The #1 Secret to Selling a Story

The number one secret to selling a story?

It might seem simple, but you have to write the story before you can sell it.

So let's get to it.

It's time to write.

The first thing I'm going to ask you to do is schedule a writing session. Only you know when this is. It might be first thing in the morning. It might be last thing at night. It might be in the carpool line waiting to pick the kids up.

How long is determined by your schedule and how quickly you write. If you have fifteen minutes, write for those fifteen minutes. Write hard, don't look back, and get as many words down as you can.

If you have all weekend, then by all means, write your heart out for two solid days.

If you absolutely cannot find time to sit down in front of a keyboard, use your smart phone and its dictation feature. At least you're putting words out into the world in some kind of physical format you can access later.

Whatever time, opportunity, and space in your life you can carve out, protect it, use it, and cherish it.

Writing Sprints

These short timed exercises are terrific ways to both overcome writers block and to flat-out get words on the page.

And it's your first homework assignment.

What? You thought you weren't going to have homework?

Pffffffft.

That's like saying you're a writer who doesn't write.

Here's what you're going to do:

  1. Get out your laptop.
  2. Open your word processing software.
  3. Set a timer for fifteen minutes.
  4. Spelling, punctuation, diction, and all other "rules" your middle-school English teacher taught you don't matter for this exercise.
  5. Write as much as you can before the timer goes off.
  6. Post your word count in the discussion section.
  7. If you need inspiration, check out the writing prompts below.
  8. NOW GO WRITE!

Writing Prompts:

Hello all. A little housekeeping first.

I'm in the process of moving this course to a new site. We've rather outgrown this one. You're welcome to stay here if you like.

But ... at the new site, I have forums set up, easier video integrations, and new course material. If you're interested, head here. You may need to re-enroll if you don't get an email from me. Don't worry. It's still free. Just a bit bigger and easier to use.

Please don't hesitate to send me an email if you have any trouble logging in.

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