What ARE the Seven Steps?

The Seven Steps works on a 'chunking' system'. In real life we learn complex things by breaking the task into small chunks. The Seven Steps program takes you through the seven main skills of writing, quickly and easily.

Step 1:  Plan for Perfection

• Discover how telling jokes actually works as plot practice (10-14 years)
• Should you know the ending before you write?
• How backfill works to pull readers right into the story
• Characters or plot – what should you start with?
• Discover how TV ads show perfect plotting - in 30 seconds (7-10 years)
• Get a unique story graph to show exactly how to plot
• The Chatterbox - a fantastic game to brainstorm over 500 story ideas!

Step 2: Sizzling Starts

• Write five story starts in five minutes – and want to do more!
• Over 20 different story ideas to practise starts
• Where do you begin - in the morning or at the disco?
• Learn why movies start with a bang
• Write the 'worst story start' and discover what NOT to do
• Discover why authors always begin at the 'Moment of Change'.

Step 3: Tightening Tension

• Create a powerful tension scene with two other people – in minutes
• Discover the Six Senses for tension scenes
• Learn how the 'list of three' in jokes works to create tension. 
• Take a roller coaster ride to give you a unique 'Fear Factor' list. (10-14 years)

Step 4:  Dialogue

• Find out why starting with dialogue instantly reveals character
• Try acting out scenes to give great dialogue (10-14 years)
• Learn why you start in the 'middle' of a conversation (7-10 years)
• Get instant starts with scaffolding lines (7-10 years)
• Try out a five minute fight scene – on paper! (10-14 years)
• 20 topics to practise starting your scenes with dialogue
• Play Train Talks - great for dropping clues in mystery stories (7-10 years)

Step 5: Show, Don't Tell

• Can you pass the 'seeing is believing' test?

  For each Step 1-7 you get: A Top Technique tip - a clear and simple author technique Five Day Activity - a quick fun activity to practise daily Real Life Writing Activity - discover ways to use TV ads, picture books, even a roller coaster ride to learn great writing skills

• Discover why actions speak louder than words in writing
• Play a great game to 'Show me a Secret' (7-10 years)
• What 'shows' a person is on a diet?
• Observe body language to 'show' not 'tell'
• Why baking cakes is better than 'telling' about relationships. (7-10 years)
• Have fun and be convincing, 'telling' the moods of teenagers (10-14 years)

Step 6:  Ban the Boring Bits:

• What are 'food fetishes' and why do kids always write about them?
• How can you avoid the boring bus and car trips?
• What are the professional authors cheats to make stories move fast?
• How can editing old writing fast track current skills?
• What does everyone do - and no-one writes about? (10-14 years)
• Discover how DVD's can help with editing easily. (7-10 years)

Step 7:  Exciting Endings

• What's a 'quick fix' ending and why should writers avoid it?
• Do you always have to know your ending?  Share the expert's way
• Why does working backwards give you strong endings?
• Play lateral thinking games and end stories with a twist (10-14 years)
• Practise the 'Sticky Situations' and easily write great endings (7-10 years)

BONUS: Step-by-Step Story Template
Order ALL the Seven Steps, and get a unique template to help your children brainstorm, plan and create their best story ever. This brings all the steps together wonderfully. The template can be used over and over again!