Classes

Class: Beyond Bulletproof Barbie

$75.00 USD Standard

Where: On YOUR Computer

When: ON DEMAND

Female characters have evolved from 'damsel in distress' to the 'hardcore badass.' Problem is, fictional females escaped one boring mold only to end up in another even MORE boring mold.

But with lipgloss AND karate!

Strong female characters fascinate audiences on the page and on the screen. From Atomic Blonde to Wonder Woman, Special Agent Scully to Dr. Laura Isles, women can exude power and danger in a variety of ways.

Sadly, the badass female has devolved into a tired trope with the depth of a puddle.

This class is to challenge the concept of the dangerous woman as protagonist and antagonist. Creating a powerful woman involves more than handing her weapons, a black belt, and a terminal case of RBF (Resting B$#@% Face).

• • Expanding 'who' the dangerous woman IS;
  • Still waters run DEEP;
  • Broadening backstory;
  • Motives matter;
  • The 'Tomb Raider' effect;
  • Combat, weapons, tactics;
  • Expanding her 'arsenal';
  • Generating authentic dramatic action/tension;
  • Making the dangerous dame 'likable';
  • AND MORE...

As an author, competitive shooter, and former combatives instructor, there are few characters I LOVE more than a kickass female action hero. Conversely, fewer things vex me more than the tired cookie-cutter female action hero trope. Women can be powerful in a myriad of ways, beyond hand-to-hand combat and shooting everyone in the FACE.

This said, while we'll explore a wide variety of powerful women, if you long to write that female action hero, this class will (hopefully) make sure you do her justice.

About the Instructor

I'm an author, blogger, creator, and unrepentant troublemaker (though always the fun kind of trouble). I've dedicated most of my life to unearthing the most lucrative form of writing---which, thus far, is apparently ransom notes and highly illegal.

Huge bummer, there.

For those writers not yet willing to commit to a life of kidnapping and grand larceny, I can at least teach you how to write about people who DO. And maybe add in dragons or spaceships or dragons with spaceships. #Groovy

When I'm not crafting stories of my own, I'm passionate about educating and empowering authors of the digital age...namely because it's hard to write best-selling books when you're crying and day-drinking.

Class Title: World-Building 101: Worlds as Characters

Instructor: Kristen Lamb

Price: $75 USD Standard

Where: Bad Lamb Academy Virtual Classroom/Portal Page (Big Blue Button)

When:  At your convenience on any compatible device

YES, this IS a THREE-HOUR CLASS!

About the Class:

World building is where we get to play 'Author God' and create all the intricacies that go into our world. World building informs characters (what they can and cannot do) as well as directs the plot.

Failure to do proper world-building can create DISASTER. Readers are smart and they WILL expect us (our characters) to play by a set of rules. Without a proper world or clearly crafted boundaries, readers can become easily confused.

Ah, but do it well and...

The worlds we create in fiction, especially series, are powerful enough to create a fandom that sweeps the globe and can even become inextricable parts of our culture. From Star Wars to Harry Potter to Twilight to Stranger Things and on and on, WORLD BUILDING is the stuff movies, theme parks, franchises, and events like Comic-Con are made of.

Whether you just want to have a general idea of how your world works or you want to create vast maps, empires, houses, planets, new tech or even create your own languages for your novel, this is a class to get you started.

In this class, we will cover:

• How to create a series 'bible'
• Understand the different 'types' of world-building one might need from 'crime fiction' (NCIS) to 'techno thrillers' (Red Storm Rising) to 'epic high fantasy' (Lord of the Rings) to science fiction (Dune/Firefly) all demand world-building
• Creating your world's 'essence'
• Sometimes less is more
• Geography
• History
• Society/Culture
• Rules/Limitations for Magic
• Technology & Limitations
• The basics of creating an 'alien' language
• Where to begin with world building and how far to go
• Seven Deadly Sins of World Building

About the Instructor:

Kristen Lamb is the author of the definitive guide to social media and branding for authors, Rise of the Machines—Human Authors in a Digital World. She’s also the author of #1 best-selling books We Are Not Alone—The Writer’s Guide to Social Media and Are You There, Blog? It’s Me, Writer.

She’s also the author of the highly acclaimed mystery-thriller The Devil’s Dance.

Kristen has written over twelve hundred blogs and her site was recognized by Writer’s Digest Magazine as one of the Top 101 Websites for Writers. Her branding methods are responsible for selling millions of books and used by authors of every level, from emerging writers to mega authors.

Class Title:  The Edge: How to Write Mystery, Suspense & Thriller

Instructor: Kristen Lamb

Price: $75 USD

Date:  OnDEMAND

Time: Any Time You Like

Where: On Computer or Any Compatible Device

Class Description:

Mystery, suspense, and thriller are highly addictive genres that come with a massive and passionate fanbase. No matter the state of the industry, a great spine-tingling adrenalin rush is always appealing.

It's also a genre that has a tremendous amount of flexibility and range, from pulp fiction and amateur sleuths all the way to gritty Pulitzer and Edgar Award Winning novels.

These genres have a place for all kinds of writers.

In this class, you'll learn:

• What exactly makes a book a mystery, suspense, thriller?
• How do these genres blend and cross over?
• How do you add in a romantic thread when bullets are flying?
• What is the structure required for each of these genres? (Where do we put in clues? Add in the red herrings?);
• How can we use imagination to deliver audiences something fresh and NEW?
• How to craft your story as a series;
• How to maximize appeal to possibly catch the film industry's eye?
• And MORE...

Remember, a FREE recording comes with purchase of the class. If you can't make the time or you just want to be able to enjoy the class and rewatch for study later on, it doesn't matter. We got you covered!

About the Instructor:

Kristen Lamb is the author of the definitive guide to social media and branding for authors, Rise of the Machines—Human Authors in a Digital World. She’s also the author of #1 best-selling books We Are Not Alone—The Writer’s Guide to Social Media and Are You There, Blog? It’s Me, Writer. She’s just released her highly acclaimed debut mystery-thriller The Devil’s Dance.

Kristen has written over twelve hundred blogs and her site was recognized by Writer’s Digest Magazine as one of the Top 101 Websites for Writers. Her branding methods are responsible for selling millions of books and used by authors of every level, from emerging writers to mega authors.

The Unreliable Narrator: Turning Your Reader's World Upside Down

Instructor: Kristen Lamb

Price: General Admission $75 USD

Where: ON DEMAND, so on Computer or Compatible Device

When: At Your Convenience

Class Description:

Audiences take for granted that the first person they meet in the story is trustworthy. This assumption can be used for advantage as well as for magnificent story effect. I WILL warn you, however, that this is a highly advanced technique.

This said, the unreliable narrator is highly effective and has been used in many genres from general (or literary fiction) like 'Fight Club', to mystery 'Gone Girl,' to psychological suspense 'Black Swan,' just to name a few. But, as mentioned, this literary technique is far from easy, and not for the faint of heart.

This class, however, is here to break down this complex device and help you better understand how you might be able to use it in your own work.

We will cover the basics of structure, if your story is a good candidate for the unreliable narrator, and, if so, how to gain the audience's trust so as to use it to capitalize on that necessary (but forgivable) betrayal to create that delightful twist at the end.

About the Instructor:

Kristen Lamb is the author of the definitive guide to social media and branding for authors, Rise of the Machines—Human Authors in a Digital World. She’s also the author of #1 best-selling books We Are Not Alone—The Writer’s Guide to Social Media and Are You There, Blog? It’s Me, Writer.

She’s also the author of the highly acclaimed mystery-thriller The Devil’s Dance.

Kristen has written over twelve hundred blogs and her site was recognized by Writer’s Digest Magazine as one of the Top 101 Websites for Writers. Her branding methods are responsible for selling millions of books and used by authors of every level, from emerging writers to mega authors.