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THE ENGAGING PLOTS SUMMIT

Learn how to unlock the imagination God gave you.

Learn from Experienced Authors

I gained so much practical knowledge and already have ideas for how I can apply it to my current writing project.”

Lydia Williams

I’ll never look at story structure and scenes the same way again.”

Nicole Gusto

Time to Reset Your Approach to Plotting

Too many writers fall into these traps:

They struggle to finish a novel because their ideas peter out.

They settle for shiny gimmicks instead of developing truly original concepts.

They waste time crafting elaborate outlines that won’t actually help their stories.

When writers learn to use their imaginations the same way that God exercised His creativity, they’ll finally thrill readers with gripping storytelling.

That’s why we’ve gathered 10 expert Christian authors, editors, and coaches to teach you how to nail your novel’s plot.

“We resolve to fearlessly embrace and wisely exercise imagination as a gift from God, trusting Him to use it, not by limiting our creativity but by benevolently directing it.”

– Christian Storytellers Manifesto

4 Truths Every Christian Writer Needs to Know about Plot

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Your Plot Is More Than an Outline

Too many writers jump to the outlining stage before they’ve brainstormed a publishable premise. When they eventually realize that their premise isn’t as strong as they thought, rewriting the story can take dozens of hours. That’s why unit one of our summit is dedicated to crafting a winning premise.

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Plotting Isn't Just for Outliners

Pantsers need to understand how to structure a story just as much as outliners do! That’s why we intentionally brought a mix of discovery and outline writers to speak at our summit.

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Your Faith Does Influence Your Plotting

You may think more about how your faith impacts your themes and characters than your plot. But if the Bible is the greatest story ever told, you can gain many insights from its example. Our summit will teach you how.

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Plotting Makes or Breaks Your Story

You can’t avoid plotting by winging it, ignoring it, or writing a “character-driven” story. Plot is an essential aspect of fiction. Without it, your stories will be confusing instead of cohesive.

“There wasn’t just one or two practical ideas in each session. The sessions were LOADED with applicable tips.”

Tabitha Driver

“As a character-focused writer who often struggles with plot, I came out of the summit encouraged and equipped to write stronger story lines.”

K. M. Small

Unit One: How to Craft Engaging Concepts

Why Every Story Needs a High-Concept Premise

Why Every Story Needs a High-Concept Premise

Brett Harris

Your story excites you, but agents keep saying that it doesn’t stand out. What gives? In this session, best-selling author and writing coach Brett Harris explains why high-concept premises are so important and how writers can strategically approach this subject.

How to Write Multiple Plot Lines without Distracting Readers

How to Write Multiple Plot Lines without Distracting Readers

Kristy Cambron

Have you ever found yourself skimming through one of a novel’s plot lines just so you can return to the more interesting one? How can you make sure readers don’t react the same way to your story? In this session, Christy award-winning author Kristy Cambron explains how to pull off multiple plot lines without splitting readers’ attention.

Unit Two: How to Craft Engaging Plot Structures

The Lessons Scripture Teaches about Powerful Plot Structure

The Lessons Scripture Teaches about Powerful Plot Structure

Josiah DeGraaf

God is the Master Storyteller. And the Great Redemption Narrative is the most powerful story of all time. So why don’t we study it more as a model of effective plotting? In this session, Josiah DeGraaf, the summit & marketing director at Story Embers, explains how to take your ideas and arrange them into a stunning plot.

How to Escalate Tension with the Second Act of Your Story

How to Escalate Tension with the Second Act of Your Story

Mollie E. Reeder

Too many novels fizzle out in the middle. And that’s a problem, because the Second Act should contain your novel’s core events! So how can you prevent the pace from slowing down and becoming boring? In this session, author and movie producer Mollie E. Reeder explains how to ace your Second Act.

How to Wow Readers with the Third Act of Your Story

How to Wow Readers with the Third Act of Your Story

Catherine Jones Payne

The climax is the most important moment in a story. If it doesn’t impress readers, it’s failing to serve its purpose. In this session, Catherine Jones Payne, the executive editor of Quill Pen Editorial and author of four YA fantasy novels, explains how to imitate the Great Eucatastrophe in your Third Act.

Unit Three: How to Craft Engaging Scenes

How to Craft Nail-Biting Scenes That Keep Readers Turning Pages

How to Craft Nail-Biting Scenes That Keep Readers Turning Pages

Daeus Lamb

How do you craft chapters that keep readers turning pages long into the night? In this session, Daeus Lamb, the outreach & community director at Story Embers and author of God of Manna, explains how to craft scenes that ratchet up the suspense.

How to Turn Your Plot Structure into Memorable Scenes

How to Turn Your Plot Structure into Memorable Scenes

Daniel Schwabauer

Learning to craft scenes well may be the most practical skill you can acquire. A bad plot made up of excellent scenes will be far more interesting than a good plot built on bad scenes. In this session, Daniel Schwabauer, award-winning author of the popular OYAN writing curriculum, discusses the structure and dramatic ingredients of every great scene.

How to Write Scenes That Are Emotional without Being Melodramatic

How to Write Scenes That Are Emotional without Being Melodramatic

Stacy Hawkins Adams

You hope to touch readers with the scenes you write. But you don’t want them rolling their eyes at unnecessary sappiness. In this session, award-winning romance author Stacy Hawkins Adams explains how to tug heartstrings without overdoing the emotion.

Closing Keynote: The Power of Imagination

Closing Keynote: The Power of Imagination

Allen Arnold

Imagination is a gift from God and one of the most powerful tools you have for crafting engaging plots. But how can you draw out its full potential? In this closing keynote, Allen Arnold, the founding publisher of Thomas Nelson fiction, explains how to channel your creativity and bring your story home.

Bonus: Our Session Notes on How to Craft Engaging Plots

We’ve condensed our notes on what our summit speakers taught to provide you with a roadmap to better create compelling plots for your stories.

The full meat of the talks is, of course, contained in the recordings. But our playbook highlights the key points of the sessions and shows you how you can use those techniques to make your plots imaginative enough to grip and enthrall readers.

All writers who purchase the recordings will receive a complimentary copy of our Engaging Plots Summit playbook to help them apply what they’ve learned to their current works-in-progress.

Unlock Your God-Given Imagination

You’ve written pages and pages and pages without seeing your writing go anywhere.

Don’t you think it’s time to change your approach?

As someone who bears God’s image, you have the capacity to reflect His creativity.

We want to teach you how to create concepts that use the imagination He’s blessed you with.

We want to teach you to create plot structures that mirror His Redemption Story.

And we want to teach you to create scenes that ring true to His reality.

Too often, readers aren’t as engaged by a story as the writer expected them to be. We’re going to help you address that problem.

Are you ready to stretch your God-given imagination?

The Engaging Plots Summit Recordings

$175

10+ Hours of Teaching Content

Playbook to Help You Apply the Lessons

Lifetime Access to the Recordings

Questions? Email josiah@storyembers.org!

What Attendees Said about the Summit

“What sets the Story Embers team apart from other groups is their steadfast belief that good storytelling is not at odds with the Christian life but central to it–and worth fighting to redeem. The quality of teaching that they offer is phenomenal.”

Christopher Babcock

The speakers were impressive and thought-provoking.”

Brian Stansell

“I walked away from the summit encouraged both creatively and spiritually, with a renewed sense of vision and purpose for my story and my relationship with God.”

Rachel Judy

After spending years struggling to write with only a vague sense of direction, I now feel equipped to create a clear, impactful structure for my novel.

Elisha G.

What Would You Miss If You Skip the Engaging Plots Summit?

Top Writers and Speakers

Our summit features several award-winning writers, editors, and coaches coming to your living room at an affordable price.

Advanced Learning

We’ve designed our summit as the ultimate resource for learning to craft gripping, imaginative plots. The sessions explore advanced topics at a depth you won’t easily find elsewhere.

A Roadmap for Engaging Plots

Our summit will provide you with the practical, step-by-step guidance you need to write plots that enthrall readers.

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Learn What the Bible Says about Engaging Plots

Learn What the Bible Says about Engaging Plots

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