Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions for Writers

I’m sure every writer has made a well-intentioned resolution that in hindsight was overly ambitious. From getting an agent to publishing three books in a year, writers often create unrealistic expectations for themselves that usually result in disappointment and depression. I’d like to propose the following suggestions as alternative resolutions for any writer at any stage of their craft. Leave a comment below if you come up with any others.

10. I will stop obsessing over how many times I use the word “said” in a scene.

9. I will write five minutes more during each writing session.

8. When I dread my writing time, I will either change the story or write on something else.

7. I will disregard well-intentioned advice that doesn’t fit my situation or writing style.

6. I will do something fun in the name of research.

5. I will identify an insecurity I have in my craft and improve it.

4. I will find joy in the publication of other writers, not resentment.

3. I will create pages of my story, not just notes to myself of what my story will be.

2. I will write something that I will love.

1. I will practice my autograph, just in case.

What Writers Can Learn from "A Christmas Carol"

It’s Christmas time, and that means the Schopfer home is filled with the signs of the season. A tree that has taken over the stairwell, holiday music echoing from several rooms at once, and evening showings of all our favorite Christmas movies. It was while watching one of these old favorites that I started to muse over what is perhaps the most popular Christmas tale of all time, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”

I heard somewhere that this short book has been adapted to film more times than any other work of fiction, and I don’t think anyone who knows the story would be surprised by that. The universal themes of guilt, love, and redemption are personified by this powerful little plot, and everyone seems to want to present their personal vision of the story. This abundance of adaptations doesn’t even take into account all of the stories that are clearly influenced by Scrooge’s emotional journey. From “It’s a Wonderful Life” to “One Magic Christmas”, tales of divine intervention on behalf of a lost soul are part of the cultural fabric of this special time of year.

So what can writers learn from this? So often I’ll hear students and peers who express concern over writing a similar plot to something else they’ve seen. “I had to give up on that story,” they say sadly, “someone else had already written it.” Don’t think that! Even if your plot is identical to someone else’s story, only you can tell that story in your own way.

Look at “A Christmas Carol” again. How many different Scrooges have you seen? How many Jacob Marleys, or Bob Cratchits? How many times have you heard the lines “God bless us, everyone!” and “Humbug!” Are any of the various adaptations lessened by their peers? Perhaps, but keep in mind that many of those adaptations would have likely still been sub-par even without superior versions to compare them to. On the other hand, think of the various adaptations that are all wonderful and all different from each other despite having nearly identical plots. Like a song that’s been sung by a variety of artists, a good story can become great as each artist puts their distinctive mark on the piece.

My personal favorite is the “Muppet Christmas Carol”. I’ve always been a huge fan of Jim Henson (I dedicated one of my short stories to him) and this movie was the first major Muppet project after his passing. The usual silliness of the characters was subdued in favor of a warmer, gentler adaptation of the familiar story, tinged with the grief and loss of Jim as well as longtime Muppeteer Richard Hunt. There’s a scene where Kermit (now played by Steven Whitmire and portraying the character of Bob Cratchit) speaks to his family about the death of Tiny Tim. It’s clear that Kermit’s words are as much meant for the rest of the Muppet family as it is for the Cratchit family, and I always cry at the sweet sincerity of that moment.

So remember, writers, that it doesn’t matter if your story has a similar plot to something else that’s already been done. The story may have been told, but only you can tell it with your voice. Trust in the power of your storytelling ability, and perhaps your story will one day be a treasured classic for your fans.

Merry Christmas!

December Update on "Into the North"

With a book tour scheduled for late spring, I've temporarily put all other projects on hold as I work furiously to get the sequel to The Beast Hunter ready for publication. The first draft was completed a while ago, and I'm working on the second draft revisions now. Things were going well at first, and I even managed to get a whole week ahead of schedule. And then I hit a snag.

I had planned to try a different revision strategy for this book. While I never outline my stories before writing them, I decided to try outlining the plot as it appeared in the first draft. The idea was that I could then use my outline to see the plot all at once and make large-scale edits quickly and efficiently. Once the outline had been fully revised, I would be able to use it as a road map for the rest of the second draft. That was the plan.

What happened was that I struggled just to create the outline in the first place. I had to read the entire first draft manuscript to create a beat-by-beat description of the plot, forcing myself to ignore all of the mistakes and problems that my editor's eye kept noticing. To placate myself, I kept a notebook nearby that was soon half-filled with notes of places that would need fixing later. Things got even harder after finishing the outline.

I quickly found a significant flaw in my plan as soon as I started making revisions to the outline. Whenever I made a correction early on in the manuscript, I found that I wasn't able to make any corrections later in the draft because I didn't know how the earlier change might affect the story. If I added a new character in chapter five, what would they be doing to affect the story in chapter fourteen? Since I'm not a natural outliner, I found the process of trying to anticipate my creative mind to be frustrating, time-consuming, and ultimately hopeless.

After reaching out to several friends for advice, I decided to chuck the outline and start revising the actual manuscript, using my notebook of suggested edits to jump-start the process. While I'm disappointed to have lost so much time to the outline, I'm glad to say that the second draft is finally coming along, and I'm very happy with the changes I'm making.

I'll be sure to give another update as we get closer to the release date. Big thanks to all of my fans and friends for their support and enthusiasm!

Warning Signs that Christmas is Invading Your Story

Whenever I write, I always have a carefully crafted playlist of music for my writing sessions. However, my writing playlist has recently taken a backseat to all my favorite Christmas tunes, and it got me thinking. What if all these carols and festive favorites started to have a subliminal effect on my writing? So just for fun, here are some signs that Christmas might be creeping into your narrative.

For Fantasy Writers – Your elves shoot longbows decorated with candy cane stripes and make toys in their treetop cities.

For Western Writers – Mistletoe keeps popping up in odd places like hardware stores, horse stables, outhouses…

For Sci-fi Writers – You put the rest of your story on hold as you dedicate yourself to figuring out a believable way to make it snow in space.

For Horror Writers – Your poltergeist forces the protagonist to start overcoming deeply ingrained character flaws and to give large gifts to big-eyed children.

For Memoir Writers – You keep interrupting the story of how you found faith in the face of grief to tell anecdotes about wanting a BB gun for Christmas.

For Historical Writers – Despite all your research, nothing interesting ever seemed to happen between January and mid-November.

For Thriller Writers – Your terrorists seem less interested in genocide and more interested in stealing presents.

For Mystery Writers – Your hardened PI delves into the dark underworld of San Francisco to find out how Santa gets all his presents into his sack.

For Steampunk Writers – Clockwork reindeer.

Game Story Review – Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

I’ve said before that Star Wars can never be ruined for me (click here for more on that). That being said, I’ve only played two games set in the Star Wars universe that stirred some of that powerful nostalgia in me. The first is the original X-wing game for CD-Rom back in 1994. The second is Knights of the Old Republic (or KOTOR to fans) developed by BioWare and released in 2003.

Premise

This game takes place about 4,000 years before the storyline in the original trilogy of movies. The Jedi are established throughout the galaxy as peace-keepers and the ultimate authority figures, but a splinter-group calling themselves the Sith have begun a war for control of known-space. It’s up to a colorful cast of characters including Jedi, soldiers, a Wookie, and a homicidal droid to choose a side and fight for the freedom of the galaxy or the lure of power in a new regime.

Review

Like many other RPGs, there’s a morality system in KOTOR that keeps track of all of your “good” and “bad” choices. What sets KOTOR apart is that the morality of the protagonist is the central focus of the storyline. Almost every sub-quest and mission can be done in a good or evil way, and the final act will be drastically different depending on whether you played on the light-side or the dark side. I especially like the way these choices tie-in with the identity of the protagonist. I won’t spoil it, but suffice it to say that there’s a reveal two-thirds of the way through the game that has been called one of the best twists in video gaming history.

However, there are some significant problems with the morality system in KOTOR. In my two-part review of the Mass Effect storyline (which was also produced by BioWare) I praised the way that the developers had provided role-playing flexibility for the player. If you wanted to play a good guy who wasn’t a pushover, you could do that. If you wanted to play a bully who had a soft spot, you could do that too. But in KOTOR, the moral choices have very little subtlety. “Do you choose to let the child call you names or do you cut his head off?” are the sort of extreme options the player is given.

This is compounded by the game being heavily influenced by the Jedi Order as presented in the three underwhelming prequel movies. The Jedi are presented as dogmatic and narrow-minded pacifists, which is probably the most boring character archetype you could have in a sci-fi RPG. Perhaps this was intended to make the Sith more sympathetic, but this breaks down when the Sith’s portrayal is little more than a one-dimensional desire to rule everything. It’s this lack of compelling arguments from either ideology that ultimately makes the plot one of the weaker elements of this game.

But I don’t play this game for the plot. I play this game to feel like I’m in the Star Wars universe, swinging lightsabers, buying droids, gambling in bars surrounded by weird aliens… that’s where the appeal of this game lies. The music, sound effects, and artwork all work in harmony to create an atmosphere that is both Star Wars and its own unique setting. Granted, there are some logical problems with the setting. For example, why is the technology level, political situation, and cultural norms all basically the same as they are in the movies which take place 4,000 in the future? Still, I’ve always considered the drastic time difference primarily an excuse for the developers to have some flexibility in their portrayal of the galaxy, and I think the game is better for it.

If you’re considering playing this game for the first time, I’d encourage you to give it a try. While the role-playing aspects leave much to be desired, the chance to play a well-balanced RPG in the Star Wars universe is too good to pass up. Enjoy the atmosphere, the action, and the experience. Also, don’t feel guilty about skipping all the dialogue about light/dark philosophy. You won’t be missing anything.

Planning Stops for My Book Tour

.As you may have already heard, I'm planning on my first multi-state book tour next spring, with several stops already planned in Washington (where I am) and Wyoming (where the tour ends). Does anyone know of any good book stores/libraries that might be interested in either a workshop on the craft of writing or an author event/reading in or around the following cities:

Washington

-          Bellingham

-          Olympia

-          Seattle

-          Tacoma

-          Port Townsend

-          Vancouver

Oregon

-          Portland

-          The Dalles

-          Pendleton

Idaho

-          Boise

-          Twin Falls

Utah

-          Logan

-          Ogden

-          Salt Lake City

Please leave a comment below or send me a private message via Facebook if you have any suggestions for bookstores or libraries in your area that I could approach. 

Top Ten Things an Author Can be Grateful For

The business of writing books can be discouraging, and there are times when you may feel like there’s little to be thankful for. However, there are blessings and silver linings in every situation, and the more we express gratitude for them, the happier we will be. With that in mind, here are ten things that any author can be grateful for regardless of sales numbers.

10. Friends that ask how your writing is doing, and then listen with interest.

9. That zen-like moment when the story is unfolding in front of you and your only job is recording what you see.

8. Getting that surge of inspiration after a long bout of writer’s block.

7. The sense of accomplishment that comes from seeing a formerly blank page now filled with your words.

6. Family members that believe in you, even when you don’t believe in yourself.

5. Getting a letter telling you how your story inspired someone.

4. The heft of a printed book that holds a story that was born in your imagination.

3. Catching a stranger reading your book.

2. Reading a book you published years ago and realizing that you’re a pretty darn good writer.

1. Every day, hour, and moment that you get to spend practicing your craft.

Top Ten Reasons to Write Today

10. If things are going badly, you can spend a little time in a world that’s just the way you want it.

9. Any amount of exercise is good for your creative muscles.

8. Inspiration strikes more frequently when you’re writing.

7. Any words you get down will bring you closer to a finished story that is all your own.

6. By pouring yourself into your craft, you can gain perspective and insight into the various victories and tragedies in your own life.

5. Your fans (both current and future) are counting on you.

4. Being published, winning an award, or being on a bestseller list doesn’t make you a writer. Writing makes you a writer.

3. Nobody else will write your story.

2. Your story can make a lasting impact in someone’s life.

1. Because you want to!

Finding Your Writing Process

At a recent writers conference, I had a writer approach me and ask what my writing process is. I obligingly described my nightly writing routine as well as giving few details on my writing goals and how I manage different projects. After listening for a minute or so, she shook her head and said “Nope. That won’t work.” It turns out that she had been going up to a variety of published authors and quizzing them to find a writing process that would work for her.

While I appreciate this writer’s enthusiasm and dedication, I don’t think she had the right idea about finding her process. While you can certainly gain great insight by looking at the way other writers go about their craft, the truth is that writing is an art form, and the way that you create your art needs to be as personal to you as the work that you’re creating. With that in mind, here are some questions to ask yourself to help find your own writing process.

What inspires you?

Whether it’s the crash of waves at the beach or a cup of hazelnut hot chocolate, what are the things that put you in a creative mood? How can you make those things a part of your regular writing routine? (hint: if you can’t go to the ocean, you can play the sound of waves while surrounding yourself with pictures of the sea)

How much could you easily write each day?

This isn’t the time for stretching. Ask yourself how much you could comfortably get done every time you write. No amount is too small (though less than one word might be selling yourself short). Once you have this number, set it as your minimum word count each day to build your confidence and get some momentum.

Do you know enough to get started?

Whether it’s world-building or learning the craft, many author procrastinate starting their first draft because they’re still “getting ready”. While planning and proper execution is important, remember that no amount of preparation is a substitute for words on the page.

Do you like to write?

This may seem like an obvious question, but I’ve seen too many writers become stressed and anxious about their writing. Remember that you’re a writer because you want to be one. If you find yourself dreading your writing time, ask yourself why, and then resolve the issue. Writing should be your escape, rather than something to hide from.


What’s your writing process? What suggestions would you give to other writers that are looking to find their own process?

My First Book Tour!

Big news for next spring! To kick off the upcoming release of Into the North (the sequel to The Beast Hunter) I’ll be participating in my first multi-state book tour next April.

All of this started when my good friend and fellow fantasy author Aaron Volner asked if I’d like to participate in WyoCon for 2017. I was very interested in extending my author appearances beyond Washington and Oregon, and we both agreed that this would be the perfect opportunity to not only expand my fan-base, but also celebrate the release of my next novel.

We’ve already got our first two scheduled stops, one in Rock Springs WY for WyoCon and one at a local library in Rawlins WY. We’re currently working on a route that will take me through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming, and my hope is to have stops all along the way.

If you’re in any of these areas and would like me to make an appearance near you, please leave a comment below, as now is the time to contact libraries, bookstores, and other venues about book signings and/or a creative writing workshop. Also, If you’d like to help coordinate the portion of my route in your area, please send me a private message via my Author Facebook Page.

Making the Right Decisions for Me

Saying “no” is hard. It’s one of the most direct negative words in our language, associated with other, darker negatives like “bad” and “wrong”. In our media and entertainment, good guys agree, while villains refuse. Most of the people who advocate saying no to the needs or requests of others are often perceived as the kind of hard-nosed, competitive business-types that we respect for their success but wouldn’t really want to hang out with.

Despite these hardwired associations, we can’t -and shouldn’t- say yes to everything. Last year, I made a goal to say “no” more frequently for the sake of my writing career. My intention had been to give myself more time for my writing while only doing those events and appearances that would be of significant benefit. But I wasn’t expecting the unprecedented number of requests from a variety of Cons, writing conferences, and author appearances. Everyone seemed to want to hear what I had to say, and with stars in my eyes, I agreed.

The result was a schedule that was choked with events, many of them requiring me to give presentations two, three, or four times a day, often for several days in a row. When I wasn’t presenting, I was usually manning a table in the vendor areas, trying to look pleasant as hundreds of strangers avoided eye contact as they walked past. To cut costs, I stayed in the homes of friends and acquaintances or commuted several hours a day between my home and the various venues. My meals usually consisted of protein bars and beef jerky, and I got very good at making sandwiches in the backseat of my car.

I wish I could say that my increase in effort resulted in an equal increase in success, but that wasn’t the case. While I did have some events that raised the bar on book sales and elevated me to a new level of speaker fees, the majority of the events I agreed to do ended as losses, some of them devastatingly so. Even worse was the time that I spent away from my family, friends, and writing, all of which I missed dearly.

Eventually, I couldn’t maintain the pace I’d set for myself. I got terribly sick two days before a Con and had to miss all three days of the event along with the six panels I was scheduled to be on. I had literally reached the point that I had to say no, and while I felt irrationally guilty about it, there was a definite sense of peace and validation that came from it. I found that I had realized something profound. There are two sides to every decision, and saying “no” to something means we are saying “yes” to something else.

With my calendar temporarily clear, I’m now making plans for 2017. I’ll certainly be busy, but I’ll be giving priority to those things that matter. Family, friends, writing, my faith, volunteer work, and the kind of events that will make good financial sense. This will mean saying “no” to some very nice people, but it also will mean saying “yes” to the things that I want my life to be about. I’m going to say “yes” to me.

Top Ten Advantages of Retro Gaming Over Modern Gaming

10. The graphics look the same even when I’ve lost my glasses.

9. There is no difficulty setting. Everything is hardcore mode!

8. No internet connection required.

7. What’s DLC?

6. The Mature rating of yesterday is the Teen rating of today.

5. You can gain appreciation for the MIDI as a musical instrument.

4. Who needs in-game tutorials, maps, and ‘Help’ text when you can have a book-length manual! (provided you can find a PDF of one online)

3. 100% completion just means beating the game.

2. Emulators.

1. What are micro-transactions?

Top Ten Challenges of Maintaining a Weekly Blog

10.

9.

8.

7.

6.

5.

4.

3.

2.

1. Coming up with good ideas.

My Two New Online Writing Courses

At the beginning of the month, I posted a questionnaire designed to figure out what writers were looking for in an online writing course. While I didn’t get as many responses as I was hoping for, I was able to use the feedback I did receive and combine it with the advice of other online instructors to create a program that would be appealing and easy to participate in. As a result, I now have two online courses that are open for registration.

Both courses are four weeks long, and consist of four weekly, live, one-hour, video group chats via Zoom where participants can ask questions and engage with me as I teach them face-to-face. For those who can’t be there for all of the live chats, every presentation will be recorded and posted on a private page for students to view at their convenience until each course is over.

The first of the two courses is called “Crafting a Complete Story” and covers everything from where to start your story to the three traits of a satisfying ending. The second course is called “A Novel in Four Drafts” and focuses on the purpose of each draft of a manuscript. Both classes are based on workshops that I’ve been giving at writer events for years, and I’m very excited to share these presentations with a wider audience.

If you’re interested in taking one of my online courses, the time to act is now. Each four-week course costs just $100, with one course happening every month. The last day to register for “Crafting a Complete Story” in October is the 3rd of October, so be sure to register now. All you have to do is provide your name and e-mail address. You will then receive an e-mail with an invoice for your $100 registration fee. Once that’s processed, you’ll be added to the private mailing list where you’ll receive links to the video chats.

I’m very excited to offer this new and affordable option to writers who are interested in learning more about their craft. If you or someone you know might be interested, please share this article and information with them to help build my online student community.

Click Here for my Online Writing Course Page

Trial and Error

Everyone loves getting something right the first time. Like cruising through a series of green lights all in a row, a steady momentum built on repeated success is an intoxicating sensation. There’s also a different -but no less satisfying- feeling that comes from accomplishing something that took significant time and effort to achieve. Both of these emotional reactions can be incredibly addicting, and many people spend their lives looking for their next hit.

But what about when things don’t work out? You try something, and it falls apart in front of you. Sometimes we can chalk this up to our own inexperience or bad luck. But it’s those times when everything looked like it should work perfectly that we experience debilitating frustration when it blows up in our faces.

So what do we do? If it’s me, I usually run through a fairly regular sequence of reactions. First, I decide that the entire universe is against me and that I’ll be a failure no matter what I do. Second, I realize that I was being irrational, but maybe I was kinda right anyway. Third, I try to analyze why things didn’t work like they were supposed to. Fourth, I come up with a plan that I convince myself will work so amazingly that not only will it solve this problem, but all other problems that I have or will have. Fifth, I try the new plan, which either works and I experience heart-racing euphoria, or it doesn’t work and I start over again with my fairly regular sequence of reactions.

As you may have guessed, I recently went through something much closer to the latter experience recently. I thought my plan was perfect, and when I implemented it, even my most conservative estimates of success had me quivering with excitement. The results were crushingly underwhelming, which was made worse by the fact that this was my ‘nth attempt, and I had told myself I wouldn’t try again if it failed.

So what did I do? In this case, I did something that was almost harder than completely giving up on something. I swallowed my pride. I went to someone who had succeeded where I had failed, and asked for help. I even took notes on what I did wrong. Like rubbing alcohol on an abrasion, the process was painful, but cleansing. I learned what my mistakes had been. I saw that it could be done, and that I could be the one to do it.

I’m still waiting to see the results of my latest attempt. It’s the best attempt I’ve made thus far, and I’m proud of the good work I’ve done. Will it succeed? I really, really hope so. And if it doesn’t? Maybe I can skip to reaction number three.

The Best Season for Writing

Autumn has always been a special time for me. Living in the shadow of Capitol Forest in the Pacific Northwest, I’m surrounded by green for the majority of the year. I love the coolness of green, but for one month there’s an explosion of different colors around my home. Reds, golds, and oranges paint the foot-wide maple leafs, and when the wind blows they dance through the sky to a perfumed carpet below.

The cooling weather holds other magical secrets. There are several open fields near my home, and when I drive late at night I’ll often see great swathes of mist in the silver moonlight. I’ll also gladly zip my jacket up to my chin and step out into a steady, day-long rain to listen to the symphony of pittering drops, each one striking its own note on the instruments of trees, cars, sidewalks, and people. The sights and smells of the change of season are intoxicating for me.

It’s not just the change in the weather that’s exciting. There’s a subtle, cultural anticipation of the holiday season as it approaches. It’s one of the reasons that Halloween is so important. It’s the first big holiday of the season, with Thanksgiving and Christmas to look forward to. Anticipation is half the fun for me, and I love a two-month build-up to the holidays.

Halloween is also special in its own right. Not because it’s scary, but because it’s a chance to play make-believe. People dress up, play games, eat a lot of candy… it’s a holiday for being a kid again.

All of this adds up to a season that is perfect for writing. There’s so much vibrant energy and excitement in the air, it’s hard to not feel creative. For a little while, I can forget about deadlines and stress and just enjoy being a creative person. Writing in the Fall reminds me why I wanted to be a writer in the first place, and for this time at least, I am happy.

Writing Course Questionnaire

As you may know, I’ve been working on creating an online writing course that will feature some of my most popular workshops. While I have plenty of ideas of how to put the course together, I need as much feedback as possible to make sure I’m meeting the needs of my students. Please take a couple of minutes to answer these questions and let me know what you’d like to see in an online writing course. You can submit your answers via comment or private message on social media.

1. Would you prefer a weekly course or a block of days scheduled close together?

2. How long would you prefer a weekly course to last? One month? 10 weeks? A single workshop?

3. How many days would you want a block course to last?

4. Which of the following activities would you want in your writing course? (list all that apply)
     a. A live, group video-chat featuring a workshop on the craft of writing.
     b. Peer-critiques via Google Docs or a similar platform.
     c. One-on-one chats with the instructor about your writing.
     d. Scheduled time to write while online and live with a group of writers.

5. What times during the week would you prefer the live portions of the class to take place? Mornings? Evenings? Weekends?

6. How long would you want the video-chat workshop to last? Half-an-hour? An hour? More or less?

7. Is there anything else that you would specifically look for when deciding whether to take an online writing course?

My Guild of Adventurers Q&A

Q: What is the Guild of Adventurers?

A: The Guild is my street team, a collection of some of my biggest fans who volunteer their time to help spread the word about me and my stories.

Q: What do they do?

A: One of the biggest ways that Guild members help me is by sharing and commenting on my posts on Facebook and Twitter. Other Guild members have also had a lot of success by sharing physical copies of books with friends or their local libraries. Some members have even gone to author events and Cons to hang out with me in person and show their support!

Q: What do they get out of it?

A: While being a member of my Adventurers Guild is a voluntary position, there are some perks that come with membership. Every month, each guild member who has done something to help spread the word receives an invitation to a live video hangout with me and their fellow guild members. In addition, all active guild members get a chance to participate in a monthly, online roleplay game that I created in the world of The Beast Hunter's Keltin Moore. Other goodies include free ebooks, behind-the-scenes insights into how my works-in-progress are doing, and first look at concept artwork and book covers.

Q: How do I join?

A: To join the Guild you need to do just two things. First, you need to have read at least one of my books and written an honest review on Amazon. Second, you need to subscribe to my mailing list. Be sure to include a link to your Amazon review when you subscribe. If you've already subscribed to my mailing list and want to join the Guild, you can send your review link to lindsay@lindsayschopfer.com with "Adventurers Guild Applicant" as the subject line. When you’re accepted into the Guild, you’ll be added to the Guild Facebook group as well as the Guild mailing list.

Q: I'm not interested in being in the Guild, but I'd still like to help. What can I do?

A: Some members of my Guild have created a Facebook Group for fans of my stories. There are no expectations or requirements to be a member, and it's a great way to connect with like-minded people without some pesky author always hanging around. ;) I also have a Patreon account for those folks who are interested in making a small, monthly pledge to show their support. Those who pledge can also receive complimentary gifts such as free books and video chats with me to talk about their own writing projects.

Q: What were those links again?

Sign-up for Lindsay's Mailing List

Fans of Lindsay Schopfer Facebook Group

Lindsay's Patreon Profile

Top 10 Underused Fish-Out-of-Water Storylines

10. Librarian in a gladiatorial tournament.

9. Pirate working as a barista.

8. Ballerina in a rodeo.

7. Limousine driver in a demolition derby.

6. Cowboy working in a call center.

5.. Car mechanic as a medieval blacksmith.

4. Dog groomer at an archaeological dig.

3. Professional weightlifter at a spelling bee.

2. Ninja as a massage therapist.

1. Stand up comic as a hostage negotiator.

My New Online Writing Course

Over the last few years, I’ve built up a catalog of popular workshops focusing on the craft of writing. In an effort to share these presentations with more writers, I’ve decided to create an online writing course featuring a combination of my most popular workshops, peer critiques, and instructor feedback.

Each 10-week course will include weekly, one-hour workshops via live video chat between myself and a small group of students. In addition, each student will have access to a Google Drive where they can submit up to five pages a week for peer critiques. Participants will be expected to read each other’s submissions and give feedback based on a set of guidelines that I’ll provide. In addition, each week I’ll do a half-hour private chat with one of the participants to talk about their work (maximum of one private chat per person). The total cost for the 10-week course is $250 per person.

To register, send an e-mail to lindsay@yourwritingadventure.comwith “Lindsay’s Writing Course” as the subject. Please also include your name and the time slot you would like to attend. You will then receive a PayPal invoice via e-mail for your registration fee. Your registration will be confirmed upon payment of your fee.

Registration is open for the following…

6pm PST Monday Nights
Begins September 5, Ends November 7
Registration closes: August 29

7pm PST Wednesday Nights
Begins September 7, Ends November 9
Registration closes: August 31

What Facebook and Twitter are saying about Lindsay’s workshops…

“Terrific workshop on characterization, Lindsay. Thanks–learned a lot.”

“Your class was an inspiration.”

“@LindsaySchopfer says cliches are “like little flags saying ‘you could be original here!'” which is my new fave definition.”

“Thank you @LindsaySchopfer – loved the motivation exercise in your session today! Learned a ton!”

“@LindsaySchopfer Loved your class today, thanks for sharing the knowledge.”

“@LindsaySchopfer This was my favorite workshop of the day! Take his workshops people!!”

My 2016 PNWA Summer Conference

Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend PNWA's annual summer conference. This was my 8th time attending this conference, and my 3rd year presenting at it. PNWA was the first event I ever went to as a professional writer, and I'll always be grateful to this great organization for all the help and opportunities I've gained as a result of my attendance over the years.

I'm not sure why this particular conference seemed so much more relaxed for me than past years. Perhaps it was because I only attended the first two days of the event. Perhaps it was the schedule, with its half-hour gaps in-between presentations and more than two hours for most meals. It could have also been the fact that I wasn't pitching to agents this year, which seemed to be the case with a growing number of my writing friends. Whatever it was, I noticed from the beginning of the first workshop that this event seemed to have a very positive vibe. It was relaxed, upbeat, and informative, and I enjoyed my time there immensely.

It didn't hurt that PNWA did a tremendous job of setting up my two presentations. From friendly moderators to generous room sizes, I felt like the staff and volunteers really valued me as a presenter, which helped my confidence and I feel ultimately contributed to the value of my workshops. I spoke about story beginnings on Thursday and character motivation on Friday. Both presentations were very well attended, with nearly every seat occupied by an engaged, enthusiastic attendee. I had a blast giving both workshops, and judging from the feedback that I got from attendees and the staff, it seems like the majority of my audiences had a great time too.

I wasn't able to attend very many presentations from other speakers, but I enjoyed the ones I did attend. Sabrina York was as friendly and useful as ever as she discussed practical marketing techniques, and Robert Dugoni was a wonderful keynote, though there was definitely a more somber tone to his comments than I've heard in the past, due to a frightening stroke he had earlier this year. Still, he seems healthy and hale now, and he received a well-deserved standing ovation at the end of his comments.

As I said before, I can't speak for the entire conference, as I was only able to attend the two days that I presented and could only partake in a fraction of the scheduled offerings. But I was very happy with my experience, and will definitely be planning to submit proposals for 2017's program.

July Updates for 2016

It’s been a few months since my last update on what’s going on with me and my writing. There’s plenty that’s going on, so here’s a little of what’s in the works:

The Beast Hunter Sequel

Regular fans will know I’ve been working hard to try to get Into the North published in 2016. I know what I want the story to look like when it’s done, I just need the time to put it all together. Unfortunately, June and July were terrible months for writing because of the many author appearances and events I took part in. Luckily, August is wide open, and I’m hoping to keep it that way. I’m definitely looking forward to spending some quality time with Keltin, Jaylocke, and some other familiar faces in the land of beasts.

New Artwork

Everyone knows that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but in my experience there are plenty of people who do just that. For example, Lost Under Two Moons saw a distinct rise in sales when I introduced the improved version of the cover image last year, and I’m hoping for the same sort of result with The Beast Hunter as I’ve begun working with a new artist who is very talented and a fan of Keltin Moore as well. We’re currently working together on updating the image for the first book in that series and will then begin work on Into the North for later this year.

New Websites

I’ve had issues with my author website and coaching website for a while. Both are buggy and cumbersome when it comes to updates, so I’m currently working on creating new versions of them. My hope had been to have them both completed in time for the PNWA conference this week, but I’ll have to be content with getting them up some time next month.

A New Writing Course in the Works

For years, I’ve had participants in my workshops and presentations ask how they could attend another class of mine. Up until now, the only options I could give them were to watch for my workshops at their local library or writing group, or else hire my services as a writing coach. However, I’ve never been satisfied with that, and I recently decided to do something that would give more people a greater opportunity to learn from my growing catalog of creative-writing workshops.

With that in mind, I’m currently working on creating a ten-part course which will feature my most popular workshops along with a combination of writing time, peer critiques, and instructor critiques. My hope is to have both an in-person version as well as an online variant. I’m still figuring out the details for these, so if you have any requests, suggestions, or questions, please feel free to leave a comment below or get in touch with me via social media.

Top Ten Easy Things to Check Off Your Daily To-do List

July is turning out to be an incredibly busy month for me, and I’m finding myself fantasizing about having a blank to-do list. With that in mind, here are ten very easy things we can all check off our daily to-do lists.

10. Get out of bed feet first.

9. Hold the correct end of the fork while eating.

8. Wear more than one article of clothing while driving.

7. Spell your name correctly on the first try.

6. Turn up the volume when a good song is playing.

5. Look at your phone at least once.

4. Say something funny (at least, YOU thought it was funny).

3. Open doors before going through them.

2. Have at least one idle thought an hour while awake.

1. Resolve to get something done tomorrow.

What is Clockwork Dragon?

Yesterday I got to participate in an online launch party for the sci-fi anthology Unnatural Dragons. This was the first collection of stories from Clockwork Dragon authors, and included contributions from Jeffrey Cook, Sechin Tower, Lee French, and myself. I’m also going to get to hang out with my fellow Clockwork Dragon folks tomorrow at Capital Indie Book Con at Evergreen State College. With these and many more shared events in the future, I thought it might be a good time to explain just what Clockwork Dragon actually is.

The short answer is that several local indie authors decided to partner together to help facilitate selling books at Cons, festivals, and other events. As such, we are a co-op, splitting table fees and other costs in exchange for shared display space. This allows us to attend far more events that we could by ourselves as well as having multiple people available to watch the vendor table. But Clockwork Dragon is much more than that.

The philosophy of the group is to use soft-sell techniques to pair the right reader with the right book, whether it’s our own or someone else’s. That means that when someone comes to our table, we don’t act like carnival barkers and aggressively start shoving our books in their face. We let people browse, and if they seem interested in actually shopping, we ask what kind of book they like to read. Based on their answer, we’ll make a recommendation of whatever book on the table would fit their needs the best. I’ve seen this in action, and it’s a lot of fun when everything connects together.

The best part about being in Clockwork Dragon is that it allows me to play to my strengths while relying on others to do what they’re best at. I consider myself very lucky to have partnered together with such terrific authors (including Nikki McCormack, our newest member) and I look forward to continuing to work together to spread the word about our stories.

My Experience at Westercon/GEAR Con 2016

I’ve done a variety of events in the last few years. Writing conferences, retreats, festivals, cons… each type of event seems to have its own way of doing things. I consider Westercon/GEAR Con to have been my first traditional-style con, with round-the-clock programming, at least six panels during each hour of the day, and cosplayers representing movies, games, and a variety of speculative fiction tropes.

Of course, I saw most of the Con from behind the Clockwork Dragon table in the vendor building. While this did occasionally become fairly boring, it did give me a great opportunity to see some terrific outfits and meet with dozens of interesting people. Topics of conversation with passing attendees included the various incarnations of Thor in the Marvel Universe, the accuracy of 19th century rifles, and the anatomy of various monsters. It was a wonderfully nerdy time.

The conversations were more focused but often just as interesting at the various panels that I sat on. With subjects ranging from steampunk media recommendations to maintaining suspension of disbelief, I had some great dialogues with my fellow panelists as well as the audience members. I will admit that the casual atmosphere took a little getting used to, as I'm used to a more structured, orderly set-up, but by the end of the Con I felt like I had at least started to get a handle on the informal culture.

While sales of my books were not the best I've seen at an event, they were respectable and helped make the trip a productive one. I was a little surprised that all of my titles sold almost equally as well, but that was likely the result of this being a multi-genre Con. It will be interesting to see how my various titles compare at the other three events I have coming up this month.

While Westercon was a good experience, there's a part of me that looks forward to next year when GEAR Con will be on its own once more. Thrilling as the big Cons are, there's something to be said for the more intimate setting of a smaller event. It's also easier to remember people's names.

The Benefits of Outlines

I am not an organized writer. I rarely have a detailed plan before I start a story, and what little pre-planning I do have is almost never written down. But even as an organic writer (I resent the term ‘pantser’) I can see the advantages of having a road map while navigating the creative process. With that in mind, here are some of the benefits of outlines for all types of writers.

They Reduce Start-Overs

How many times have you been working on a story and realized that you’re going in the completely wrong direction? How often have you been forced to go back a chapter (or worse, back to the beginning) and re-write what you spent so much time creating in the first place? Having an outline potentially prevents the busywork that comes from flying by the seat of your pants while writing.

They Help with Writer’s Block

This is probably my most frequent use of outlines. I’ll be stuck part-way through my first draft with a clear picture of where I want to end up but no idea how to get there. As I brood over my dilemma, I may get a flash of inspiration of the perfect way to make that connection. Fearful that I’ll forget, I quickly jot down a brief sequence of events to remember how to get myself out of the mess I’ve created. Even if my writing doesn’t go according to that plan, it’s usually enough to get me back into a creative groove.

They Make Backstory Easily Accessible

While a writer may benefit from composing a full, detailed description of the events leading up to a story’s beginning, it’s often more efficient and effective to have a succinct list of just the highlights. Not only does this give the writer more time to work on the manuscript itself, but a list of events is a much better reference guide than a short essay on a character’s life history would be when the writer is trying to remember specific details.

They’re Adaptable to the Artist

Nobody but you will ever see your outlines. They are solely for your benefit. While many authors may share their own refined method for clearly identifying key details in their work, nobody will know if you don’t do it exactly the way your favorite author does it. You can use whatever method or style that compliments the way your creative mind works.

Revisiting Other World

Last week I had the opportunity to serve as a guest speaker for the St. Martins University writer’s retreat. In addition to speaking on the state of contemporary publishing, I was invited to do a short reading from one of my stories. Usually in this situation, I’d pick up The Beast Hunter and read the prologue which was originally the short story that inspired the rest of the book. However, I’d just returned from an incredibly successful weekend at the Brass Screw Confederacy in Port Townsend and I was out of copies of my steampunk monster hunting novel.

I considered reading something from my collection of fantasy short stories, but in the end I picked up a copy of Lost Under Two Moons, my survivalist sci-fi novel and first published title. I was a little nervous about reading it out loud, since it’s written in a journal format and therefor has a first-person POV which can be awkward reading out loud. Still, I gave it a shot, reading the first entry and half of the second one, ending at what I thought was a pretty good cliffhanger. I finished the reading and my presentation, then invited my students to chat with me and check out my books. As soon as it was over, I had a lady in the first row jump up, grab a copy of Lost Under Two Moons, and ask to buy it.

Later in the week, I was attending another event with some of the students when one of them asked to buy a copy of my first novel. We started to chat as I autographed the book, and he eventually asked me a question that I’ve heard dozens of times: “Which of your books is your favorite?” My usual response is that you can’t ask a parent which child they prefer, but lately I’ve started giving a different answer, at least to the people that aren’t looking for me to choose which book of mine they should buy.

The truth is that I’ve always seen my two novels as aspects of myself. The Beast Hunter represents those times when things are going right. While Keltin Moore has many problems in his life, he also has a clear purpose, a variety of skills, and a tight network of friends that will always support him. On the other hand, Lost Under Two Moons represents those times when things don’t go right. Richard Parks’ struggle for survival is marred by failed ideas, unexpected challenges, and things going wrong when they should have worked. Maybe that’s why I tend to focus on The Beast Hunter more when I’m doing readings or talking to fans.

Still, by taking a second look at this novel, I’ve rediscovered some of the more uplifting messages it has. Richard’s flashes of inspiration are followed by driving determination, a will to succeed and survive. He makes mistakes, but he continues on. He faces tragedy, but he appreciates the moments of beauty and peace that he finds. I’m glad that I took the time to revisit my story a little, and I’m definitely planning on using these insights as I continue to work on its sequel.


If you’re interested in checking out Lost Under Two Moons, it’s currently available for just $0.99 on the Kindle. This special offer will end this Sunday.

Lost Under Two Moons Amazon Page

Success at the 2016 Brass Screw Confederacy

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Brass Screw Confederacy, a steampunk-themed festival in the picturesque town of Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. This was my second year attending the three-day event, although this time I spent most of my time in the Bazaar of the Bizarre at the Clockwork Dragon vendor table rather than wandering around town. Still, I got to see some wonderful costumes and did get out a little to give two presentations and an author reading.

My first presentation was called the Roots of Steampunk, focusing on the influence of Victorian Era technology and literature on modern steampunk. There were a lot of people in the audience that were new to this intriguing sub-genre, and I was glad to hear that my presentation served as a useful introduction to the weird and wonderful goings-on around them. My second presentation, Writing Steampunk, outlined some of the unique challenges and benefits of setting your story in a work of steam and clockwork. I also discussed what specific things a dedicated fan would expect to see in a story claiming to be steampunk, which many of the attending writers were very grateful for.

Here I am dressed as Keltin Moore
at the Clockwork Dragon table

As much fun as it was to give my presentations, I found my greatest success at the Clockwork Dragon vendor table. Joined by fellow authors Nikki McCormack and Lee French, we talked with dozens of terrific people, answering questions and trying to help them find a book that they would love. We had a great time, and by Sunday we had completely sold out of The Beast Hunter. This was a milestone for me, and while I was sorry for those people who arrived too late to receive a copy, it was definitely a problem that any author would be happy to have.

While I wish I had been able to attend more of the festivities and events, I enjoyed my time in Port Townsend and look forward to returning the the Brass Screw again next year. If you'd like to see my presentations or purchase one of my books (including The Beast Hunter) I'll be at Westercon in Portland July 1-4.

Top Ten Questions a Creative Writing Instructor Doesn't Want to Hear

10. What if I want to annoy my reader? (I've actually been asked this one)

9. How can I make my advertising brochures more exciting?

8. Why don't you provide snacks?

7. Could you stop talking? You're distracting me from your slides.

6. I brought my novel. Could you take a look at it?

5. How can you be a fantasy author if you haven't read my favorite fantasy novel?

4. You don't have handouts? Could I have your presentation notes then?

3. How do I know you won't steal my story ideas?

2. Can I get a discount for your book for attending your class?

1. Do you know my friend? She's a writer.

The Dangers of Origin Stories

With the current trend of reboots, adaptations, and re-imaginings in movies and television, we’re seeing more and more origin stories involving characters that we already know. While many of these stories are perfectly serviceable, seeing so many of them at once provides an opportunity to examine some of the potential issues that might come from telling the story of how a beloved character (or group of characters) became the way they are.

Origin Stories are Formulaic

These types of stories tend to have a very predictable structure. Hero starts out in a life that’s normal but also flawed in some way; something terrible happens (this is usually followed by gaining super-powers if it’s a superhero story); the hero has a transition-period including initial shock and followed by a training montage; tries to quit; has a change of heart; beats his first villain and sets things up for a sequel. This is a perfectly acceptable character arc and can be done very well, but it can also feel forced and contrived if each stage of the formula isn’t properly driven by the motivations of the characters involved. It’s also hard to distinguish one story from another after a while if they all follow the same structure.

The Discovery Period is Often Boring

How often can we see a hero freak out and say “this is crazy/a dream/not happening/etc.” before we start rolling our eyes? Of course, it would be unrealistic for our hero to have his first encounter with a supernatural element (superpowers, a magical world, aliens, etc.) without being surprised, but the portrayal of his gradual acceptance of the fantastic almost always takes longer than the amount of time the audience needs to accept it. Unlike our hero, as fans of speculative fiction, we’re used to seeing dragons and women who can turn their body into water, so while it might be logical for the hero to have a transitional period from his old world to the new, there’s also the risk of losing an audience that’s tired of watching their hero cluelessly floundering around.

Forced Training Montages

Because origin stories always have an initial villain for the hero to defeat, there has to be a growing period where the hero develops the skills necessary for the climax to happen. Unfortunately, nearly every origin story takes place over a very short time, resulting in a training sequence that takes the hero from goofy fumblings to CGI-assisted awesomeness in the course of just a few days. There are a few exceptions to this (Batman Begins comes to mind) which show the gradual development of a characters’ iconic skills and equipment, but this essential period of growth is usually glossed over in favor of contrived love stories and grieving over dead parents.

The Good Stuff Comes Later

The origin story rarely has a hero facing his greatest nemesis or even assuming his “final form” of coolness. This makes sense, as the storytellers are typically trying to establish a franchise with multiple sequels. But the problem with starting out with an intentionally weaker story is that you may lose your audience at Episode One, with no chance of continuing the franchise until the next reboot/origin story. Nobody cares how cool the third installment would have been if the first installment failed.


Again, I’m not saying that all origin stories are bad, but there are potential hazards in writing them, just as there are with any other type of story. If you’re an author working on the first installment of a series, my advice is to be mindful of your audience, and remember that your top priority should be telling a good story in the first installment, or else the follow-ups may never happen.

Top Ten Lame Reasons to Not Write a Blog Article

Today marks my 100th post on this blog, so it seemed appropriate to write a list of bogus excuses for all of my fellow bloggers out there.

10. My dog ate my laptop.

9. I’ve got a computer virus that turns all my periods into commas.

8. Every time I upload a picture, it’s facing away from me.

7. I’m only typing with the backs of my fingers until next Tuesday. Don’t ask why.

6. I tried dictating my article to my computer, which worked great, except I was dictating into Notepad.

5. There’s a squirrel out my window.

4. For some reason, I can’t type the word “the”. Wait…

3. All of my followers (except you) asked me not to post today.

2. Cat videos.

1. I changed my font color to white and now I can’t find my article.

On Naming Characters

Whenever I give my workshop on word choice to a group of writers, I’m almost always asked about how to name the various people in a story. With that in mind, here are a few tips for christening characters.

Character Names are Seen, not Heard

Remember that the majority of your audience will encounter your character names visually, rather than audibly. So, choose a name that looks like your character. Think about the combination of letters and what they suggest when they are seen together on a printed page. Does “Devon” sound more dangerous than “Lloyd”, or does “Natasha” sound more mysterious than “Joan”? What sort of first impression does a name give your reader?

Don’t Overuse Starting Letters

Be wary of giving names that begin with the same letter to multiple characters in the same book. If your book is really gripping (which is usually the goal) readers may resort to a form of speed reading where they glance at the first letter of a name to identify who is speaking. Having a cast of characters that includes a Roger, Richard, and Ryan may simply be inviting unnecessary confusion.

Avoid Naming Unimportant Characters

Think of the way Hollywood decides how to pay its extras and bit-part actors. Basically, if a character is mentioned in the screenplay, then the actor playing him is considered a cast member with a spot in the credits and a healthy paycheck. If the character isn’t mentioned in the screenplay, then the actor is an extra, and might get a free lunch out of the experience. Just remember to ask yourself, does this character deserve a spot in the credits for his contribution to your story?


To get more writing tips like this each month, you check out my newsletter here.

To work with me as a writing coach, you can check out my Fiverr gigs here.

Game Story Review – Planescape Torment

While I’ve done a fair number of opinion pieces dealing with the storytelling in video games, it’s been a long time since I last did a proper game story review. With that in mind, I was sitting around this morning trying to think of a good game to review, when my random music playlist started playing a song from the soundtrack of this amazing 1999 computer RPG from developer Black Isle Studios. Good enough for me.

Premise

The main character is known as the Nameless One, a man without a past who can’t die. After waking up in a morgue, he begins a quest to discover not only who he is, but how to stop the endless cycle of death and rebirth he is trapped within. He soon finds himself surrounded by an eclectic band of adventurers as he journeys through Sigil, a world-between-worlds where castaways, demons, monsters, and even gods wander the streets and try to scrape together a living.

Review

While the premise of this game may seem stereotypical at first, you should know that this game handles nearly every RPG trope with its own unique style. Unlike a spoof game like The Bard that openly mocks things like random monsters having money or the player character being a Chosen One, in Planescape the developers have used the same set of paints to create a picture that is completely different from what we normally see.

For example, while most games would use an amnesiac protagonist as an easy way to avoid lots of initial backstory and reveal the world and plot during the course of gameplay, regaining the Nameless One’s memories is the primary conflict of the plot. There is no world coming to an end, no MacGuffin to find or princess to save. The story is a very personal one, the journey of a single man to learn who and what he is.

Another difference in this game is the focus placed on dialogue. While most games in this genre use combat as the main way for characters to gain in skill and advance the plot, in Planescape it’s in conversation that the majority of the gameplay takes place. Almost every NPC encountered has an expansive, branching dialogue tree, and nearly every conversation has a potential XP reward associated with it. As a result, the world of Sigil feels more realistic than any number of beautifully-rendered backdrops from less story-driven games.

  

A comparison of Planescape's dialogue trees with a more modern RPG.

So, is there a downside to this heavy focus on storytelling? Oddly enough, I think the biggest issue with this game is re-playability. While the writing in the dialogue trees is often interesting and evocative, it is surprisingly confining. There’s a clear best-option in each conversation with an associated reward attached. The lack of focus on combat also means that the dungeon sections are more tedious than enjoyable, which is weird since most of the equipment and skills in the game are used for fighting.

If you’re a fan of story-heavy RPGs, I would say that this is definitely a game to play all the way to completion at least once in your life, though you may never feel a desire to go through it all over again a second time.