CPR FOR DEAD OR LIFELESS FICTION: A Writer's Guide to Deep and Multifaceted Development and Progression of Characters, Plots, and Relationships
WRITING BLURBS THAT SIZZLE--AND SELL!
BRING YOUR FICTION TO LIFE: Crafting Three-Dimensional Stories with Depth and Complexity
WRITING THE FICTION SERIES: The Guide for Novels and Novellas
FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS
COHESIVE STORY BUILDING (formerly titled FROM FIRST DRAFT TO FINISHED NOVEL {A Writer's Guide to Cohesive Story Building})
Reviews for Karen’s Writing Reference Titles
About the Author
Author Appearances
Follow me on 
New release! CPR for Dead or Lifeless Fiction: A Writer's Guide to Deep and Multifaceted Development and Progression of Characters, Plots, and Relationships. Find out more here!
|
CPR FOR DEAD OR LIFELESS FICTION: A Writer's Guide to Deep and Multifaceted Development and Progression of Characters, Plots, and Relationships
by Karen S. Wiesner
Buy from Writers Exchange E-Publishing View the table of contents
Read an excerpt Read reviews
The worksheets, tables, and charts from CPR for Dead or Lifeless Fiction are available here in a usable digital format! Additionally, for those who prefer a printed version, a paperback booklet is also available.
PDF and RTF editions available from Writers Exchange E-Publishing (scroll down to choose RTF or PDF format)
|
Worksheets from CPR FOR DEAD OR LIFELESS FICTION:
Plots: Are events randomly happening without a personal connection to them? Are plots and conflicts created spur of the moment with no set up, build up, curiosity, or tension? Is something miraculous stepping in to resolve story problems and "resetting" characters who seem to disintegrate rather than legitimately and cohesively evolve in response to conflict?
Relationships: Are relationships stilted, off-focus, not quite realistic, frequently with secondary characters that are little more than soundboards? Are your characters merely going through the motions with each other?
All of these and more are signs of dead or lifeless stories. The three core elements of story--Characters, Plots, and Relationships (CPR)--need to be developed three dimensionally with a present (the here and now of the active story), a past (backstory that directly impacts current events), and a future (the hint of hope and/or dread about where the story is and might be going, and where it may or may not end up) in order to allow each to live and breathe.
To truly be living, characters aren't simply existing and going through the motions. They possess fully developed external and internal conflicts. They're interacting in dynamic, realistic, and believable relationships. They have multidimensional character attributes that give them both vitality and voice. Finally, they're engaged in what makes life worthwhile with definable goals and motivations. Characters, plots, and relationships need to be breathing, blood and oxygen flowing through their veins in order to function, or they're in a vegetative state or just plain dead. The soul of the character is what turns an ordinary paper doll into a vibrant, memorable personality.
Poking and prodding your characters, plots, and relationships in all the compass points with in-depth sketches should exhibit some reaction one way or the other, or it's a safe guess some aspect is dead. Merely lifeless core elements, however, may show a few signs of life and that's what makes arrested CPR development so hard to spot. If something is actually happening in a story with all three of the CPR elements, the reader will want to stick around to find out more--to find out everything--with a sense of avid anticipation and participation rather than frustration and disengagement, uncertainty, and dissatisfaction.
CPR for Dead or Lifeless Fiction: A Writer's Guide to Deep and Multifaceted Development and Progression of Characters, Plots, and Relationships will teach writers:
-Identify dead or lifeless characters, plots, and relationships.
-Establish CPR development with the proper setup that introduces, anchors, and orients readers before leading them with purpose through your story landscape, looking back in careful increments to fill in realistic layers, and always making certain there's a whisper of what's to come.
-Plant the seeds of CPR development early with in-depth sketches so each element can be developed and advanced organically, steadily, and logically.
-Pinpoint weak areas in your story with two evaluation techniques that ensure solid CPR development and steady progression from beginning to end.
The genre-diverse, multi-award-winning author of more than 135 titles, including 19 series, provides an intensive care guide to deep, multidimensional Character, Plot and Relationship development. Karen S. Wiesner is the author of the bestselling First Draft in 30 Days as well as Bring Your Fiction to Life: Crafting Three-Dimensional Stories with Depth and Complexity, Writing the Fiction Series: The Guide for Novels and Novellas, WRITING BLURBS THAT SIZZLE--AND SELL!, and Cohesive Story Building.
 |
WRITING BLURBS THAT SIZZLE--AND SELL!
by Karen S. Wiesner
Buy from Writers Exchange E-Publishing View the table of contents
Read an excerpt Read reviews
|
Would you like to utilize a series blurb but you're not sure where to start in covering all the books in your series in one succinct, powerful paragraph?
Would you like to have a short, punchy version of your blurb that can be used in your marketing and author/series branding?
Are you a publisher with a stable full of books that need blurb overhauls?
Every author knows what a back cover blurb is, given its high-profile placement on the back cover of every book. At its crux, a back cover blurb strives to be a concise, breathtaking summary of the entire story that includes the major internal and external conflicts and the goals and motivations of the main character(s).
Unfortunately, crafting an effectively good back cover blurb is no easy task, and many writers outright dislike writing them or dread the process because so much is at stake if the blurb fails to engage. A sizzling back cover blurb needs to convince readers they absolutely have to read the story inside the pages…or they'll set the book down without ever opening it. Additionally, a powerful series blurb can sell not just one book but all of them in that set! High-concept blurbs are necessary in every author's marketing to provide intriguing "sound bites" for books and series'.
Writing Blurbs That Sizzle--And Sell! will teach writers and publishers:
-The basics of blurb crafting: When to write them, how long they should be, and the three types of blurbs including back cover, series, and high-concept blurbs.
-Tips and tricks for crafting blurbs including worksheets and checklists to make the process foolproof.
-Techniques in sizing blurbs for a variety of applications as well covering the timely and viable topic of branding with blurbs.
-Step-by-step, do-it-yourself exercises using published works to help you develop blurb writing, revising, and evaluating skills.
The genre-diverse, multi-award-winning author of almost 130 titles, including 19 series, provides an in-depth reference to all things blurbs that may help sell your books to publishers and readers alike. Karen Wiesner is the author of the bestselling First Draft in 30 Days, Bring Your Fiction to Life: Crafting Three-Dimensional Stories with Depth and Complexity, and Writing the Fiction Series: The Guide for Novels and Novellas, all available now from Writer's Digest Books. Additionally, Cohesive Story Building is available from Writers Exchange E-Publishing.
Karen has crafted back cover and high-concept blurbs for all of her own books and series as well as those for the stories in several award-winning anthologies. She's also evaluated, revised and crafted back cover, series, and high-concept blurbs for the entire backlist of nearly five hundred books in one publisher's catalog. She runs a blurb service for authors called Karen's Blurb Service Karen's Blurb Service, where you can find more details and gain access to a massive sampling of blurbs she's written and revised in nearly every category of fiction, nonfiction, and everything in-between.
Writing Blurbs That Sizzle--And Sell! is the definitive guide on how to craft back cover, series, and high-concept blurbs!
 |
BRING YOUR FICTION TO LIFE: Crafting Three-Dimensional Stories with Depth and Complexity
by Karen S. Wiesner View the table of contents Read an excerpt Bonus Material! Expanded Three-Dimensional Example using Full Novel of BOUND SPIRITS by Karen Wiesner Three-Dimensional Character, Plot and Setting Sketch Worksheet Example using BOUND SPIRITS by Karen Wiesner P/P/F Dimension Development Chart Example using BOUND SPIRITS by Karen Wiesner Download Publisher Bonus Material Read reviews
|
Craft a Story That Towers Above the Rest
You know it when you read it: In page after page and scene after scene, a truly engrossing novel has qualities that set it apart. Authentic characters, a well-rounded plot, and immersive settings work in harmony to create a three-dimensional experience--one you can practically step inside and explore.
But while you can recognize this work when you read it, writing it can be much more challenging. Bring Your Fiction to Life teaches you how to build a solid narrative structure and layer in lush, textured scenes to create a story that rings true. You'll learn how to:
-Master the three-dimensional aspects of characters, plots, and settings using detailed sketches that define the past, present, and future aspects of each element.
-Develop complex opening, resolution, and bridge scenes that expertly lead readers through your fictional world.
-Construct and analyze an outline for your manuscript, using tools and techniques to analyze scenes that lack dimensionality.
-Brainstorm, research, and draft efficiently and effectively, and juggle multiple projects with ease.
Packed with story-development charts, worksheets, and checklists, Bring Your Fiction to Life shows you how to craft a vivid story world that readers will instantly recognize as remarkable.
 |
WRITING THE FICTION SERIES:
by Karen S. Wiesner View the table of contents Read an excerpt Read reviews Read in-depth interviews with series authors. Download Publisher Bonus Material |
The definitive guide to crafting a series!
From the Hunger Games Trilogy to the Jack Reacher series, from Harry Potter to Harry Dresden, there's no denying that writers--and readers--have caught series fever. But if you're contemplating writing a series, there are plenty of considerations you'll need to make first. Writing the Fiction Series is the complete guide to ensuring your series stays hot after the first, fourth, or even fifteenth book.
Inside, you'll learn how to:
-
Write a series that captures the hearts of readers and stands out in a sea of competition.
-
Find the focus of your series, develop your idea, and plan ahead.
-
Hone in on the two most important aspects of series writing: characters and consistency.
-
Utilize a variety of series organization techniques, complete with downloadable worksheets and checklists.
-
Market your series effectively and increase your sales.
With insights from nearly 100 series authors and publishers, as well as Grow Your Series Muscles" exercises, Writing the Fiction Series is the only book you'll need to write a series that sizzles.
 |
FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS
by Karen S. Wiesner Read an excerpt Download Publisher Worksheets and Checklists Read reviews
|
Finish an outline so complete it reads like a first draft--in just 30 days!
Say goodbye to writing and rewriting with no results. Starting--and finishing--your novel has never been easier!
FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS provides you with a sure-fire system to reduce time-intensive rewrites and avoid writing detours. Award-winning author Karen S. Wiesner's 30-day method shows you how to create an outline so detailed and complete that it actually doubles as your first draft. Flexible and customizable, this revolutionary system can be modified to fit any writer's approach and style. Plus, comprehensive and interactive worksheets make the process seem less like work and more like a game. This invaluable resource also includes:
-
Itemized and flexible schedules to keep you focused each and every day
-
Dozens of detailed worksheets to guide you through the outlining process
-
Completed sample worksheets inspired by best-selling novels
-
Tips for outlining projects already in development
-
Brainstorming techniques to keep you motivated
-
Goal sheets for getting--and keeping--your career on track
Many aspiring and experienced novelists toss out hundreds of pages (and waste valuable time) before they have a workable first draft of a novel. You don't have to fall into this category anymore. With FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS, you'll have the tools you need to write your masterpiece!
FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS
Extras:
Worksheet 1: Character Sketch
PDF Version
Microsoft Word Version
Worksheet 15: Story Evolution
PDF Version
Microsoft Word Version
Worksheet 16: Formatted Outline Capsule
PDF Version
Microsoft Word Version
 |
COHESIVE STORY BUILDING
by Karen S. Wiesner Note: The Writer’s Digest Books edition is out of print. This title has been revised, updated, expanded, and reissued in trade paperback and electronic formats by Writers Exchange E-Publishing under the title COHESIVE STORY BUILDING. An optional, bonus worksheet booklet is also available!
Buy from Writers Exchange E-Publishing View the table of contents Read an excerpt
Read reviews
The worksheets, checklists, and exercises from COHESIVE STORY BUILDING are available here in a usable digital format! Additionally, for those who prefer a printed version, a paperback booklet is also available.
PDF and RTF formats available from Writers Exchange E-Publishing (scroll down to choose PDF or RTF format)
|
Worksheets, Checklists, and Exercises from COHESIVE STORY BUILDING:
Without layering, a story is one-dimensional, unbelievable, boring. Layers mean stronger characters, settings, plots, suspense, intrigue, emotions and motivation. Layering also produces cohesion of all elements. Characters must blend naturally with the setting the writer has placed them, just as plot becomes an organic part of character and setting. If a story doesn’t work, it could very well be because the elements aren’t cohesive. COHESIVE STORY BUILDING shows how each element hinges on the other two and how to mix them until they fuse irrevocably. Additionally, COHESIVE STORY BUILDING carefully explores each of stage of story development from brainstorming and outlining to drafting and revision. From a thorough look at the fundamentals of writing to comprehensive story building techniques, as well as submission guidelines and etiquette, this must-have guide will see writers through the entire novel writing process from start to finish.
Set within the framework of comparing the process of building a house to the process of building a story, COHESIVE STORY BUILDING gives a solid plan of action from start to finish through in-depth examples and exercises, and leave-no-stone-unturned checklists that will help writers take the plan into their own writing. Features detailed examples from published novels to illustrate story-building principles.
Many who have read Karen Wiesner’s reference FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS, which focuses on in-depth outlining and goal-setting, will find COHESIVE STORY BUILDING a perfect companion to that book.
COHESIVE STORY BUILDING (formerly titled FROM FIRST DRAFT TO FINISHED NOVEL {A Writer's Guide to Cohesive Story Building})
Extras:
View or download The Cohesion Test worksheet
View or download an example of a Story Plan Checklist filled out with DEAD DROP, Book 4 of the Incognito Series by Karen Wiesner
View or download an example of a synopsis created using a Story Plan Checklist (DEAD DROP, Book 4 of the Incognito Series by Karen Wiesner)
Creating realistic, unforgettable characters one story at a time…
In addition to being a popular writing reference instructor and writer, professional blurbologist and freelance editor, Karen Wiesner is the accomplished, award-winning author of 140 titles published in the past 24 years, which have been nominated/won 134 awards, with more than 20 releases contracted for spanning many genres and formats. Karen’s books cover such genres as women’s fiction, romance, mystery/police procedural/cozy, suspense, paranormal, futuristic, fantasy, science fiction, gothic, inspirational/Christian, thriller, horror and action/adventure. Her fiction releases have won or been nominated for RT Book Reviews Reviewer's Choice Award, the Dream Realm Award, the Daphne du Maurier Award, eCataromance Reviewer's Choice Award, The Romance Studio's CAPA Award and Sweetheart Award, FTHRW's The Lories Award, the FCRW Published Beacon Contest, the Frankfurt Award, many L-Edit Slip contest awards, and multiple EPIC Awards.
Karen is also the multi-award-winning author of poetry, children's books, and writing reference titles including the bestselling FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS as well as WRITING THE FICTION SERIES: The Guide for Novels and Novellas, BRING YOUR FICTION TO LIFE: Crafting Three-Dimensional Stories with Depth and Complexity, WRITING BLURBS THAT SIZZLE--AND SELL!, and COHESIVE STORY BUILDING. Her new writing reference is titled CPR FOR DEAD OR LIFELESS FICTION: A Writer's Guide to Deep and Multifaceted Development and Progression of Characters, Plots, and Relationships. For more information, visit Karen's nonfiction page. Her previous writing reference titles focused on non-subsidy, royalty-paying electronic publishing, author promotion, and setting up a promotional group like her own, Jewels of the Quill, which she founded in 2003. The group disbanded in 2014.
Interested in what Karen is working on? Click here for Karen's WIP, along with information on new and/or unsold projects.
Find out more about Karen by visiting her website at http://www.karenwiesner.com.
Header and button design by Karen Wiesner.
If you experience technical problems with this site, please contact the Webmistress.