Upcoming Event: Plot Potion Challenge
A FREE 3-day workshop designed to help you write and refine your premise, stir up your story's potential and lay the groundwork for a spellbinding novel.
Think of your premise as the potent potion simmering at the heart of your story. It's the first taste that grabs the reader's attention, hinting at the flavors and complexities to come. A weak premise is like lukewarm water – it might quench a basic thirst, but it won't leave a lasting impression.
What’s a premise? It's the core conflict of your story; the central question begging to be answered. It's the "what if" scenario setting your narrative in motion.
Why is it such a big deal? Because your premise is the groundwork for your entire novel. It shapes your characters' motivations, drives the plot twists and ultimately determines whether readers will keep turning the page or put your book down. A strong premise is a north star, guiding your writing and ensuring you don't get lost in the intricacies of worldbuilding and character development… you know… the really fun stuff.
So how do you concoct a strong premise? Step into my laboratory aka my kitchen.
Back in February, I made a worldbuilding potion and we had a great time exploring archetypes from the Major Arcana, and using them to add depth and meaning to the worlds the writers were creating during the workshop.
I’ve become quite the potions master, and creating these workshops is my new favorite offering to put out into the world.
Now I’ve got a plot potion brewing…
In the same way a simmering cauldron needs a guiding hand, your story needs a strong premise to work its magick. Potions class begins May 1, and I’m preparing the key ingredients you need for a potent plot potion, ensuring your story grabs readers from the first page to the last.
Interested? Keep reading.
Your premise serves as a magical potion – a potent concoction that sets the tone for your entire story. We won't be throwing everything into the cauldron at once, though. Just like a skilled potion master carefully selects each ingredient, we'll be adding elements in a specific order to create a flavorful (and effective) base.
Here are the three key ingredients we'll be adding to your Plot Potion during the challenge:
Day 1: Spark the Fire - Ace of Wands
Before we begin crafting, we will first channel Mercury (I know him as Hermes) and ask for his support. Mercury is the planet of communication, and he’s a wonderful planetary deity to work with as a writer. Once Mercury has joined us — and trust me, he will — we'll start the potion with brainstorming exercises to identify the core conflict that will be the heart of your story. The Ace of Wands will serve as the base of your potion, providing the foundation for all that follows.
Day 2: Sharpen the Axe - Knight of Swords
With the fire roaring, it's time to refine your premise. We'll add worldbuilding techniques (from the worldbuilding potion!) and delve a little into character development, giving your core conflict shape and depth. Think of this stage as adding potent herbs and spices to give your potion its unique flavor profile. The Knight of Swords is about clear, decisive action and refinement. We will channel him for support.
Day 3: Own your voice - The Empress
Now that your potion is simmering nicely, we'll stir in the final key ingredient – your unique authorial voice. Deep down, every story stems from a core truth a writer wants to share with the world. Maybe it's a message about resilience, a questioning of societal norms or simply a celebration of the human spirit. A strong premise ensures this truth — your voice —is woven into the very fabric of the story. We'll unearth your core writing values and write an author manifesto to embody them. This is like adding a secret ingredient, the one that makes your potion truly yours and leaves a lasting impression. This is about being true to who you are as a writer — this is Empress energy.
Throughout the challenge, you'll be part of a private Facebook group; a virtual cauldron where you can share your progress, receive feedback from me and cheer each other on.
By the end of this challenge, your story's potion will be bubbling with:
A clear and compelling premise: The foundation for a spellbinding novel.
Worldbuilding tools: Techniques to craft a believable and immersive setting.
Character development strategies: Methods to make your characters come alive on the page.
A roadmap for your story: A clear direction for your plot and narrative flow.
Confidence and inspiration: The tools and motivation to take your story from conception to completion.
So what say ye? You comin to potions class? Click here to sign up for the FREE Plot Potion Challenge. And don’t worry, everybody gets an “A”.
But wait… there’s more!
The Plot Potion Challenge helps you lay the foundation for your story. But sometimes, the most potent potions need a little extra magick to truly reach their full potential.
That's why I’ve decided to add an exclusive bonus for challenge participants - the Plot Potion Challenge Upgrade!
This 90-minute strategy call is your chance to take your story from a simmering idea to a full-fledged novel with the help of a dedicated book druid and potions master (that's me!).
Here's why the upgrade is the natural next step once the challenge is over:
Deep dives + personalized roadmaps: As an intuitive strategist, I have a keen eye for pinpointing the the hidden potential within your story. I love deep diving with writers to get to the heart of things. We'll go far beyond the basics explored in the challenge. We'll dive deep into your specific story, crafting a personalized roadmap to take your unique vision to the next level.
Banish creative blocks: Hitting a wall? No worries! I’ve got a spell for that. We'll consult the tarot to identify your roadblocks and brainstorm solutions together.
Planning for the long haul: Feeling overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of writing a novel? Got you covered. We'll develop a customized writing ritual that takes into account your goals, pace and preferred writing style. This will keep you motivated and on track to see your novel through to completion.
Writing a novel is a commitment and you needn't do it alone.
This 90-minute call is normally $250, but challenge participants get a special 30% discount. If you’d like more personalized support for your writing, I invite you to first sign up for the free challenge, then schedule your upgrade.
Reply or send me a message with the word “UPGRADE” and I’ll send you the link to get on my calendar.
I’m so looking forward to brewing potions with you all!
xo
The Book Druid + Plot Potion Master