Kevin T. Johns Writing Inc.

"The best course I have taken on writing . . ."

2023-04-02T06:00:44-04:00

Hi ,

Every time I run the STORY PLAN INTENSIVE challenge, I’m blown away by the incredible results the participants get and the feedback they provide me with after completing the program.

Frank participated in the challenge in May 2022. He reached out to me afterwards with the following message:

“Kevin, I just finished the Story Plan Challenge and it is important for me to let you know that was the best course I have taken on writing.”

Frank isn’t alone.

Author Mia Romero found so much success with the program that she participated in both the Fall and Spring rounds last year, completely planning two entire books in the process.

When I interviewed her for this episode of the Writing Coach Podcast, she told me:

“Story Plan Intensive has given me a wonderful template I know I can use every single time for any book.”

Likewise, when I interviewed STORY PLAN INTENSIVE participant Carmone Harris in this episode of the podcast, she told me:

“It made me start to see my story in a different way.”

Mohammad Mustafo also expressed his amazement:

“I have never written a book before. I went from zero idea how to plan a story to having a completed outline for a great novel in one month’s time. Now I can’t wait to get writing!”

If you have a story inside of you itching to get out, now is the time to join STORY PLAN INTENSIVE.

Get a full month of daily writer’s craft training, homework, support, and accountability.

Join now.

Your pal in writing,

Kevin T. Johns, writing coach

Kevin T. Johns Writing Inc, Ottawa, Ontario Canada

PO Box 45017
Kanata ON K2M2G0
CANADA

Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options

4 Simple Tips for Writing Success

2023-03-31T07:01:01-04:00

Hi ,

In the latest episode of The Writing Coach podcast, I share four simple tips you can use immediately to set yourself up for long-term success with your writing.

Listen to the episode or read the transcript here.

Your pal in writing,

Kevin T. Johns, writing coach

Kevin T. Johns Writing Inc, Ottawa, Ontario Canada

PO Box 45017
Kanata ON K2M2G0
CANADA

Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options

What Lucasfilm is doing Wrong

2023-03-29T06:01:06-04:00

Hi ,

I love Star Wars.

I read the comics and novels, and I watch the movies and TV shows.

All of them.

Including the recent Obi-Wan Kenobi series . . .

Sigh.

Here is the thing: your story needs to make sense.

The reader or viewer needs to understand what is happening and why the characters are doing what they are doing.

The Kenobi series was unfortunately hampered by nonsensical storytelling throughout.

Here's a simple example:

In one episode, a young Princess Leia enters a tunnel. A few minutes later, the villain Reva enters the same tunnel following her. When Leia reaches the end of the tunnel, Reva is already there waiting for her. It just doesn’t make sense logically. The audience how know idea whatsoover how Reva got ahead of Leia.

Ensuring your story’s logic is consistent, its character motivations clear, and its plot free from holes requires planning ahead.

Planning is something Lucasfilm has struggled with ever since it was acquired by Disney.

In fact, the Disney Star Wars sequel trilogy is nearly universally acknowledged as a disaster at this point. What went wrong?

Was it the acting?

The special effects?

The costumes?

Nope. It was the writing.

Lucasfilm went into the trilogy without a plan for the story and the films suffered immensely because of it.

My free STORY PLAN INTENSIVE program helps writers take a different approach than the one Star Wars has taken of late.

Rather than having the shaggy dog trilogy Lucasfilm ended up with after making it up as they went along, the writers in this challenge will finish the program with a rock-solid outline that will allow them to double the quality of their first draft while cutting the drafting and revisions time in half.

The outline will set them up for long-term success, rather than the short-term high and long-term pain unplanned manuscripts almost always create.

This challenge is focused on you learning, developing, and implementing the foundational planning techniques professional writers use to write bestselling novels and beloved narratives.

We’re getting started next Monday . . . and I want you to join us.

Sign-up here.

Your pal in writing,

Kevin T. Johns, writing coach

P.S. Don't even get me started on Obi-Wan sneaking Leia out of the Fortress Inquisitorius under a damn trench coat!

Kevin T. Johns Writing Inc, Ottawa, Ontario Canada

PO Box 45017
Kanata ON K2M2G0
CANADA

Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options

3 Ways to Create Momentum with Your Writing

2023-03-27T07:01:59-04:00

In this week's episode of The Writing Coach podcast, I cover three techniques you can use to create and benefit from momentum with your writing.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why writing a book is like recovering from surgery
What writers can learn from Jerry Seinfeld
The power of visual representations of success
Why not every scene needs to be a smash hit
And much more!

Listen to the episode or read the transcript now.

Your pal in writing,

Kevin T. Johns, writing coach

Kevin T. Johns Writing Inc, Ottawa, Ontario Canada

PO Box 45017
Kanata ON K2M2G0
CANADA

Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options

How to Avoid a Cocaine Bear

2023-03-24T07:01:06-04:00

Hi ,

Did you hear about this new movie, Cocaine Bear?

Apparently, it’s based on the true story of a giant grizzly bear that ate a massive amount of cocaine and (understandably) went on a rampage.

Now if I was wandering the woods — especially if I was off the main path or worse yet . . . lost — I’d be scared enough of a running into a regular bear.

But a cocaine bear?

No thanks.

If you’re like me and you’d prefer to avoid the threats the unmapped wild might contain, then you’ll want to join my free STORY PLAN INTENSIVE program today.

Here’s why:

First, the creation of your story plan outline will work as a story development tool. We’ll use it to craft a story that goes where it needs to go exactly when it needs to get there.

Then it will become your roadmap for the drafting process. You’ll always know what scene you need to write next and exactly what needs to happen in that scene.

There will still be room for discovery and creativity but your outline will keep you from getting too far off-track, lost in the woods, or eaten by a cocaine bear.

Finally, your outline will serve as a story analysis tool to initiate the revisions process following the completion of your first draft.

You'll have an evergreen document that will change and grow along with your story, and will always serve as the foundational framework upon which your revisions can be mapped.

Your story plan is an idea creation machine, a drafting roadmap, and a framework for the revisions process. It'll give you focus and direction throughout the creation of your novel.

Sick of feeling lost in your story?

Join the STORY PLAN INTENSIVE challenge today and you’ll have a clear path to follow.

The challenge is free. To participate, all you need to do is sign-up here.

Your pal in writing,

Kevin T. Johns, writing coach

Kevin T. Johns Writing Inc, Ottawa, Ontario Canada

PO Box 45017
Kanata ON K2M2G0
CANADA

Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options

3-Day Virtual Writing Retreat Kicks Off Tomorrow!

2023-03-23T14:37:43-04:00

Hi ,

Just a quick reminder that Audrey Hughey's 3-Day Virtual Writing Retreat kicks off tomorrow morning.

It's going to be a blast!

Get all the details and access using my affiliate link here.

You pal in writing,

Kevin T. Johns, writing coach

Kevin T. Johns Writing Inc, Ottawa, Ontario Canada

PO Box 45017
Kanata ON K2M2G0
CANADA

Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options

Russian Dolls? No! Estonian Dolls!

2023-03-22T07:01:20-04:00

Hi ,

My grandparents escaped to Canada after their homeland of Estonia was invaded by Russia following World War II.

That’s why I prefer to think of the toys that are often referred to as “Russian Dolls” as “Estonian Dolls” instead.

And for me, Estonian Dolls aren’t just vintage toys; rather, they are a metaphor for the way we can use nesting story chunks to keep our novel-length stories manageable and avoid overwhelm and stress during both drafting and revisions.

Last weekend, I announced that registration for the April round of the free STORY PLAN INTENSIVE challenge is now open. As part of the challenge, we're going to combat stress and overwhelm so you’ll always feel in control of your story.

Here’s how:

First, we'll develop a big-picture outline that will give you a macro-overview of your entire narrative.
Then we'll break that outline into manageable-sized chunks so you can best take advantage of the underlying story physics inherent within each act of your book.
Finally, we’ll drill down to the micro-level and identify your sequences, scenes, and story beats so that every time you sit down to write you'll know exactly what you need to put on the page.

Using my “Estonian Doll Method,” we’ll take the complicated and intricate process of story mapping and turn it into a manageable and workable outline that will guide your drafting process so you always feel in control of your story.

No more stress. No more self-doubt. Just blissful, confident writing.

Join the challenge today.

Your pal in writing,

Kevin T. Johns, writing coach

Kevin T. Johns Writing Inc, Ottawa, Ontario Canada

PO Box 45017
Kanata ON K2M2G0
CANADA

Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options

Keep the Dark Night of the Soul on the Page

2023-03-20T09:02:57-04:00

Hi ,

The “Dark Night of the Soul” is a story beat that usually occurs around the 75% mark in a narrative, not long after the “All is Lost Moment.”

Unfortunately, for too many writers, crafting a novel often leads to a personal and genuine dark night of the soul.

What started out as a fun and creative outlet all too quickly becomes tedious, frightening, and frustrating.

This is especially true for first-time authors.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

The other day I announced the latest round of STORY PLAN INTENSIVE.

This free challenge helps writers overcome some of the biggest roadblocks standing in the way of a successful writing and publishing career.

The program tackles the self-doubt, second-guessing, and soul searching so many writers face throughout the creative process and transforms it into rock-solid confidence.

Here how:

First, we’ll explore your novel’s genre so you can be clear that your story is hitting the necessary tropes, conventions, and obligatory scenes, and that the narrative lives up to your genre contract with your readers.
Next, we’ll apply macro-story-structure frameworks, so you’ll always know where your narrative needs to go next during the drafting.
Then we’ll create charismatic characters, with clear objects of desire, who leap off the page and encourage reader identification.

The result?

You’ll enter the drafting process completely confident you’ve applied the writer’s craft techniques necessary for storytelling success.

No need to second guess your story or your writing talent.

No crippling self-doubt.

No more dark nights of the soul anywhere but on the page.

You'll just sit down at the keyboard and execute.

That’s what STORY PLAN INTENSIVE can do for you.

The challenge is free, so sign-up here.

Your pal in writing,

Kevin T. Johns, writing coach

Kevin T. Johns Writing Inc, Ottawa, Ontario Canada

PO Box 45017
Kanata ON K2M2G0
CANADA

Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options

3-Day Virtual Writing Retreat NEXT Weekend

2023-03-19T07:01:05-04:00

Hi ,

My friend Audrey Hughey is hosting her annual virtual writing retreat next weekend.

The retreat is an immersive three-day virtual experience with eight experienced instructors.

When I saw how amazing it was going to be, I knew I would have to let you know all about it.

If you're looking for three days of writing, connection, and inspiration, you'll want to sign up using my affiliate link.

The agenda looks incredible, the people are solid, and you can't beat the price.

So get your ticket now!

Your pal in writing,

Kevin T. Johns, writing coach

P.S. If you want to get a feel for Audrey, I interviewed her about the Author Transformation Alliance in episode 61 of The Writing Coach Podcast, and spoke with her about her bookThe Ultimate Authorship Planner in episode 74. (As you will see, Audrey rocks!)

P.S.S. As an affiliate, I get a portion of the proceeds when you purchase your ticket so make you use my link!

Kevin T. Johns Writing Inc, Ottawa, Ontario Canada

PO Box 45017
Kanata ON K2M2G0
CANADA

Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options

Don't be a Leeroy Jenkins!

2023-03-18T09:01:15-04:00

Hi ,

Recently, I revisited the hilarious Leeroy Jenkins video clip that went viral many years ago.

If you haven’t watched it in a while, or if never saw it, check it out here. (You won't regret it!)

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched that clip and it still makes me laugh every time.

The video is particularly funny because it perfectly sums up what happens when you go into battle without a plan of attack.

And as Steven Pressfield explained, in his great book The War of Art, writing a novel is most definitely a battle.

Without a clear plan for your story, it’s easy for the manuscripts to become an unmanageable mess that goes down in flames just like poor Leeroy and his teammates.

That’s why I put together all of my best lessons, tools, and strategies and created the STORY PLAN INTENSIVE program.

STORY PLAN helps writers plan their book in 30 days or less . . . for free.

Registration for the April 2023 round of the program is now open.

This program shares insanely helpful information most writing coaches sell for hundreds, if not thousands of dollars . . . but all you have to do to participate is sign-up today.

If you watch the training videos and complete the homework assignments, you’ll finish the month with a rock-solid outline that will help you cut your drafting and revisions time in half while doubling the quality of your book.

Get signed-up now.

Your pal in writing,

Kevin T. Johns, writing coach

Kevin T. Johns Writing Inc, Ottawa, Ontario Canada

PO Box 45017
Kanata ON K2M2G0
CANADA

Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options