Dear Reader,

My first week back from Albuquerque has been very, very busy. Catching up on client work, speaking with potential new writers to coach, figuring out how to do that essential but draining marketing—and finishing the first draft of Dangerous Drusilla, the first book in The Pinkstocking Club series.

That is what I don't think you'll believe, because, as I said, I sort of don't either. After some sludgy moments where I had a hard time figuring out the choreography of the ending action scenes and the final tie-up, it all just leapt onto the page.

Nine weeks from start to finish.

Of course, I have at least a month of revision and editing ahead of me. But that's the part I truly love. Now that I know exactly what will happen and how and have gotten to know all my characters thoroughly, polishing the manuscript—tying up loose ends and dropped threads, getting rid of inconsistencies, building out sketchy scenes more fully—all boils down to craft.

And if there's one thing I love, it's writing craft.

A huge element of writing craft is Character Choreography.

I was reminded of this vividly as I drafted the action scenes toward the end of the story.

I had to move eight people—three active good guys and three bad guys, one hostage, and one surprising "getaway" driver—into, out of, and around an (imaginary, because it doesn't exist anymore) dilapidated chapel for Portuguese sailors in the East End of London.

I had to figure out:

• who went where, when and how
• how aware each was of the others' presence at any given time
• what each character heard, saw, and smelled
• how and when weapons were wielded
• what effect the architecture had on the entire scene
• the overall timing—how long a time was believable but not extended

And several other factors as well. No doubt in editing I will discover some problems, but at least the bones are there.

Of course, these considerations don't just apply to action scenes. Think about a dinner party where guests subtly insult each other. A ball where two men are trying to attract the same woman (or the other way around). An office where tensions run high because a promotion is in the balance.

Making sure your characters fully exist and move in a clearly defined space is essential to ensuring that your readers are there with you.

I have a lot more to say about this vital craft element. Which is why I created an online course that helps writers dig into it. It's called (you guessed it) The Character Choreography Course.

This isn't a new course for me, but I come back to it again and again. It's not just for romance or other genre authors, but for all authors of fiction—and memoir, in fact.

To give you a sense of what's in it, I provide a free sample lesson available you can take.​

The obvious big question is how much the course costs. It's $299, or four monthly payments of $75. The course introduces you to a repeatable method for building scenes and includes worksheets and exercises to use on your own work. Plus, if you wish, I will personally review the final scene you produce for the course.

​Read more about The Character Choreography Course here.​

Don't forget the Dangerous Drusilla Kickstarter!

Enough about craft, let's move on to fun!

Now the book is more than a great idea waiting to be realized. It exists. Flawed and needing work still, but it's there. So if you've been waiting to jump on the bandwagon and follow my Kickstarter pre-launch page, now is the time to do it! It won't cost you anything (you will need to give your email address because, updates), and it will help me a lot.

You will have my eternal gratitude. At this point, I'll have no idea who you are, by the way. Kickstarter only shows me the number of followers.

Any questions? Comments? As usual, just respond to this email. I read and respond to everyone who emails me from this newsletter list.

OK, now I have to go and do some revising!

Happy reading and writing,

Susanne