Do You Need Some Novel-Writing Essentials?
Are you a new writer, just starting out? Or an experienced writer, looking to polish your craft, preparatory to publishing? Here at Booknook.biz, we only recommend the places, courses, people and resources that we've used, tried, and in which we believe. Do you need a critique group, but want to stay away from the harsher free-for-alls available on the Net? Then the Holly Lisle courses may be for you. Are you trying to world-build, with epic fantasy? Again, the Lisle courses have something you can use, all the way down to building your own language.
Check out The Writer's Boot Camp!
The Writer's Boot Camp forums are divided by courses and each class within that course, and hundreds of students may be taking the same class as you are, at the same time. The forums are fully moderated, and the action is never "too" rough and tumble for even the faintest of heart to deal with. I know that I hear, around the Net, quite a bit, that people are afraid to use critique groups because "they're too mean," and that is never an issue at the WBC forums.
The mini-clinics and bigger courses are both excellent. If you're hesitant about trying the bigger courses, try one of the Mini-clinics first (they're incredibly affordable and helpful; I'm a big fan of the Plot Clinc myself) and get your feet wet before you jump in to deeper waters.
There's something here for literally every writer, at every stage of his or her career:
THE BASICS:
How to Write Page-Turning Scenes
How to Write Dialogue with Subtext
Professional Plot Outline Mini Course
MOTIVATION
21 Ways to Get Yourself Writing When Your Life Has Just Exploded
How to Find Your Writing Discipline
How to Motivate Yourself Workshop
Mugging the Muse (hint: this one is FUN!)
THE DREADED REVISION CYCLE:
WORLD-BUILDING: A don't-miss for fantasy writers!
FOR EVERYONE, BEGINNER AND PROS ALIKE:
Some of these courses are simply a BLAST. I know that people have told me that Mugging the Muse is a hoot, and I enjoyed the Page-Turning Scenes mini-course. I hope you'll find something here that you can use to help you achieve your writing goals.
Or, if you don't see anything here just yet, take a browse at the How To Think Sideways Store:
As Holly Lisle says: write with joy! And good luck to you from the folks at Booknook.biz. We hope you find our Resources helpful.