Topic Workbooks
What’s a Topic Workbook? It’s a short, digital handbook, often created from workshops I’ve taught all over the world. Each Workbook covers a specific topic. There are exercises, resources, and tips to help you in that topic.
Work through the “workbook” at your own pace, and then keep it as a handy reference!
They’re priced to be budget-friendly, and and are available on multiple digital platforms. There’s a fresh look, and updated editions, because the industry keeps changing, and the workbooks need to keep up.
More will be added as they are released. We are looking at possible print versions in the coming months; pricing is an issue, to keep them budget friendly.
SETTING UP YOUR SUBMISSION SYSTEM
This Topic Workbook, based on Devon Ellington’s popular seminar, takes the writer step-by-step through creating and maintaining an organized submission system. Too many writers miss opportunities because it takes too long to pull together all the parts! Don’t be one of them! Learn how to efficiently create submission logs, query letter templates, bio paragraphs, clip files, resumes, portfolios, media kits, and more for a more organized, more productive writing life. Updated to include more information on social media and scripts.
This is the most popular of the Topic Workbooks, and helps you set up your submission packets as you complete projects, so it takes only minutes to send a package when you query and/or submit.
The THIRD EDITION of this is $3.99.
THE SERIES BIBLE: CREATION & MAINTENANCE
Fictional worlds, even based on real locations, require consistency. Writing a series involves multiple drafts and changing ideas. A Series Bible will help you keep details straight, allowing you to keep your flow of character quirks and setting details that your readers will always catch. Topics, exercises, and resources included.
Based on Devon Ellington’s popular seminar.
Third Edition releases Aug. 3, 2022.. $3.99
THE GRAVEYARD OF ABANDONED PROJECTS
Unfinished projects drain creative energy. This Topic Workbook, based on Devon Ellington’s popular workshop, takes you step-by-step through each unfinished project to decide if it’s worth reviving, putting in stasis, or laying to rest, once and for all. Complete strong work, solve problems that got you stuck in the first place to turn it into something workable, and let go of projects that have outlived their purpose. Learn how to work revived projects into the schedule, and how to revisit shelved projects in the future to see if they are worth reviving. The workbook contains exercises and resources for writers at every level of their careers, and can be used again and again.
Third edition re-releases July 25, 2022. $2.99.
ORGANIZE YOUR WRITING LIFE
There’s no such thing as “no time to write”. Learn how to analyze your blocks of time and manage them wisely to get your writing done while still having a quality of life. Topics, exercises, and resources, based on Devon Ellington’s popular workshops.
Re-release for $2.99 coming July 29, 2022.
THE COMPLEX ANTAGONIST
This Topic Workbook will help you create exciting antagonists that truly challenge the protagonists in your work, creating interesting, exciting, complex characters. Learn how to create the antagonist’s circle and develop the antagonist as a fully-developed individual, not an idea or a cipher. Combination of topics, exercises, and examples that you can re-visit with every story.
Second edition releases July 27, 2022. $2.99.
CREATIVE STIMULUS
Kick-start your creativity with short stories, found inspirations, sensory detail, and rituals. Includes updated versions of 5 in 10, Sensory Perceptions, Writing Rituals, the Infamous Tip Sheets, and more.
Some days we feel about as creative as wilted lettuce. When that’s the case, turn to Creative Stimulus and work your way through the various exercises. The shorter form of the exercise will help boost your creativity in long work and refresh your creative experience. Learn to go deeper into found inspirations and use the senses to create fuller, more complex, interesting, and detailed words for your readers. Find fresh focus with rituals designed to center and stimulate your creative impulses. Refer to the Tip Sheets for ideas on dialogue, tags, paragraph structure, transitions, how to make internal cuts, and more.
Based on Devon Ellington’s popular workshops, this book combines some of her best in one volume you’ll return to for years.
New edition releases Aug. 1, 2022. $3.99.
DEVELOPING THE SERIES
Got too much story for one book? Or a character with whom you want to explore life over multiple books? Learn how to figure out an engaging character that will keep your audience coming back. Build the character’s world, supporting cast, and long and short arcs. Learn about spin-offs and tie-ins.
Note: Attendees of this class at the 2022 Cape Cod Writers’ Conference receive a copy of this workbook in class, before it releases.
Releases August 2022. $3.99.
30 Tips for 30 Days: Kick Start Your Novel and Get Out of Your Own Way. A Guide for Nano and Beyond. 3rd Edition.
While technically not a Topic Workbook, 30 TIPS fits in the “help for writers” category. This little download started as daily emails to writers I mentored during National Novel Writing Month. It’s now a free download on multiple digital channels. If you didn’t start on Nov. 1, you can name any day you wish as “Day 1” and work from there.
Note: This book has been de-listed, and is no longer available. See the post explaining why here.