Suddenly September
Business reset update, Tips for character stakes, Story Creation+Resuscitation Package, Workshop discounts and Ah-MAZING client releases!
It’s suddenly September. Actually mid-September— which is bewildering in Texas because one day it was 114 degrees and the next it was all dreary and fall-ish as if summer didn’t try to literally incinerate us.
As I mentioned in August, I took a week to reset and do all those little admin-type business tasks that aren’t my favorite things. Most of them were pretty mundane and tedious.
BUT
I’m very proud of my new logo and website design. I had the bright idea (← see what I did there?) to go with light bulbs and some new colors. I kind of love how it is more “me”.
You can tap either image to check it out. No worries about me abandoning editing to become a website designer!
Updates and Changes
There are a few specific changes that came from my reset week that I want to be sure I share here.
Minimum Project Fees
I made the decision to implement a minimum project fee for edits and story coaching.
What that means to you is:
If you send a project for a developmental edit or manuscript review, where the word count times my current rate is less than $75, you will be charged $75.
For story coaching clients, if you send pages where the word count times your current rate is less than $50, you will be charged $50 for that round of feedback. If we have a brainstorming call without pages, you will be charged $50 for the call.
No More Teachable
I officially moved all of my classes to Dawn’s Story Studio on Podia. If you have purchased either of the classes that were previously available on Teachable (Deep POV: Life Through the Lens of Your Character or Story Fuel: Propelling Your Plot with Conflict, Stakes, and Tension), you should have received an email informing you they will no longer be available after Oct. 1st.
You are welcome to download and save the information you need from those classes before they are completely taken down. If you have any questions, feel free to email me.
Evident Ink
Lastly, I am shifting away from Evident Ink to focus on Dawn’s Story Studio. Nancy and I are still great friends. We aren’t breaking up. :) She has some terrific things planned in the coming months that you should totally check out.
If we connected through Evident Ink, nothing should really change for you. I’m still doing editing there. The only difference is that I will be hosting my classes and coaching through a separate platform. Again, if you have any questions, feel free to email me!
Editing tip: Is that a threat or a promise?
Let’s talk about character motivation for a minute, or maybe character stakes. They kind of intertwine to make a great big character mess.
In this mess of a character, there is a goal. The character is striving toward something and in the course of that striving, there are reasons for why they are doing what they are doing (even answering an unknown number. )
The most common questions about character motivation/stakes are:
What happens if they succeed?
What happens if they fail?
Why does it matter?
Recently, I realized that doesn’t speak to everyone. Sometimes it doesn’t even really fit the character. So let’s twist it just a little.
Is the character facing a threat or a promise?
The character needs to accomplish this thing. Why?
Is there some kind of threat? If they don’t accomplish X, then Y will happen and that is bad.
Is there some kind of promise? If they do accomplish X, then Y will happen and this is good!
It’s possible to have both.
Let’s say you are writing a cozy mystery. The character’s goal is to find out who poisoned the BBQ sauce that killed the local obnoxious person that no one liked anyway (as is almost always the case in cozies.)
If it is a threat, the character must find out who poisoned the BBQ sauce because it came from their family’s diner. If they don’t discover the real killer, their sweet old grandmother will be living out her golden years in an orange jumpsuit and that is bad.
If it is a promise, the character must find out who poisoned the BBQ sauce because there is a reward that will cover the cost of bringing their family’s failing business back from the brink of bankruptcy. If they do discover who the real killer is, they can collect that money and save their family’s restaurant and that is good!
Both? The restaurant is failing. Grammy’s about to go out in handcuffs, but they can clear Grammy’s name AND collect the reward money! Cue the hero parade!
Need more help with character development or stakes and conflict?
Check out these workshops BUT be sure to scroll a little further down here to get the coupon code!
Workshop Discounts and New Package
I had a great time doing live workshops this year! I have two new ones in the works for next year that I’m not quite ready to share yet but I’m really excited about.
Since I’ll be focusing on creating those for the next few months, I’m not offering any new live workshops until 2024 ←That feels really weird to say. Didn’t this year just start?
Anyway, all the workshops we did this year are available on Podia. Each has a recording, transcript, PowerPoint slide, and more!
Use the code: FRIDAY10 for $10 off any workshop you missed until December 1st!
Are you gearing up for NaNoWriMo?
Do you have a story tumbling around in your head that you haven’t quite sorted out?
Check out my new Story Creation + Resuscitation Package.
This package includes two calls.
In the Story Creation call, we will create your story. That includes planning out the plot, sketching those character arcs, testing the conflict and stakes, etc. My goal is for you to have the tools you need to dive in and start writing.
But, as we all know, there is almost always that point where the writing stops. The characters get stubborn and that plot starts to have more holes than beats. That’s where the resuscitation comes in!
This package includes a Code Red call to revive your story and get you moving again!
Two calls for $149!
Ready to chat?
Client Releases!
Get those one-click fingers ready! Here are what my fabulous clients have put out recently! Touch the covers for more information!
Magically obstructed memory; A disturbing accusation; What will she do when her most trusted betrays her?
Risk everything for your kingdom…
Or be destroyed by it.
Forbidden to have and impossible to ignore, her nature calls to his; a destined collision he can’t avoid. Giving in risks his redemption, his place in the pack, and his very life.
But giving her up will tear them both apart.
A forced-proximity, naked-man-on-my-couch hockey romcom
What will happen when he finds out who she really works for? As the physical attraction between them grows, the two slowly learn to trust—but will it be too late? After all, the revolution is coming.
Wow, that got long!
Thank you for sticking with me!
Happy Writing!