Testimonials for Blockbuster Plots
Consultations
"Time spent with Martha Alderson's Plot Consultation is time well spent. Martha's gentle questions about motivations and theme led me deeper into my story. Looking for clues in the characters led to intersections with other characters, plot complications and best of all, conflict. Martha's keen insights about the structure of plot helped me better understand the story I was telling and gave me the tools I needed to write it, in a new and exciting way."
- Terri Thayer, author of Wild Goose Chase
"Martha gave me more attention on my novel in two hours than I ever got in my MFA program. Thanks!"
- Ellen Young, MFA (adult fiction)
"Martha has given me some well needed direction that I only wish had come sooner."
- G. Hines (screenwriter)
"I credit my consultation with Martha as a pivotal event leading to the success of my book. Martha's knowledge and enthusiasm was incredibly inspiring. She provided the structure and focus I needed in order tackle what had previously been daunting and overwhelming, infusing the technical with the purest joy. A million thanks!"
- Shreve Stockton, author of Eating Gluten Free
"I wish I could wrap Martha in the galaxy of gratitude and whirl her into the pure joy of its nature! Martha is so generous with her time, insight, expertise, wisdom, and kindness. I am a bit overwhelmed but truly excited to get to work. Thank you."
- Luisa Adams, author of Woven of Water
"I learned so much it is like someone opened my brain and poured in a whole new way to write. My consultation with Martha was invaluable. It was not only what she taught me about plot; her encouragement and enthusiasm gave me confidence. She is a genuine and generous human being, and that is the real gift."
- Mary Cronk Farrel, author of Fire In the Hole!
"For me, organization and how to tell the story with the most effect is my weakest area. Martha helped me take all the elements of my story and organize them in a way that the story now unfolds in a much more dramatic way. Now I have my completed plot planner on the wall and I refer to it all the time. My project is back on track and I am very motivated. Martha's help has been invaluable to getting my book done!!"
- Shana Mahaffey, author of a soon-to-be-release novel
"I requested the plot phone consultation because I wanted a one on one dialogue about my novel. I found that I needed that kind of help for ME! Especially since I was starting to hit the middle of my novel. I took diligent notes, but it's not the same as seeing the entire plot on a long scroll pasted up on my wall! I know I will be taking it with me to my writing residency this summer at Hedgebrook, as one long cohesive visual aid. It is incredible to see my novel up there like that. I love the Plot Planner!"
Christine Lee Zilka, author for Rice Bowl Journals
"First we established a resolution; I did not actually have one! I learned to develop a plot line for the story and follow it. I learned the need to add more action and less summary to most chapters. I learned how to change passive action into active experiences. It was amazing to see, using back and forth "idea poppers" with Martha, how easily it could be done. I learned the importance of using the five senses as much as possible. It was the best consultation I have ever had."
- J. Barsotti, author of Okei-san
"Thanks again for the help. It's amazing how much a skilled set of eyes (like yours) can see in a plot structure that an author (like me) can't see."
- Pat Nipper, author of Love on the Lewis and Clark Trail
Workshops
“Martha is as knowledgeable and passionate about storytelling and "plotting" plot as anyone I have ever met. Her books, templates and workshops break it down and get the light bulbs going! A writer at any level will learn something. I can imagine myself seeking her out again and again for coaching along the way.
She can't do the puzzle for you but she can help you find those precious corner pieces and everything can fall into place after that."
-Jennifer Solow, author of The Booster
"I loved Martha's workshop on plot planning. It works!"
- Adrienne Barbeau, author of There Are Worse Things I Could Do
"Taking Martha's class several years ago was integral in improving my craft as a writer and it has been an important part of the success I've finally attained. My agent got me a two-book deal with St. Martin's Press!"
- Wendy Tokunaga, author of Midori by Moonlight
"I've taken Martha's course, of course, and found it enormously helpful. In fact, I take her course at conferences every chance I get. I need the repetition! Before I took her course, I did a simple outline from A to B to C. Now I have more depth in the outline, thanks to Martha's tips.
- Penny Warner, author of The Official Nancy Drew Handbook and Dead Man's Hand
"I learned more about crafting plot in this one workshop than I did in a 10-week course I just took on "the structure of narrative." Thanks."
- Anonymous
I think all of [the plot workshop] is useful. It's very well organized and I think it is a very good idea for people to take a look at their stories with a analytical approach. It would save a lot of people a lot of time if they did this from the start. I finished up the plot planner for my story when I got home. It's a good tool for taking something that is huge and unwieldy (a novel) and making it something that can be understood at a glance."
- J. Averbeck, author of In a Blue Room
"Martha has a fantastic tool to help writers plot out scene, create tension and construct a story. I've had several "aha" moments ever since I've taken the Blockbuster Plots workshop. I was struggling with how to build in my back story. I know what it was, but I wasn't sure how to plot it. Now I know, thanks to you. However, I'm not through with you yet."
- G. Spieler, author of I’m Sorry I Missed, Mr. President
"I cannot stress how Martha's emphasis on the external aspect an author's plot drove home to me the inherent necessity for a clear plot if the story is to not only hang together and make sense, but have meaning. The plot (external) sequence of events-this begets that begets this, etc. is essentially the clothesline on which you hang the clothes of your scenes and then chapters."
- Anjuelle Floyd, author of Keeper of Secrets
Conferences
"Thank you for your stunning presentation today. Our members were very impressed and I've had tremendously positive feedback."
- W. Gourlay of the California Writers Club Central Coast Branch
"Thank you for teaching such a wonderful writing workshop at the East of Eden Writer's Conference. It rounded out the program and really contributed to the success of the weekend."
- E. Matthews, East of Eden Writer's Conference publicity committee member
"You were FANTASTIC at the 2005 Jack London Writers Conference. Very organized with great information for us writers."
- B. LeMaire, Conference Committee Member
"We want to thank you again for showing us how to strengthen the underlying structure of our plots. Your Saturday workshop and its unique approach to plotting left us inspired and ready to successfully tackle our writing projects. Plus you may have started a new home decorating trend. Walls embellished with scene trackers on "butcher" paper."
- Joli, Jan, and Evelyn, of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
"I just have to tell you how much your wonderful presentation [for the Silicon Valley Chapter of the Romance Writers of America] has helped my current writing dilemma. I both went from disappointing writer's block, to jazzed and excited about picking up my WIPs again. Amazing!"
- K. Smith of Fresno, CA
