32 Ways to Add A Little Shakespeare to Your Story
One-Hour On-Demand Video
Succession drama, high stakes tension, and fascinating characters! There’s a lot we can learn from the Bard—especially if you write long-form fiction. In this one-hour video session, we’re going to cover 32 ways you can enhance your stories with some Shakespearean flair.
Best Practices in Self-Publishing: Bet on Yourself Without Going Broke
Two-Hour On-Demand Video
Everyone talks about how expensive it is to self-publish, but the biggest expense is making rookie mistakes. This workshop will help indie authors to increase their chances of success and to avoid the many pitfalls that come with self-publishing.
The problem with self-publishing is that everyone has their “formula for success," and they all differ. Unfortunately, many of them sound like an MLM pitch. The only thing worse than taking none of their advice is taking all of it. When you try to do everything, you end up spending too much money—and you don't increase your odds of being successful.
Even if you do everything right, every self-published author is taking a risk. As a result, there's a lot we can learn from gamblers. What are the top five mistakes they make most often? And how can we avoid those mistakes when self-publishing?
In this class, we'll create a publishing plan that begins a year in advance of your release date. We'll have a honest conversation about where to spend your money and where to NOT spend your money. We'll talk actual dollar amounts, so you have a clear understanding of what you're getting into.
And finally, we'll walk through the process on how to produce and distribute an ebook, paperback, or audiobook (and why you should wait to release a hardcover). This class will cover everything you want to know about self-publishing and how to do it without going broke. (This class is not for authors who want to take a “rapid release" approach.)
TAKE THIS CLASS IF:
You want to self-publish your novel, and you want to produce something that looks good on the shelf.
You want to self-publish while managing a limited budget.
You want to mitigate risks while self-publishing.
You have questions about formatting and the various print-on-demand/direct sales platforms.
COURSE OUTLINE:
The first section will be on the “top 5 mistakes gamblers make," and how it applies to self-publishing. The second section will be on putting together your self-publishing calendar and where to best spend your money. The next section will be on resources and processes. We'll briefly discuss the basics of how to format a book, load it to Amazon and elsewhere.
DISCLAIMER:
This class was filmed on August 4, 2024. The industry changes. Best practices shift. The advice in this video may not reflect the most current insights.
Previous online classes
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Four-Week Zoom Class
Lear. Lady Macbeth. Hamlet. Juliet. Falstaff. Richard III. William Shakespeare’s characters have entertained audiences for centuries, but writers often approach his characters with a mixture of awe and intimidation. In this four-week class, we’re not going to learn how to better worship the Bard; we’re going to steal from him!
It’s possible to create timeless characters like Shakespeare did.
Great artists often emulate the old masters. Let’s see what we can learn from Shakespeare. In this class, we’re examining:How Shakespeare created characters that feel real
How Shakespeare used interiority and dialogue to enhance characters
How Shakespeare explored marginalized identities to great effect
This course is open to writers of all levels and genres. It’s not necessary to have a thorough knowledge of Shakespeare’s work before taking this class. You will learn as we go.
This class will benefit anyone who wants to create memorable characters that delight readers. It hopes to provide a framework for studying great works of literature. Every great author has something to share. Let’s learn from the best. Remember: “Be not afraid of greatness."
WEEK 1
When two dimensions look like three: A postmodern literary critic and a Renaissance playwright. Three keys to the illusion of complexity: Personality type, conflicting desires, and out-of-character actions (Bonus video: Author conversation about character development).
WEEK 2
Tactics to develop interiority and putting it on the page; Character-centric dialogue that moves the plot forward (Bonus video: Conversation with Shakespearean actor/director).
WEEK 3
Shakespeare understood Main Character Energy; Shakespeare’s four greatest protagonists: Falstaff, Juliet, Iago, and Hamlet (Bonus video: Conversation with Shakespearean scholar).
WEEK 4
Contemporary demands on character; Shakespeare and diversity (Bonus video with expert on diversity and inclusion).
TAKE THIS CLASS IF:You want to be known for your fascinating characters.
You want to write powerful stories that are character-driven.
You believe you could learn a thing or two from William Shakespeare.text goes here
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Two-Part Online Workshop
The adage “just be yourself” is terrible advice, especially when the whole concept of personal identity is inherently elusive. As writers, we know how difficult it is to write realistic fictional characters. Making yourself seem realistic is even more daunting. But when it comes to branding, it’s essential that you know who you are and what you offer.
Whether independent or published by a multi-billion dollar corporation, all writers are expected to market themselves. And marketing can’t happen without branding. In this workshop, we’re focusing on:A clearer understanding of what your personal creative brand is.
An actionable plan for how to better market and elevate that brand.
A set of useful marketing tactics to keep you busy.
This course is open to writers of all levels and genres. Even if you haven’t finished your book (you definitely should), your creative brand provides purpose and direction, so that you can focus on what works.
SESSION 1: HOW TO SUCCEED AT BEING YOURSELF
David will walk you through four steps and eight activities that get to the heart of your personal brand, plus we’ll look at how to work on your brand without burning out. Are you a frantic noisemaker or a marketing monster? There’s a better alternative.
SESSION 2: FIFTY WAYS TO SUCCEED AND ONE WAY TO FAIL
It doesn’t get any more straightforward than this session. Be encouraged! There are many ways to be successful as an author. We’re going through 50, yes 50, different ways that you can take your brand and make it known. But we’ll also cover the one tragic misstep that every author should avoid.
TAKE THIS CLASS IF:You want to be a prolific writer.
You want to find your audience.
You want your audience to find you.
You are willing to devote some time and effort to re-discovering your creative self.
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Four-Week Online Seminar
William Shakespeare’s work has moved audiences for centuries, but writers often approach his work with a mixture of awe and intimidation. In this class, we’re not going to learn how to better worship the Bard; we’re going to steal from him!Great artists often emulate the old masters. Let’s see what we can learn from Shakespeare. Instead of focusing on his poetic verses and flowery prose, we’re examining:
Shakespeare's plot structure
The interplay of characters
And the various tricks he used to maintain his prolific writing career—producing approximately two plays a year for twenty years!
This course is open to writers of all levels and genres. It’s not necessary to have a thorough knowledge of Shakespeare’s work before taking this class. You will learn as we go.
This class will be beneficial for anyone who wants to improve their productivity while writing stories that delights readers. This class hopes to provide a framework for studying other writers. Every great author has something to share. Let’s learn from the best. Remember: “Be not afraid of greatness."WEEK 1
We’ll look at Shakespeare’s influences, going all the way back to Aristotle’s Poetics, and we’ll discuss the secret to being a productive writer. We’ll answer the eternal question: Where do ideas come from? We’ll also explore the difference between episodic and dramatic works—and why it matters.
WEEK 2
Shakespeare’s stories rarely lagged in the middle. And yet, nowadays, so many stories suffer in the middle. Much of what’s wrong with storytelling today can be traced back to a poor understanding of Freytag’s Pyramid, which was inspired in part by Shakespeare’s five-act structure. We’re going to redeem the five-act structure!WEEK 3
Shakespeare was a genre writer. He had a keen understanding of tropes and how to exploit them as well as how to subvert expectations. But Shakespeare was probably best known for his ability to develop characters who moved the plot with meaningful consequences. Many novice writers stumble over these issues. This week, we’ll deal with it head on!
WEEK 4
Shakespeare had a certain way he liked to introduce main characters. He had a certain approach to establishing the setting. He had ways he preferred to build tension and handle violent moments. There are numerous tricks that he employed, which defy easy categorization. During this last week, we’ll cover as many of them as possible.TAKE THIS CLASS IF:
You want to be a prolific writer.
You want to become a master of the five-act structure.
You want to write fascinating, dynamic characters.
You believe you could learn a thing or two from William Shakespeare.
TESTIMONIAL
“The course is excellent. The instructor, David Hopkins, delivers the material effectively, he leans into the camera to make it appear as though he's talking directly to you. Very effective. His presentation style, and occasional levity, worked. The length of the videos was just right -- good balance between short and long; bite-sized for easy consumption and reflection. I related to David as a working commercial writer myself. Too often, academics get behind a podium and speak about this in the abstract, or come down from the creative mountain to address striving writers. With this course, it felt like David was talking to us from his writing office (which, it appeared, he was). The feature interviews were a great touch. I really enjoyed them. The course content was a good balance between understanding Shakespearean writing style and application to personal writing skills. Assignments were appropriate. As someone who doesn't have a lot of free time, I fit this course in. Any more content/assignments may have been too much. This was just right." - Dennis A.