Speaking and Workshops

Dianna Love is a best selling author and national speaker who teaches the popular Break Into Fiction® writing programs to standing room only attendance. She’s spoken internationally in several countries and loves to meet new writers.

Dianna and Mary Buckham created Break Into Fiction®, which is now in a book, which includes the Power Plotting program based on their Character-Driven Plotting™ templates. Below are workshops Dianna presents alone and with Mary (depending on their joint schedules), speaking to groups from 150 to 600. The workshops are Interactive, engaging the attendees.   * Door prizes are included. 

Keynote Speaking –
NYT best seller Dianna Love enjoys speaking to both writers and readers.  She does not charge a fee to speak at a writer’s conference/retreat or for a reader event, only asking that her travel and accommodation expenses be covered.  Dianna lives in Peachtree City, GA, traveling from the Atlanta airport.  You can find Dianna’s bio on the Media page.

To inquire about a future event, please contact Dianna’s assistant Cassondra -

 

POWERPACING: HOW TO CREATE A PAGE-TURNING MANUSCRIPT
How can one book keep you riveted to the pages and another leave you feeling ho hum?  What is the secret behind a "page-turner"?  It comes down to key techniques that weave a tight balance of fast-paced conflict, tension, mystery/suspense, action and emotion into one breathtaking ride.  Two national speakers who are award-winning authors will share how to speed up a sluggish manuscript with power pacing techniques.

One line description - An interactive workshop taught by award-winning authors who are national workshop speakers on how to speed up a sluggish manuscript with power pacing techniques.
Target Audience: Published and unpublished authors of all genres and levels.
Handouts – yes.

 

POWER OPENINGS: HOW TO HOOK AN EDITOR ON THE FIRST PAGE
Many manuscripts are rejected by the end of the Page One.  Sound unfair?  Not really.  By the end of this workshop attendees will understand why this happens and how to avoid rejection before the editor reads Page Two.  Find out how to ratchet up your opening by learning what stays, what goes and what makes a powerful opening. 
One line description:  Interactive workshop on how to hold an editor's attention past the first page when many manuscripts are rejected.
Target Audience: Published and unpublished authors of all genres and levels.
Handouts – yes.

Marianne Mancusi of Better TV interviewed Dianna and Mary Buckham about their new Break Into Fiction(R) book just released this past June. Marianne is not just an amazing journalist, but a talented author of paranormal and YA books.

Workshop Details –

* All workshops are geared for both Plotters and Pantsers (seat-of-the-pants writers)

Number of attendees: Unlimited as long as there is a moderator who can take questions in a large crowd with a second microphone
Attendee writing level: Suited for new writers, published authors, plotters and pantsers
Attendees receive: Handouts/worksheets created for working on their own story so they apply what they learn immediately (*Note – will supply worksheets for up to 100)
Fee: Dianna does not charge a fee. (expenses reimbursed)
Extras – Door prizes provided
Audio/Visual required – Overhead projector or LCD preferred, but not necessary unless attendee number is over 100; microphone necessary for more than 50 attendees

 

ONE HOUR Break Into Fiction® Workshops:

Power Openings – Find out why an editor/agent will boot a story on the first page…and how to take them to that important fifth page. What does every opening need? What doesn’t belong in the opening? How can you weave in back story and make it necessary to the opening?
Power Pacing – Find out what makes a book a ‘page-turner’ without explosions on every page while keeping tension high and emotional depth engaging. A book is a collection of scenes linked so tightly no one scene can be removed. How do you make every scene that important?
The Power of Romantic Elements for Any Story – Whether you write thrillers, suspense, fantasy, mystery or any other genre, the romantic element in the story adds character development, conflict and the emotional tension readers crave. Find out how to include a romantic element without turning the story into a romance and while also supporting the central plot. *This workshop was first taught at a Writers Digest conference in New York and the response has been so strong we’re adding it to our permanent schedule.
Troubleshooting Plot Holes
Plotters and Pansters both struggle with common story issues. Even the best writers discover plot holes either during the writing process or the revision process. But not everyone wrestles with the same challenges. Learn how to locate these weak spots and strengthen your story when revising.
Special program developed for Published Author Tracts – please email to discuss these one-hour workshops or panels.
Set up to Twist Points
The backbone of every story are the three major twist points, but how do you know that your twist points are strong enough to carry the story to a powerful ending? Bring a new story idea to work on and come prepared to challenge your characters.

 

TWO HOUR Break Into Fiction® Workshops –

*NOTE – any two of the one-hour programs can be combined to be used as a two-hour workshop.

TWO HOUR Power Writing – Super Power Openings & Analyze This: Scene Survival Test

SUPER POWER OPENINGS
Can you sell your book based on your opening alone? Agents, editors and thousands of readers are going to decide to choose your book based on your opening. Is yours ready? Bring the first 150 words of your story to test its strength.
ANALYZE THIS: SCENE SURVIVAL TEST: Test the Strength of Your Scene
Submissions live or die by the strength of scenes. Are your scenes loaded with key elements or bloated with filler? Bring a scene from your story and come prepared to test its strength.

 

TWO HOUR Power Writing – Active Settings & How Many Hooks Are Enough

ACTIVE SETTINGS
Setting can bog down pacing. Give your setting an active role in your story. Use Deep POV to spin boring descriptions into engaging prose. Bring a brief passage/excerpt [approximately 100 words] of setting from your manuscript for deep analysis.
HOW MANY HOOKS ARE ENOUGH?
Whether you’re a plotter or seat-of-the-pants writer, the simplest way to avoid a sagging middle is to understand how to continually build hooks into your story. So how many hooks are enough? Knowing the answer to that question can be the difference between a compelling story and one that drags.

 

ONE DAY Break Into Fiction® Power Writing:

FIVE KEY ELEMENTS of Character-Driven Plotting®

(Note: this is not the 2 Day plotting retreat)
Five KEY Elements – Character, Conflict, Set up to Twist Points, Power Openings and Power Pacing – are at the heart of every powerful story. Spend a day learning how to up the stakes at every twist in your story and build a page-turning novel.
Attendees receive worksheets for applying what they learn immediately to their own stories and time to fill in the worksheets intermittently throughout the day.

 

TWO DAY Break Into Fiction® Power Plotting Retreat in 2010:

WRITE AT SEA: BREAK INTO FICTION
April 30 - May 3, 2010

For More Info and Registration visit www.WriteAtSea.com

 

*Due to Dianna’s writing schedule, she will only be joining Mary once in 2010 to teach this 2 Day Power Plotting Retreat…but it’s on a cruise.

Private Hands-On Retreat with limited seating (this workshop is not conducive to large groups or chapter meetings due to the amount of time and the cost):


Power Plot YOUR Book in 2 Days –

This is an intensive hands-on program where Dianna and Mary take you through their innovative Character-Driven Plotting™ Program with 11 Templates that will change the way you think about plotting.  Go to www.BreakIntoFiction.com and read what past attendees – both plotters and pantsers – are saying about this highly successful retreat. There were only a few seats available in December. Click on www.WriteAtSea.com for all the details.
Email questions to Dianna’s assistant Cassondra -

Too often, getting published means an immediate drain on what tiny amount of free time you had available. The first thing to go is reading for pleasure. The next one is taking workshops. I think the two most important things you can do for your writing is to write constantly and to continue learning through reading and workshops. Knowledge is food for your brain and reading provides rest for your muse. Treat yourself and your muse whenever you have the chance.
Dianna