James Patterson starts this video with this:

“I don’t think I ever had aspirations in terms of, One begin writer or Secondly- what would happen with it. It just seemed to me, to be- overstepping to do that. I came from a background, that was- people just didn’t make it out of my hometown. I was never a stylist as a writer and I am still not. So I don’t I don’t think I ever expected that things would happen, and I still don’t, I mean, I don’t think about it. I don’t think about selling a lot of books or supposedly I am the best-selling author in the world, I love that. But I don’t think about it.”

Where it all started

James Patterson grew up in  Newberg, New York, a tough little river town, 60 miles north of New York City. A mix of City kids, farm kids, and kids from the air force base, that have been all around the world. “A nice mix of different kind of ways of looking at stuff.” ~James Patterson

His father was brought up in the Newberg poor house was called the Pogey.   His mother was a charwoman – she cleaned up the bathrooms for the poor people. His father went to Hamilton College, “a very good college.”  His mother was a schoolteacher for 50 years.

He went to catholic schools. In high school, if he didn’t have his homework done he got hit in his face. (And yes, that did happen) College and Advertising were nothing to how difficult high school was. James shrugged  and said,  “big deal, nobody is hitting you”

His grandmother was a very strong woman who would tell him what he couldn’t do and then add, “But there are a lot of things you can do… you could do a lot of things” She built up his confidence.

Why James Chose Writing

He started scribbling at nineteen- he loved writing stories. He liked fast past stories.

The Thomas Berryman Number first book: he said, that book doesn’t have a good pace.

The Thomas Berryman won: Edgar Award for Best First Novel by an American Author, Edgar Award for Best First Mystery.

The height Of Success

One of the exciting things is seeing your books in a bookstore.

Family

James tells us that family comes first. Do the right thing as much as you can. The only time his father hugged him was on his deathbed. He hugs his own son every chance he can.

Balance

James, tells us he finds things he likes and does them. He loves to write. He loves his wife and son he likes to be with very good friends. He loves what he doing.

James Patterson said,  “he try’s not to do boring things.”

This classes contest is open now until March 1, 2017.  If you are interested- click on the link in the top left sidebar the one with James Patterson’s picture on it. 

Lucky for me I can jump in my time machine and you will be looking at the date posted, scratching your head and wondering what I am talking about… With this strange intro finished here is Lesson 20.

HOLLYWOOD

James Patterson starts with a long exhale and makes a sound like his doctor is checking his tonsils. Sort of like this… Ahhhhhhhh!

James Patterson looks down and to the left, scratches the right side of his head above his ear with his right pinky finger then he looks up at the camera and says to someone off camera: “Before I answer this I gotta take a shot.” He picks up a glass, raises it slightly towards the camera, and tosses back his drink; turns his head to the right, shakes his head, eyes closed tight and makes a heavier more harsh, “Auhhh” sound, as the sharpness of the drink slides down his throat. Then he turns towards the camera, blinks a couple of times, staring straight ahead and bitterly says,   “Hollywood!”

In this lesson, we are told, by James Patterson that when Hollywood comes-ah-knocking it is wonderful, they are wonderful, that …“Knock, Knock it’s Hollywood” is an amazing thing to hear,-they want your book. You can’t believe how nice they will be… then he adds; “it’s all lies”

He tells us that it is the best thing, and you are lucky when they start shooting your movie. That once it happens, enjoy it and don’t take it all too seriously.

“The novelist ranks below the caterer on a movie shoot- they know why the cater is there they have no idea why the novelist is there”…

Now, if that were me, I would be checking out that appetizing catering cart. I would be there for that Caterer. I would be wondering what was on his cart, mentally picking out what I can’t eat, counting calories and centering in on the salads or fruit.

Hmmmm! That pretend movie set in my mind, where I can eat anything …and still I will gain weight. (Oh!  Stop whining and get back to lesson 20 and James Patterson) 

James Patterson tells us, that his best Hollywood experience was guest starring on the Simpsons, March 4, 2007, in “Yokel Chords” which is the fourteenth episode of the eighteenth season of The Simpsons He was riding a white horse across a beach in Marge’s fantasy.

Speaking of Hollywood and having your novel made into a screenplay Mr. Patterson said. “Just laugh at this stuff better have a sense of humor if you are going it sell it out there.” Great advice!

You can listen to this lesson at MasterClass.com and hear more of what he has to say about Hollywood and editors, and agents, just click on the link; top left.

Here are previous lessons.

• FIRST VIDEO OF JAMES PATTERSON’S MASTERCLASS
• SECOND LESSON PASSION & HABIT JAMES PATTERSON’S MASTERCLASS WRITING FRIDAY

• THIRD VIDEO LESSON RAW IDEAS JAMES PATTERSON’S MASTERCLASS

• FOURTH VIDEO LESSON PLOT JAMES PATTERSON’S MASTERCLASS

• FIFTH VIDEO LESSON RESEARCH JAMES PATTERSON’S MASTERCLASS

This video lesson starts with James Patterson talking about Co-authoring:

“Some people, they’re not comfortable with this idea of a co-author or collaborating. And they think it’s a much bigger deal than it is. So here is what I have to say to those people.

• Lennon and McCartney,
• Simon and Garfunkel,
• Stephen King and Peter Straub,
• Rodgers and Hammerstein,
• Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child,
• Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld,
• Gilbert and Sullivan,
• Woodward and Bernstein,
• Joel and Ethan Coen,
• Matt Stone and Trey Parker.

What’s great about working with co writers is that you got two talents. Collaboration is a good thing. I know we have this thing about the American- we go out and do everything ourselves.- And that’s okay. But collaboration is really good. Combining strength is really good.”

As you can guess, this week’s video lesson is about Co-authoring. I can bet that most everyone reading knows that James Patterson uses co-authors.

Which in my mind means he works well with others.

In this video, we hear from two of Mr. Patterson’s co-writers.  Well, I can hear it. If you want to, click the link (the one with James Patterson’s face on it)  at the top to the left and check out the classes.

You will hear what James Patterson looks for in a co-writer. One hint: They have to be able to write in the character’s voice. This is only common sense. If you are writing your own series, you will need to keep the voice consistent.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8xiXACZLM8[/embedyt]

When James Patterson is collaborating with his co-writers on his books, “he knows where he is going.  He knows what he wants.  And, he knows it  when he sees it.”

I am given a PDF with this weeks lesson. I can check out the video question and answer section. And, yes!  I can ask Mr. Patterson a question through this class.

When looking for a co- writer talk to them.  Make sure you are both on the same page.

Video Lesson 4 PLOT

“Story is about the thrills, and twists and turns, but more than anything else it’s about revealing character.” ~James Patterson

What I learned from Jim Patterson in lesson four.

1. Characters are revealed by their action
2. Try to write every chapter, as it was your first chapter in a book.
3. Set out to write a number one story thriller, with a number one story idea.
4. Don’t write a single chapter that doesn’t ‘t propel the story forward
5. Leave out all the parts readers are going to skim.
6. Tell my story, map out my story, in ten or fifteen minutes

James Patterson mentions E.M Forster and his famous description of a plot.

The king died and the queen died is a story

The king died and the queen died of grief, is a plot

What does this mean? What I see… When that Queen died from grief you can add the love story, the reason for her death. The cause of her death, from there you have the beginnings of a story. From there you add in the ‘why’ that Queen loved the King so much she died when he did. You will wonder how the King died. You get it?

James Patterson said to, “Find the conflict in your characters.”

He also used The Great Gatsby’s plot: Gatsby has everything anyone could dream of except love. Gatsby gets love. Gatsby loses love and loses everything. And that’s Gatsby.

The rest are all those questions, problems, and the reasons why Gatsby did what he did.

Listen carefully to lesson 4 video, do the assignment. Have a question ask it. Have a comment post it.  Watch that video as many times as you need to.

See you in class.

The writer finished James Patterson’s Masterclass.

The writer finished James Patterson’s Masterclass then wrote a mystery.