Annette Blair
Website: http://www.annetteblair.com/
Workshop(s):
Synopsis in a Snap
This is a unique tool for organizing your story into a synopsis that will serve as a selling tool and a point of reference as you write your book. With fill-in-the-blank handouts you can copy and use again, Annette will tell you what to put in, and what to leave out, as she leads you safely through the maze of details that editors need to know as they consider your work.
Story Mapping
Annette Blair's Story Mapping Workshop is a tool for creating story structure in a fill in the blanks format. For each story idea, a map of your story will unfold. Points covered include: Plotting, Story Development, Goal, Motivation & Conflict, Help for the Middle, Theme and Premise. Handouts are usable fill-in-the-blank story structure layouts.
Spice Up Your Romance Novel
Want to add more spice, sex and sass to your stories? Then this is the workshop for you. Sit down and loosen up while we explore the recipe for a luscious read which lies in choosing the right spices in the right amounts and combinations. Move your hero and heroine through the sexual arc of their unique story as they grow, resolve their conflicts, and fall in love. Handouts are usable fill-in-the-blank sheets.
Stuck in the Middle - A Life Raft of Solutions
The beginning is an easy quarter of the book set up the story. The end is an easy quarter of the book tie up the story. But in the middle is a mire of muck, a vast expanse of, well, mud, which is supposed to fill half the book and lead us to the perfect solution. Hello! This is not easy. Annette will lay out the necessary components for every story middle, then she'll offer a series of twists, sparks and complications, a preponderance of possibilities, to help bring your story to life. Fill-in-the-blanks handouts will be provided.
Painting Colorful Characters
Characters: Weep with them, laugh with them; know them better than you know yourself. Annette will present a variety of angles from which to build, view, know, love and hate characters, including how a writer, through characterization, draws emotion from a reader. Handouts will include fill-in-the blanks character charts.
Switching Gears Without Getting Caught in Their Teeth: a study in mindset, madness and methodology
How to write in more than one genre and stay sane. Switching gears is where methodology comes into play. Each genre is a body of methods and rules employed by a discipline. Methodology is a set of procedures or the analysis of the principles in a particular field. This workshop details switching mindset and putting discipline and analysis into practice.
Bio:
Annette Blair's award-winning paranormals owe their beginnings to a trip to Salem Massachusetts where she stumbled into the serendipitous role of Accidental Witch Writer. Magic or destiny, Annette's Bewitching Romantic Comedies became her first National Bestsellers. SEX AND THE PSYCHIC WITCH, first of her Triplet Witch Trilogy, is available now; GONE WITH THE WITCH, second in the series, will be released in May 2008. She is also penning a series of Bewitching Mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime, and she has just accepted an offer from Berkley to write a series called THE SUPERNATURAL EMPLOYMENT AGENCY. In 2009 four of Annette Blair's novels will be released.
Catherine Chant
Email: cchant @ catherinechant.com (without the spaces)
Website: http://www.catherinechant.com
Workshop(s):
Microsoft Word for Writers
This online workshop focuses on teaching you the aspects of
the Word program that are most useful for fiction writers, and
the subjects presented will help you streamline your on-screen
tasks so you can think more about your story and less about
what the computer is doing (or not doing). Included in this
workshop will be lectures on proper manuscript formatting, creating
headers/footers, working with page numbers, creating a pre-formatted
manuscript template that can be used on all your new book projects,
customizing the toolbars to meet your needs, understanding/customizing
the Auto-Correct feature, using the Work menu, and using Word
macros to help with tasks. Other subjects that will be covered
as time allows: formatting the query letter, creating a template
for the query, printing envelopes, printing labels for SASEs,
and backing up your computer files.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This workshop is designed for BOTH Macintosh
and PC users and has been tested on versions of Word from '97
to 2006. This workshop does NOT cover the new Microsoft Office
2007 for the Vista operating system or MSWord 2008 for Macintosh, which are a significant
change from previous versions of the software.
Bio:
Catherine Chant is an award-winning writer from New England.
She is a PRO member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA),
and a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
(SCBWI). A graduate of Boston College, she worked for fifteen
years at her alma mater as a computing & communications
consultant and now serves as the web manager for BC's Lynch
School of Education. Her short fiction and non-fiction work
has appeared in RWA newsletters, CharacterS, SchoolArts,
MetroKids, Twilight Times and Apollos Lyre. Her young adult time travel romance WISHING YOU WERE HERE was a finalist in the 2008 Golden Heart® awards. She is currently working a new young adult novel.
Karen Docter
Website: http://www.karendocter.com/
Workshop(s):
The "W" Plot...Or The Other White Meat for Plotters
The plot is integral to every novel, holds everything together.
It's the vehicle that carries readers from page one to "The
End". It's one of the scariest things an author faces when
s/he decides, hey, I want to write a novel! Join four-time Golden
Heart® finalist and Daphne du Maurier winner Karen Docter
as she shares the "W" plotting technique she's used
successfully for 12 years. Included is Karen's analysis of the
movie Romancing the Stone where she shows how the technique
works, discussing detailed plot points for the main characters
including the villain. Gather all of the tools you need to plot
your own story using the "W", as well as the critical
information you need to write the synopsis we all love to hate
all without writing one word of the novel. Whatever your genre,
pantser or plotter, this workshop is designed for the novice
and experienced novel writer.
Bio:
Karen Docter won the Category (Series) Romantic Mystery Suspense
unpublished division of the 2005 Daphne du Maurier Award. She's
a four-time Golden Heart® finalist and a charter member
of RWA® PRO and The Golden Network®. Also a member of
CRW, KOD & FTHRW chapters, she writes single title romantic
suspense. She holds a B.A. in Technical Journalism, and has
fostered literacy as a speaker at local Jr./High schools, tutored
composition and reading classes, and taught college level English.
She judges several writing contests each year, including RWA's®
Golden Heart® Contest.
Dara Edmondson
Website: http://DaraEdmondson.com
Workshop(s):
Characterization Basics
What brings characters to life and makes them step off the pages? Using a detailed worksheet I'll help you create real characters that readers will remember long after they put down your book.
E-Publishing
From current trends in the industry to what to expect in the future, this program will help you decide if E-Publishing is right for you. What does it take to get a contract? How to choose the right publisher, how much you can expect to earn? Includes list of resources and up-to-date info on active publishers.
Bio:
After years in the salon industry and the Real Estate field, I finally realized a lifelong dream of becoming a published author. I currently have four contemporary romance novels out (three with The Wild Rose Press) and many more short stories. I live in sunny Orlando with my husband, two teenagers and two spoiled cats.
Stephanie Arwen Lynch
Email: readings @ tarotbyarwen. com (without the spaces)
Website: http://www.tarotbyarwen.com/
Workshop(s):
Tarot For Writers
Let Arwen show you a new way to approach your writing. Hang
on to your manuscripts as she unleashes the power of Tarot for
you. In a typical two week online workshop, you will learn how
to utilize the Tarot for yourself on a personal level. Meet
your characters as you have never met them before. Learn about
their quirks and let your your journey throught the cards introduce
you to their own past. Writer's Block will never be a problem
again with the Tarot cards to give you insight.
Which Witch Is Which?
As a Wiccan HPS, Arwen offers insight into how to make your
magical characters more believable. What is the difference between
a Wiccan witch and a green witch? Can a Wiccan be a FamTrad?
Why is there a neo-Wiccan group vs a Wiccan group? Wiccan since
1985, Arwen will show you the small details that will make your
novel stand out as well-researched.
Bio:
Published author and professional Tarot reader, Arwen offers
workshops on how to utilize the Tarot for your writing. She
is an experienced online presenter as well as in-person presenter.
Terry Spear
Email: tspear @ flash .net (without the spaces)
Website: http://www.terryspear.com/
Workshop(s):
Happy Hookers! Engaging the Reader from Start to Finish
Slow starts and sleepy endings to scenes and chapters can ruin
a manuscript's chance of being published. Conversely, solid
hooks can make the sale - as workshop instructor Terry Spear
demonstrates, with six publishers currently hooked for six manuscripts.
Setting such practical matters aside, what author wouldn't be
thrilled to hear someone say, "I couldn't put the book
down"? Strong hooks are a vital ingredient in strong writing.
In this online class, which features lectures, discussion, practical
exercises, and handouts, she'll teach students how to captivate
readers with great openings, scene hooks, chapter cliff hangers,
and intriguing back cover blurbs. Participants will master the
hook in all its environments, from the query letter through
the novel.
What a Character!!! Jump from Cookie Cutter to Great
3-Dimensional Characters in Your Writing!
How many times have you heard how important it is to have 3-dimensional
characters? That the publisher wants character-driven stories,
not plot-driven? To show, not tell? But how easy is it to really
write characters that come alive on the page? Some writers have
a natural ability to concoct terrific characters who are full
of life. Then there are the rest of us who need some help. In
this workshop, Terry Spear will show the difference between
average characterizations and those that will get noticed! In
this online class, which features lectures, discussion, practical
exercises, and handouts, she'll teach students how to captivate
readers with engaging characters.
Structuring Your Manuscript for More Impact!
Have you just started your mss and you're at a loss already?
Have you finished the mss and need help structuring it so that
it has the kind of impact that will compel readers, agents,
and editors to keep reading?
Whether you're a plotter who sets up the whole mss from start
to finish, or a pantser who writes from the seat-of-the-pants,
from the writer who is just beginning, to the one who has finished
a mss and needs some help, this workshop is for you! We'll discuss
the major components of a mss-the Scene and Sequel, what makes
them work and how to make they better. I'll give examples and
work with you on how to improve your own mss. Afterward, you
should be able to identify what makes your story catch the reader's
interest and what needs to be reworked to do a better job.
Please join Terry Spear, the online presenter of Happy Hookers
and 3-D Characterizations, for a workshop on Structuring Your
Manuscript for More Impact!
Conflict! Conflict! Conflict! - How to Write Conflict in Every Scene!
From warriors fighting on the battlefield and storms that threaten mayhem, to the conflict in relationships from romance to just plain living around others--EVEN if the individual is shipwrecked alone on a desert island--conflict is all around us.
For fiction, it's essential to show conflict in every scene, to engage the reader throughout our tale. Even for nonfiction, conflict in the story makes for much more interesting reading.
So we will discuss internal/external conflict, conflict in dialogue, conflict in actions and reactions, conflict in settings, conflict between individuals, conflict in plot, and subplots, subtle and not so subtle conflicts, and much more.
Bio:
Terry Spear has published in many genres, including romantic
suspense, contemporary, paranormal, and under the name Terry
Lee Wilde, young adult paranormal and fantasy romances. She's
the author of Winning The Highlander's Heart (Vintage),
The Vampire...In My Dreams, Deadly Liaisons (Samhain),
Heart of the Wolf, April, 2008, Don't Cry Wolf,
April 2009, (Sourcebooks), Relative Danger (Wild Rose
Press). She also writes nonfiction for numerous genealogy, WWII,
teen, and family magazines, and has had romantic fiction published
in magazines. Currently, she's working on her latest werewolf
adult novel, Betrayal of the Wolf. Visit her website:
www.terryspear.com
Maria Markham Thompson, CPA, CFA
Website: http://www.writercpa.com/
Workshop(s):
Tax Basics for Writers
A review of how income, expenses, and taxes are handled for writers who are employed and who are freelancers. The length and depth can be adjusted based on the preferences and needs of the audience.
Retirement Planning Options for Writers
An overview of how to estimate retirement income needs and tax-deferred options for saving for the long haul including employer-sponsored and individual retirement options for the self-employed.
Bio:
I'm a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Maryland and hold the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst. For the last 25 years I have worked as an analyst and executive in financial services. My firm specializes in serving the needs of writers and artists.
Barb Webb
Email: BarbWebb13 @ yahoo. com (without the spaces)
Website: http://www.BarbWebb.com
Workshop(s):
Romancing Non-Fiction: Put Passion into your Proposal
Every writer has an idea, do you know how to sell yours?
Make your editor beg. Get from first base to "I do"
by courting publishers with a seductive non-fiction query and
proposal.
Barb will show you how in this two week, hands-on workshop!
Topics include: Uncovering your ideas, identifying markets
and preferred publishers, building the ideal query letter, designing
a proposal to elicit the coveted "yes!", what to do
while you are waiting for an answer, and how to avoid potential
pitfalls.
Bio:
A prolific author, Barb has written over 200 curriculum manuals
along with numerous mainstream published works including novels,
how-to guides, novellas, anthologies, articles, and poems. Her
most recent work includes The Mom's Guide to Earning and
Saving Thousands on the Internet (McGraw Hill, ISBN 0071457763).
Barb's prime motivation is the desire to help other women succeed.
Whether financially, emotionally, or via a realm of fantasy,
she strives to be a voice of empowerment.
In recognition of her writing and work with the community,
she is the recipient of the Professional Association of Computer
Training (PACT) First Place Award of Excellence, the 1999 Minnesota
Children and Family Services Volunteer of the Year Award, and
the 2005 Scarlet Boa Award.
Barb is also the owner of MOMdotCOM.net,
President of the From The Heart Romance Writers RWA Chapter
177, and a ClubMom Expert. This savvy mom and multi-talented
writer currently resides in Kentucky with her husband and three
children.
Tawny Weber
Email: Tawny @ Tawnyweber.com (without the spaces)
Website: http://www.TawnyWeber.com
Workshop(s):
The Care and Feeding of the Critique Partner
How to start, nurture and maintain this unique partnership on
your way to publishing success.
Goal-From Dreams to Reality
This workshop covers goal setting, and tools to get past the
New Years Resolution stage and really bring goals into reality.
Bio:
Tawny is a 3-time Golden Heart finalist who writes for Harlequin
Blaze.
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