Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing

Floating A Trial Balloon

The Kris and Dean Show…

A long time ago, in a land far, far away, (meaning the middle 1990s to about the year 2,000), Kris and I used to do a teaching form that people called the Kris and Dean Show. We would do these usually in conjunction with a writing conference. Or if a writer’s group paid our way to come and give the show for them.

Basically, what we did was talk about the truths of publishing and how to deal with the world of publishing. How to get started, how to survive, that sort of thing. Back then that was traditional publishing.

And we talked a great deal about the logic and the myths and the business and we did it in an entertaining and blunt fashion. That was why the people who watched it called it a “show.”

It was open to writers of all levels and we stopped doing them when we started the coast workshops in Oregon.

So a couple people have asked that now that we are moving the workshops to Vegas, would we ever think about doing a Kris and Dean Show again. So yes, the answer is we are thinking about it.

Three solid days of writing and publishing information. Four hours per day of constant information given in an entertaining and informative way.  Open to writers of all levels because what we would be talking about would help established writers as well as those just starting off.

It would have an indie and hybrid slant in this new time and world.

It would be in Vegas and well over a year away if we decided to try it. Three days. Just Kris and me. No idea as to cost yet.

So anyone here remember the old Kris and Dean Shows and anyone here interested in listening and watching me and Kris talk about publishing and writing for three straight days? We know a ton more now than we did back then. (grin) Write me or leave a comment.

MAY INSIDER’S GUIDE Workshops

Sunday the two May Insider’s Guide workshops started. The first live webinars for each will be this upcoming Sunday and they run for four weeks, with recorded videos and assignments every week and a webinar at the end of every week.

The webinars are basically me talking for an hour with you folks asking questions that I answer. It is live, but I am the only one on video. Everyone else is asking questions through a chat function.

These two are going to be great fun. And I am still laughing about the first assignment Kris came up with for the Writing Detective Fiction workshop.

— Insider’s Guide to Writing Serial Fiction (2,000 word parts of a novel) (Starts May 6th)
— Insider’s Guide to Writing Detective Fiction. (Starts May 6th)

$300 each, limited to ten writers plus lifetime subscribers. One time workshops. They will not be regular. Sorry.

(Lifetime Subscribers have access to them of course as well as all new courses going forward. And all workshops as well.)

GO TO TEACHABLE TO SIGN UP.

——————

MAY REGULAR WORKSHOPS

These started last Tuesday and Wednesday, but still lots of time to jump in. Just starting the second week.

Sign up directly through Teachable or if you have a credit, write me directly to sign up. These workshops have just started. Still Time To Jump In!

https://wmg-publishing-workshops-and-lectures.teachable.com

Class #49… May 1st … Depth #3: Research
Class #50… May 1st … Author Voice
Class #51… May 1st … Dialog
Class #52… May 1st … Writing into the Dark
Class #53… May 1st … Writing Fiction Sales Copy
Class #54… May 1st … Writing and Selling Short Stories
Class #55… May 2nd … Depth in Writing
Class #56… May 2nd … Business
Class #57… May 2nd … (open)
Class #58… May 2nd … (open)
Class #59… May 2nd … Novel Structure
Class #60… May 2nd … Writing Fantasy

19 Comments

  • Harvey

    Having seen and heard an hour-long version (or maybe it was 2 hours) back in the day, I’d be interested, depending as always on cost.

  • Kate Pavelle

    The Chris and Dean Show sounds like a lot of fun, except for the distance. However, if you did it in a video format, like a quarterly update on the world of publishing, I’d watch it.

  • DS Butler

    I don’t remember the originals but I definitely like to attend the new Kris and Dean show in Vegas!

  • Robert J. McCarter

    Dean,

    Sounds like fun to me! On question, how does this differ from the Business Master class? I am considering that one for 2019 (provided you guys do it), so understanding the differences would be good.

    Thanks!

    • dwsmith

      Business Master Class if focused on all the thousands of things in the indie business. All the details and how to do much of it, how to make more money, how to deal with time and promotion and and and…

      The Kris and Dean show is an overall focus on writing, production, lifestyle, and business. It is putting it all together. Business Master Class is just business.

  • Thomas Bennett

    That just sounds like it would be great fun. I’d be very interested in that. 🙂

  • allynh

    Remember, Dean, there is this new fangled thing called “video” it’s all the rage.

    You guys could record the “Show” and make the series available on Teachable. That way you can reduce the actual cost of putting the Show on, and maximize the number of people who can actually see it.

    The cost and effort of a live show, with only a few people seeing it live, makes no sense in this day and age of “video”. HA!

    • Julie

      I agree that it would be great to be able to access this via video, for those of us who have no chance of travelling to it.

  • Robin Brande

    The Kris and Dean Show I attended in 2001 CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR ME. I had no idea who the two of you were before I signed up, but out of every writing conference class I had attended up to that point (many), yours was without question the most valuable, sane, and practical. I remember you telling me at the time that some people walked out of your seminars because they didn’t want to learn how much was within their own control. They wanted to believe that it took fairy dust to succeed. So weird to hear that, but since then I’ve met enough other wannabes to understand exactly what you were saying. If their careers are within their own control and yet things aren’t going the way they want, then … you mean they could change that? Too scary for some to hear. Or too unbelievable.

    I’ll also never forget your line that “No one will ever care about your writing career more than you will.” It’s why writers who want to be “taken care of” or not bothered with the details of their deals with agents and publishers sometimes end up bitter and confused about why everything went wrong or why they’re making so little when they keep writing more.

    And so many other great lessons. It’s a great idea to bring it back. What fun. You will be able to help so many people who want to be helped!

  • Fred A. Aiken

    The Kris and Dean Shows were great. So great that I attended two of them, the first was sponsored by Southwest Writers and the second on at Inconjuction (the best family oriented convention that I ever attebded. If held, I would centainly considered attending.

  • Isabo Kelly

    I’d love to attend the Dean and Kris show. Would depend on time of year for me (young kids in school currently dictate my life and schedule *grin*), but it sounds like great fun.

    • Chris

      Ditto Isabo’s comment. I’d love to attend, but the timing of it would drive my decision.

  • Gael

    I third the video idea. 🙂 Perhaps people could send in questions and you could take them in a video whenever it suited you. Video subscription? Hmm.

    Sounds fun, anyway. I’m one of those who does not really have the wherewithal right now to travel to live events.

    • dwsmith

      We are sort of doing that with the webinar workshops called Insider’s Guide. Very few people interested.

      • Céline Malgen

        I’m sorry to read that, because I think the Insider’s Guide format works very well. And it’s a lot of fun to have Dean’s live unfiltered opinion during the webinars.

        I imagine that 3 days of the same thing, only more intense, with real personal interactions, and with Kris as well, must be something amazing and a huge boost to any writer willing to learn. Too bad it’s still so far away for me.