Announcing the Deep Editing Series

The Deep Editing Series is Back

Do you have a completed or nearly completed first draft manuscript?

Congratulations!

You're Amazing

Two hundred million Americans (81%) say they want to write a novel or screenplay. But only 10% actually do.

After I finished my first manuscript, I tried to edit it on my own. I moved or changes some of the words, but it didn't feel like the story was getting any better. So I started going to webinars and reading books until ten years later when I finally developed a method for revisions.

In 2019 I gave a year long series of workshops on revision. Since then, many people asked me to repeat the series. But we were in the middle of a pandemic that presented us with something we’d never seen before—Long Covid.

For 2023, I decided to commit the live presentations to video, so I can share them with you safely.

I am offering two ways to enjoy these presentations.

On Your Own each workshop comes with

on a private website
several videos you can view when it’s convenient for you
handouts
writing exercises.

With a Cohort of Other Writers on my schedule. This option includes

the private website
videos
handouts
writing exercises. But you also get
three Ask Me Anything (AMA) internet meetings to go over writing exercises and to meet other writers
5 pages (1500 words) of your current manuscript edited by me.

The first two workshops are free to everyone so you can make sure my teaching style works for you. After February each monthly course will cost $25 On Your Own and $50 with the Cohort. If you choose to pay for the entire course at once, you get a $150 break and pay only $400 in the Cohort group, or you save $75 in the On Your Own group and pay $200 for all 13 mos of workshops.

We’ll take a top down approach so you don’t waste your time editing words on an entire chapter you end up deleting from the project.

We’ll cover:

Mo
Title
Description
Pricing
Jan
Pre-editing
Everything you need to do BEFORE you dig in to the real editing. Computer programs and apps you might want to consider. Story Drivers, Story Structures, Main Plot Points, and introduction to “Series” (Motifs).
Class starts 1/9/23
AMA 1/16/23 11:00-12:30pm
AMA 1/21/23 1:00-2:30 pm
AMA 1/28/23 10:30 am-12:00 pm
FREE
Feb
Focus Your Story
Making your MS more manageable and focused by cutting the excess. Finding "series" in your work. Writing your Synopsis.
Class Starts 2/19/23
AMA 2/23/23 5:30-7:00 pm
AMA 3/4/23 1:00-2:30 pm
AMA 3/18/23 10:30 am-12:00 pm
FREE
TBA
Story as a Whole
Working with “Series” (motifs), Themes, different Story Structures.
Cohort $50
On Your Own $25
TBA
Scenes
Working with Scenes/Sequels, Special Scenes, making a “Character Driven” Scene, Linking scenes.
Cohort $50
On Your Own $25
TBA
POV
Choosing a POV and a Narrative Distance, Deep POV, Causality, and Motivational-Reaction Units.
Cohort $50
On Your Own $25
TBA
Tension
Conflict, Emotion, Pacing, Suspense.
Cohort $50
On Your Own $25
TBA
Dialogue
Dialogue, Attribution, Compression, Euphonics.
Cohort $50
On Your Own $25
TBA
Action
Movement, Goals, Body Language, Subtext.
Cohort $50
On Your Own $25
TBA
Setting
All six senses, Active vs. Static description, Visceral Response, Mood.
Cohort $50
On Your Own $25
TBA
Thought
Internal monologue, Back Story, Exposition.
Cohort $50
On Your Own $25
TBA
Color Analysis
Margie Lawson’s Color Analysis, White Space
Cohort $50
On Your Own $25
TBA
Voice
Darlings, Rhetorical Devices, Originality
Cohort $50
On Your Own $25
TBA
Final Polish
Word Searches, Backloading, Tight writing, Cadence, MS Conventions, Submission
Cohort $50
On Your Own $25

Register for Pre-Editing Register for Paring Down

Questions:

C@CAlexSmith.com

(928)779-6368

C. Alex Smith started her writing career as a political blogger on the Daily Kos in 2008. She was invited to be one of three editors on a well-researched weekly blog concerning economics, politics, environmental concerns, medicine, and science. There, she cultivated far left celebrities to guest post on the blog including Robin Upton (host of Unwelcome Guests), Gar Alperovitz (author of Beyond Capitalism), Roger Rothenberger (author of Beyond Plutocracy), and Prof. Richard D. Wolff (Economic Update, The New School in NY). She was also instrumental in getting the blog reposted on several political news sites and maintained the blogs social media presence.

She moved on in 2014 to being the host of Spec Fix Pix, a podcast for fans of Sci Fi, Fantasy and Horror.

After moving back to Arizona in 2018, she became a co-founder of Flagstaff Writers Connection. She continues to work for FWC to maintain their internet presence, host the local Critique Circle and Publishing Club, and to provide occasional workshops and courses on writing and the publishing industry.

Since 2008 she has been writing science fiction and alternate history. She has five complete manuscripts and three partial manuscripts. Two of her manuscripts took second place at the Arizona Authors Association Literary Contest.

Write Your Novel in November

Want to be inspired to write that novel you've been planning, but feel like you don't have the time? Trying to overcome a huge case of writer's block? Want to meet other writers? NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month is your chance.

Each year on Nov. 1 about half a million writers from all over the world converge on the internet and at local Write-In locations to work toward the goal of creating a 50,000 word novel by 11:59 PM on Nov. 30. That's a novel about the size of Catcher in the Rye.

The event began in 1999, and in 2005, National Novel Writing Month became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. NaNoWriMo’s programs now include National Novel Writing Month in November, Camp NaNoWriMo, and the Young Writers Program.

Even as the Pandemic raged in 2020, NaNoWriMo had:

383,064 participants, including 97,439 students and educators in the Young Writers Program, started the month as auto mechanics, out-of-work actors, and middle school English teachers. They walked away novelists.

906 volunteer Municipal Liaisons guided 671 regions on six continents.

448 libraries, bookstores, and community centers opened their doors to novelists through the Come Write In program. (Down from 1200 due to Covid)

71,832 Campers tackled a writing project—novel or not—at Camp NaNoWriMo.

In past surveys, 86% of respondents said that NaNoWriMo helped them learn what they can accomplish when determined. 89% of respondents said that NaNoWriMo made them more excited about writing and 87% of student participants in our Young Writers Program said that it made them more confident writers.

Hundreds of NaNoWriMo novels have been traditionally published. They include Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants, Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus, Hugh Howey’s Wool, Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl, Jason Hough’s The Darwin Elevator, Marissa Meyer’s Cinder, Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Elizabeth Acevedo's With the Fire on High, and Julie Murphy's Side Effects May Vary.
Each year, authors offer mentorship to our participants through pep talks. Past author mentors have included Gene Luen Yang, Roxane Gay, John Green, N. K. Jemisin, Andy Weir, Veronica Roth, Ann Lamott, and Brandon Sanderson.

Become a Participant

To get started in NaNoWriMo, use this Step by Step Guide:

Fill out a Profile so other writers with similar interests can find you.
Brainstorm a story for your Novel with Flagstaff Writers Connection.
Announce your Novel to the world. This will help you stay the course when things get tough.
Plan the plot for your Novel with NaNoWriMo, or NaNo Prep or C. Alex Smith. Or don't. Pantsers welcome!
Select Flagstaff AZ as you home region.

Each region has Liaisons who schedule meet and greets and writing sessions which usually take place at coffee houses or bookstores. Our incredible Liason is Cory. You can talk to other Flagstaff authors participating in NaNoWriMo at Discord. These Write-In sessions encourage writers to collaborate and share ideas. If you’re not into the idea of writing in public, the NaNoWriMo website also has numerous message boards so you can talk to writers from all over the world.
Come November, WRITE! And earn Badges for reaching milestones.
Get help when you get stuck. The encouragement that you receive is unparalleled. The website even e-mails inspirational quotes and messages to your WriMo inbox daily.
Update your word count until you get to 50,000 words or more.
About 13% of participants "win" and get to 50,000 words. Claim your Win by pasting the full text of the novel into the NaNo word counter. Winners can also claim prizes. You can even get 50% off on Scrivener for winning!
NaNoWriMo also hooks you up with people who can help you find out what to do with your novel once it’s been completed. FWC is also planning to start a series of revision workshops this Jan.

Open Submission to Mimbres Press!!

We are so sorry, but we have to

CANCEL OUR SMALL PRESS SUBMISSION OPPORTUNITY

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Free Zoom Webinar & Open Submission

10/15/22

2-3 pm on

This Zoom Link

with

The Managing Director of

Publishing Demystified

The publishing industry has never been more accessible. That is both good and bad news. With the floodgates open, the role of author, publisher, editor, agent, and publicist have become blurred. And we are inundated with conflicting information and challenges. Yet, more books are being produced and consumed through more platforms than ever before.

Join industry expert Jared Kuritz, as he offers key insights on the state of the publishing industry, the publishing process, and Mimbres Press, with a Q&A to follow. He will also be giving instruction on how to submit your work to Mimbres.

As an academic press, we are a traditional publisher. However, in addition to academic works, Mimbres Press welcomes agented and unagented submissions in the following genres:

literary fiction
creative non-fiction
essays
memoir
poetry
children’s books
historical fiction
academic books

We are particularly interested in academic and commercial work with a strong social message, including but not limited to works of history, reportage, biography, anthropology, culture, human rights, and the natural world.

Here are a few things that make Mimbres Press unique:

We welcome agented and unagented submissions.
We welcome submissions from both new and previously published authors.
We pride ourselves on a personalized approach, so you will hear back from us promptly.
We offer above industry standard royalties.
We are NOT a vanity publisher and publishing with us costs you nothing!

Mimbres Press is named after the Mimbres people, whose culture thrived between 825 and 1450 CE. The Mimbres people lived in the Mimbres Valley in southern New Mexico, although their territories extended to parts of Arizona in the West and the Rio Grande in the Southeast. The culture is now known particularly for its pottery, which was the inspiration for our logo designed by artist Paul Hotvedt.

Jared Kuritz is the Managing Director of Mimbres Press of Western New Mexico University and also oversees book marketing efforts. For more than 20 years as a Managing Partner with STRATEGIES Public Relations, he has worked with domestic and international authors and publishers on literary and publishing development, business modeling, and public relations and marketing. Jared is also the Director of the La Jolla Writers Conference—an annual, three-day immersion that educates attendees about the art, craft, and business of writing and publishing. Jared is also the Founder and Director of the Kops-Fetherling Books Awards. A regular contributor to IBPA, BEA, Tucson Festival of Books, and more, Jared enjoys sharing his expertise with members of the writing and publishing community. Jared Kuritz is the Managing Director of Mimbres Press of Western New Mexico University and also oversees book marketing efforts. For more than 20 years as a Managing Partner with STRATEGIES Public Relations, he has worked with domestic and international authors and publishers on literary and publishing development, business modeling, and public relations and marketing. Jared is also the Director of the La Jolla Writers Conference—an annual, three-day immersion that educates attendees about the art, craft, and business of writing and publishing. Jared is also the Founder and Director of the Kops-Fetherling Books Awards. A regular contributor to IBPA, BEA, Tucson Festival of Books, and more, Jared enjoys sharing his expertise with members of the writing and publishing community.

Book Release Celebration for "To Travel Well, Travel Light"

Published!

Book Release Celebration

for

Long Time FWC Author

Rev. Mary Coday Edwards

Sept. 28, 5:30 to 7 pm

Join Her At
Bright Side Bookshop
18 N. San Francisco St.
Flagstaff, AZ
Light refreshments will be served.

"I served a god that didn’t exist …"

To Travel Well, Travel Light is a story of the joys and pitfalls of living and working abroad for many years with children in tow. Mary, her husband Mike, and their two young sons moved to Peshawar, Pakistan, to help their Afghan friends rebuild their country after the Soviet departure in 1992. A USAID program brought educated young Afghan men to the Midwest to instruct them in public administration. Mary and Mike befriended them through a community friendship program, and these mujahideen persuaded this adventurous family to move to Peshawar.

Mary worked for an Afghan NGO as a consultant for construction projects inside Afghanistan, and Mike administered the Afghan Eye Hospital. Their older and outgoing son finished high school in Peshawar through a university distance-learning program and in the process learned to hang glide, met young people from all over the world, and grew fluent in the Pashtu language. Their younger son learned British English and had to be reminded by his parents that in the US, an eraser is not called a “rubber.”

The cover shows Mary in a chador. She wore that in public to protect her Afghan refugee friends from ultra-conservative Muslims who would punish Muslims who were suspected of consorting with loose Western women. She didn’t know it at the time of their move, but she was also wrapped in the chador of patriarchal, conservative Christianity, a religion that served a nonexistent male god that kept adult women as children. This family lived and worked abroad for 20 years, time enough for Mary to experience how her resistance to this religion found affirmation in wisdom ancient and modern and to rebuild her values with soul-driven goals.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Before becoming an internationally published author, Mary Coday Edwards was a project manager on multi-million dollar construction projects in the US and continued in this field when her family moved to Peshawar, Pakistan, where she was a consultant for post-conflict reconstruction projects in Afghanistan. A trailing spouse, she traveled the world with her family through her husband’s employment with CBM, a nonprofit headquartered in Germany. Her writing skills landed her jobs with international, English daily print newspapers, The Jakarta Post and The News, in Indonesia and Mexico, respectively. With her MA in Environmental Studies from Boston University, her articles and op-ed pieces on local and global environmental issues were published internationally.
The many countries she has lived in—Pakistan, Indonesia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Mexico—provided her with the opportunities to pursue spirituality as expressed through the various worldviews she encountered. Mary took post-graduate studies in theological ethics from the University of South Africa, focusing on Ecological Justice: how to keep both the human species and the natural environment flourishing. Upon returning to the US after living abroad for almost twenty years, she became a nonsectarian spiritual growth facilitator and ordained minister through People House, a center for spiritual and personal growth based in Denver, Colorado. She’s been a regular blogger for People House for six years.
Mary spends her free time pulling invasive weeds from their small plot of shortgrass prairie land in Flagstaff, Arizona, where she lives with her husband and is within easy driving distance to their two adult sons and their families.

Compelling Openings Course

Hook Your Reader

the First Page

A Uniquely Formatted Online Course to Create a Compelling Opening

What to Expect:

Starting 9/14, participants have 12 days to watch instructional videos and do exercises via a private webpage. Participants spruce up or create a dynamic opening for a book, memoir, or short story of up to 300 words.
By 9/25, opening pages are submitted to C@CAlexSmith.com who will anonymously distribute them to participants via a link.
By 10/4, participants review other writers’ openings and answer three questions:

Does it make you want to turn the page and keep reading?
What hooked you?
What would have been an even stronger hook?

Instructor emails summary of participant feedback to each writer prior to 10/9.
On 10/9, group meets on Zoom from 1-3 p.m. to review and discuss feedback received.

FREE!

Registration Due by 9/14

Limited to 15 participants

Register Here