The following packets are lesson materials from the classes I teach. All material provided to students in the classes are in these packets unless otherwise noted (specifically the packets labeled Supplementals), with lesson materials running on the average to approximately 100 pages.

Fearless Writer Packets

The Fearless Writer: Discovering Your Vision

The power of great storytelling is in you.  Award-winning author Laura Baker helps you tap your own dramatic powers for enhanced storytelling skills, building characters and increasing your novel’s emotional resonance.  This month-long class is packed with exercises to discover and hone your dramatic strengths.  Then put those powers to work on your own story ideas using Laura’s solid fiction foundation of a Story Box.  Transform a basic story concept into a complex novel empowered with your own strengths.  How would your writing change if you had nothing to fear?

In this class you will:

  • Find the story you need to write
  • Define your emotional and thematic motivators
  • Through writing craft focus the three underpinnings of great storytelling
  • Create your own defining Storytelling Paragraph
  • Turn ideas into a story using the Story Box process
  • Learn the power of premise
  • Bonus special exercise for those with a completed manuscript

 
With Laura’s coaching, many unpublished writers are now published, and the techniques she teaches are used by NY Times bestselling authors.  One author said, “Light bulb moments are so common when I’m learning at your side that I spend most of my time in this wild state of enlightenment and excitement.  Just incredible.”

LESSON ONE: Branding versus Hallmark, Key questions every writer should ask herself, Finding the story you need to write
LESSON TWO: What do you need to say (theme) and Why do you need to say it (emotional motivator)
LESSON THREE: Learning to craft the story you need to write, using Significant Detail to evoke emotion, Connection between dominant impression, emotional motivators and theme
LESSON FOUR: Learning to craft continued, using Significant Detail to evoke theme, Significant Detail as Metaphor, your Storytelling Paragraph
LESSON FIVE: Creating your Story Box
LESSON SIX: Story Box continued, Premise, Story function of opposing Emotional drives, character roles, how premise creates conflict
LESSON SEVEN: Archetypes and plotting, Story Vision #1
LESSON EIGHT: Story Vision #2

With an emphasis on discovering each writer’s individual strengths, this workshop is appropriate for those at the beginning of writing as well as those seeking to create a hallmark for their work.

Packet of lessons is approximately 100 pages.

Price: $27.50

Laws Of Motion

The lesson materials from this month-long class look at Story Arc and Character Arc as the two compelling drives of a great story and how to make them work together. Laura will give you a new way of managing the dynamics of plot, character and conflict—a new technique of plotting with TASKS—that naturally braids plot and character into an escalating and motivated arc. Lessons also look at turning points and the mini-epiphanies that launch the protagonist from turning points.

 

Can you answer the question, “What is your story about?”

 

And, now, can you answer the question, “What is your story REALLY about?”

 

How would your writing be different if you knew the answers?

 

LESSON ONE: What type change is your story?

LESSON TWO: What is your story about, story question, protagonist's goal, basic nature

LESSON THREE: What is your story really about, character arc, dramatic question

LESSON FOUR: Braiding together Story and Character Arcs, who is the antagonist, emotional pressure, tasks

LESSON FIVE: The moments that define, core decision, Inciting Incident, Black Moment

LESSON SIX: The structure of half and half, turning points

LESSON SEVEN: The Test of Janus, turning point epiphanies

LESSON EIGHT: Setting up turning points

LESSON NINE: Connection of plot to subplot

 

These lessons are appropriate for those at the beginning of writing as well as veteran authors.

Approximately 70 pages.

Price: $27.50

DISCOVERING STORY MAGIC PACKETS

Story Magic is a process to story building developed by Laura Baker and Robin Perini and which they have taught across the country, at workshops, national conferences, and online.

At its heart, Discovering Story Magic (DSM) is about Character and Emotion and how these two together dirve the action and the drama of your story. DSM takes you to the heart of your characters and story, and through a step-by-step process you AND the characters create a story, complete with conflict, compelling drama, and three-dimensional characters:

  • who are compelled to act
  • whose emotions drive the story
  • whose actions motivate drama
  • who captivate your readers on a deep, emotional level AND
  • who deliver the visceral punch of a spell-binding story.

In these lessons you will:

  • Learn what INCITING INCIDENT throws your character into the story of his life
  • Create sustainable conflict that escalates within a tight, interwoven plot
  • Use CHARACTER FLAW to compel the story
  • Brainstorm VILLAINS who provoke struggle AND insight for your protagonist
  • Use TURNING POINTS to braid plot and character and escalate the drama
  • Create visceral connections between plot, subplot, and SECONDARY CHARACTERS
  • Broaden the scope of your story with THEME
  • Hook your reader with escalating stakes and emotions
  • Use character to ignites CHANGE in the other
  • Learn where to place scenes in the STORYBOARD to increase drama
And so much more…including the answer to this question: “Do you know what your story is REALLY about?”

Here is the clear process to creating three-dimensional characters, sustainable conflict, and a plot that escalates to wrenching black moments. This three-step technique has been the path for many unpublished writers to finally selling and used by bestselling authors to broaden and deepen their stories.

In some ways -- important ways -- these laid the groundwork for all my work -- writing, teaching, critiquing, and coaching.

DSM is how I have plotted all my books, including the first, which sold to the first editor I queried.

The Introduction to Discovering Story Magic (DSM) is the place to start if you're interested in learning all about the DSM process. There are five FULL Intro packets to choose from, each one based on a movie that are used to teach the DSM process:

  • Jerry Maguire (for romance)
  • LA Confidential (for suspense)
  • Good Will Hunting (for romance/coming of age)
  • Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (women’s fiction)
  • Casablanca (for romantic suspense)

If you are interested in seeing how DSM works with more than one type genre, this is why we made the SUPPLEMENTALS available. So, you could pick out a full packet of one movie and the supplemental for another movie at a reduced price (because it has only the grid analysis).

Payment can be made through PayPal ($2.50 surcharge) via a PayPal account or with a credit card. Once I have received confirmation of payment, you'll receive an email with a link to the handout within about 24 hours. Contact laura@fearlesswriter.com for information on how to send a check for the appropriate amount via snail mail or with questions.

Introduction to Discovering Story Magic -- Movie Choice Casablanca

The packet contains the outline, complete lessons, the assignments and all supporting handouts. A total of over 100 pages of detailed instruction, will take you through the DSM process using an analysis of a romantic suspense plot, Casablanca.

Price: $27.50

Casablanca Supplemental

Already purchased the full INTRO to DSM packet and want to see how it would apply to other movies? If you have the full packet for one of the other movies, you may be interested in this supplemental of Casablanca Supplemental, where we analyze a romantic suspense  plot. The approximately 40-page supplemental packet contains only the GRID analysis, turning points and story board of Casablanca Supplemental.

Price: $17.50

Introduction to Discovering Story Magic--Movie Choice: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

The packet contains the outline, complete lessons, the assignments and all supporting handouts. A total of over 100 pages of detailed instruction, will take you through the DSM process using an analysis of a women’s fiction plot, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.

Price: $27.50

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood Supplemental

Already purchased the full INTRO to DSM packet and want to see how it would apply to other movies? If you have the full packet for one of the other movies, you may be interested in this supplemental of Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood Supplemental, where we analyze a women’s fiction plot. The approximately 40-page supplemental packet contains only the GRID analysis, turning points and story board of Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood Supplemental.

Price: $17.50

Introduction to Discovering Story Magic--Movie Choice: Good Will Hunting

 

The packet contains the outline, complete lessons, the assignments and all supporting handouts. A total of over 100 pages of detailed instruction, will take you through the DSM process using an analysis of a romantic/coming of age plot, Good Will Hunting.

Price: $27.50

Good Will Hunting Supplemental

 

Already purchased the full INTRO to DSM packet and want to see how it would apply to other movies? If you have the full packet for one of the other movies, you may be interested in this supplemental of Good Will Hunting, where we analyze a romantic/coming of age plot. The approximately 40-page supplemental packet contains only the GRID analysis, turning points and story board of Good Will Hunting.

Price: $17.50

Introduction to Discovering Story Magic--Movie Choice: Jerry Maguire

 

The packet contains the outline, complete lessons, the assignments and all supporting handouts. A total of over 100 pages of detailed instruction, will take you through the DSM process using an analysis of a romantic plot, Jerry Maguire.

Price: $27.50

Jerry Maguire Supplemental

Already purchased the full INTRO to DSM packet and want to see how it would apply to other movies? If you have the full packet for one of the other movies, you may be interested in this supplemental of Jerry Maguire, where we analyze a romantic plot. The approximately 40-page supplemental packet contains only the GRID analysis, turning points and story board of Jerry Maguire.

Price: $17.50

Introduction to Discovering Story Magic--Movie Choice: An Unfinished Life

The packet contains the outline, complete lessons, the assignments and all supporting handouts. A total of over 100 pages of detailed instruction, will take you through the DSM process using an analysis of a drama plot, An Unfinished Life.
Price: $27.50

Introduction to Discovering Story Magic--Movie Choice: In The Line of Fire

The packet contains the outline, complete lessons, the assignments and all supporting handouts. A total of over 100 pages of detailed instruction, will take you through the DSM process using an analysis of a suspense with romance plot, In the Line of Fire.
Price: $27.50

Introduction to Discovering Story Magic--Movie Choice: Silver Linings Playbook

The packet contains the outline, complete lessons, the assignments and all supporting handouts. A total of over 100 pages of detailed instruction, will take you through the DSM process using an analysis of a romantic comedy with drama plot, Silver Linings Playbook.
Price: $27.50

Introduction to Discovering Story Magic--Movie Choice: LA Confidential

 

The packet contains the outline, complete lessons, the assignments and all supporting handouts. A total of over 100 pages of detailed instruction, will take you through the DSM process using an analysis of a suspense plot, LA Confidential.

Price: $27.50

LA Confidential Supplemental

Already purchased the full INTRO to DSM packet and want to see how it would apply to other movies? If you have the full packet for one of the other movies, you may be interested in this supplemental of LA Confidential, where we analyze a suspense plot. The approximately 40-page supplemental packet contains only the GRID analysis, turning points and story board of LA Confidential.

Price: $17.50

DSM II: Turning Points

Finally, a class that focuses on TURNING POINTS of plots and subplots, placing scenes where they will be the most powerful, and more importantly— layering THEME into your story! In this class you'll learn how to create turning points that really work and organizing scenes on the storyboard to control the pacing and to escalate the tension of your story. Then, in the lesson Premise, harness the dramatic purpose of your story through the "unity of opposites." This packet also includes a lesson on pitches, using the grid and turning points to create convincing, dramatic pitches. Learn how to take advantage of your Vision of the story you want and need to write. Approximately 80 pages.
Price: $27.50