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Covid safe & Virtual Short Storyathon August

August 9, 2020 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

$39
We have a virtual event available!
Also, our in person event will be limited to 5 participants! If you want in sign up soon. Attendees must self-monitor their health and only attend if they feel well and must wear masks while inside FatPipe ABQ.
Either way you attend, make sure you clear your calendar for the full weekend!
 
Go from idea creation (on Friday night) all the way to your published short story on Amazon by Sunday! Start making money from your creative ideas.
 
Virtual Version:
Friday night 6PM – 9PM
 
6 – 6:10 PM
Meet me online with Zoom. Zoom link will be shared with ticket holders.
Have on Hand:
Donation for Albuquerque Reads – either $5 or more per person or new/gently used early elementary book (If you want to be in the drawing for a free cover design)
 
6:10 PM to 7:00 PM
“How to Craft a Short Story”
Laptop or something to take notes
 
Saturday 8AM – 6PM (Usually wrap up around 5, but just in case we leave it open until 6)
 
Writing a good story takes a lot of work and no one is going to want to read something that is sloppy or poorly written. This is where it all happens.
 
FYI: I suggest a minimum goal of 1,000 words or a maximum of 5,000 words but the final decision is up to you.
 
8AM get coffee, get settled
 
8:15AM Meet me online on Zoom
talk about the process for the day
 
Start writing our short story. I’ll have some sprints to get us writing fast.
 
Have on hand:
 
Snacks around to keep you writing
Premise for your story
Laptop to write your story
 
9:30 AM
Book Cover Break. I’ll talk about how to design your own book cover. Or, if you want to hire someone, I’ll share my list of graphic designers willing to design a cover within 24 hours. We’ll also talk about copyright.
Designer prices run $60-250 per cover.
 
I’ll also draw a name for free cover design contest from those who donated.
 
Sunday 11AM – 5pm
It’s time to publish!
First, sleep in a little. You’ve earned it!
 
11 AM
Join me on Zoom.
 
Follow along as I publish my short story – and everyone submits theirs as well. Those steps include putting copyright wording in your story, creating your Amazon author account, etc.
 
Then I’ll share a little bit about how to sell you story and talk about author platforms.
 
Then, we’ll eat cake!
 
Have on hand:
Sorry, you’ll have to get your own cake!
Electronic photo of you for your Author page on Amazon
The electronic cover designed by you or your designer
Laptop
 
 
Live version at FatPipe ABQ:
 
Friday night 6pm – 9pm
 
Bring your walking shoes! And be ready for any weather. We’ll start out at FatPipe ABQ, a coworking space. We’ll discuss how to write a short story and how to find ideas for your story (if you don’t have one already). Then, we’ll take a walking tour of downtown to collect those ideas.
 
Saturday – 8am – 8pm
 
We’ll start with some writing sprints to get us going. Then take a quick break while we talk about book covers and consider hiring a book cover artist (they run $60 to $250). Then keep writing all morning. After lunch (lunch is on your own, but we have plenty of places nearby) we’ll sit down and review each other’s work, so we can get ideas on what needs to be improved. Then, it’s back to writing.
 
In the evening, your stories will be sent to our professional editors. They will edit the first three or four pages of stories you started that weekend (this is so everyone gets some professional editing on their story). Also, this is paid as part of your purchase.
 
Sunday – start at 11am – 5pm
 
We’ll sleep in a little after all that work. Then it’s back to work. We’ll polish our stories in the morning. Then, I’ll go over how to set up your story on Amazon.
 
Then, we’ll celebrate with cake!
 
Limited spaces:
 
I’m limiting this event to only 25 attendees, so you probably want to buy your ticket now, and before the super early bird prices go up.
 
Win a story cover!
 
Everyone who brings a cash and/or book donation for Albuquerque Reads will receive a chance to win a free story cover design ($60 value) by Leslie Reilly. Leslie Reilly is the designer behind all of Sonja Dewing’s book covers!
 
The Facilitators:
 
Sonja Dewing is a published author and award-winning creative writer. She has an adventure novel, Toy of the Gods, published by Creativia (available on Amazon), and a couple of self-published short stories on Amazon.
 
Elisabeth Loya is a published author and member of Querque Quills.
 
Ready? Buy your tickets and let’s get writing!
 
Reviews:
 
“I enjoyed to challenge of creating with a deadline in mind and I deeply appreciated the generous and supportive environment created by the instructor and participants alike.” -Elisabeth Loya
 
“I participated in Oct 2018 short story-a-thon! It was an awesome supportive experience that got me through the story and the publishing process in a weekend!! I will be doing this again. Thank you!!” -Winter Flack
 
“I had a terrific time at this workshop. We began Friday with a brief lesson on creative writing, then a walking tour of downtown Albuquerque where we sought inspiration for our writing. Saturday was devoted to creating pieces with the assistance of professional editors. Today was about publishing our stories on Kindle Direct, complete with story cover. It was a marathon session, inspiration to publishing in three days. It certainly spurred me to complete my tales and taught me it is possible to get them out there for others to enjoy.” – Chris Allen

Details

Date:
August 9, 2020
Time:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Cost:
$39
Event Tags:
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Website:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/short-storyathon-aug-2020-tickets-94498649003