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Successful writing requires The Write Focus. Hosted by M.A. Lee with occasional forays from Remi Black and Edie Roones, we focus on productivity / tools / craft / process for fiction and nonfiction, entertainment and academic writing.
Episodes
Tuesday Dec 26, 2023
Tuesday Dec 26, 2023
Tuesday Dec 26, 2023
Tuesday Dec 26, 2023
“Amber Dreams”, chapter 2
Blackmail threatens a young bride when her secret diary is stolen. Her marriage of convenience is threatened if the contents are revealed to her new husband and his autocratic mother.
Can Isabella recover the diary before the bride loses all hope?
. ~ . ~ . ~ .
Sailing with Mystery is a collection of short stories in the Into Death series. The Write Focus host M.A. Lee offers these audio selections as a Merry Christmas for the TWF listeners.
Tuesday Dec 26, 2023
Tuesday Dec 26, 2023
Mystery and peril are dangerous shipmates for an ocean voyage.
While travel presents opportunities to meet new friends and see new places, Isabella Tarrant also encounters puzzling crimes and dangerous intrigue as she sails from England to India.
“Amber Dreams”, chapter 1
Blackmail threatens a young bride when her secret diary is stolen. Her marriage of convenience is threatened if the contents are revealed to her new husband and his autocratic mother.
Can Isabella recover the diary before the bride loses all hope?
. ~ . ~ . ~ .
Sailing with Mystery is a collection of short stories in the Into Death series. The Write Focus host M.A. Lee offers these audio selections as a Merry Christmas for the TWF listeners.
Wednesday Dec 06, 2023
Wednesday Dec 06, 2023
Stage 8 is the second of the two most important stages of the Archetypal Story Pattern, the greatest plot structure in the world. Many would say that it is the most important stage.
We’ve reached the Ordeal, the Dark Moment, the greatest trial for our protagonist, the point closest to Death—the near loss of a love, a goal or dream almost destroyed, a job or status at an explosive moment that could prove fatal if one more horrid mistake occurs.
While the Ordeal is not the ultimate battle, it is all-important, for our protagonist and our antagonist.
Before we delve into Stage 8 a word on the rest of December. With all the hectic holiday events, The Write Focus takes December off and will resume on the first Wednesday of the New Year. Our Discovering Plot series has two more episodes to explore the last 4 stages. We’ll start the New Year and Season 5 with those.
It’s hard to believe this little podcast is entering its 5th season. Thanks to all of our listeners who keep us going!
Do stop by after Christmas for a little audio Christmas gift from our host M.A. Lee.
Now, let’s face the Ordeal.
TIMINGS
- 00:00 Welcome
- 00:30 Introduction
- 02:12 Stage 8
- 04:09 Persuasion as an example
- 07:10 13th Warrior as an example
- 09:09 Antagonists
- 11:27 Deathly Hallows as an example
- 13:07 Key Juxtapositions
- 15:05 Last Words / Closing
Total Run Time = 16:47
Examples from Jane Austen’s Persuasion, Michael Crichton’s 13th Warrior, and JK Rowling’s Deathly Hallows
Direct Link to the Blog https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2023/12/stage-8-greatest-plot-structure.html
Links to the Ebook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0838PTN49
https://books2read.com/u/bOJK6K
Links to a paperback 8 x 10 bundle for plot / characters / branding / sentence craft, called Discovering Your Writing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08691892S
Trailer https://youtu.be/hTVQn92kNBk
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
Stage 7 is the first of the two most important stages of the Archetypal Story Pattern. It is the Approach to the Inmost Cave and sets up events and character dynamics for the crucial Stage 8, the Dark Moment or the Ordeal.
The Inmost Cave is the location of the Ordeal, the point where our protagonist comes closest to Death. That could the loss of love, of a motivating goal or dream, of a job or status, an intellectual pursuit, or physical death.
We writers want to lead straight into the Ordeal, but we do our readers a disservice when we don’t give equal attention to the big build-up of the Approach to that Dark, Fearsome Cave.
Let’s get to it.
TIMINGS
- 00:00 Welcome
- 00:39 Introduction
- 01:33 Stage 7A
- 04:15 Ongoing Transformation
- 06:00 Resurrecting the Desired Dear
- 10:11 Jam Today
- 11:33 Stage 7B / What is AND isn’t a Cave?
- 15:03 The Inmost Cave and its Darkness
- 17:28 Personal Darkness
- 19:41 Last Words / Closing
Total Run Time = 21:24
Examples from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, the films 13th Warrior and Raiders of the Lost Ark, Tolkien’s The Hobbit, and William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Direct Link to the Blog https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2023/11/stage-7-discovering-plot-series.html
Links to the Ebook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0838PTN49
https://books2read.com/u/bOJK6K
Links to a paperback 8 x 10 bundle for plot / characters / branding / sentence craft, called Discovering Your Writing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08691892S
Trailer https://youtu.be/hTVQn92kNBk
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
For many writers, Openings and Closings aren’t the problem with story. We all have problems with the Messy Middle—or the Saggy Middle—or that long slog between fantastic Opening and stupendous Ending.
It’s the Middle that causes the most groans.
In the Archetypal Story Pattern, the Greatest Plot Structure in the world—that troublesome Middle is Stages 4 to 8. It’s not Stage 4 that creates the problems. It’s not Stage 8 or Stage 7.
Nope, what causes the most angst for writers is our focus in this episode—Stages 5 and 6.
Follow along for clues that will change your approach to Stages 5 and 6 and hopefully keep them from turning into the Messy Middle Mire that causes angst for so many writers.
TIMINGS
- 00:00 Welcome
- 00:40 Introduction
- 01:47 Stage 5
- 03:30 Thresholds
- 04:47 Four New Things in the Story
- 07:05 Analysis through Example
- 09:16 Crossing the First Threshold
- 10:43 Stage 6
- 12:50 Purpose-Filled Examinations
- 15:50 Thresholds are Tests (and are Try/Fail Sequences)
- 16:47 How Many Tests?
- 19:50 Last Words / Closing
Total Run Time:: 21:33
Examples from Patricia Briggs’ The Hob’s Bargain, Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, and Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice
Links to the Ebook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0838PTN49
https://books2read.com/u/bOJK6K
Links to a paperback 8 x 10 bundle for plot / characters / branding / sentence craft, called Discovering Your Writing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08691892S
Trailer https://youtu.be/hTVQn92kNBk
Thanks for listening to The Write Focus. We focus on productivity, process, craft, and tools. Our podcast is for newbies who want to become writing pros and veterans who are returning to writing after years away.
Our current focus is Discovering Your Plot, from host M.A. Lee’s guidebook of the same name.
Support the podcast with a cup of coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/winkbooksr
- You can find workbooks and templates at Buy Me a Coffee. Available is the Enter the Writing Business Workbook and templates from the Discovering Characters
- Available Now: worksheet templates and a video trailer script for Discovering Your Author Brand.
For more links and resources, visit www.thewritefocus.blogspot.com .
Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com.
If you find value in this podcast, please share with your writing friends or write a review. (We’re small beans. We don’t have the advertising budget of the big peeps. You can make a difference.)
Wednesday Nov 15, 2023
Wednesday Nov 15, 2023
This week’s episode continues our deeper and richer analysis of the stages of the Greatest Plot Structure in the World for Writers: the Archetypal Story Pattern.
Stage 3 is the Refusal of the Call, which is just as necessary as the destruction that occurs in Stage 2, Call to Adventure.
Stage 4 presents one of the most intriguing and labyrinthine characters in the story realm: the Mentor.
Got those loins girded? We’re delving ever deeper into ASP.
TIMINGS
- 00:00 Welcome
- 00:39 Introduction
- 01:13 Stage 3 / Only Fools Rush In
- 03:44 Don’t Neglect the Evil
- 04:07 Jobs Not Yet Done
- 05:05 Five Psychological Stages to Maturity
- 08:02 Analysis of ROC through Example
- 11:20 Stage 4 / Wiser Eyes
- 16:47 When Mentors Become More
- 19:22 Initiation and Transformation
- 21:12 Last Words and Closing
Total Run Time: 22:53
Examples from Dorothy Johnson’s short story “A Man Called Horse”, the film Taken, the Star Wars canon, the Harry Potter series, and Jane Austen’s Persuasion.
LINKS BELOW
Thanks for listening to The Write Focus. We focus on productivity, process, craft, and tools. Our podcast is for newbies who want to become writing pros and veterans who are returning to writing after years away.
Our current focus is Discovering Your Plot, from host M.A. Lee’s guidebook of the same name.
Support the podcast with a cup of coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/winkbooksr
- You can find workbooks and templates at Buy Me a Coffee. Available is the Enter the Writing Business Workbook and templates from the Discovering Characters series.
- Available Now: worksheet templates and a video trailer script for Discovering Your Author Brand.
For more links and resources, visit www.thewritefocus.blogspot.com .
Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com.
If you find value in this podcast, please share with your writing friends or write a review. (We’re small beans. We don’t have the advertising budget of the big peeps. You can make a difference.)
LINKS
Link to “A Man Called Horse” by Dorothy Johnson (various pdfs are available online. This is a link to the story online.) A Man Called Horse ______ Dorothy M. Johnson – My Favorite Westerns
Links to the Ebook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0838PTN49
https://books2read.com/u/bOJK6K
Links to a paperback 8 x 10 bundle for plot / characters / branding / sentence craft, called Discovering Your Writing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08691892S
Trailer https://youtu.be/hTVQn92kNBk
Wednesday Nov 08, 2023
Wednesday Nov 08, 2023
In this episode, we begin our in-depth analysis of the individual stages of the Archetypal Story Pattern, the greatest plot structure for writers.
Highly adaptable and flexible, the Archetypal Story Pattern, or ASP, allows the creative muse to fly. Our focus is the first two stages: Stage 1 / Ordinary World and Stage 2 / Call to Adventure.
With a deeper and richer analysis of each stage, writers will hopefully gain insights that were never before contemplated.
TIMINGS
- 00:00 Welcome
- 00:39 Introduction
- 01:22 Stage 1 Opening
- 02:28 Start with Duality
- 05:07 Build with the Latin 7
- 09:21 Stage 2 Opening
- 10:35 First Consideration
- 12:26 Second Consideration
- 15:59 Three More Takes
- 18:43 Last Words and Closing
Total Run Time :: 20:25
Thanks for listening to The Write Focus. We focus on productivity, process, craft, and tools. Our podcast is for newbies who want to become writing pros and veterans who are returning to writing after years away.
Our current focus is Discovering Your Plot, from host M.A. Lee’s guidebook of the same name.
Support the podcast with a cup of coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/winkbooksr
- You can find workbooks and templates at Buy Me a Coffee. Available is the Enter the Writing Business Workbook and templates from the Discovering Characters
- Available Now: worksheet templates and a video trailer script for Discovering Your Author Brand.
For more links and resources, visit www.thewritefocus.blogspot.com .
Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com.
If you find value in this podcast, please share with your writing friends or write a review. (We’re small beans. We don’t have the advertising budget of the big peeps. You can make a difference.)
Links to the Ebook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0838PTN49
https://books2read.com/u/bOJK6K
Links to a paperback 8 x 10 bundle for plot / characters / branding / sentence craft, called Discovering Your Writing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08691892S
Trailer https://youtu.be/hTVQn92kNBk
Wednesday Nov 01, 2023
Wednesday Nov 01, 2023
Archetypes invaded the world of writing decades ago. Just as an artist has her drawing box and a cook accesses her pantry. new writers—and experienced ones needed a refresher—need the archetypal frameworks in their writing kit.
Explorers will find multiple versions of archetypal charts, for plot and for characters. Social media and webinars abound with them. Numerous videos and blogs cover the basic information.
The Archetypal Story Pattern—ASP—is genius for the 12 stages of essential story scenes. We have many more scenes than these, of course, but the ASP gives up the story guidance so lacking in other types of plot structures.
In this section, we offer an introduction to Archetypal Story Pattern. In the next, we launch into the individual stages.
Gird your loins. The information is becoming intense! After this episode’s overview, we’ll cover each stage in deeper and richer detail in later episodes, all the way into the New Year.
TIMINGS
- 00:00 Welcome
- 00:39 Introduction
- 04:02 Joseph Campbell’s 17 Stages of the Hero’s Journey
- 06:47 Christopher Vogler’s 12 Stages / the Archetypal Story Pattern
- 09:10 Beginning / Middle / End
- 12:28 Last Words and Closing
Total Run Time :: 14:11
BOOK LINKS are to Amazon because I’m working quickly. You can also find these at Worldwide Distributors Everywhere.
Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey https://www.amazon.com/Writers-Journey-Anniversary-Mythic-Structure/dp/1615933158/
Joseph Campbell’s Hero with a 1,000 Faces https://www.amazon.com/Thousand-Faces-Collected-Joseph-Campbell-ebook/dp/B08MWW2VDL/
Carl Jung :: Gary Bobroff’s Knowledge in a Nutshell: Carl Jung https://www.amazon.com/Knowledge-Nutshell-psychoanalyst-unconscious-archetypes-ebook/dp/B082VJLVXR/
George Fraser The Golden Bough https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Bough-James-George-Frazer/dp/1692144219/
Links to M.A. Lee’s Discovering Your Plot, ebook format.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0838PTN49
https://books2read.com/u/bOJK6K
Links to a paperback 8 x 10 bundle for plot / characters / branding / sentence craft, called Discovering Your Writing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08691892S
Trailer https://youtu.be/hTVQn92kNBk
Thanks for listening to The Write Focus. We focus on productivity, process, craft, and tools. Our podcast is for newbies who want to become writing pros and veterans who are returning to writing after years away.
Our current focus is Discovering Your Plot, from host M.A. Lee’s guidebook of the same name.
Support the podcast with a cup of coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/winkbooksr
- You can find workbooks and templates at Buy Me a Coffee. Available is the Enter the Writing Business Workbook and templates from the Discovering Characters
- Available Now: worksheet templates and a video trailer script for Discovering Your Author Brand.
For more links and resources, visit www.thewritefocus.blogspot.com .
Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com.
If you find value in this podcast, please share with your writing friends or write a review. (We’re small beans. We don’t have the advertising budget of the big peeps. You can make a difference.)