Hey Writers,

We all know the protagonist is the most important role in the story, and the antagonist works as a close second.

But nearly as important, is the Influence Character. 

This is a role that has power based on impact--impact on other characters, impact on plot, and impact on theme.

This character should challenge and test your protagonist into an arc, contribute to conflicts and consequences, and enrich and explore theme.

Want to learn how to do this with yours?

Want help identifying yours? (Hint: Usually it's the person who has an important relationship with the main character.)

We can help you here: "The Influence Character: One of the Most Important Roles."
 

• The opening of your screenplay or novel is your single most powerful weapon for acquiring an agent or securing a deal. Using examples from recent successful films and novels, Michael reveals the secrets of transforming your opening scenes into emotionally gripping sequences that will force readers to turn the page.

Remember to mark your calendars for Monday, February 27, 2023 at 7 pm MT (9 pm ET).

MICHAEL HAUGE is a script consultant, story expert, author and lecturer who works with writers, filmmakers, marketers, business leaders, attorneys and public speakers, both in Hollywood and around the world. He has consulted on projects starring Morgan Freeman, Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise and Reese Witherspoon, and for Overbrook Entertainment, where he consulted on the scripts for (among many others) I AM LEGEND, HANCOCK, THE KARATE KID, SUICIDE SQUAD and BRIGHT, which is currently in production.

Michael is the best selling author of Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds: The Guaranteed Way to Get Your Screenplay or Novel Read, as well as the 20th Anniversary Edition of his classic book Writing Screenplays That Sell. His latest book, Storytelling Made Easy: Persuade and Transform Your Audiences, Buyers and Clients ! Simply, Quickly and Profitably became an Amazon best seller within 3 days of its release. And he has presented seminars, lectures and keynotes in person and online to more than 500,000 participants worldwide. According to Will Smith, "No one is better than Michael Hauge at finding what is most authentic in every moment of a story.

For information on Michael coaching and consulting services, his lectures, workshops and keynotes, and his books and products, as well as an abundance of free articles and videos, please visit www.StoryMastery.com.

Remember! Check out our NEW course from MyStoryDoctor.com! The Triarchy Method of Story by September C. Fawkes.

Craft your best book by focusing on what matters most: The “bones” of story.
This content-focused course will help you:

• Brainstorm better and more relevant material
• Evaluate what ideas most belong in your story (preventing you from writing hundreds of pages that need to be scrapped), and
• Craft a page-turning plot with compelling characters that sticks with readers long after they’ve closed the book (. . . and hopefully leads them to preorder your next book).
• And more

This live, online class is limited to 10 students. Classes start March 7 and run Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 pm Mountain Time (8:30pm EST) for a total of 23 classes. Classes ends on May 25.

For more information, visit https://mystorydoctor.com/the-triarchy-method-of-story/

About the Instructor

September C. Fawkes has worked in the fiction-writing industry for over ten years and has been editing stories for longer. She has edited for both award-winning and best-selling authors, as well as new writers. She has worked on manuscripts written for middle grade, young adult, and adult readers, and specializes in fantasy and science fiction.

For seven years, she worked through New York Times best-selling author David Farland, providing feedback on his workshop students’ assignments, editing their manuscripts, and sometimes, even editing David’s own books.

When not working, she is running an award-winning writing tip blog. She has also served as a writing coach on Writers Helping Writers and teaches at writing conferences. Some may say she needs to get a social life. It’d be easier if her fictional one wasn’t so interesting.

REPLAY UP FOR KEVIN J. ANDERSON’S PRESENTATION

• The REPLAY is available to all Apexers! This talk about Kickstarters and Kevin’s AMA (Ask Me Anything questions) was a fantastic "look-behind-the-curtain," full of concrete information. A must-see for anyone thinking about doing their own kickstarter!
   
• Additionally, Kevin’s publishing house, Wordfire Press will be releasing a memorial anthology for our Master Storyteller David Farland, OF WIZARDS AND WOLVES: Tales of Transformation, later this month.
  
  And, we have several stories by Apexers within these pages. Get your own copy.

This anthology supports the scholarship fund of the Superstars Writing Seminars, which Dave co-founded. Kevin shared some wonderful news. With the money raised to date, two David Farland scholarships were offered for this year’s Superstars!

Table of Contents

“Of Wizards and Wolves … and Dave” © 2023 WordFire, Inc.
“Magic Hands” © 2023 Storm Humbert
“Inspirational Theurgist” © 2023 N.V. Haskell
“An Abundance of Wizards” © 2023 Linda Maye Adams
“A Sprig of Wolfsbane” © 2023 Mary Pletsch
“To Mend or Rend” © 2023 Morgan J. Muir
“Last Call” © 2023 LishKohn Productions
“The Punstoppable Catfish Stanley” © 2023 Becca Lee Gardner
“Silver Sentinels” © 2023 Jen Bair
“The Immortal Dez'itny” © 2023 Jesse Sprague
“Red” © 2023 Lehua Parker, LLC (An early version of this story was published in Old Scratch and Howl Hoots: A Collection of Utah Horror. Edited by C.R. Langille and R.L. Weston [Griffin Publishers, 2015].)
“Which Wolf Will You Feed?” © 2023 Tanya Hales
“Wolfskin” © 2023 Brenda Carre
“Peace on the Argent” © 2023 JJ Lynn Daniels
“Twilight Bargain” © 2023 Sixth Moon Press LLC
“IF-Wolf” © 2023 Mike Jack Stoumbos
“The Journey Within”© 2023 William Joseph Roberts
“Of Wolves and Wives” © 2023 Melisa Todd
“Just Another Pinball Wizard” © 2023 Robert J. McCarter
“Barbarians” © 2013 David Farland

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📌 Shout-out to some of our Apexers for this week!

• To Samantha Edens - Her new book, Song of the Shadows, is now out and in the wild!
• To Diann Thornley Read - Her new book, The Seventh Shaman: Book Three, Crucible of the Gods, has been garnering some incredible reviews!
• And to Mike Jack Stoumbos - For his new novella release: A Man of His Word!

📌 If you have successes and news you’d like to share about yourself or another Apexer, please email Tammy and have "Apexer Good News" in the subject line. We’d love to do a shout-out!