I'm Moving my Blog

I've been intending to transfer my blog to my official website for a while now. This will make it easier for me to manage the blog, as well as make my articles and features easier to access for fans. I'll leave this blog up for now so that people can still read the past articles, but all future articles will be appearing at the following location:

My Official Website

A New Home for my Creative Writing Classes

A couple of months ago, I wrote an article announcing that because of significant life changes, I'd have to reevaluate my career as an author and creative writing instructor. in the article, I said that while I would continue to write no matter what, I would also have to change my short-term goals in order to better support my changing situation. Well, I'm very happy to announce that I've had a new opportunity present itself which I feel will help with both aspects of my life.

I was recently made a non-credited instructor for South Puget Sound Community College and will be teaching creative writing for their continuing education program. The classes will take place at their Lacey building, just a few miles north of my home in Olympia. I've been given free reign to create all of my own curriculum for the weekly, evening classes. I've got two four-week courses happening in the summer, and another two courses in the fall.

I'm so very grateful to have this new opportunity to help new writers learn their craft while at the same time do what I need to do to support my family. If you or someone you know has always wanted to learn more about creative writing, please take the time to check out my course offerings for this summer and fall. All classes are open to the public, and are designed to both educate and motivate.

My Creative Writing Courses

Looking Back on My First Book Tour

After traveling more than a thousand miles through five different states to promote the latest Keltin Moore novel, my greatest reaction to the trip is a feeling of gratitude. I'm grateful to Aaron Volner for orchestrating the stops along the route. I'm grateful to the friends and family that graciously gave me a place to stay along the way. I'm grateful to the library branch managers, book store owners, and event organizers that were willing to take a chance on a largely unknown author from the Pacific Northwest. And I'm especially grateful for all of the new fans and friends that I gained while on the road.

I wonder if perhaps readers are a little spoiled in the Pacific Northwest, with so many authors and writer communities in the region. This certainly didn't seem to be the case in some of the more rural areas that I visited on the tour. More than once, I'd be chatting with someone at my signing table and they'd have a sudden realization that I was the author of the books laid out in front of us. They would get so excited! I remember one sweet new fan who bought all four of my books and then was delighted to find out that not only was I planning on signing all four, but I was personalizing each one. She was so thrilled, she had to run and tell her husband about it!

There were other folks who seemed equally uncertain about how to take me, if not quite as excited about it. One man in Salt Lake City took ten minutes deciding whether to buy The Beast Hunter. He'd pick it up, read a random page, set it down, ask a question, pick it up, read a page, etc. Eventually, he decided to buy it from me to save himself the extra cost of ordering it online and paying for shipping. 

"Great!" I said, taking one of the books and opening to the front page. "Would you like it autographed?"

He eyed me suspiciously. "Does that cost extra?"

I suppressed a smile. "Of course not."

"Well, ok then."

 "All right," I said. "Would you like it personalized?"

"Does that cost extra?"

Despite a very few exceptions, everyone that I met was friendly and enthusiastic to have me among them. While attendance at most events was modest, those that came were always excited to be there, and that's what counts. One bookstore owner in Rock Springs went so far as to give me one of her handmade window displays "to remember them by". I'll certainly remember all of the wonderful people I met on the road, and I look forward to doing another book tour in the future. 

Hello from the Road!

I'm currently in Wyoming taking part in my first book tour, and thus far it's been an exciting and exhausting experience (nice alliteration, eh?) I've done a couple of events so far, one in Salt Lake City and another in Rawlins, Wyoming. While attendance at my events has been somewhat sparse, book sales are fairly strong, and I've met some great people along the way.

I'm especially grateful to the friends and family that have generously invited me into their homes along the route, which has cut down on expenses and helped to dull the pain of being separated from my family back home. I'm especially grateful to fellow fantasy author Aaron Volner, who not only orchestrated this trip but has also been doing the lion's share of playing host to a wandering book writer.

Later today, I'll do a reading and sign books at the Book Barn in Rock Springs, and tomorrow I'll be doing more of the same at WyoCon, I'll also be giving a new, fun presentation on how to hunt and kill monsters. I'm looking forward to both events, but I have to admit that my most anticipated stop will be the last one. After all, there's no place like home. :)

List of Stops for my April Book Tour

Here is a complete list of all the stops I'll be making to celebrate the release of "Into the North".

Location: Tumwater, Washington
Venue: Tumwater Timberland Library
Date: April 11
Time: 6:00-7:30 pm PDT
Details: This is the novel's official launch party. There will be a reading, prize drawings, book signings, and yummy goodies.
Click here for the event page

Location: Online, Facebook
Venue: Facebook event page
Date: April 15
Time: 4:00-7:00 pm PDT
Details: This is the online launch party and will feature five guest authors of fantasy and science fiction. Each author will have half an hour for giveaways, games, and a chance to talk about their stories.
Click here for the event page

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Venue: Weller Book Works
Date: April 24
Time: 6:30-8:00 pm MDT
Details: Reading and book signing.
Click here for the event page

Location: Rawlins, Wyoming 
Venue: Carbon County Library System
Date: April 27
Time: 4:00-7:30 pm MDT
Details: I'll be teaching two workshops at the library as well as signing copies of my books. From 4-5 I'll be giving my "Making the Most of Your Writing Time" presentation, and then from 5:30-7 I'll teach a workshop on "Creating Original Worlds".
Click here for the event page

Location: Rock Springs, Wyoming
Venue: Book Barn
Date: April 28
Time: TBA
Details: Book signing event.
No event page

Location: Rock Springs, Wyoming
Venue: WyoCon at the White Mountain Library
Date: April 29
Time: 12:00-5:00 pm MDT
Details: In addition to selling books and socializing, I'll be giving a brand new presentation called "Hunting Monsters with Steampunk Tech". It'll be a fun combination of real hunting techniques combined with fanciful creatures and is designed purely for entertainment purposes. :)
Click here for the event page


I want to thank Aaron Volner for putting this tour together for me. To learn more about him and his own upcoming fantasy titles, you can check out his blog at the link below:

Aaron's Author Blog

Updates on “Into the North” for March 16

The Beta Read is Over

This was by far my most exciting beta read yet. With a record-number of readers and the most feedback I’ve ever received on a novel, I feel more confident than ever that fans of Keltin Moore will be happy with this new installment in the series.

New Cover

Cover artist Maura Moffat has returned to do the cover for my latest novel and I couldn’t be happier with the end result. Just this last week, her new artwork went live for both the print and e-book version of “The Beast Hunter” so be sure to check that out as well.

Two Launch Parties

There are two options for fans who want to help celebrate the launch of “Into the North”. First, for those who live in the South Puget Sound region, the Tumwater Timberland Library has agreed to host a special book signing and reading event on April 11. For those who are not local, there will be an online Facebook party on April 15. I’m very excited to announce that we’ll have some terrific sci-fi and fantasy guest authors at this event, so be sure to check back often to see who will be making an appearance. Click the links below to check out the event pages for each party.

Launch Party at the Tumwater Timberland Library

Online Facebook Launch Party

The Book Tour

We have a confirmed stop in Salt Lake City several more in Wyoming. While we had hoped for more stops, at this point, we’re not giving up hope, with several more potential venues along the way. Fingers crossed!

My Life is Going to Change

I don't usually divulge personal information in my blog, as I prefer to keep my life outside of writing private. But in the last few weeks, there have been developments that will affect all aspects of my life, including my writing, so I thought I'd talk a little about them here.

My wife and I have been trying to have children for years now, and were recently blessed with the news that not only is she pregnant, but we're having twins. It's hard to describe all of my feelings right now. Excited. Humbled. Terrified. I'm still struggling to process the emotions fighting for dominance within me as I consider what the future will be.

One thing is clear. I will need to increase my efforts to provide for my growing family. At this point, I'm still not sure what that change will specifically look like. Most likely, I'll have to get an additional job that may or may not be related to the world of writing.

Regardless, my wife and I have agreed that I will continue to write, though the time dedicated to my craft may be limited. My hope is that book sales, speaker fees, and my online courses will one day allow me to focus exclusively on my passions while working, but I accept that -in the short-term at least- I will need to act responsibly for the welfare of those that I care about the most.

As a final note, I want to assure my fans that the book tour will still happen, and the release of Into the North will continue as planned.


My Books on Amazon

My Creative Writing Courses

My Patreon Account

Updates on "Into the North" for March 3

As last week's 'blog article' suggested, I've been working hard to get Into the North ready for its April release. I'm glad to say that I've managed to stick to my revised schedule, and it looks like everything will ultimately fall into place. Here are some of the coolest developments for the upcoming release...

The beta Read has Begun

Last Monday, I finished the third draft of the manuscript and sent it to my team of test readers for review. While they're working on a pretty tight schedule, the initial feedback I've received has been positive, and I look forward to getting their in-depth responses soon.

The Cover is Coming Along

I've been working with a new artist to create a cover that is evocative and visually exciting. We've already created a new cover for The Beast Hunter to create a unique brand for the series, so keep your eyes open for that. If you'd like to get a sneak peak of the new cover for Beast Hunter, you can see it at the Lindsay Schopfer Art Page.

Launch Party Planning

I'll be returning to the Tumwater Timberland library for the launch party of Into the North. The party is set for Tuesday, April 11, at 6pm. There will also be an online launch party held on Facebook, but we're still working out the details for that.

The Book Tour

We're still working out the stops for the trip. While finding book stores and libraries willing to take a chance on an unknown author has been tough, we do have stops in three states planned already, with high hopes for additional stops that are still in the works. I'll be sure to post my travel schedule as soon as I know what it is.


I want to thank all of my fans for their support and patience as I prepare for this milestone in my writing career. I can't wait to share this new story with you all!

Quick Update on the Book Tour

We're just a few months away from my first five-state book tour, and while I may not have as many stops planned as I might have hoped, we're moving forward and making progress. The most exciting development is a bookstore in Salt Lake City that is currently working with my tour organizer to not only schedule a book signing at their store but to also begin stocking my books on its shelves! This is very exciting for me, and I'll be sure to announce a time and place once everything is finalized so that all my Utah fans can mark their calendars.

The other update I wanted to share is that I've created a goal on my Patreon page that will help pay for the many costs that will come with this trip, including promotional materials, travel expenses, and the cost of printing and shipping all the books that I’ll need for the trip. After the trip, any future funds will go towards the expenses listed on my main Patreon page, as well as saving up for the next book tour.

My Patreon Page

Two New Online Homes For My Fans

Thanks to the amazing efforts of my Guild of Adventurers, there are two new places for fans of my work to interact and have fun. First, we have the Fans of Lindsay Schopfer Goodreads group page. Visitors to the group can find multiple conversation topics about my books and stories. Some of the topics you can check out include:

The Characters of The Beast Hunter

Would You Survive?

Questions for Lindsay

…and several others. You can also add your own conversation topics, as well as create polls, participate in challenges, and find similar book recommendations. All you need to participate is a free Goodreads account.

The second new online home for fans is the Lindsay Art Tumblr page. While there isn’t a lot of artwork up right now, the goal of this page is to provide a place for fan art, official artwork (covers, promotional art, etc.) and other related visuals. You can also ask questions specifically about the artwork of my stories here and even chat with some of the artists who have worked with me in the past. You do not need a Tumblr account to upload pictures or ask questions.

There’s also my Fans of Lindsay Schopfer Facebook page for those who are interested in less structured interactions. Whatever your tastes, I hope you take a moment to check out the hard work of my Guild of Adventurers and maybe even make some new friends. Have fun!

Updates to my Guild of Adventurers

Recently, I sent a survey to the members of my street team (aka my Guild of Adventurers) in an effort to improve how we do things. What follows are the newly updated details I sent to all current adventurers.

Note: If you’re not in my Guild of Adventurers but would like to join, all you need to do is sign up for my monthly newsletter and provide a link to an honest Amazon review you’ve written for one of my stories.

The Goals of the Guild

The way I see it, the Guild of Adventurers has three main purposes:

1. Increase my fan base.
2. Develop a growing community among my fans. 
3. Spread the social and promotional workload so that I can dedicate more time to writing.

I am humbled and so very grateful to know that I have fans that care enough about these goals to dedicate their time and talents to make them happen. Thank you again for your support!

What a Guild Member Does

Several adventurers said in the recent survey that they weren’t sure what they should be doing as a member of the guild. Here’s a list of some of the things that a typical guild member does:

• Like and/or +1 posts from Lindsay's author accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Google+.
• Share/re-tweet posts from Lindsay's author accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Google+.
• Comment on posts from Lindsay's author accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Google+.
• Comment on Lindsay's blog posts.
• Participate in discussions on Lindsay's fan pages on Facebook and/or Goodreads.
• Recommend one of Lindsay’s books to a friend or group.
• Request one or more of Lindsay's books at a local bookstore, library, or school.
• Recommend one of Lindsay's online writing courses to a friend or group.

A typical guild member does one or more of these types of activities at least a couple of times a month.

"I Want to Do More!"

In addition to the typical types of activities listed above, there are plenty of ways for guild members to take their volunteering one step further. Here are some ideas:

• Approach a bookstore/library/school/writing group about an author appearance from Lindsay.
• Be an admin and/or moderator for a Lindsay Schopfer fan page on a social media platform. (examples include Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.)
• Coordinate/GM an online role-play for Guild members.
• Make/craft something for Lindsay's swag bag.

The Benefits of Being in the Guild

While participating in the guild is a voluntary activity, there are some benefits to being one of my adventurers. Guild members get first look at new artwork, story updates, and “behind-the-scenes” details on my work. They’re also the first to be invited to participate in beta reads and fan surveys. Guild members will receive a monthly newsletter featuring Guild-specific news and updates. All adventurers will also be invited to a monthly, online video hangout where we can all chat together and build friendships and community. For those who are interested, there will also be a monthly online game hosted by a guild member.

In addition to these universal benefits, there will be a special “goody bag” for those guild members that go above and beyond on a given month. Examples of these sort of adventurers include group moderators, blog writers that feature a guest blog from me, crafters and artists that donate their work, and those special folks who set up author appearances for me. These adventurers will receive special mention in the monthly Guild newsletter and will be invited to pick something from the goody bag.

For Those Who Feel Overwhelmed

Several people answered in the survey that they felt like they didn’t have time to participate in the guild. First off, it doesn’t take much to be helpful. Every time you like/comment/share on a post or blog article, online algorithms show those items to more of my fans. This is true of both social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and search engines (Google, Bing, etc.) So, a minute or two to read the post or blog and two seconds to respond to it. Like I said, it doesn’t take much to be helpful.

If this still seems like too much work, then the Guild probably isn’t for you. I’d recommend joining one of my online fan groups instead. You’ll still get regular updates on what’s going on with me from those guild members serving as moderators and admins, and you can participate when it’s convenient for you. I don’t plan on policing the activity of guild members, but if you feel like you’re not able to be a participating guild member, then I invite you to let me know that you’d like out of the guild. I promise that I won’t take offense and that we’ll still be friends!



Again, if you’d like to join the Guild, all you have to do is sign up for my newsletter and link to an honest Amazon review that you’ve written for one of my books. We’d love to have you onboard!

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!

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. 

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.

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

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

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.

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.