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)

Our Year End Sale!!!

*** We're offering the extremely popular STORYSKILLS audio seminar class for only $147 dollars through January.  This is the lowest price ever for the class, and I want you to have the skills you need to be successful in the new year. See the message below on how to join at this very special price***

Hi – this is Art Holcomb

Let me ask you a question . . .

Is this you?

 - You have a story idea but do not know where to begin?

 - Are you looking for some real, valuable and useful training to start your writing career?

 - Are you stuck in the middle of your story, unable to complete your wok?

 - Are you tired of the "writing tidbits" and "top ten lists" that promise to help you, but that don't seem to work with your story?

I've been teaching professional writers (novelists with their first sales and screenwriters you have optioned movie scripts) for more than a decade, getting people from their most basic idea through to their finished drafts of their passion projects.

But I know that there are others out there who need information and help getting their first work completed.

Several years ago, I created a ten-week audio study course for my professional clients – working novelists, screenwriters, playwrights and graphic novel creators, which lays out my personal way to teaching story creation for people who were interested in becoming working, highly paid writers. A way of looking at the process of storytelling that was unlike anything ever seen.

I came to realize that the same skills are needed by beginners.

The course is called StorySkills and was the foundation of my “Two Drafts – Two Polishes” approach to writing. The goal here was to get these working writers to think about their skills, talents and abilities is a whole new way. It incorporates the whole of my 20 year career and experience as a teacher, author and widely read columnist on Story and Craft for Creative Screenwriting Magazine.

In short, it’s the cornerstone of my approach.

StorySkills works like this: 

Every Monday for ten weeks, you will receive a seminar that you can listen to on your smartphone or computer, and it’s available to you forever. You can listen to whenever and wherever you like - when you need an inspiration of a tune-up on your skills.

The ten-week curriculum is as follows:

Week 1 - Training:
The “Process”: A program to train you to create stories quickly and organically
Perfecting your skills: Using what you already know to your best advantage
Refining your method: Filling in the gaps in your natural process

Week 2 - Premise:
Finding New Ideas: Seeing the World of Story all around you
Perfecting your Premise: Starting right – ending right
How to build a story: The 10 steps every story needs

Week 3 - Process: 
Do you write in Marble or Clay? - Making the most out of your natural process
Two Drafts – Two Polishes: Getting the most out of your writing time

Week 4 - Depth:
Your “Personal Story Arc”: Using your life as the power behind your writing
The “Two Questions”: The guiding principles behind all great writing

Week 5 – Procrastination:
The Reasons why we procrastinate
How to stop procrastinating forever

Week 6 - Pre-Write:
Intro to Story Dreaming: Why the typing is that LAST thing you need to do
The “String of Pearls”: Stop worrying about structure and create great scenes naturally

Week 7 - Theme:
The Central Question: Answering the story question you most want to ask
Your Personal Themes: Understanding the real power behind your talent

Week 8 - Plot:
Obligatory scenes: Understanding the only two important parts to any story

Set-up and Pay-off: How to truly make a story compelling
“The Chain”: Scene and sequel

Week 9 - Character:
The Rule Book: Understanding your character's true motivation
The Relationship Chart: The real power behind great characters
The Protagonist/Audience Connection: The true path to finding your fans

Week 10 - Flow:
The Cabin by the Lake: The secret to instant motivation
Pomodoro: The key to great productivity
Achieving a Flow State: Write deeply no matter where you are

I’m very proud of the series. It has been used by more than 700 working writers here in the US and Canada, each one dedicated to making a career of writing. The series has been so successful that, starting next year, I will be teaching it internationally in 2017 – and it will be translated into Spanish, French, Italian and Cantonese.

As my way of saying thanks for joining me so far, I will be offering it for a brief time at a VERY reduced price!

Regularly, it is $497 – but it is available to you for more than 60% off – for only $147 until January!

In addition to the ten seminars, you’ll get these other FREE bonuses:

• The teleseminar and workbook, Ten Steps to Building a Better Story– usually $79, but yours free.
• My new collection of the best writing articles that internet has to offer, each one with information I believe is truly valuable to you now. Over 50 pages of great advice – all free to you when you sign-up for StorySkills.
• My list of the only writing books you will ever need. The best of what’s available from the best teachers today. The list is yours FREE when you join StorySkills.

So to get the ten week StorySkills seminars, the Character seminar/workbook, the collection of great articles and my list of ten great writing books, all you have to do is either:

(1) Send $147 to PayPal (to account: aholcomb07@gmail.com)

Or

(2) Send a check for $147 to

          Art Holcomb
          3404 Donder Court
          Riverside, CA 92507-4033

You’ll get this all for one price, as my way to saying thanks for making these talks such a great success. It is you that helps make both me and my work better and I just wanted to show my appreciation.

Start your writing career off in an great way - get the skills you need to compete.

I hope you join us for this once-in-a-lifetime offer. Feel free to write to me at aholcomb07@gmail.com  with any questions.

All the best – and Keep Writing!

Introducing "Two Drafts / Two Polishes" teleseminar!

Hi - this is Art:

I have been thinking a lot about all of you recently. 

As a writer who has either come and heard me talk or have joined us on one or more of our audio sturdy courses, I know you see writing as a craft rather than just a hobby or a lottery ticket to easy money.

And so I want to talk directly to some of you today - those writers who have spent hours and hours working to prefect their novel or screenplay and who have written more that three drafts of your current project.

And here is an unfortunate fact:

Each draft that you do of this work from now on will likely only make your story worse!

The truth is, you have likely lost that spark that created the work in the first place, and with each new draft - with each new attempt to find that perfect passage or twist or turn, you are taking the story in a slightly new direction and diminishing your original idea.

One more draft is not going to get you where you want to be.

Experience tells us that originals idea are likely to be the best and the constant whittling and paring of a good concept only makes the story more and more unsalable.

I know.  I've been there.

But the real takeaway from all your hard work is that this is not your fault.

What you thought was real education - those internet columns, "top ten" lists and little secrets that you find in writing magazines and columns- are no more than the fast foods of knowledge.

Professionals know that every accomplished writer in the world  needs real craft knowledge and true mentoring and guidance to get where they are today.

Our new seminar series - "2 Drafts / 2 Polishes" - can be a real start down the road to real success. 

It's designed to get the absolute most out of every draft you make, cutting your time from premise to completed work at least in half.

The six-session audio study course offer the craft knowledge and techniques I teach professional novelists and screenwriter and can make a real difference in your career.

Click here for all the information.

You owe it to yourself to get the knowledge and training that you need now to succeed. 

Break away from the "Knowledge McNuggets" you have been living on -  and the dread that you feel when facing yet another draft of your work - and join us here in the craft or writing.

The fees for the course break down to just a little less than the cost of a dinner out each week - for knowledge that will last you a lifetime. and financial arrangements can be made to make it even more convenient (email me back for more information).

A community of dedicated writers are waiting for you to join us here!

And consider:

A year from now, you can either have a new, completed work being considered by agents and producers. . . or

You can be working on yet another draft of your project.

It's up to you

Click here to find out more.

Talk with you again soon,

Art

This Month: How to Your Defeat Writer's Fears - FOREVER seminar

Hi -This is Art

I want to talk to you about something that most writers are afraid to discuss.

There is something within YOU that could stop your writing career COLD– if you’re not prepared.

It’s Writer’s Block.

If you’re an experienced writer, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

That sudden, unexplainable roadblock that suddenly cuts off all your creativity.  It can come out of nowhere and shuts down your writing completely.

And there’s no way to really predict when or if it will hit you.

I know.  During the 1990’s, in the middle of a successful writing career, I was stricken with Writer’s Block – and it took me several years to find my way back.

At the time, there was really no good research and advice about how to face it and I had to struggle alone until eventually I fought my way back.

More importantly, there was no information available about how to PREVENT IT.

After 40 years of writing and a decade as a teacher and consultant, I decided it was time to confront the issue head on - to do the research and finally develop a strategy to defeat it once and for all.

I spent the better part of a year creating our new seminar, How to Defeat Your Writer’s Fears . . . FOREVER, to guarantee that you have the tools to make sure this never happens to you. 

And I wanted to bring to all of you who have joined me on our other seminars first at a very reduced price.

The seminar covers:

·         The only three reasons fear affects any writer - and the foolproof ways to combat each.

·         The ways that your fears and doubts can plant the seeds for Writer’s Block and what you can do to prevent it.

·         How to recognize EARLY ON the warning signs that your process may be in trouble.

·         And the one DEVASTATING event in every writer’s life that can stop you dead in your tracts – something that no one even considers possible - before it happens.

Here’s what some of my students have said about the seminar

“I’ve had Writer’s Block from my fears before and lived in real terror of it returning.  Art’s training got me focusing on the real power behind my talent.  I’ve never worried since.” – Audrey W.

“I’ve never had Writer’s Block, but I have seen what it has done to other writers.  I feel like I have the tools now to make sure it ever happens to me.”  - Peter P.

With the information in the seminar, you can:

·         Have a greater understanding of your own abilities and the place from which your ideas and talent originate.

·         Explore the nature of the fears that writers throughout history have faced – and how to conquer them.

·         Gain confidence both in your writing and in the career you are working so hard to create and build.

The seminar and workbook – the entire audio study course - is usually $79, but is now available to you - - for just $37 for a limited time - if you act now.

To order, you can either:

(1)   Send $37 to PayPal (to account: aholcomb07@gmail.com)

Or

(2)   Send a check for $37 to

Art Holcomb
3404 Donder Court

Suite 201
Riverside, CA 92507-4033

The seminar will be “go live” on November 10th, with a link that you can access from any device –computer, tablet or smartphone FOREVER.  Or you can download it straight to your device.

But the special price of $37 is good until November 10th.  After that, the price will return to $79. So you need to ACT NOW!

Imagine, having a tool you can use on each new story to make it better, deeper, and more compelling to your reader and prospective publisher –and a way to eliminate this potentially crippling effect on your writing career .

I hope you can join us on this very special seminar!

Keep Writing,

Art

PS: Please subscribe to this blog in the sign-up area in the right hand column to receive a very special FREE seminar in December!

Introducing STORYSKILLS!

Hi – this is Art Holcomb

Let me ask you a question . . .

Is this you?

 - You have a story idea but do not know where to begin?

 - Are you looking for some real, valuable and useful training to start your writing career?

 - Are you stuck in the middle of your story, unable to complete your wok?

 - Are you tired of the "writing tidbits" and "top ten lists" that promise to help you, but that don't seem to work with your story?

I've been teaching professional writers (novelists with their first sales and screenwriters you have optioned movie scripts) for more than a decade, getting people from their most basic idea through to their finished drafts of their passion projects.

But I know that there are others out there who need information and help getting their first work completed.

Several years ago, I created a ten-week audio study course for my professional clients – working novelists, screenwriters, playwrights and graphic novel creators, which lays out my personal way to teaching story creation for people who were interested in becoming working, highly paid writers. A way of looking at the process of storytelling that was unlike anything ever seen.

I came to realize that the same skills are needed by beginners.

The course is called StorySkills and was the foundation of my “Two Drafts – Two Polishes” approach to writing. The goal here was to get these working writers to think about their skills, talents and abilities is a whole new way. It incorporates the whole of my 20 year career and experience as a teacher, author and widely read columnist on Story and Craft for Creative Screenwriting Magazine.

In short, it’s the cornerstone of my approach.

StorySkills works like this: 

Every Monday for ten weeks, you will receive a seminar that you can listen to on your smartphone or computer, and it’s available to you forever. You can listen to whenever and wherever you like - when you need an inspiration of a tune-up on your skills.

The ten-week curriculum is as follows:

Week 1 - Training:
The “Process”: A program to train you to create stories quickly and organically
Perfecting your skills: Using what you already know to your best advantage
Refining your method: Filling in the gaps in your natural process

Week 2 - Premise:
Finding New Ideas: Seeing the World of Story all around you
Perfecting your Premise: Starting right – ending right
How to build a story: The 10 steps every story needs

Week 3 - Process: 
Do you write in Marble or Clay? - Making the most out of your natural process
Two Drafts – Two Polishes: Getting the most out of your writing time

Week 4 - Depth:
Your “Personal Story Arc”: Using your life as the power behind your writing
The “Two Questions”: The guiding principles behind all great writing

Week 5 – Procrastination:
The Reasons why we procrastinate
How to stop procrastinating forever

Week 6 - Pre-Write:
Intro to Story Dreaming: Why the typing is that LAST thing you need to do
The “String of Pearls”: Stop worrying about structure and create great scenes naturally

Week 7 - Theme:
The Central Question: Answering the story question you most want to ask
Your Personal Themes: Understanding the real power behind your talent

Week 8 - Plot:
Obligatory scenes: Understanding the only two important parts to any story

Set-up and Pay-off: How to truly make a story compelling
“The Chain”: Scene and sequel

Week 9 - Character:
The Rule Book: Understanding your character's true motivation
The Relationship Chart: The real power behind great characters
The Protagonist/Audience Connection: The true path to finding your fans

Week 10 - Flow:
The Cabin by the Lake: The secret to instant motivation
Pomodoro: The key to great productivity
Achieving a Flow State: Write deeply no matter where you are

I’m very proud of the series. It has been used by more than 500 working writers here in the US and Canada, each one dedicated to making a career of writing. The series has been so successful that, starting next year, I will be teaching it internationally – and it will be translated into Spanish, French, Italian and Cantonese.

As my way of saying thanks for joining me so far, I will be offering it for a brief time at a reduced price!

Regularly, it is $497 – but it is available to you for more than 50% off – for only $197!

In addition to the ten seminars, you’ll get these other FREE bonuses:

• The teleseminar and workbook, Creating Great Characters – usually $79, but yours free.
• My new collection of the best writing articles that internet has to offer, each one with information I believe is truly valuable to you now. Over 50 pages of great advice – all free to you when you sign-up for StorySkills.
• My list of the only writing books you will ever need. The best of what’s available from the best teachers today. The list is yours FREE when you join StorySkills.

The price is good through October 31st – after that, the series will go back to its full price.

So to get the ten week StorySkills seminars, the Character seminar/workbook, the collection of great articles and my list of ten great writing books, all you have to do is either:

(1) Send $197 to PayPal (to account: aholcomb07@gmail.com)

Or

(2) Send a check for $197 to

          Art Holcomb
          3404 Donder Court
          Riverside, CA 92507-4033

You’ll get this all for one price, as my way to saying thanks for making these summer talks such a great success. It is you that helps make both me and my work better and I just wanted to show my appreciation.

I hope you join us for this once-in-a-lifetime offer. Feel free to write to me at aholcomb07@gmail.com  with any questions.

All the best – and Keep Writing!

Creating Great Characters seminar - enrolling NOW

Hi, this is Art . . .

I wanted to say thanks for the excellent turnout for the 10 Steps to Building a Better Story seminar last month.  It seems that the inclusion of the workbook with the seminar made a huge difference for many of you.

Here are a couple of reviews:

“I couldn’t believe how helpful the workbook was! Within about an hour I was able to see my complete story – something that I had been working on for six months” – Adrian R.

“Brilliant!  I’m going to use the workbook and seminar every time I write a new story.  I had never considered these steps before – so simple and yet so important!” – Yolanda S.

But I am particularly excited about this month’s seminar, Creating Great Characters…

It became clear to me years ago when I started working with professional writers that, while we talk about plot, the real strength and excitement in our stories comes from our characters.  It’s what most writers spend the most time on - but few really understand how it’s great characters that make the story.

. . . And, most importantly, how it is that those great characters that turn readers into fans.

Think of the famous characters you love - like Sherlock Holmes, Captain Jack Sparrow, Scarlet O’Hara, Tony Soprano, Harry Potter, Woody and Buzz Lightyear – and how they not only bring their stories to life, but make you long for even more of their adventures.

You want that in the books you read and the movies you watch . . .

. . . and I know  you want that in the stories you write.

So, in terms of your own writing, ask yourself

• Do my characters stand out?  Do they pop off the page?
• Are they powerful and interesting enough to support my new story – or the trilogy I’m writing?
• Do they sometimes “act” in ways that I do not want?
• Do I sometimes not know how they should react   or what to do next?
• Do my first readers not find my heroes as interesting as I do?

I know myself that – even though I may be excited about a given character doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the right one to make that connection with the audience.  In so many cases, I had found that the reason I and many others writers lost interest and momentum in the middle of their story is that we were forcing the character to fit the plot, and not the plot to fit the character.

So . . . how can we create powerful and compelling characters each and every time?

We start by thinking of your characters in a whole new way.

In Creating Great Characters seminar, you’ll learn:

• How to create characters that are unique to you, that come naturally from your own creativity
• The five characters that every story should have
• How to let your subconscious create your best characters
• How your character’s behaviors and habits are the key to a great story
• How to naturally develop that all important connection between you and your readers.

Last year, I created this Elements of Story tele-seminar to share the techniques and tools of professional writers. This represents my years as a writing consultant and I wanted the series teach you the most important things every writer needs to know. 

And, most importantly, his audio seminar comes with its own workbook  - that you can use again and again on each new story you write - to get the absolute best out of your talent.   By just answering the questions in the workbook, you will come to know your characters intimately. You’ll learn things about your characters that you never knew before. . .

You’ll be ready to hit the ground running every time you sit down to write.

The seminar and workbook – the entire study course - is usually $79, but is now available to you -  - for just $37 for a limited time - if you act now.

To order, you can either:

(1)   Send $37 to PayPal (to account: aholcomb07@gmail.com)

Or

(2)   Send a check for $37 to

Art Holcomb
3404 Donder Court
Riverside, CA 92507-4033

The seminar will be sent out on August 20th - and the special price of $37 is good until then.  After that, the price will return to $79. The seminar will be available to you forever - you'll be able to click on the link and listen to it on your computer or smartphone whenever you like.

Imagine, having a tool you can use on each new story to make it better, deeper, and more compelling to your reader and prospective publisher.

A professional tool that can make a real difference in your career.

It’s time to supercharge your writing.

Won’t you join us?

All the best -and keep writing!