I’m sitting in my room at Destin Florida a day after the My Book Therapy Deep Thinkers Retreat.
Susie and I har hanging out. Shopping. Watching Property Brothers. And talking about this 6th fabulous retreat.
We had about 17 attendees with 4 staff. Which is wonderful for the intense help and training we give.
This year Susie revealed her secret equation to great story telling.
The SEQ — The Story Equation.
The SEQ focuses on the essentials of a story, starting with character, and fashioning all of the elements needed to make a powerful story.
In short the SEQ is the Dark Moment plotting –> wound, lie, fear, secret desire/greatest dream journey.
We took all of the SEQ elements and fitted them into the four act structure. Act 1, Act 2a, Act 2b, Act 3.
The writers loved the SEQ — those with experience as well as the newbies.
The SEQ is such a great way to start every story, get it on track, and off to a solid start.
This works for both pantsers, plotters, and everything in between.
After a morning teaching session, we broke into groups: Team Susie. Team Rachel and Team Beth.
In the groups, we worked out the SEQ and stories for each of the writers-in-retreat.
Remember, stories are about people facing odds, their fears, the failures, and overcoming.
Ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Evenings were spent watching movies, then breaking them down to learn story, motivation, and pacing.
We watched We Bought A Zoo and 100 Foot Journey. I highly recommend both.
By the time the retreat ended, each writer left with their story formed and reformed, and ready for writing.
One of the biggest tips from Susie was to remind the writers that sometimes we have to remove “all the furniture” from our stories.
Meaning, when a writer comes to the retreat with a story already formed, he or she has to be willing o not only to change elements, but to remove them completely.
Using the SEQ, it’s easy to see if the character journey is in right alignment.
One of the beauties of My Book Therapy is we don’t just teach you what to do but how to do it. Yet, leaving each writer plenty of room to “write like you write.”
Deep Thinkers is quickly growing into a “must attend” retreat.
It’s intense, fun, lots of laughter, and even more learning.
Stay in touch with My Book Therapy to learn more about the SEQ and next year’s Deep Thinker’s retreat.
The Premium Membership is only $24 a month and chocked full of resources: video lessons and articles.
Now, go write something brilliant.
Comments 1
Rachel, this was brilliantly summarized – not that anything written by you would be less than brilliant. I used my 9 hour drive back to NC to listen to the brainstorming session TWICE. Even the one I experienced with you during last year’s DTR. Not because I had to scramble for something to do to keep me occupied on the road or keep me awake (I was well equipped with Coke Zero for that) but because I needed to answer the question, “Who are these people in my story?! Are you able to walk in their skin, feel what they feel yet?” I have realized (epiphany here) I must begin on a solid foundation. Otherwise my labor, while “fun”, will be in vain. Most important, I’ll miss what the Lord intends to communicate. At last the mental fog is lifting…
To you and the huddle, thanks for the emotional, physical and mental investment in your attendees!