SEPTEMBER - Crack open a new notebook and learn new things with your Creative Academy pals
Aug 26, 2022 11:53 pm
“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.” ~Maya Angelou
Hello ,
September means back to school, which means school supplies and there are few things that make our writer’s hearts beat faster than new pens, notebooks, markers and Post-it Notes. There is something almost “New Year-ish” about the fall, a sense of excitement for things to come. As a kid we would head off with our stiff backpacks not knowing what we might discover and learn. Would there be new friends? A chance to finally understand algebra? Would there be a teacher that unlocked things that confused us the year before? Perhaps a new love to flirt with over a hot lunch tray in the cafeteria the smell of over boiled corn hanging in the air mixed with Axe body spray?
There were scary things too. What if we got that scary dude as the teacher for science? What if we get stuck sitting next to Tiffany in history who hates us, but whose last name is alphabetically close to ours thus forcing us to together? What if we get the flu and throw up on the hot lunch tray in the middle of the cafeteria like that girl did last year?
Learning new things is both exciting and scary. It pushes us to do better because now we know how we can be better. And the challenge of being a writer is that you never graduate. You continue to learn and push yourself.
What will you learn this year? What new friends will you make in the Academy? We’ve got you covered with lots of great events this September!
Highlights from August
STILL TIME TO SIGN UP! Keywords and categories webinar with Publisher Rocket!
Coming up on Monday, August 30th, join the team at Publisher Rocket for an hour focused on learning how to use keywords and categories to help Amazon help you sell more books.
Keywords are what determine if you show up from the search bar, and how well Amazon thinks you match with that keyword is how far down the page you appear. For keywords with high competition, your book might show up on page ten where very few shoppers will actually see it. With little competition, your book could be on page one, which is like being in the front window of a book store.
Your goal with keywords is to discover the ones where you can show up near the top and receive the majority of the clicks. Every click is a chance someone might buy your book, so if you can find a keyword with low competition but a high amount of searches per month, that’s the jackpot.
Join us for an hour with the keyword pro, Dave Chesson. This webinar will be a different space than normal so save that confirmation email and/or add the link to your calendar so you don't this!
STILL TIME TO JOIN! August Book Club: Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes
We will meet on zoom to discuss the book from a writer's perspective. What worked in this book? what didn't work? What did we learn about the craft from reading this book? what could have been improved?
Everyone is welcome to join in the discussion, even if you haven't read the book, but it's more fun if you've read the book
Hosted by Elissa McColl on Sunday, August 28
Creative Academy author readings!
If you missed hearing our very own members reading from their recently published books, you can catch the replay and share this public link with your friends.
- Lisa Duncan reading from her memoir, Chasing Africa: Fear Won’t Find Me Here
- Barry Truter reading from his memoir, Traveller: Stories and Songs in the Key of Connection
- Brenda Margriet is reading from Loving Between the Lines, a romance.
- Sharon Michalove will read from her romantic suspense, At The Crossroads.
- Erryn Barratt , reading as Gabbi Grey will be sharing a scene from her gay romance, Hugh.
Coming up in September
12-week year—Autumn 2022
It's "back to school" time and there's a gorgeous aroma of freshly sharpened pencils in the air! Let's celebrate our wins from the summer and set some shiny new goals for the next 12 weeks!
Join Crystal for 2 hours of planning goodness on Saturday, Sept 10.
Query/synopsis workshop (with Bonnie Jacoby)
For this workshop, a query is 250-350 words, and a one page synopsis is approximately 500 words. You can only pick one to work on during the workshop. Pieces will be posted inside the Crafty Critique Club. The schedule and instructions are in the comments and in the TOPIC lesson.
If you're not a member of the private community, DM Bonnie Jacoby for details and access. If you are a member, add your name to the list right here.
Your drop-in Q&A (with Steph Candiago)
Tue 20—Drop-in Q&A Publishing Tools & Tech
Mon 26—Drop in Q&A Indie Publishing
Your author biz (with Crystal Hunt)
Wed 7—Author Biz & Marketing Q&A
Wed 14—Crafty workshop / masterclass on multi-book story arcs
Wed 21—Expert Q & A: with Elissa McColl, international geophysicist
Wed 28—Just One Thing: Distraction (Stolen Focus by Johann Hari)
Your story craft (with Eileen Cook)
Wed 7—Happy Hour: Taking a scene from lacklustre to spectacular (this month's focus for the Crafty Critique Club)
Wed 14—Happy Hour: Using events from your life on the page
Wed 21—Happy Hour: Using your life events in fiction in action (Eileen & Tracy)
Wed 28—Happy Hour: Round up and questions
Your hot seat (with Donna Barker & members)
Thu 1—Motivation & Accountability Mastermind
Tue 6—Motivation & Accountability Mastermind (facilitated by Lynette)
Thu 8—Motivation & Accountability Mastermind
Tue 13—Motivation & Accountability Mastermind (facilitated by Janee)
Thu 15—Motivation & Accountability Mastermind
Tue 20—Motivation & Accountability Mastermind (facilitated by Lynette)
Thu 22—Motivation & Accountability Mastermind
Tue 27—Motivation & Accountability Mastermind (facilitated by Janee)
Genre meet-ups & open mics
If you're new around these parts and haven't found all your genre peers yet, find your people by joining the communities that match your interests!
See all the communities you can join right here:
And then meet up with them at these events.
Wed 7—Children's & Middle Grade Writers Hangout (with Janee)
Wed 14—Children's & Middle Grade Writers Hangout (with Janee)
Wed 21—Children's & Middle Grade Writers Hangout (with Janee)
Wed 28—Children's & Middle Grade Writers Hangout (with Janee)
Sun 4—Memoir Community Meet Up & Open Mic (with Vig)
Sun 18—Memoir Community Meet Up & Open Mic (with Vig)
Tue 13—Historical Fiction Meet Up (with Jenny)
Tue 27—Historical Fiction Meet Up (with Jenny)
Thu 15—Young Adult fiction Writers Meeting (with Bonnie J)
Sat 17—Romance Writers Rendezvous (with Crystal)
Sat 17—Mystery Thriller Meet Up (with Eileen)
Writing sprints
The writing room is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are several times every day when you can be pretty sure to find at least one other person in the room to keep you company. No matter where you are in the world, we’ve got you covered! Check out all the times here:
We'd love to see you in one of our events this coming month.
Happy writing,
Stephanie, Eileen, Crystal and Donna
