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Here’s a Good Plot from author Andy Zach–and You

Free Plotting Lessons Second

Here’s a Good Plot from author Andy Zach–and You

“Wait! What do you mean? I just clicked here.”

I mean I have a ‘Developing Your Plot’ class I’m giving this month and I’ll share it with you. Here’s slide 1, below.

Good Plot – The Cast of Characters

 

First, there’s me, the teacher character,  Andy Zach. If you’re not familiar with my biography on this site, you can go to Amazon or to Goodreads and find out about me and my books.

Good Plot slide 1

Then there’s you, one of many student characters. What have you written? Are you writing? What will you write? Please share you plot/novel/work ideas with me and the class by commenting below.

Comment here! I’ll send you my powerpoint class. Or email me at [email protected]

You MUST comment to participate in this class–or I’ll send the zombie turkeys after you!

That’s my big turkey stick. The carrot is, I will give a free ebook of Zombie Turkeys to one of the commenters!

Start commenting – NOW!

Good Plot – Lessons – Where Will You go with Your Idea?

Plotting class slide 2
Good Plot

You’ve got your great idea for your novel. What’s next?

Authors fall into a spectrum of two approaches. First, there are plotters, who plan out the plot of their book and then write to that plan.

Then there are ‘pantsers’, those who sit on their pants and type away until a book emerges–or not.

Then there are endless variations between the two. I’m firmly in the first group. If you want to learn the pantser approach, find another author! I can’t even imagine how I’d write that way, and I’ve got a good imagination.

Let’s take my first novel, Zombie Turkeys. I created a chapter outline of the book on my first day of writing it during NaNoMo in November 2015.

Free Plotting Lessons
Good Plot
Click on the Zombie Turkeys book cover to hear Andy read a free excerpt.

Read my Zombie Turkeys chapter outline:

Continue reading Here’s a Good Plot from author Andy Zach–and You
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What Did You Miss in August? Find Out Below

What Did You Miss in August? Lots! Like this next meme. Who knew the Greeks were family with meme from 2,500 years later?

Of course, this meme is funnier if you’re familiar with both Greek mythology and current internet memes.

And the following photo:

Who doesn’t like a nice neck rub?

Then we have this video from Disneyland:

There’s still more to come! How about a pun?

How do I have all this time to find this stuff on the internet? I’m an author! I spend half my time writing and half my time cruising the internet. Like this next item.

Here’s your chance to get a free book. Comment below or reply to me by clicking here about which of these was your favorite. Then I’ll send you a copy of Zombie Turkeys.

What Did You Miss 2021 Reviews
Audiobook cover – click to listen.

What Did You Miss In Reviews? Scroll Down, Then You’ll See

Let’s start with this one I wrote a few days ago.

The Big Show

The Big Show & Other Tales (Bolo)
by Keith Laumer
Andy Zach‘s review

Aug 30, 2021  
really liked it


This book has more military scifi short stories. Even though it’s about fifty years old, I didn’t give it five stars because it isn’t one of Keith Laumer’s more famous works.

Nonetheless, it’s a crackling good collection of military stories. I noticed some of Laumer’s characteristic impossible odds facing his antagonist, which are eventually overcome.

Recommended for any fan of military scifi, short stories, or Keith Laumer.

Andy’s review on Goodreads

I’ve got more reviews for you! Try this one on for size.

Now For a New Zombie Turkeys Review

Nikki

4.0 out of 5 stars 

An unusually unique zombie tale perfect for YAs.

Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2021

I read this book to preview it for teen readers. I found it light and humorous considering it being a zombie tale. It’s perfect for young adults! But I wouldn’t recommend it for the hard-core adult zombie, post-apocalyptic fans.

Andy’s take is unique, fun, and refreshing. The story wraps up cleanly with minimal gore and lots of tongue-in-cheek remarks. How fun to learn you can order a flamethrower on Amazon!

By Nikki on Amazon

Have I got a deal for you! I’ll give you a free copy of Zombie Turkeys when you click here.

Your Closing Photo. Don’t Miss This Opportunity!

For a limited time, I’m offering my next book, Zombie Detective, autographed and at a discount. Oh, and you get free shipping as well. I lovingly pack each book with the same hands that typed it. Click the partial cover to get yours.

Ace zombie reporter Sam Melvin has been fired—by his wife, Lisa. Their newspaper, the Midley Beacon, is barely surviving now that the zombie turkey apocalypse is over. How will they make ends meet?

Lisa convinces Sam to try his hand at being a private investigator. Sam Melvin, zombie detective, does have a certain ring to it. All across the country people bring their zombie problems to Sam. Squirrels? Bulls? Sam’s on the case. And his rates keeps rising. But when he meets unkillable human zombie criminals, will he survive?

Sam finds out in a series of deadly adventures—and so will you in Zombie Detective. If you can keep from dying from laughter.

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How Do You Keep Writing and Where Do You Get Ideas?

How Do You Keep Writing and Where Do You Get Ideas? I’m glad you asked because that’s what I’ll tell you.

The first rule is to desire to write. I love writing crazy ideas into books, surprising and entertaining people. I truly would do it for nothing. In fact, my net profits so far are nothing.

I loved writing Zombie Turkeys. That way I got to write ridiculous chapters with weddings and zombie turkeys.

How Do You Keep Writing
Zombie Turkey dressed for a wedding. Chapter icon

Then, I sought to top myself with My Undead Mother-in-law. I had to make a new villain, one so evil you would feel sorry for the zombies. I made a sociopath who used cyborg animals to commit crime, like capuchin monkeys, rats, and black mambas.

How Do You Keep Writing
Rat, capuchin monkey, and black mamba cyborgs chapter icon from My Undead Mother-in-law

Now, how would I top myself again for my third book? I hated repeating myself. I needed something related, but totally beyond a mere undead mother-in-law. How about if I put the zombie family on a luxury yacht, give them a letter of marque from the President, and send them around the world fighting American enemies, public and private? That’s a start!

My undead family would be zombie pirates. But that phrase is too common. Paranormal Privateers became the title of my third book.

How Do You Keep Writing
Paranormal Privateers Andy’s third book

Next, a disaster happened.

Ruh Roh! Writer’s Block

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEffUAATOY8

I got stuck writing this book. How could I keep topping myself? My paranormal privateers fought pirates, slavers, terrorists, and prevented a nuclear holocaust. What could come next?

I needed a change, a total surprise. But how do I get there? What did I want to write? I loved 1950s science fiction movies. So I wrote what I loved. That is how you break writer’s block. Return to your passion.

I can’t tell you what I did without spoiling the book, but I’ll give you some hints.

Your first hint:

Your first hint

Now, your second hint.

Your second hint.

That is your second rule to keep writing year after year: write what you love.

I finished Paranormal Privateers two months after NaNoWriMo, in January 2018. It appeared in ebook and print on Amazon and later Audible.

(By the way, you can get all my books at Audible. They’re free if you’re a member. Zombie Turkeys, My Undead Mother-in-law, and Paranormal Privateers. Or, if you want a free copy, just write me and I’ll send you one in exchange for an honest review.)

But what would I write next? I burned myself out on zombies. This leads to your third rule.

How Do You Keep Writing: Write Something New

Where could I go next? What else did I love writing? What did I love reading? Young adult science fiction. Everyone wants a superhero origin story. I wanted to do one of those for my fourth book.

But this had to be different, unusual. Superman got his power from birth on another planet. Batman got his power through intelligence and training. How about an ordinary hero? How about an unlikely hero? What was the least likely hero?

Now I get personal. My daughter’s been disabled with cerebral palsy since her birth. What if my hero had cerebral palsy–and his superpower didn’t take it away?

Then superheroes often come in teams. What if they were all disabled, each with a different disability and a different superpower?

I had my next book: Secret Supers.

Finally: Your Free Books

These offers are just good until October 31st.

First, you get Zombie Turkeys for free. Click here.

Free Zombie Turkeys
Free Zombie Turkeys ebook

Now you get your BIG GIFT: 31 Free books follow and end this blog post.

31 free books for you
Click for 31 free books. Only until October 31, 2019