As promised, here is the list of topics that we’ll cover over the next few months.

How I Write Series:

June 16 – Idea creation – how do you come up with your ideas

June 23 – Character development/Plotting-Arc building/World Building

June 30 – Research – how to research knowing when to stop

July 7 – Starting a new work in progress – How do you begin and tools you use

July 14 -Getting the first draft completed/ Setting a writing schedule

July 21 – Motivation/ Getting through the dreaded middle pages

July 28 – Revision – how to begin

August 4 – Revision- First pass, resources, critique groups

August 11 – Knowing when you’re done/ready to sub or query

August 18 – Books to read on craft/classes you’ve taken

August 25 – Open Post

NEWSCBWI starts tomorrow, so I’m only posting a little hint of what is to come. I’ve been planning out an idea/concept for a series of blog posts.  I’m going to call it:

How to Write: What Works for Me

Here’s a quick outline of my plan.  I’ll probably add more detail to it as we go along, including multiple posts under each subject:

• Idea Creation:  Feeding the Well
• Research: How to search and not get lost
• Starting the first draft
• Setting a schedule to get to THE END
• Revision -The tools, the process
• Tools we use, Classes we take, Benefits of conferences, etc.

I would love to see other writers parallel post on these topics.

Writing is so subjective.  How we practice the craft relies on who we are as individuals.  No two writers create stories in the same way.  I’d like to help other writers out there who may be just starting or who are struggling with some aspect of the process.

I’ve learned to write by reading and taking classes and listening to a zillion different writers and I’ve created a method that works for me.  I’d love to see what works for you!

We’ll get started right after Conference!  See you then!

What is High Concept in terms of writing?  Don’t try wikipedia it won’t help.

Here’s a post from Steve Kaire at Writers Store about the 5 things you need to create a High Concept story, and dispelling some myths in the process. High Concept is more than smashing two divergent ideas together.

Query Tracker has another great article on Creating the High Concept hook with additional links.

Holly Root has an excellent post on the subject.  I liked her point that some writers just think in high concept ways.  As a plotter I figure out where my story is headed before I write.  And I like to believe that I think in high concept terms.  Holly does give wonderful examples of how the X meets Y pitch can go very wrong. On top of all this she mentions mythologist Joseph Campbell via a link to his wikipage.  I cannot write without my copy of Chris Vogler’s version of The Hero’s Journey.

This post is turning into a “This is how I write” diatribe.  So I’ll stop and ask:

How do you feel about High Concept and does it come into play when you’re brainstorming your next WIP?