The Michael A. Stackpole / Aaron Allston
Writing Seminar Program
(2010 Edition)
At conventions, educational conferences, and other gatherings, authors Michael A.
Stackpole and Aaron Allston present a comprehensive course on writing fiction. The
purpose of the series is to help improve the skills of any writer and to trim years
off the time it takes to turn an aspiring writer into a published author. Stackpole and
Allston have more than 50 years of professional fiction writing experience between
them, and the tips, techniques, and tricks of the trade described in this series come
from those years of hard-won experience — as well as ongoing analysis and observation
of the industry.
The program consists of 14 seminars, each an hour in duration. They are normally
presented in the following order:
Seminar 1: The Rules of Writing New York Times bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole presents the Rules of
Writing. These are the insider tips and tricks that you'd pick up in the first five years of
your writing career, all presented here in an hour. Gleaned from personal experience
and the experience of writers dating back to the 1930s, these tricks will cut three years
out of your development as a writer.
Seminar 2: Tools of the Trade New York Times bestselling author Aaron Allston talks about the inventory of a
productive writer, including computers, software, furnishings, services, and reference
works — as well as what you don't need but people are determined to sell you.
Seminar 3: Writing Careers in the Post-Paper Era
Michael A. Stackpole -- the first author to offer fiction on the iPhone/iPod Touch
through Apple's Appstore -- gives you an up to date look at the digital revolution and
explains how you can profit and develop your career. Mike's watched his Internet
income from writing double every year for the past three years, with the trend
accelerating in 2010. If you intend to have a career in writing, this scouting report and
practical action plan for the future is a must.
Seminar 4: Providing the Experience
Aaron Allston discusses three closely-related elements of fiction: Point of View (the "camera" of your story), Emotion (how the story makes the characters and readers feel), and Description (how the author's descriptive techniques define the reader's experience).
Seminar 5: Characterization
Characters are king in literature and Michael A. Stackpole brings you a toolbox full
of techniques to create compelling and memorable characters. Readers read for and
remember characters, and after this course, yours will be unforgettable, which will keep
them coming back for more.
Seminar 6: 21 Days to a Novel
Michael A. Stackpole presents his three week program for preparing yourself to
write a novel. This set of 21 exercises is broken down to give you everything from
character creation to world building, practical plotting devices, dialogue development
and character voice creation tools. This program is a practical, kick-in-the-pants place
to start your career.
Seminar 7: Style and Mood
Aaron Allston talks about establishing and sustaining the tone of a novel - how to
switch from technique to technique, like a pitcher switching from a curve ball to a
fastball, in order to make the readers experience exactly what you want them to.
Seminar 8: Writing a Successful Series
Series and serial presentations have, since the dawn of storytelling, dominated
entertainment. Michael A. Stackpole guides you through the intricacies of designing a
series from the ground up, with special emphasis on techniques designed to maximize
impact in the new era betokened by digital publishing. He also discuss ways to build
mysteries and suspense into your work, to keep readers coming back again and again.
Seminar 9: Ruining Your Career Before It Gets Started
Aaron Allston walks you through the minefield of deadly career-killers, including
query letters that spell doom, research practices that murder a writer's reputation,
"everyone knows" false facts that lead novices and even experienced writers into
quicksand, and fan interactions that are pure poison.
Seminar 10: Twenty-One Ways to Kill Your Novel
Michael A. Stackpole walks you through the twenty most common "first novel
problems" (which plague more than just first novels) and provides a host of solutions for
them. If you dread hearing someone say, "I liked your novel, but...," this seminar is
guaranteed to erase the sorts of problems that lead to just such a statement.
Seminar 11: Plotting
Michael A. Stackpole unravels the mysteries of creating compelling plots. A novel
is a huge undertaking, written over weeks or months, and the plot has to hold it all
together. From creating an outline to maintaining flexibility, this seminar gives you the
insider knowledge that will separate you from all of your peers.
Seminar 12: Plot Analysis
Aaron Allston adds to your writers' toolkit with methods to analyze, strengthen, and
repair plots. He describes the four basic components of a plot (scenes, themes, points,
and arcs), the types of functions that scenes perform (and how to detect when a scene
is doing nothing for your story), and methods to break down a story to discover whether
all its plot components are sound.
Seminar 13: Edit to Perfection
So, you've got your pile of 100,000 words. What now? Michael A. Stackpole
guides you through the intricacies of actually editing your novel. He'll cover those tough
questions, like what needs to be trimmed, where do things need to be tightened, and
what to do when characters are present, but just not engaged in the story. He'll even
provide that key bit of advice so you know when your book is done, and ready to send
in to an editor.
Seminar 14: Showing Off Your Manuscript
Aaron Allston discusses ways to put your fiction before the eyes of others,
including advance readers, workshoppers, editors, and agents. We'll also talk about the
hazards of showing off your manuscript, including submission mistakes, hurtful reviews,
and loss of creative energy.