Editing Workshops #1 & #2 — Add SPARKLE to Your MS

Problem:

You’ve read the books, you’ve taken the courses, you’ve edited the 1st three chapters or more.
People read your story. They’re kind. But you know from their reaction that it’s a bit bleurgh.
Or you send it to agents and they’re mildly complimentary but keep passing.
Or you have to drag yourself to the desk even to open the file again.

Answer:

It needs more oomph. Very difficult to do alone.
You need people to spark off. We find other writers ideal.

Sparkle Workshops offer you:

— tricks and tips that have put the pep back into our writing

— exercises to add impact to your writing, where it matters

— lots of discussion 

— and fun!

Sparkle workshops are not about the initial creation of your MS. They are workshops to help writers to edit their drafts in order to engage with their readers. (It is not essential to have done the Sparkle #1 workshop before attending Sparkle #2.)

Sparkle Editing Workshop #1 — HOOK & HOLD

HOOK & HOLD concentrates on the vital first 10% of your story, the section that potential readers can download as an ebook sample (though it works for print, too).
You want your book to:

• hook your reader from the outset
• beckon the reader into your world
• create compelling mental pictures
• keep your reader turning the pages

Add Sparkle to HOOK your reader from the start and to HOLD her — up to and beyond the end of the sample — so that she feels compelled to buy your book.

Sparkle Editing Workshop #2 — BLING IT UP

BLING IT UP! looks at adding Sparkle to your book as a whole so that your reader is deeply engaged, and so delighted with your story that you go on her autobuy list for your next book.

Learn about:

• blinging up your action writing, your dialogue, your world-building, your characters
• choosing the right words for maximum impact
• exploiting the space between words
• shaping scenes internally
• contrasting scenes with one another

(It’s not essential to have done Sparkle #1 in order to benefit from Sparkle #2.
The workshops stand alone.)

Venues/Dates for Sparkle #1 and #2 Workshops 

Workshop venues and dates are now arranged to suit commissioning writers’ groups.
If your group might like to have a Sparkle workshop at one of your meetings,
please contact us to discuss details, dates and tutors’ fees (without obligation, of course).

If you, as an individual writer, think you might be interested in attending a future Sparkle workshop, get in touch to put your name on our list of possible participants. It won’t commit you to anything, but we’ll be able to let you know about dates/venues that might be convenient for you. You’ll be able to decide, at that stage, whether you want to join us. Participants’ fees for commissioned Sparkle workshops are set by the hosting group.

What previous participants said about the HOOK & HOLD workshop

• I expected tools to take home so I could go back and apply to my writing. But we got more than just “tools”. The industry knowledge and experience came through in the workshop. The passion both teachers provided in trying to help us get readers to buy our work was evident. Thank you!
• A storming exercise – incredibly useful.
• Great to do a physical exercise instead of talking. I appreciate people may be shy about reading out their work – but it is so helpful to see other people’s approaches
• Being able to write a piece then have feedback was invaluable
• Using the examples made me think about what I do wrong, and seeing the edited piece afterwards cemented those thoughts for me. Easy to criticise, difficult to do
• We did homework before the session which indeed set up what the workshop was going to cover and started the brain going
• Wasn’t sure what to expect, but loved it. Really enjoyed writing on the spot and getting instant feedback. Very useful. Also thought you were both wonderfully inclusive and made sure everyone got a chance to comment.
• I left feeling I would be able to look at my wip with a fresh eye
• I expected the combined wisdom of two romance writing experts, who have unrivalled experience in the business…and that’s what I got in spades!

What previous participants said about the BLING IT UP! workshop

• Overall brilliant and very well presented with professionalism and lots of interaction. Feel very encouraged.
• Just as good as the first workshop. Very happy to have come — was thrilled with the results! Brilliant to see a movie scene and then read the dialogue.
• I expected to have to work hard — and I did! I got a great deal of advice on how to get the best out of my book. The rest is up to me.
• Very packed with helpful tools and techniques, and examples. I had high hopes after Sparkle1, and Sparkle2 did not disappoint. I’ve had a great day and learnt an unbelievable amount!
• Loads of information to absorb. Very useful. Thank you!
• Extremely valuable insights into the editing process — now I just have to apply them!
• I was gripped and enthused from start to finish.
• All exercises were very useful and made me think, especially the word choices.