Membership
What is the MBT*Live Premium Membership?
Writing Lessons. Mentoring. Community.
The TOOLS to get you published…and help you build a career.
Weekly Member Webinar (we call it a Peptalk!)
Sometimes you just want to ask a question. Or hang out with other like-minded people. Or maybe even get one-on-one help. Our staff of published novelists are dedicated to helping you realize your publishing dream. Attend our Weekly VIDEO show – A Peptalk on writing craft or the Business of Writing!
AND…
Exclusive Access to the Basic Writing Classes!
Our MBT Teachers are nationally renowned and inside the Membership, you’ll find advanced classes for every step on the journey, from brainstorming to characterization, to plotting, proposals, pitching and even how to create marketing plans. We’re in the business of helping you ignite not just a novel, but a career.
What is are the Basic Writing Classes?
I remember the first time I got feedback on a story I’d written. “Overwriting.” “Flat characters.” “Unbelievable plot.” “Doesn’t draw me in.” I stared at the rejection letter, baffled. (While wiping my tears). I hadn’t a clue how to decipher the words on the page – let alone fix my story.
But, if I wanted to be published, I had to figure it out. So, I “unpacked the criticism” as my friend literary agent Chip MacGregor would say and learned how to I could fix the problems in my novel. I had to learn to find those issues, and I slowly figured out how to critique and polish my own stories.
We must learn to step back from our stories, look at them with a critical eye, figure out what a good manuscript looks like, and then use our unique voice to make that happen.
But how does an author look at their book objectively and make it publishable? Well, at Novel Academy we start with the basics. These Basic Writing Classes will make sure you are on the same page, and able to find fundamental issues with your own scenes and story.
Build-a-Book
What is Build-a-Book?
Here at My Book Therapy, we’ve been teaching novelists how to get published, stay published and build careers for nearly a decade.
In our newest class, build a book with me, RITA award-winning, best-selling novelist Susan May Warren. I will bring you inside the storycrafting process, teaching you how to create characters, a plot, develop conflict, the black moment, the epiphany and finally… the happy ending.
Experience the creation process, watch the decisions that plot each step of our hero’s journey, learn the nuances of crafting a story, and get the tools to write your own novel.
At the end of the series you can read the book we created together! I’m really excited to share my secrets and let you peek behind the curtain.
The best part is, the fun starts….TODAY.
The Build-a-Book series is 10 video lessons, plus a bonus lesson, that follow Susan’s plotting and drafting of You Don’t Need to be a Star. Susan explains the decisions that go into her draft of the novella, and teaches the different techniques she employs. Originally aired live, these lessons form a primer that you can follow to brainstorm, plot, and draft your novel.You’ll also get a copy of You Don’t Have to be a Star.Included in the course are the video recordings and PDF notes for each of these sessions:
- Build-a-Book Lesson 1: Brainstorming Your Best Idea
- Build-a-Book Lesson 2: Plot Your Chatacter’s Journey
- Build-a-Book Lesson 3: Creating a Powerful Story Arc
- Build-a-Book Lesson 4: Get the Story on the Page
- Build-a-Book Lesson 5: Chapter 1 – Secrets to Starting Your Story!
- Build-a-Book Lesson 6: Chapter 2 – Tools for Hooking Your Reader!
- Build-a-Book Lesson 7: Chapter 3 – How to Build the Noble Quest
- Build-a-Book Lesson 8: Chapter 4 – Keep Your Momentum
- Build-a-Book Lesson 9: Chapter 5 – Emotional Layering
- Build-a-Book Lesson 10: Chapter 6 – Show Versus Tell
- Build-a-Book Bonus Lesson: The Final Chapters – Creating the Happy Ending
Get the Build-a-Book Lessons for half price!
OSCP
It’s time for you to launch your brilliant writing career!
EASY, Step-by-Step Novel Building
What do you need to write a novel?
Talent? Maybe.
A plan to get there? Absolutely!
Will you need encouragement? Probably.
How about hard work? Without a doubt.
Getting published isn’t magic, it’s putting your backside in the chair, rolling up your sleeves and diving in. We’ll give you everything but the elbow grease.
A SELLABLE STORY
Listen, a great novel is one that is well-structured, sweated out on the page, with proven techniques to draw the reader emotionally into the story. It’s compelling characters, riveting, unique plots and tension -filled scenes wrapped up in a theme we care about.
We’ll teach you not only the tricks but the tools to get the story on the page.
With an Award-Winning, Best-Selling COACH
I’ve coached hundreds of writers into publication, onto best-seller lists, and onto awards platforms. (Plus, in my other life I live what I teach. As a best-selling author of over 50 novels, I’ve won the Rita, the Christy, and the Carol award multiple times.)
Proven Methods that will show you:
- Exactly how bestselling novels are designed
- How to create dynamic characters
- How to construct tension-filled scenes… that keep readers devouring pages
- How to build sizzling dialogue
- How to develop riveting plots that keep readers guessing
- And once you’re finished, how to sell your novel
Novel Proposal
You’ve worked too hard to quit now.
It’s time to sell your novel!
If only selling a novel was as easy as packing it up and shipping it off to a publisher for them to turn into a best-seller. Whether you are self-publishing or traditionally publishing, today’s author needs to know how to find the key selling points, craft a powerful pitch and premise and know how to market their novel to their audience.
The Novel Proposal teaches you not only what to do, but how to sell your amazing novel.
If only selling a novel was as easy as packing it up and shipping it off to a publisher for them to turn into a best-seller. Whether you are self-publishing or traditionally publishing, today’s author needs to know how to find the key selling points, craft a powerful pitch and premise and know how to market their novel to their audience.
The Novel Proposal teaches you not only what to do, but how to sell your amazing novel.
Learn:
- The key elements of your story that make it sellable
- The must-have components of a compelling synopsis
- How to find the one dramatic reason someone must buy your novel
- The tricks for creating a elevator-stopping one-line pitch
- The formula for a can’t-put-down premise (back cover blurb)
- Step-by-step instruction on writing a query letter
- The key ingredients to a winning marketing plan
- The 10-point checklist for powerful sample chapters
- Sample proposal elements to jumpstart your creativity
And step-by-step application worksheets on how to create a proposal that sells!
Starter Kit
3 Classes for the price of 1
What does it take to be an author? Get started on your journey with this starter kit on writing a novel, overcoming roadblocks and starting your brilliant career!
These three 1-hour long videos include:
- The Job of Best-Selling Author
- Learn what makes a story powerful, something you want to pass along? Join us as we start our series: the Story Equation, with the question: What is the Job of the Author.
- 10 Dream Killers
- Next, have you tried to write a novel and just can’t…get…started? Learn what Dream Killers are, and what LIES we believe that keep us from reaching out for those dreams in our hearts.
- Planning for Writing Success
- Find out how a plan can transform the way you sit down to write. Make the most of every moment you dedicate to your craft, by strategizing about how you spend your time.