New Zoom Class on Scene & Sequel

 Last Day to Sign Up For "Mastering Scene & Sequel"

Presented by Ariella Moon

Friday, August 12, 2022

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Pacific Standard Time

Online Zoom Writing Lab

All registrants will receive a presentation recording 

With “Mastering Scene and Sequel,” writers will learn:

 

·     The core psychology behind scene structure

·     How to set up action scenes followed by reaction scenes

·     The specific duties and obligations of scenes 

·     How to craft mission driven scenes 

·     How to “cut and thrust”

·     How to strategically place and vary scenes

 

Ariella Moon invites you to join her for this informative and interactive writing lab. If time permits, Ariella will guide each attendee on the live zoom call with an analysis of a brief scene from their work in progress. Please have your scene handy!

#writing class #writingcraft #fictionwriters #writinglab #PalmSpringsWritersGuild #AriellaMoon #storystructure 

#aspiringauthors #AriellaMoon

 

Ariella Moon live interview on iHub radio!

Sunday, September 6, 2020

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Pacific Time

Live Interview on iHub radio! Stick to the Script!

I love being interviewed on live radio and podcasts! The challenge is to be quick-thinking, and to expect the unexpected (as happened with my live interview with Susun Weed). I am excited to be Steven Stewart's guest on his debut radio show, Stick to the Script!.

As part of iHub Radio's growing focus on the wealth of talent in the Coachella Valley, published author Steven Stewart brings together a great collection of authors, playwrights, screen writers and people associated with creating the words that inform and entertain our minds and exercise imaginations. Stick To The Script will include interviews that profile the diversity of scribes in the desert cities from best-sellers to those aspiring to write their first book. He looks forward to lively discussions with writers, actors, and other drama enthusiasts. You will also learn the challenges, the steps to achieving these works, and get to hear plenty of excerpts!

 

                                            Steven Stewart during taping of "Stick to the Script!"

While in college at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Steven began his love for acting, drama, and the English playwrights.  Shortly after graduation with an engineering degree, he attended the UCLA summer Film School, learning the art of filming and directing. Joining the Screen Actors Guild, Steven secured starring and supporting roles in many movies and T.V. shows. During this time, he created several unpublished literary works, including a novel, short stories, and a children’s’ animated book series.

 

A true renaissance man, Steven carved a career for himself as an engineer, builder, pilot, and apartment owner/manager. For the last few years, the writing of a column for a pilot’s magazine and a review of his older literary works has rekindled his passion for writing and drama.  As a recent member of the Palm Springs Writers Guild, Steven has a novel in publication, a second on the way.

Ariella Moon in the booth, wearing the latest in headphone fashion!

 

Join Steven Stewart live every Sunday from 6 to 7 pm Pacific on iHub Radio, with additional encore broadcasts throughout the week (check the schedule on this website).

Update: Steven has moved his show from iHub radio. No new information is available at this time.

Edit For Success Boot Camp

My second author boot camp this year under the auspices of the Palm Springs Writers Guild.
I love working with aspiring and experienced writers! Smaller workshop size allows for lots of one-on-one help with each author's specific writing issues. I may be offering writing workshops during the summer. We'll see how many authors will be staying in the Coachella Valley during the dreaded heat!

Thank you, PSWG!

~Ariella

Will Work For Chocolate

The Writer’s Block

Since submitting my manuscript for Book 3 of the Teen Wytche Saga, I’ve been reworking the first manuscript in my upcoming Middle Grade series. For two nights I have been blocked on a particular chapter – one I knew needed a lot of rewriting to crank up the tension. I woke today determined to tackle the beastly block.

Phase One: Procrastinate

Writers have to eat, right? And since the temperature was supposed to hit the 112 degree mark today, that meant grocery shopping had to be moved to the top of my To Do list. Once I had found a parking spot in the shade (score!) I reasoned, The bakery is just across the street. Why not buy my bread there?

Unwilling to relinquish a shady parking spot, I donned my hat, waded through the heat waves rising off the asphalt, and finally reached the six-lanes in all directions intersection that stood between me and a loaf of honey oat multi-grained bread. The metal signal button burned my finger. The automated recording yelled, “Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait.” My blood pressure maxed. Finally the automated voice switched to “Walk sign is on. Walk sign is on.” Holding the brim of my hat, I speed walked to the far side as the voice counted down to one.

The Mirage

Aspen Mills Bakery and Deli makes some of the finest brownies on earth. So I really couldn’t just buy a loaf of bread, right? I knew you’d agree.

Purchases in hand, I hiked back to the intersection. When I first glanced up, I saw a motorcycle cop standing next to his bike in the middle of the intersection, his hands raised in a stop position. A quick sweep of the traffic revealed no accident.The traffic lights must be out. I looked back at the cop. He had vanished. I blinked.

I’m a shaman as well as an author. Yes, it was noon, I was hungry, and it was hotter than Hades. Any non-magical person would assume her eyes were playing tricks on her. But shamans can’t ignore visions. So I did a quick stop at the supermarket, then headed home, avoiding the intersection with the phantom cop.

Raising the Stakes: The Bargain

A bargain with yourself is easily broken (Who besides your dog and the gods would know?), so I went on Facebook and posted today’s house rule: No chocolate until I deal with the centaurs.

An earlier post had mentioned I was happily back writing about fairies, Vikings, and other magical creatures, so when I said centaurs, readers knew I referred to my Middle Grade trilogy. Those who know me, are well aware of my chocolate addiction. The stakes were high. The pressure huge.

Will Work For Chocolate

I kept the brownie in its little brown bag, stashed it in the pantry, ate lunch, and ignored the little dessert as it you hoo-ed from the cupboard. Back in front of the computer, I groaned as the word “brownie” kept appearing in the chapter (one of the main characters is a British brownie, a little man/ house elf) but I remained tough. 

What I Learned 

I can be hyper-focused and amazingly productive when chocolate is at stake. I drew upon reserves I didn’t know I had, and powered through until I had wrestled those centaurs to the ground. I wielded the Delete button like a sword, excising text that slowed the action, and cutting a faulty subplot. Sure, I still have to hunt down the thread to the subplot and do some rewriting. But I kept my word. I dealt with the centaurs.

Now if you will excuse me, there is a brownie calling my name. And I have to figure out the shamanic meaning behind the phantom cop. I suspect he symbolized, Stop procrastinating and finish your rewrites!

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