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Ksenia Anske

March 11, 2018

Submerging yourself in 3 story incarnations in 1 day

by Ksenia Anske


Blog-header.jpg
Blog-header.jpg

I have allowed myself to take a day off writing T.U.B.E. today to study, and I had an experience like no other. I can’t recommend it to you enough, to try it. I have submerged myself in a story in three of its incarnations in one day, to study the underlying structure. Have wanted to do it for months now until I realized I won’t have time for it unless I make time.

Today seemed perfect. Quiet. Sunny. With nothing on my calendar. So I thought, when will I have a quiet day like this again? I was going to re-block the scene I was working on for the last several days, but then I looked at the book on my reading couch, Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer. It was a library book, and I had to return it soon, and I haven’t gotten to reading it yet, because I was busy doing things. And then I looked up the movie, and it was still playing in the theaters. 

And in a flash a plan was born.

I looked at the book. It was only 195 pages long, so I thought, “Perfect.” I went to look for the script. I found the script. I thought, “Double perfect.” The book would take me four hours to read, the script another hour to hour-and-half. And then I’d go see the movie. And so I have decided it was okay to slow down. I would deliver everything I promised to any of you a day later. It was okay to take a break from re-blocking the scene.

So I did. I had my coffee, then I read the book in one gulp. I took a quick break, then I read the script. Then I took another quick break, and then I went to see the movie.

I’ll leave it up to you to do the same with any story you choose, but I can tell you this was a magnificent exercise (planning to do the same with Ready Player One, and already did this, though not in one day, with Die Hard, Jaws, The Joy Luck Club, Red Sparrow—though for the last two I couldn't find the scripts). I'll remember this day for a long time. So happy I've allowed myself to do it.

It had shown me the same underlying structure in all three story media: novel, screenplay, film.

I can't recommend it enough that you do the same. The structure of 12 Columns was there, at work, right in my face. I've also seen how it can be peeled back in layers to adopt to different media, how inventing certain scenes can strengthen or weaken the story, and how no matter what medium the story is in, the skeleton underneath it remains the same. If you know how to construct a skeleton, you're dangerous. You're unstoppable. You can create stories that have the ability to change the world. Which is what I intend to do with T.U.B.E.

Head over to Patreon where I teach all I know about 12 Columns, and where I post daily video updates and more.

Let’s learn together how to write unputdownable stories.

TAGS: writing, 12 Columns, Patreon


January 15, 2018

Announcement: I'm moving EVERYTHING to Patreon

by Ksenia Anske


Writing.jpg
Writing.jpg

My beloved Hamsters,

I’ve made a big decision to move EVERYTHING—my client and fan groups on Facebook, the tiny sales tips newsletter I started, and even this blog (I’ll be blogging less often and opening it up to guest posts, so pitch me)—to Patreon. It’ll make my life easier. (Plus, it was my New Year’s resolution to rest).

In the course of working on TUBE I’ve been able to see that I continue neglecting my needs like the adults who neglected my needs when I was a child. Only I don’t have those adults in my life anymore and yet I’m still doing it. 

Enough.

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TAGS: news, personal, publishing, Patreon


October 17, 2017

Utilizing your Patreon, or building a tribe of loyal hamsters

by Ksenia Anske


Illustration by Olex Oleole

Illustration by Olex Oleole

Illustration by Olex Oleole

Illustration by Olex Oleole

Many of you have asked me in the last few weeks about how I use Patreon and how to do it if you’re just starting out, or how to grow your audience if you have none, or how to grow your small audience THIS MUCH BIGGER.

So here are my thoughts.

Number one: I’m learning as I go, so all wisdom I’ll dispense here is “wisdom in process.”

Number two: My Patreon is slowly growing at a rate of about $100 a year (so 3 years ago it was at $100 per month, and now it’s at $300 per month). It's growing because I haven’t given up and keep posting there weekly, but I also haven't been focused on growing it. Who knows what will happen once I do.

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TAGS: Patreon, building a tribe, loyal hamsters, I'm getting better at tags!, Or am I?, I love you


March 10, 2015

For YOU, my Patreon patrons

by Ksenia Anske


I have reached my $100 monthly goal on Patreon!

It's actually $139 now. As a perk I promised you, my patrons, to write a blog post about anything you wanted. The next perk, by the way, will be at the $500 goal's completion—a short story about anything you want. (Won't that be fun?)

So here we go. Below are your questions and my answers. If you have more questions, go ahead and ask in the comments here or on Patreon. I will answer them with all the truth I can muster.

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TAGS: Patreon, patrons, perks, support, questions, answers, community


March 6, 2015

I have reached $100 per month on Patreon!!!

by Ksenia Anske


Okay, by now I have screamed about this on every Internet corner, but I have to expand my scream here, naturally. I have setup my Patreon page pretty quickly, made a video and everything and sort of forgot about it, burying my head in writing. I mean, I didn't forget about it completely, I post my daily writing there as I complete it, for patrons only to see. I don't even know how many of you are reading those, but I will keep faithfully posting them there as that is the perk you get for supporting me by donating $1 or more per month. 

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TAGS: Patreon, crowdfunding, goals, money, income, support


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