This course, Online: Writing Mind, Body, Spirit with Maggie Hamilton, will take place online.
What sets popular inspirational books apart? What key skills help get you over the line when writing a motivational book? What are mind, body, spirit readers looking for right now? Join author Maggie Hamilton to deep dive into the mind, body, spirit genre.
In this lively, hands-on course for writers of all stages, discover how best to describe inspirational experiences and approaches, and how to build on these insights to keep busy readers focused and engaged. Learn what to leave in, and what to edit out. Find out how best to arrive at your own voice, and to weave in the voices of others.
Topics covered will include:
- Current mind, body, spirit trends
- Understanding your audience
- Common mistakes mind, body, spirit writers make
- How to draw up a solid chapter outline
- The secrets of an impactful opening
- What to do when a chapter or section feels thin
- When to consider using case studies
- The rules around interviewing
- Why layering matters
- Essential editing tips
- How to keep your readers with you to the last page
- What to look for when soliciting feedback
- Preparing your submission to publishers.
Week-by-Week Course Breakdown
Week 1
So, what do you plan to write about? Let’s start our journey with a deep dive into your specific readership, and the spirit of our times. What can these wonderful insights add to your choice of material, your language, your tone and more, to ensure what you offer is relevant and engaging?
Week 2
Now, let’s look at working with your content. How do you get down the shape of your book, the key points you want to cover, and the details that lie beneath this. Find out how a discovery mindset can take your work to another level. Learn how to balance out the personal with the universal.
Week 3
Delving deeper still, let’s examine what truly accessible writing means in this genre, from the language you choose, the powerful use of rhythm, to putting together your ready-reckoner glossary. What are the keys to inclusive writing? Discover the importance of strong introductions – what to include and what to leave out.
Week 4
Progressing still further, let’s move on to the secrets of strong chapter openings. Why do sentence and paragraph lengths matter? What do we mean by layering? How best can we use the senses, and sense of place? How can you up your attention to detail?
Week 5
Now, here’s what to do when your prose is looking a little threadbare. Discover how much case studies and interviews can add to your work (and the dos and don’ts of using them). Develop a deeper appreciation for the power of story, and learn when and where to use each of these techniques.
Week 6
So, what format would you like your book to take? How does this influence the words on the page? Where should you use pullout quotes? What about references, handling permissions, and putting together your bibliography? And let’s not forget what you’ll need to submit to a publisher.
Expected Learning Outcomes
In this course, you will:
- Learn to write to your specific audience
- Learn how to fine tune your ideas and polish your manuscript
- Gain an understanding of when your manuscript is ready for submission.
Participant Requirements
- Internet access and confidence using basic computer software are essential for this program.
- There will be a couple of essays and a small amount of work to prepare beforehand. You will be emailed the details the week before the course.
More Information
The course takes place on a user-friendly website called Wet Ink, designed specifically for writing courses. Each Monday during the course, a new lesson will be posted online. Participants will have the week to work through the content and post responses to exercises designed to put the theory they’re learning into practice.
You do not need to log into the course at a specific time and there are no live meetings. You will receive an email with an invitation link to join the online classroom a week before the course starts.
- Participants will work through several lessons, which will open sequentially over the course.
- You can complete the lesson material in your own time.
- This course includes assignments and participants will give and receive peer feedback on their work. Some assignments will receive tutor feedback if completed by the deadlines provided.
For six-week courses, we suggest spending three to four hours per week on the course. Please note that the amount of time needed to read, respond to discussions, write, revise and critique will vary from person to person.
Is this course right for you? Please read our FAQ> for important information before enrolling.
If you have questions about this course, please contact us.
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