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.”
“I’ll never look at story structure and scenes the same way again.”
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
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.
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.
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.
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.”
“As a character-focused writer who often struggles with plot, I came out of the summit encouraged and equipped to write stronger story lines.”
Unit One: How to Craft Engaging Concepts
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.”
“The speakers were impressive and thought-provoking.”
“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.”
“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.“
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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