Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing,  workshops

Two Possible New Workshops

Scheduling and Trying to Decide…

Working on the next four months of regular workshop schedules and I have sort of settled on two new workshops I would love to put together with Kris. So feedback is welcome.

And yes, lifetime subscribers you will get any new workshop we do automatically.

So first off, I like the idea of doing a Magic Bakery Workshop. Six weeks covering all kinds of details about how writers make a living and run a business with the focus on copyright and IP valuation.

Now we did two advanced lectures on those two topics, but this would be so, so much more detailed and into the nitty-gritty of how the Magic Bakery concept really works for writers if they understand copyright and IP valuation.

So that’s one idea. A Magic Bakery Workshop. Six weeks. (Might also be a fun webinar at some point.)

Second workshop is a craft one, very advanced, but critical to all of us. And I see this done wrong by so many writers I have mostly stopped commenting on it because of the complexity of having to explain it.

Information Flow Workshop. Basically a good way to describe this is “Control of your writing craft and control of your readers.”

Or do you know how to control the information flow your readers get to add power and clarity to your writing? Most writers learn this the hard way over decades. This workshop would be designed like the depth workshop to cut off years on this complex craft issue.

You don’t have to say you would take either one, just wondering if there is any interest in either one. I love the idea of both of them, but I have loved the idea of numbers of workshops that just sort of went fizzle. (grin)

We got about seven other ideas for workshops between now and the winter. These two would most likely start in July or August if we decided to do them.

Thanks for the feedback.

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Still time to sign up. Workshops are just starting their second weeks.

June Regular Workshops

All twelve June Regular six-week workshops are now available on Teachable for sign-ups. The few of you who have signed up through me using credits please write me again if you haven’t gotten a code to get into the workshop.

Class #61… June 5th … Think Like a Publisher
Class #62… June 5th … Endings
Class #63… June 5th … Point of View
Class #64… June 5th … Writing Mysteries
Class #65… June 5th … Speed
Class #66… June 5th … Teams in Fiction
Class #67… June 6th … Depth in Writing
Class #68… June 6th … How to Edit Your Own Work
Class #69… June 6th … Character Development
Class #70… June 6th … Writing Secondary Plot Lines
Class #71… June 6th … Advanced Depth
Class #72… June 6th … Novel Structure

28 Comments

  • Mary Jo Rabe

    I’m very interested in the information flow workshop. July or August would be perfect.

  • Felicia Fredlund

    Dean, the information flow workshop is a great idea. I’m also personally waiting for the emotions in writing (or whatever you’ll call it) workshop. Those are the two of potential new workshops that I look the most forward to.

  • Kenny

    Both sound great, Dean.

    However, yes there’s a but :-), I’m focused on learning Craft at the moment so I’m really interested in the Information Flow workshop (you talked about it, very briefly, in the Depth workshop).

  • E. R. Paskey

    Honestly, I love the idea of both of these. A Magic Bakery workshop sounds fantastic–who wouldn’t love a deeper understanding of copyright and IP valuation? Same goes for learning how to better control information. (I guess you can’t just come out and call it a Mind Control Workshop, ha! :D)

  • Kate Pavelle

    Hi Dean, I was thinking of taking “Writing and Selling Short Stories.” Would the Magic Bakery workshop overlap any? I’m interested, but I have to allocate resources. Thank you.

    • dwsmith

      Nope, Kate, won’t overlap at all. Magic Bakery will be about how to make money off your copyright and how to stretch and make more money from different forms of IP and actually work a business using IP as inventory. After the Magic Bakery we would follow with a workshop about getting and negotiating contracts with overseas publishers, Hollywood, gaming, and so on. It would sort of fit one/two. But the Magic Bakery and the understanding from that would need to come first.

  • Marsha

    Yes on both, especially the information flow. I have long wondered how to control the reader and know that it’s an advanced skill that I am clueless on.

  • Topaz

    I would love to do the Information Flow Workshop. I hope you will record this workshop. Depth was so valuable to me. Cutting more edges at craft would be great.

  • Denise

    Those sound great to me! Well, Information Flow doesn’t really apply to me as a nonfiction writer — but I love watching the fiction workshops from a reader’s point of view. I learn a lot about why I like certain books and just can’t get into others. 🙂

  • Mike

    Would definitely be interested in both, Dean. I’m planning to sign up for a July workshop using a credit and will be coming for that lifetime subscription soon. If information flow does even 1/10 of what Depth did in terms of awareness, it would be hugely beneficial. And Magic Bakery coming on the heels of the Think Like a Publisher would be great help as I move toward getting titles out there at the back half of the year.

  • Linda Jordan

    I love the idea of the information flow workshop. Although if you offered it, it’s probably years down the line for me. I’ve got other workshops I need to take that feel more pressing.

  • Isabo Kelly

    I love both ideas, Dean, and would take both. I’m particularly keen on the information flow workshop. After 20 years, that still feels like a topic I need more practice in *grin*

  • Annie Reed

    Information flow, most definitely. I think that’s what King did so very, very well in The Outsider, which is why I couldn’t put that book down. Well, one of the things he did so very, very well and one of the reasons I couldn’t put that book down, but it’s the thing that jumped out at me. I’d love to study how to do that.

  • J.M. Ney-Grimm

    Oh, wow! Information Flow would be wonderful! That’s largely where my focus is right now in my writing: controlling the flow of information so as to create a seamless reality in my reader’s head, and a reality that “adds power and clarity” to my story (just as you said).

  • CEC

    I’m particularly interested in the Information Flow Workshop. From the bias of my personal schedule, I’d love to see it offered in August (July is a work-heavy month for me).

  • Jim Mathis

    Dean,

    Both sound like great workshops. Information Flow is a more immediate fit for me.

    Thanks!

    Jim

  • emmiD

    Info Flow sounds interesting. The biz side of me says copyright is important to understand, also, but ….

  • Lana Ayers

    Yes to Information Flow! And someone mentioned Emotions–yes, please. I feel like my writing is leaps and bounds better since studying with you and Kris. I have such a long learning curve ahead, but very grateful to have you as guides.

  • Joanna

    Hi Dean, I’m interested in both of those workshops.
    I’ve been learning from you on IP stuff for years now, but I know there are corners of your brain that I still need to get into 🙂 You always mention something that I haven’t heard before that makes the whole thing worthwhile, so count me in!

  • Amy Laurens

    Yes yes yes both yes!!

    Equally keen on both. It’s hard to know where to turn for good business advice re: publishing, though, so I’m especially keen for Magic Bakery.

  • Terry Mixon

    I’m interested on both, but the Infirmation Flow workshop is definitely higher on my list.