The SUCCESS BOOT CAMP - Enrolling NOW!

Hi – This is Art Holcomb.

You know me . . .

You’ve read my posts here and on StoryFix.com and many of you have taken my seminars, so I know I can speak plainly with you.

So, let me ask you a question:

Are you happy with your progress as a writer?

I spend so much of my time as a writing teacher and mentor dealing with this seemingly simple question. But over the years and through working with hundreds of students, I know that it really goes deeper than that.

The real questions at play here are:

· Are you finishing what you start every time?
· Do you have the skills you know you need to succeed?
· Are you afraid to face your rewrite?
· Afraid to actually send your work out into the world?
· Are you getting the valuable critique that you need to really improve your writing?

I believe that, for the vast majority of aspiring writers, the answer to this is a resounding NO!

But here is the secret that you need to know.
It’s not your fault.

You’re out there working alone, hoping that your story will succeed. Book can help, but not enough. “Top Ten” lists and writing tips from the internet never go far enough to make a difference.

And hope itself will never be enough.

You simply cannot learn to write well without valuable guidance.

Why? Because writing is a craft - a set of skills and experiences that can only come through training.  

And what you really need is:

· Real and valuable instruction on the craft of writing
· Timely feedback on your work to keep you on-track and on deadline
· A community of writers to share your successes and problems with
· And a system to get your work done right, on time, every time.

Simply put, any writer who does not have access to these four things may spend YEARS writing a story that never had a chance to succeed in the first place.

Now . . . is that you?

Have you been trying to do this all by yourself without help or feedback? Spinning you wheels and getting nowhere?

Years ago, I started offering my seminars because I found so many of you in this exact situation.
I found this intolerable and so should you . . .

And so, we have done something about it.

From January 8th to February 16th, we are offering THE SUCCESS BOOT CAMP for writers. A six-week, internet-based course designed to give you the skills you need to succeed by leading you through the writing process.

During the six-week class, you will:

· Write and complete three (3) stories for publication
· Receive written notes and feedback from an expert novelist on each story
· Get guidance through the rewrite process
· Be shown how to submit that work to publisher eager to find your stories
· Be taught a proven system for getting your work done simply and quickly every time.

There will be a weekly seminar that you can listen to at your convenience, as well as video instruction from some of the best writers in the business. And we’ll show you the same techniques that famous writers have used to learn their craft over the past century – that is, learning the skills of the novelist and screenwriter by learning to write short pieces that will receive the critique you need to improve every aspect of your writing. And we’ll all join together on conference calls to discuss our experiences and learn from our fellow writers.

And we’re lucky enough to be joined by Howard V. Hendrix, award-winning author of seven novels and countless short stories, who will be providing the expert notes for each writer!

In all, a boot camp to make you a better writer - all in six week - from the convenience of your own computer.

This boot camp is the same tool I use in my private practice to help new writers begin their careers, now available to you.

We start on January 8th. And since you have joined us on some of our other seminars, we’re offering the boot camp to you for $495 (usually $695 – that’s nearly 30% off).

We only have a limited on spots left and we will be closing enrollment on January 1st.

So - if you’re interested, reply to this email (aholcomb07@gmail.com) and we’ll personally be in touch right away.

We’ve had great success with this series in the past and some of our past students will be joining us to help you along.

Don’t you owe it to yourself, your dreams of writing, and the fans that are out there just waiting for you, to join us now.

Think of it - by the end of spring, you could have stories under submission and valuable tools to use to improve your writing . . .

. . . by the beginning of summer, everything to change for the better.

Remember – time and space are limited. Respond today and we’ll get you started.

I really look forward to having you join us.

Keep Writing!

Art

Let me tell you about the best story you'll ever write in your life

What are three things that are absolutely true about the best story you will ever write in your life?

• It will be VAULABLE: You will sell it for the most money in the history of your career
• It will be MEANINGFUL: It will a deeply personal statement about who you really are - as told through fiction
• It will be RARE: You will look back at the end of your life and say "my career changed the day I wrote this".

And here's a truth:  I know you haven't written this story yet - and it's not your fault.

The problem lies in the way we all work today.

I've trained novelists, screenwriters, playwrights, comic book creators and professional business communicators on the art of storytelling and we all have had one thing in common:

We do not teach ourselves to write DEEPLY and AUTHENTICALLY.

Consider for a moment:

 - Modern society demands us to multitask, to cram in our writing time within the busy schedule and hectic life of the 21st Century and accept the fact that this is the way it must be.

 - Modern training for most of you relies on the Internet and books, which are filled with Tips, Hints, Hacks, Top-Ten Lists and the ridiculously named "SECRETS TO WRITING" - that may tell you WHAT to do but never explains just HOW TO DO IT!

 - Modern Life that never gives you enough time and energy to really get down to the story that you really want to tell - the story you see so clearly in your imagination.

But the best writers in the world treat their work - and their time - much differently. Their success depends upon it.

In our new seminar series DEEP WRITING, we'll teach you how to write as they do -  and show you how to:

• Create your SACRED HOUR - a time EVERYDAY for serious writing - no matter how busy your life
• Eliminate the distractions and demands on your attention as you write
• Show you the techniques of DEEP FOCUS - by actually LIVING in the story as you write it
• Create a system for instantly jumping deeply back into your work within seconds - anytime and anywhere
• NEVER have to wait for inspiration again - because inspiration is YOUR ENEMY!
• Forget about GOALS and create valuable SYSTEMS FOR SUCCESS for your writing instead
• Understand the incredible value of WRITING RITUALS
• Learn from the natural way you like to write - and maximize that time and effort once and for all

This seminar is for any writer who is unhappy with the progress they're making (or NOT making), who knows they can do much better work if they could just find the time and focus - and who knows they owe it to themselves to finally get serious about reaching a new level in their work.

We recently launched this new seminar series and we're offering you the opportunity to sign up at a reduced price.

The six-week series is usually $397 - but you can sign up for only $197 - more than 50% off. But this price is available for only a short time!

As with all of our audio seminars, they are delivered weekly to you, and you can listen to them of your smartphone, tablet or computer whenever you like (many of our students listen to them on their daily commute).

To join us, just send $197 through PayPal to account: aholcomb07@gmail.com and we'll get you signed up.

And, as a bonus, the series comes with its own workbook and checklists to help you implement the ideas inside.

Don't you owe it to yourself to reach the next level in your writing? Come and join us today.

Remember -  the reduced price of $197 is only good through November 15th. After that, it goes back to the original price.

I really look forward to having you join us.

Keep writing!

Introducing our UNFAIR ADVANTAGE Package

Hi – this is Art:

That’s really what we all want, right?  An unfair advantage over the SYSTEM as a writer! 

A way to navigate all the creative blocks, the isolation and the resistance - all the things that stop us from getting the stories we see in our head down onto the page - and into the hand of the people we know could be our next real fan.

Over the years that I have trained screenwriters, novelists and playwrights, I’ve found that the same problems, traps and pitfalls occur in every writer’s life – stumbling blocks that every writer faces on a regular basis. 

And here’s the truth: You’ll only succeed as a writer if you have the tools to face these problems head on.

That’s why I created this special one-time educational package – to give you the tools you need to sail over these problems once and for all.

The package includes the following:

My new eBook, The Art of Preparation: a collection of all the things you need to consider before you start writing your next story. 

In it, we discuss:

• Writing in Marble or Clay – learning how to make the most out of the natural way that you already write.
• Understanding Theme: learning what it is that you really have to say - and getting it and onto the page.
• The Emotional Rulebook: How to understand why your characters do what they do and how to make them authentic and compelling.
• The String of Pearls: How to plot a great story without understanding structure.

In addition, you’ll receive four  - FOUR - of my best seminars:

- Creating Great Characters: Your characters are the heart of your stories. Understanding what makes a character compelling is the difference between a boring read and a story you just can’t put down.

 - Defeating Procrastination: This beast can be stop cold unless you know the secret of why you procrastinate and have the tools to defeat it.

 - Eliminating Writer’s Block: This can be a career –breaker, but it doesn’t have to be. Learn the secret to plowing through this obstacle once and for all.

 - How to be a Successful Writer in the 21st Century: Being a success today looks nothing like it did just 20 years ago.  The market and the world has changed. Here are the tools you need to find your own, personal success.

These resources have never been offered like this before!

And this package is only availableto those of you who have either joined me in person for one of my classes or have taken one of my on-line seminars in the past - this is not yet available to the general public.

Normally valued at $395, you can receive the entire package – a great eBook and four of my best seminars – for only $147 – if you act now.

Because this offer is only good until September 30th

***To enroll, just send the fee of $147 through PayPal to account: aholcomb07@gmail.com and we’ll get you signed up.

This is a special offer limited to my group of students who are committed to growing as a writer. Why not join us in building your writers toolbox – and having the career you really deserve.

Remember – this deal will only be offered through the end of this month – September 30th.  Act today!

NEW SEMINAR - Writing The CINEMATIC Novel

Hi - this is Art:

It is a lifelong dream of most novelists to have their novel made into a feature film.   In fact, more than 80% of all movies made today are based on novels and other source materials. 

But did you know that you can greatly increase your odds of making that sale to Hollywood simply by understanding what makes a great adaptation.  Many writers today- like John Le Carre, Dan Brown, Michael Crichton, and others - write in such a way as to grab the attention of directors, actors, producers and major film studios with each new work. They write stories meant for this world-wide audience . . .

. . . and you can too!

I created this course based on my years as a story consultant and writing teacher.  I’m lucky enough to stand at the intersection of these two worlds – I train both screenwriters and novelists - and understand the skills and techniques common to both. And more importantly, we know that, while a novel can reach thousands, successful films are able to reach millions -  and one successful book made into a hit movie, such as Andrew Weir’s The Martian, can give a writer a very successful career.

The 6-week class includes such topics as:

·         What do a great book and a great movie have in common

·         The Novelist’s Guide to Basic Screenwriting

·         The Foundation of it all – The Story

·         Perfecting your cinematic premise

·         Film Story Structure

·         Writing Characters that live on the screen

·         Theme and The Secret to the Narrative Question

·         Understanding The Audience’s Journey

·         The Location/Setting as Characters

·         Pacing

·         How to GRAB THEM and HOLD THEM

·         How to Write Winning Scenes

The class includes weekly audios videos and a workbook to put your ideas and techniques into practice. You can listen to the talks and watch the videos at your leisure on any tablet, smartphone or computer at any time – forever!

The class also includes its own Facebook Group and conference calls where all students can get together and discuss the work.

The course begins on August 15^th and normally costs $395 but you can enroll  for the reduced price of $197!

To enroll, just send the fee of $197 through PayPal to account: aholcomb07@gmail.com and we’ll get you signed up.

Remember, spaces are limited.

If you have any questions, feel free to write me at aholcomb07@gmail.com and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

Come and join us increasing your possibilities as a writer. 

I hope to see you there.

Art

The SUMMER SUCCESS BOOT CAMP - ONLY 5 DAYS LEFT!

*** UPDATE:  There are only FIVE (5)  DAYS LEFT to get the SUMMER SUCCESS BOOT CAMP at more than 50% Off!  See below for more information on how to enroll!  Don't wait -  there are only FOUR SEATS LEFT!!!!***


Hi – This is Art Holcomb.

You know me . . .

You’ve read my work and have taken my seminars, so I know I can speak plainly with you.

So, let me ask you a question:

Are you happy with your progress as a writer?

I spend so much of my time as a writing expert dealing with this seemingly simple question. But over the years and through working with hundreds of students, I know that it really goes deeper than that.

The real questions at play here are:

· Are you finishing what you start every time?
· Do you have the skills you know you need to succeed?
· Are you afraid to face your rewrite?
· Afraid to actually send your work out into the world?
· Are you getting the valuable critique that you need to really improve your writing?

I believe that, for the vast majority of aspiring writers, the answer to this is a resounding NO!

But here is the secret that you need to know.

It’s not your fault.

You’re out there working alone, hoping that your story will succeed. Book can help, but not enough. “Top Ten” lists and writing tips from the internet never go far enough to make a difference.

And hope itself will never be enough.

You simply cannot learn to write well without valuable guidance.

Why? Because writing is a craft - a set of skills and experiences that can only come through training.  

And what you really need is:

· Real and valuable instruction on the craft of writing
· Timely feedback on your work to keep you on-track and on deadline
· A community of writers to share your successes and problems with
· And a system to get your work done right, on time, every time.

Simply put, any writer who does not have access to these four things may spend YEARS writing a story that never had a chance to succeed in the first place.

Now . . . is that you?

Have you been trying to do this all by yourself without help or feedback? Spinning you wheels and getting nowhere?

Years ago, I started offering my seminars because I found so many of you in this exact situation.

I found this intolerable and so should you . . .

And so, we have done something about it.

From July 1st to August 15th, we are offering THE SUCCESS BOOT CAMP for writers. A six-week, internet-based course designed to give you the skills you need to succeed by leading you through the writing process.

During the six-week class, you will:

· Write and complete three (3) stories for publication
· Receive written notes and feedback from an expert novelist on each story
· Get guidance through the rewrite process
· Be shown how to submit that work to publisher eager to find your stories
· Be taught you a proven system for getting your work done simply and quickly every time.

There will be a weekly seminar that you can listen to at your convenience, as well as video instruction from some of the best writers in the business. And we’ll show you the same techniques that famous writers have used to learn their craft over the past century – that is, learning the skills of the novelist and screenwriter by learning to write short pieces that will receive the critique you need to improve every aspect of your writing. And we’ll all join together on conference calls to discuss our experiences and learn from our fellow writers.

And we’re lucky enough to be joined by Howard V. Hendrix, award-winning author of seven novels and countless short stories, who will be providing the expert notes for each writer!

In all, a boot camp to make you a better writer - all in six week - from the convenience of your own computer.

This boot camp is the same tool I use in my private practice to help new writers begin their careers, now available to you.

We start on July 1st. And since you have joined us on some of our other seminars, we’re offering the boot camp to you for $395 (usually $695 – that more than 50% off).

We only have a limited on spots left and we will be closing enrollment on June 21st.

So - if you’re interested, reply to this email and we’ll personally be in touch right away.

We’ve had great success with this series in the past and some of our past students will be joining us to help you along.

Don’t you owe it to yourself, your dreams of writing, and the fans that are out there just waiting for you, to join us now.

Think of it - by the end of summer, you could have stories under submission and valuable tools to use to improve your writing . . .

. . . by the end of summer, everything to change for the better.

Remember – time and space are limited. Respond today and we’ll get you started.

I really look forward to having you join us.

Keep Writing!

Art

The Character / Plot Connection

I’ll tie this all together at the end, so stay with me . . .

I want to begin with a story about growing up with my 10-year old brother Ray and his Hot Wheels tracks.

Ray loved Hot Wheels from the moment he first saw them. If you don’t remember, Hot Wheels was a system of cool replica cars and these road segments that you could configure all-which- ways to make more and more elaborate tracks. Click here to see them in all their glory.

Ray started out with just one set but kept adding more and more parts. He collected all the tracks from several different kits, borrowed pieces from his friends and went on to build more and more elaborates stunt track formations – loops, 90, 180, 270 degree turns. Twists and jumps. At some point, he went beyond the guidelines of the toy manufacturers and created lay-outs that no one had thought of.

Sometimes the cars would make it through to the end and he’d get so excited. Sometimes the cars flew off the track – maybe they were going too fast, or the turn was too steep and the car couldn’t handle – but he kept pushing the cars to do the most elaborate and interesting tricks.

The All-Important Test

And the way he tested these configurations was very simple. He had very basic criteria

• Did they make it to the end of the track?
  Did the cars perform the way he wanted?
  Was it exciting?

He pushed himself to make more unique and death-defying configurations. But the test was always the same. Could the car perform? Could the car make it all the way to the end, instead of spinning off of one of the loops or turns?

He spent hours designing configurations and then choosing just the right car for each.

Remember that.

The Truth about Plot

So – What is the true definition of a plot?

It is the mechanism by which the truth and humanity of a given character is delivered to the audience.

And, in the argument of what is more important – Character or Plot – I believe that character wins every time.

Why?

Because there are only a limited number of master plots and an assortment of variations;

But there are an infinite number of unique characters!

Each – both plot and character – are vitally necessary to the process of storytelling.

The Job of the Audience

And what is the difference between a plot (that just relates a series of events) and a story that is compelling to an audience?

It’s Audience Engagement.

And the storyteller’s purpose? – to keep the audience doing their job – which is, staying engaged in the story.

Engagement means that the audience must be made to work for their supper.

Because a good story is not meant to be like syrup poured over pancakes – giving all the elements PRE-CHEWED to the reader or viewer. A good story is not something that HAPPENS to the audience.

The audience, in order to stay engaged, must be constantly longing to find out what happens next. So long as that’s going on, the story is working; you have them just where you want them.

And, more importantly, the Audience is just where THEY want (and need) to be.

You as the Imagineer!

Imagine a story like a roller coaster and you’re the designer.

Your job is to create the RIDE. Everything is under your control.

You decide everything: the length of the ride, the timing, length and details of every twists and turns, rise and drop.

Everything they will see, hear, think and feel is completely under your control

Don’t think for a moment that Space Mountain at Disneyland – or any other roller coaster you’ve ever been on – is about anything other than the drama of the moment and the rider’s emotional reaction to it.

The rider enjoys it because the designers did their job well.

It’s exactly the same with story.

To Wrap this Whole Thing up . . .

Let’s return to the story on my brother and his Hot Wheels.

Ray worked to get the most out of each part of his equipment. He pushed the limits of the track to get the best out of the cars. And he pushed the cars to get the best out of the track.

This is exactly how I see writers and their plots in the best stories. 

This is the nature of the all-important Character/Plot Connection

A Story is about the WHOLE of what you create.

The plot is how we put the characters through their paces, show the extent of what they can do.

But it is through our characters that we illustrate to the world the truth and humanity of our lives.

Your stories are ultimately judged by the success of this interplay.

Because, as my young brother knew, you build the track to race the cars and you race the cars so that the crowds in the stands can feel the thrill.

It is as simple as that.

Goodnight, Ray . .

The Fragments of Once Whole Things

“The beautiful thing about a mosaic is that it is best when made up of the broken fragments of once whole things.”

Your characters are very much like that. Whether we want admit it or not, each of our characters is such a mosaic, made up of those conscious pieces we assemble and those unconscious fragments that we bring to the work.  And how could it be anything else? We are always the real source of all the tools and raw materials for our stories. We bring each character to our stories like a comet, seeing only the fiery tail, but knowing that it is the unseen – the fireball of our imagination and experiences – that is the real cause of that streak in the sky.

But how do we access that?  How can we really get in touch with what we believe?  How can we come to know ourselves?

One way is to look at our writings for quotes from our characters.  Their words are our words too, especially when they seem to disagree with who we think we are, or when they say something unwittingly profound.
If we believe that someday people will be quoting lines from our own works, why not beat them to it, and see what you can learn about yourself.

Let me serve as an example:  In preparing this post, I combed through my personal writing for quotes by my characters that, while seeming natural when I wrote them, now seem to reveal something new about how I might actually feel.

Here are a couple of examples:

From F8 – A Shade Story:

“Circumstances are revealed in the crime; character, in the cover-up.”

“The defining moments in the history of Mankind lie not in what a person CAN do, but in what a person Will or Will Not do.”

“A slap is just a very fast, very hard caress.”

From A Siren of Turbine

“Life is collaboration with victims.

“Beneath every desert, at some reachable depth, lies a spring.”

“Your wounds are like the knives you carry. There’s the one that you’ll show them, the one that you’ll let them find and the one they’ll never know you have.”

From Perfecting Your Premise:

“There has to be a High Country in every story where the derring-do is done.”

“Plot only matters when it is the means to transformation.”

“Every character has that one core value – that one unshakable belief – that is their impediment to growth.”


Through this second look, I found deeper meaning in these quotes than what they meant for the story. Why not pull some out of your own writing and give them a second look. And feel free to share them with us here through the Comment section.

You might just learn something new.

NEXT TIME:  More about our new seminar series for 2017!

Is This Your Problem Too?

I just came back from the largest annual writer's conference in Los Angeles and spent time listening to the triumphs and problems of over 200 writers.

Here's a truth that they told me.

I am not anywhere near where I  REALLY want to be with my writing.

And all of you reading this now...

You know it's true.

And I know it's true.

You are not putting in the time you need to make your work exception - and it bothers you because you do not know why.

Ask yourself:

• Am I getting my writing finished?
• Is there something that's keeping me from the keyboard?
• Do I feel guilty sometimes because I'm not making the headway that I know I should be making with my writing?
• What's really holding me back?

You're not alone.  I work with professional writer every day in my private practice - and they can have the same problem: the real world is constantly intruding on our lives.  It's hard to find the time or the peace and quiet and sometimes getting the words out and on to the page is like pulling teeth. 

I've learned that truly everyone goes through this - and I mean EVERYONE - at some point in their life.  I work with professional writers everyday who have faced these same struggles - writer whose income and livelihood DEPEND on their ability to produce . It can be one of the most serious hurdles any writer can face.

But it doesn't have to be so hard.

There is a way out.  A way that can make writing easier again - the way it was in the beginning.

What you need is a new approach to the work, a new way of looking at your talent and skills that can give you the confidence to move forward.

My career is build around helping professional writers succeed and I've helped over 500 professional screenwriters and novelists over my career get back on track. People who make a good living as writers.  They can literally not afford to let fear and procrastination affect them - and neither can you. 

The same techniques they use can help you too.

I've put together a teleseminar on eliminating procrastination and the fears that writers face.  It's entitled: PROCRASTINATION - How to Defeat it Forever!

In it, we'll cover:

• The Journey that every writer makes through their career
• Every possible reason that you may have to procrastinate - and a way to break through each of them
• How to make sure you're able everyday to hit the ground running
• The truth about Writer's Block and how to eliminate if from your life forever.
• The three techniques professionals use to create quality work quickly
• The realityabout the fear you may be facing - what it really is and how you can turn it from problem to motivating asset

Procrastinations a real problem  And it's impossible to be a successful writer without facing this issue head on.  I have shown my working screenwriters and novelists how to eliminate it from their lives -  and I will show you how the very same techniques can work for you.

The seminar will be launched on February 20th and would normally be $79 - but for the next week, I'm making it available to you for just $47 - if you sign up by February 10th.

Here's what some of my clients have said about the seminar.

      "Art's techniques got me from dreading my writing to making it the greatest thing I do all day.  I finally got my novel finished and I'll be able to do my next one in half the time. - Peter R.

     "I was amazed!  By just facing some truths and learning more about who I am as a writer, I found my output increase three fold. - Sheila B

   

    "I didn't think anything would get me back to my writing, I just couldn't finish anything.  But Art showed me where I had strayed of coarse and now my writing is getting finished and I'm starting new projects.  Thanks so much, Art!" - Peter W.

The teleseminar can be available to you at anytime through your computer or phone - to listen to whenever you need the boost, And the special price of $47 means that you can get your writing back on track - you can feel the joy of writing once more - for less than the price of dinner out for two.

To order, you can either:

(1)   Send $47 to PayPal (to account: aholcomb07@gmail.com)

Or

(2)   Send a check for $47 to

Art Holcomb
3404 Donder Court

Suite 201
Riverside, CA 92507-4033

It's a small price to pay to change the way you write forever.

Make a difference in your own life today.  Become the writer you know you can be.

Take this small step into a much bigger world.  Join us today.

Art

Write your own particular story

When you’re writing your particular story, it’s natural for you to wonder how it will appeals to the public. 

However, it’s okay if the answer is “it doesn’t.” Your work doesn’t need to appeal to everyone because all writers carve out their own particular niche.

Consider for a moment: as Seth Godin in a recent post says, most businesses (and writing is most certainly a business on some level) are built on a customer base that could be described as “almost no one.”

Most people in the world—or even just the country you live in—don’t visit your favorite restaurant or read your favorite author’s books. We all know about big name companies and that’s great, but lots of smaller businesses, freelancers, and artists thrive even though most people don’t know their names.

Rare indeed is a market where everyone is active.

We think we’re designing and selling to everyone, but that doesn’t match reality. It makes no sense at all to dumb down your best work to appeal to the longtime bystander, because the bystander isn’t interested. And it certainly makes no sense to try to convert your biggest critics, because they’ve got a lot at stake in their role of being your critic.

Clearly, that doesn’t mean that you can reject any criticism you ever get because “Well, it’s not for you.”

It does mean that if you can find an audience for the work you do, then you can write and create as you please, tell the stories you long to tell and speak the truth of your soul as you know it.

All that matters is that it appeals to your audience, not to everyone in the world.

(Inspired by a great post in Lifehacker)