were someone else's or to read it like a reader
reader or editor instead of like a
or editor instead of like a writer,
writer and you're gonna get to do some
and you're going to get to do some nitty gritty
nitty-gritty hands-on editing of your
hands on editing of your own piece
own piece using these essential revision
using these essential revision tools:
tools don't kill your darlings learn
don't kill your darlings, learn your word tics,
your word tics start at the end and just don't simultaneously show and tell and because this is probably the most common
start at the end, and just don't simultaneously show and tell, and because this is probably
but also least understood problem with
the most common, but also least understood problem
writing from particular point of view I
of writing from a particular point of view,
decided to add another bonus self
I decided to add another bonus self editing tool
editing tool taken right from one of my
taken right from one of my other online courses
other online courses that I teach and that lesson is called a void filtering
that I teach, and that lesson is called avoid filtering.
if you can imagine master this one and I
If you can master this one,
will make sure you do you'll spiff up
and I will make sure you do,
your prose like nobody's business
you'll spiff up your prose like nobody's business.
all of that in the online companion
All of that in the online companion course
course revised with confidence see you're writing like an editor like I
"Revise with Confidence See Your Writing Like an Editor."
said I'm gonna open enrollment for that
Like I said, I am going to open enrollment for that
very very soon so keep an eye on your
very very soon, so keep an eye on your inbox.
inbox I will send you announcement in
I will send you an announcement in the next day or two,
the next day or two and in the meantime remember the steps that we've talked
and in the mean time, remember the steps
about think about how you can take them
we've talked about, think about how you can take them
to the next level and apply them
to the next level, and apply them directly
directly to your own writing gain fresh
to your own writing.
perspective plus step back plus use
Gain fresh perspective plus step back
simple tools leads to you as a more
plus use simple tools leads to you
confident writer until next time what I
as a more confident writer.
would like you to do right now is take a
Until next time. What I would like you to do right now
minute to download the resources sheet
is take a minute to download the resources sheet
that I've mentioned you can find a link
that I've mentioned.
to that below and it contains a list of
You can find a link to that below,
live links to all of the resources I
and it contains a list of live links
have mentioned during this video series
to all of the resources I have mentioned
then in a day or two keep your eyes open
during this video series. Then, in a day or two, keep your eyes open
for an email from me that will give you
for an email from me that will give you full details
full details on the revised with confidence companion course so that you
on the "Revise with Confidence" companion course,
can determine whether it might be
so that you can determine whether it might be something
something you're interested in joining
you're interested in joining me for,
me for and finally right now I'd love
and finally, right now, I'd love for you
for you to take a minute and reflect on
to take a minute and reflect on all you've thought about
all you've thought about during this video series and in the comment section
during this video series, and in the comments section below,
below if you wish I would love for you
if you wish, I would love for you to share one thing
to share one thing that really struck you that was most helpful for you or
that really struck you, that was most helpful for you,
that inspired you in some way I will
or that inspired you in some way.
read every single comment and I really
I will read every single comment,
look forward to hearing your saw it
and I really look forward to hearing your thoughts,
thought so so please do share what you're thinking about I will be in touch
so please do share what you're thinking about.
very soon with full details on the
I will be in touch very soon with full details
revise with confidence companion course
on the "Revise with Confidence" companion course,
and in the meantime take care do some
and in the meantime, take care, do some writing,
writing see you soon you
see you soon.
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