04/10/10 - Workshop - Goal, Motivation and Conflict with Debra Dixon

Debra Dixon's much-raved-about workshop on Goal, Motivation, and Conflict.

The workshop is sponsored by the Dallas Area Romance Authors and will be held from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm on Saturday, April 10th.

The DARA/NTRWA/Yellow Rose member rate is only $45 if paid by March 15th, $55 thereafter. The fee for the general public is $55 if paid by March 15th, $65 thereafter. Registration ends March 31st. A very limited number of spots may be available at the door for $75. Please contact Program@dallasromanceauthors.com to see if last-minute space is available. Lunch is included in the registration fee. Payments will be accepted by cash, check, or PayPal.

You can also reserve a copy of Debra Dixon's book "GMC: Goal, Motivation, and Conflict" by emailing the DARA Program Director at Program@dallasromanceauthors.com
The price for the book is $20, payable directly to Ms. Dixon by cash or check at the workshop.

For details and to access the online registration form for the workshop, see the "Conference Info" page at http://www.dallasromanceauthors.com/

Questions? Email
Program@dallasromanceauthors.com

__._,_.___

04/17/10 - Workshop - Novelists Boot Camp, 101 Ways to Take Your Book From Boring to Bestseller with Todd Stone

In celebration of our chapter's 20th anniversary, the Western New York Romance Writers in Buffalo New York would like to announce a day-long workshop given by award winning author and screenwriter Todd Stone, "Novelists Boot Camp, 101 Ways to Take Your Book From Boring to Bestseller."

Date: April 17
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: The Ramada Inn and Conference Center, Amherst, N.Y.
Price: $95, includes continental breakfast, lunch and two breaks

Please visit http://www.wnyrw.org/ for details.

02/01/10 - 02/28/10 - Online Workshop - Writing Evocative Fiction with Anne Schroeder

Mid-Willamette Valley RWA Presents:

Our February 2010 4-week online class:
Writing Evocative Fiction
Taught by Anne Schroeder

Description: Our stories suffer from emotional flatness when we
merely describe what our character is "feeling." We will study how
basic emotions are expressed (and hidden) as we move our story
forward. We will learn to probe our character's motivation in ways
that reveal her deepest emotional yearnings. A fun, interactive way
to deepen emotional writing which is the hallmark of women's writing.

Cost is $20 for MWV RWA members and $25 for non-members.

See http://www.midwillamettevalleyrwa.com/online.classes.htm
for details

03/20/10 - Workshop featuring Harley Jane Kozak

SARA hosts a One-Day Writer's Workshop featuring Harley Jane Kozak

San Antonio Romance Authors is hosting a one-day Writer's Workshop featuring Guest Speaker:

Best Selling Mystery Writer and Actress Harley Jane Kozak,
who will present:

"Everything I Needed to Know About the Writing Life
I Learned in Hollywood."

The workshop will take place Saturday, March 20th, 2010
8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
At the San Antonio Airport Hilton Hotel
611 NW Loop 410
San Antonio, TX 78216
(210) 340-6060

Register and get further information at www.sararwa.net

.

02/01/10 - 02/18/10 -Online Workshop - How to Grow a Story Spine with Sylvie Kurtz

NEORWA FEBRUARY 2010 ONLINE WORKSHOP

DISCOVER HOW TO GROW A STORY SPINE

INSTRUCTOR: Sylvie Kurtz

WHEN: February 1 to February 18 (6 lessons posted over 2 weeks)

COST: $15 NEORWA members/$20 for all others. www.neorwa.com for
registration information or contact Cathy Matuszak and Alaina Silvestrini at
neorwaonline@... <neorwaonline%40gmail.com>.

WORKSHOP:
The story arc and the seven story spines I'm going to share with you are a
distillation of what I've learned about story structure over my career and
how using those basic elements helped me create deeper, more emotional
stories. I'll take you through the basic story arc and discuss why readers
expect it, then walk you through each of the seven story spines--the set-up,
the meet, the first complication, the mid-point, the swivel, the dark moment
and the joyful resolution--giving examples along the way.

1. Introduction
2. The Basics
3. Going Deeper
4. Characters
5. The Set-Up
6. The Meet
7. The First Complication
8. The Mid-Point
9. The Swivel Decision
10. The Dark Moment
11. The Joyful Resolution
12. Wrap-Up

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Flying an eight hour solo cross-country in a Piper Arrow with only the
airplane's crackling radio and a large bag of M & Ms for company, Sylvie
Kurtz realized a pilot's life wasn't for her. The stories zooming in and out
of her head proved more entertaining than the flight itself. Not a quitter,
she finished her pilot's course, earning her commercial license and
instrument rating.

Since then, she's traded in her pilot's license for a keyboard, where she
lets her imagination soar to create fictional adventures that explore the
power of love and the thrill of suspense.

Her first Harlequin Intrigue, One Texas Night, was a 1999 Romantic Times
nominee for Best First Category Romance and a finalist for a Booksellers
Best Award. Her Silhouette Special Edition, A Little Christmas Magic was a
2001 Readers' Choice Award Finalist and a Waldenbooks bestseller.
Remembering Red Thunder was a 2002 Romantic Times Nominee for Best Intrigue.
She was a 2005 and 2007 Romantic Times nominee for Lifetime Achievement for Series Romantic Adventure. Ms. Longshot has been optioned by Twin Star
Entertainment as a possible TV movie. She has written twenty novels. To
learn more about Sylvie visit her website at http://www.sylviekurtz.com

03/01/10 - 03/31/10 - Online Workshop - May The Force Be With You with Kerri Nelson

Yellow Rose Romance Writers is pleased to announce our March 2010 workshop!
All workshops are $15 for Yellow Rose members and $25 for non-Yellow Rose
members.

Starting March 1, 2010, Kerri Nelson will present May The Force Be With You
(Adding Realistic Law Enforcement & Legal System Elements Into Your Novel).
This is a 4-week course. To register, go to
http://www.yellowroserwa.com/workshops.php
and fill in the form. We accept PayPal and check/money order. Registration deadline is February 28, 2010.

May The Force Be With You (Adding Realistic Law Enforcement & Legal System
Elements Into Your Novel)

March 1-31 (4 weeks)

Course Description:

Who doesn't love a hot cop hero? Want to make his cop talk and attitude
sound authentic? What about evidence collection or a courtroom scene? Need a little legal know how to make your book more exciting or suspenseful?

Kerri will use her experience and education in the legal field to show you how to sound like an expert when you add the legal system or law enforcement characters into your own novel.

Learn "cop talk", criminal evidence procedures, anatomy of a lawsuit, and
more!

BIO:
Kerri Nelson has always been passionate about reading books but when she
wrote her first poem in the second grade, she discovered her love of
writing. At the age of sixteen, she became a columnist for her local
newspaper as the high school correspondent for the weekly "Panther Tales"
column. She won the Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year Award for her
efforts. After an education and career in the legal field, Kerri began to
pen romantic suspense novels with a legal or law enforcement theme. She is a
true southern belle and comes complete with her dashing southern gentleman
husband and two little belles-in-training. When she's not reading or
writing, you'll find her baking homemade goodies for her family, feeding her
addiction to blogging online or designing custom made book trailers. Kerri
is an active member of Romance Writers of America as well as numerous
Chapters including Southern Magic, Futuristic Fantasy & Paranormal, Hearts
Through History, and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers.

Visit Kerri's website at: http://www.kerrinelson.com/
..

02/01/10 - 02/13/10 - Online Workshop - Contest Judging and Critiquing 101 with Teresa Bodwell

Contest Judging and Critiquing 101 Presented by Teresa Bodwell

February 1 -February 13*

The Passionate Ink Chapter of RWA has a limited number of spaces available
for this workshop. Registrations will be accepted until they are filled or
11:59pm Feb 1st, which ever comes first. Cost is $10 via PayPal only.

*Description:*

Your experience as a writer and reader of the genre gives you the special
insights needed to form an opinion about the fiction you read. As a contest
judge, your job is to turn your subjective opinion into valuable feedback
and a fair score. This workshop will provide you with guidelines to
accomplish your judging duties (without pulling your hair out). Follow these
steps to become a better judge, help your fellow writers and (bonus) improve
your own writing as well.

1. Read carefully and thoughtfully.

2. Provide comments that are positive, constructive, specific and honest.

3. Avoid editing—be flexible and open to new voices.

4. Understand when to put aside your own tastes and preferences.

5. Understand score sheet terminology.

The class will examine these topics and more.

*The instructor:*

After serving in the U.S. Army, where she helped make the world safe for
John Phillip Sousa music, Teresa Bodwell received her B.A. from UCLA and
J.D. from The University of Oregon School of Law. In over two decades as an
attorney, she learned that happy endings are not always possible. She finds
writing love stories adds balance to her life. Teresa is a firm believer in
the value of writing contests, having sold her first novel after it won two
chapter contests. Her most recent release is a novella in the Kensington
anthology, *My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys*, released in paperback this
month. Visit her website at: www.tbodwell.com

*To Pay Online :*

Using PayPal (http://www.paypal.com), send payment to
workshops@passionateink.org with "WORKSHOP –Contest Judging" as the subject.
In the "message" section, include Your Name and Email Address.

Cost: $10

No checks accepted for this workshop.

Questions? write to workshopchair@passionateink.org

02/15/10 - 03/13/10 - Online Workshop - Fast Draft and Revision Hell with Candace Havens

Hi everyone! Check out the exciting online classes offered by the Orange County Chapter of RWA!

"Fast Draft and Revision Hell" with Candace Havens
February 15 – March 13, 2010
Enrollment Information at http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclassFeb10.html
COST: $20 for OCC members, $30 for non-members

ABOUT THE CLASS:

Fast Draft: It's easy to come up with excuses why you can't finish your manuscript. You're busy, life is crazy, there is always something. The truth is there are no real excuses. If you want to sell a book, you have to finish. There's no time like the present. Author Candace Havens has developed a
step-by-step process to help you finish your work in progress in just two weeks. At the end of the two weeks, you'll have your first draft.

Revision Hell: It can be daunting going back in and editing, tightening and cleaning up your manuscript. That's why author Candace Havens developed a system to help get through that process step-by-step. In two weeks you'll have a polished manuscript that is ready to sell.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Candace "Candy" Havens is a bestselling and award-winning author. Her novels include "Charmed & Dangerous", "Charmed & Ready", "Charmed & Deadly", "Like A Charm" and "The Demon King and I". She is known for writing strong female characters, who save the world, but aren't exactly perfect. She is a two-time RITA, Write Touch Reader and Holt Medallion finalist. She is also the winner of the Barbara Wilson award, and the 2009 Pro Mentor of the Year.
Candy is a nationally syndicated entertainment columnist for FYI Television. A veteran journalist she has interviewed just about everyone in Hollywood from George Clooney and Orlando Bloom to Nicole Kidman and Kate Beckinsale. You can hear Candy weekly on 96.3 KSCS in the Dallas Fort Worth Area.
Her popular online Writer's Workshop has more than 1300 students and provides free classes to professional and aspiring writers.

Enrollment Information at http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclassFeb10.html
COST: $20 for OCC members, $30 for non-members

03/13/10 - 03/31/10 - Online Workshop - Pitch Perfect with Kerri Nelson

Let's get those pitches perfect now to reel in those editors and agents! To
help, Southern Tier Authors of Romance is scheduling a special On-line
Workshop in March -- Pitch Perfect with Kerri Nelson. Check it out below.

DATES:

March 13 - 31, 2010 -- On-Line Workshop: Pitch Perfect is being offered by
Kerri Nelson through the Southern Tier Authors of Romance (STAR – NY).
Registration deadline is March 10, 2010.

THE CLASS:

Want to practice your pitch for an upcoming pitch session to an agent or
editor? Need help refining your pitch to include in a query letter? Well,
practice makes perfect! And Kerri offers up the secrets to nailing your
pitch, how to score a home run with editors and agents, and how not to stop
short of getting the results you want.

THE INSTRUCTOR:

Kerri Nelson has pitched more than thirty different books in every
imaginable genre over the last five years. From Erotic to YA, to multiple
agents and editors, Kerri has had a tremendous success rate for follow-up
requests for both partial and full manuscripts. She has sold eight of those
books to four different publishers in just one year after perfecting her
pitch process! AT age 16, she became a columnist for her local newspaper as
the high school correspondent for the weekly "Panther Tales" column.. She
won the Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year Award for her efforts.
www.kerrinelson.com;
http://www.kerribookwriter.blogspot.com

THE COST: Still only$20 for RWA members, and $25 for non-members.

TO REGISTER: To register, send a check or Money Order in U.S. Dollars, made
out to STAR On-Line Workshop, and mail to: STAR On-line Workshop
Coordinator, PO Box 6, Willseyville, NY 13864. Alternatively, if you have a
PayPal account, you can pay by going to http://www.PayPal.com. Select the "send money" button, enter the amount
due, and STAR's email address for payment: starpay@gmail.com. Then send
your registration information (name, address, phone number, email address,
RWA#) to Carol at: carolhenry@frontiernet.net

NEED MORE INFORMATION about STAR's other On-line Workshop(s): Contact
Carol at carolhenry@frontiernet.net .

The Southern Tier Authors of Romance (STAR) a chapter of RWA® is thrilled to
be able to offer workshops from highly-respected, successful authors willing
to share their time and skills with other writers. Workshops usually last
four (4) weeks, consist of a mix of lectures, exercises and discussions, and
are conducted via a private Yahoo Groups listserv.

All writers are welcome. If you know how to send e-mail, then you've
mastered all of the technical skills you need to participate in our
workshops. You will be automatically enrolled in the workshop's listserv
just before the class beings. All of the messages posted by the instructor
and other students will be delivered directly to your inbox, although you
may also view them from the Yahoo website.

02/01/10 - 02/28/10 - Online Class - You CAN Write a Synopsis with Camy Tang

The Black Diamond Chapter of RWA Presents

***February 2010 Class***

You CAN Write a Synopsis! by Camy Tang

Class takes place February 1-28, 2010

$25 BDRWA members/$30 non-members

Whether you've got a complete manuscript or you've just started one,
this class will help you write a complete synopsis for your story. I
will take you step by step so that by the end of the class you will
have written a one-page synopsis, a 4-6 page synopsis, and also a more
organic "character" synopsis.

I will give you tips and tricks to ensure you h ave all the structural
and character elements an editor is looking for: Inciting Incident,
external goal, internal conflict, romantic conflict, major obstacles,
epiphany, climax, and resolution. Never fear synopsis writing
again--this class will make you synopsis savvy!

Bio:

Camy Tang writes romance with a kick of wasabi. She has published a humorous contemporary romance series called the Sushi series, a romantic suspense titled Deadly Intent with Love Inspired Suspense, and this year she'll release a new h umorous contemporary romance in May. Originally from Hawaii, she worked as a biologist for 9 years, but now she is a staff worker for her San Jose church youth group and leads a worship team for Sunday service. She also runs the Story Sensei fiction critique service, which specializes in book doctoring. On her blog, she gives away Christian novels and ponders frivolous things. Visit her website at http://www.camytang.com/ and sign up for her newsletter YahooGroup for monthly giveways!

FMI: email mrsgodiva@comcast.net or go to our website: www.bdrwa.com check out online classes

02/01/10 - Online Workshop - Deep POV: Myths, Methods and Madness with Alicia Rasley

RWA's Mystery/Suspense Chapter is pleased to announce our COFFIN College of
Felony and Intrigue MURDER ONE online Workshop for the month of

Title: Deep POV: Myths, Methods, and Madness

Instructor: Alicia Rasley

Class Description: Deep POV is not for every author or every story, but when you get it right, it's a very contemporary way of connecting your readers closely to your characters.

But Alicia Rasley (author of the Writer's Digest book, The Power of Point of View) cautions that Deep POV isn't about character names or stream-of-conscious mental texting, but about getting into your character and presenting the totality of the experience so that the reader can participate.?
In this interactive workshop, Rasley will discuss the myths of Deep POV, the methods of getting into character and presenting the story, and the madness you might need to experience to truly get into someone else's mind and body.
If you are challenging yourself to create a more interactive story experience and a more character-intensive voice, this is the class for you.

Instructor Bio: Alicia Rasley is a nationally known workshop leader and the author of The Story Within Plotting Guide and The Power of Point of View.? She teaches at two state colleges and online. Her free writing articles are archived at www.rasley.com.

MURDER ONE workshops encompass the technical aspects of murder and mayhem.

**PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE 27TH day of the month PRIOR to the start of
the COFFIN class. Cost of each workshop is (Currently) $15.00 US for KOD
Members, $30.00 US for non-KOD Members (RWA membership NOT required to take the
course).

For more information check out our website at http://www.rwamysterysuspense.org/

02/01/10 - Online Workshop - You Stab 'Em, We Slab 'Em with John Foxjohn

RWA's Mystery/Suspense Chapter is pleased to announce our COFFIN College of Felony and Intrigue MURDER ONE online Workshop for the month of February 2010.

WORKSHOP: You Stab 'Em, We Slab 'Em

CLASS DESCRIPTION:

INSTRUCTOR: John Foxjohn

Best-selling author John Foxjohn epitomizes the phrase "been there, done that."
Whether consciously or unconsciously, maybe one of the first authors he followed contributed to this.

Many years ago, John became afflicted with a disease he calls "readaholism."
His addiction to reading led him to Louis L'Amour, and even today, he continues to reread books by this author.
Louis L'Amour had a diverse background before he began to write and John followed that path, born and raised in the rural East Texas town of Nacogdoches, he quit high school and joined the Army at seventeen. Viet Nam veteran, Army Airborne Ranger, policeman and homicide detective, retired teacher and coach, and now he is a multi-published author.

Although John writes an entirely different genre than Louis L'Amour, he followed the author's path by using his diverse background and meticulous research. Although John's novels are fictional, many readers believe they are true stories.

Like his favorite author, John creates characters that readers love and root for, not cardboard cutouts. John says, "Normal people have faults and strengths, they make mistakes and need to overcome them and other obstacles thrown in their path. People judge others by how they handle adversity.
That's how I attempt to create characters." If you have read John's novels, you know that he is successful. John hasn't yet reached the huge success of Louis L'Amour, but I wouldn't bet against him.

John is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, Elements of Romance, Kiss of Death, Lethal Ladies, Sisters-in-Crime, East Texas Writers Guild, League of Texas Writers, and more online writing groups than he can count. He is a full time writer and speaker and lives in Lufkin, Texas but travels extensively across the U.S.

MURDER ONE workshops encompass the technical aspects of murder and mayhem.

**PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE 27TH day of the month PRIOR to the start
of the COFFIN class. Cost of each workshop is (Currently) $15.00 US for KOD
Members, $30.00 US for non-KOD Members (RWA membership NOT required to take
the course).

For more information check out our website at
http://www.rwamysterysuspense.org

02/01/10 - 02/05/10 - Online Workshop - Power Promotion with Robie Madison

Title : Power Promotion
Date : February 1, 2010 - February 5, 2010
Presenter: Robie Madison

Cost: $15 for Passionate Ink Members; $20 for Non-members

When you know everything there is to know about your story, it's hard to stay focused on the big picture.

This intense, hands-on 5 day workshop teaches you how to convert your creative concept into bite size promotional chunks that will allow you to effectively market your manuscript.

Learn: 4 pre-writing exercises to presenting character
3 pre-writing exercises to synthesizing your plot and
2 key issues that help you identify the unique features of your story.

Award winning author Robie Madison holds an honors specialist degree in Classical Civilization and English and a Master of Education. She's taught numerous courses at college, overseas and more recently online courses on writing. One of Robie's greatest passions is traveling. In addition to their home base, she and her family have also lived in South East Asia and South Africa. Visit her at http://www.robiemadison.com/

http://www.passionateink.org/workshops/

02/15/10 - 02/20/10 - Online Workshop - The Art of a 3-Line Pitch with Cindy Carroll

Title : The Art of a 3-Line Pitch
Date : February 15, 2010 - February 20, 2010
Presenter: Cindy Carroll

Cost: Free for Passionate Ink Members; $5 for Non-members

PI Members send an email to workshopcahir@passionateink.org
(http://passionateink.org/) with FREE WORKSHOP -3 Line PItch as the
subject. Include your FULL name and email address.

What's your three line pitch?

If someone asks you need to be able to tell them what your story is about.

For queries or agent/editor appointments the three line pitch works well to
get your story across. This workshop will help you hone your three line
pitch so you can grab the interest of readers, editors and agents.

Topics covered:
What is a three line pitch? – what it is and what it isn't

Parts of the pitch (assignment) – what it should include

Staying on track – how using a three line pitch can keep you on track

Feedback provided for student assignments

Cindy Carroll joined RWA in 1992 and started out writing novels but turned to scripts when an idea for one of her favorite television shows wouldn't leave her alone. That first attempt, and her second teleplay for the same show, garnered her honorable mention in the Writer's Digest 76th Annual Writing Competition in the screenplay category. She graduated from Hal Croasmun's screenwriting ProSeries intensive in June of 2008. Her interview with David Rambo, writer/producer for CSI appeared in the summer special edition of The Rewrit, the newsletter for Scriptscene, Romance Writers of America's screenwriting chapter. Currently working on the rewrite of her second feature, Cindy is also developing two new television pilots. Visit her at: http://www.cindycarroll.com/

http://www.passionateink.org/workshops/

02/06/10 - Workshop - Getting Into Character with Toni Andrews

Southwest Florida Romance Writers all-day conference GETTING INTO CHARACTER with author and book doctor Toni Andrews is quickly approaching. On February 6 from 9 am to 4 pm Toni will facilitate this exciting day, held at the Student Union of Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida.

For more details visit our web site at www.swfrw.org

02/01/10 - 02/14/10 - Online Workshop - Traveling to Wales - Dragons, Castles, and Books with Jo Ann Ferguson

Traveling to Wales - Dragons, Castles, and Books

* Presented by our resident globetrotter Jo Ann Ferguson
* Class Dates: February 1st thru February 14th, 2010
* Fee: $15 for Non-Members & $10 for Members
* http://www.thebeaumonde.com/academe/

Wales proudly claims to have more castles per square mile than any other country. Those castles range from the Stone Age to the Victorian era...and some of them are connected with the legends surrounding Merlin. Did someone mention dragons? How about music? The industrial revolution? Medieval resistance armies? A prince who sailed to North America before Columbus? The first and best book town?

Find out about Wales, a charming land with ancient traditions, surrounded on three sides by the sea. In the many small towns, a traveler can visit buildings that weren't "victorianized", losing what our Regency characters would have encountered. Whether you write Regencies or medievals, Wales offers beautiful settings and fascinating settings. And did I mention that book town???

Award-winning author Jo Ann Ferguson has a split writing personality. Jo Ann Ferguson launched the new Regency line at ImaJinn (where her next traditional Regency will Gentleman's Master, the next book in her popular Regency mysteries) as well as being the author of best-selling historicals.
J.A. Ferguson writes paranormals for ImaJinn (her next book is Dreamseeker).
Jocelyn Kelley's most recent book is Sea Wraith, released in November 2009. Jo Ann Brown novelized Thomas Kinkade's The Christmas Cottage, a movie starring Peter O'Toole, and now also writes for Guideposts Books (her first title in the Patchwork Mysteries series, Time to Share, will be released Fall 2010). Her 80+ titles are also published by Tudor, Ballantine, Zebra, Harper, Warner, and Thorndike. The books have been translated into almost a dozen languages and sold on every continent except Antarctica.

02/01/10 and 02/04/10 - Online Workshop - Writing, Selling and Conflict with Bob Mayer

Dunes & Dreams RWA Chapter 215 (from Eastern Long Island) present their February 2010 Online Workshop.
http://www.dunesanddreams.org/writing-workshops

Cost: $10 D&D members, $20 all others. Payable in US funds only.

February 1 AND February 4: The Original Idea—The Core of Writing and Selling Your Book and Conflict-The Fuel of Your Story with Bob Mayer

Blurb: Can you say what your book is about in 25 words of less? This is essential to both writing a tight book and then selling it. We'll discuss ways to find and state your original idea so that you stay on course while writing the book and with which you can excite those you tell it to when trying to sell it. After the formal presentation, participants will get the opportunity to present their idea down and have it discussed.

We'll find out what you really meant to write and the level of interest it generates. All will profit, not just the person whose idea is discussed, as this workshop will show you how to focus your creative energies.

Conflict drives your story. Not only must conflict escalate throughout the entire novel, every single scene must have conflict in it. The Conflict Box is an effective technique for focusing your story on the protagonist, antagonist, their goals and finding out if you have the necessary conflict lock.

This is a two-day workshop.

Bio: NY Times bestselling author Bob Mayer has 40 books published. He has over three million books in print and is in demand as a Team-building, Life-change, and Leadership speaker and consultant for his Who Dares Wins: The Green Beret Way concept which he translates into Warrior Writer: a holistic program teaching writers how to be authors.

_________
DATE: February 1 AND February 4
Registration deadline is January 29th.
http://dunesanddreams.org/writing-workshops/2-2010-workshop/

PLACE: Dunes & Dreams RWA Forum
Registrants will receive a login password to the workshop forum by January
30th to allow ample time to become familiar with the forum.

COST: $10 Dunes & Dreams RWA Members/ $20 all others (US funds only – paypal
or checks)

If you pay for a workshop and do not receive a confirmation email and a
login by January 31st, please contact our workshop coordinators at
Workshops.ddrwa@gmail.com

CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY: No registration fees will be refunded. All
payments for a workshop must be received by the registration cut off date.
Payments received after the cut-off date can be applied to a future workshop
of the Applicant's' choosing.

If a workshop is canceled due to unforeseen circumstances, such as
instructor inability to teach class, registration fees will be applied to a
future workshop of the applicant's choosing.

Registration form and more information:
Http://www.dunesanddreams.org/writing-workshops

02/01/10 - 02/28/10 - Online Workshop - Developing the Perfect Pitch and the Winning Synopsis through Narrative Structure with Jennifer Talty

February 2010 Online Workshop

Developing the Perfect Pitch and the Winning Synopsis through Narrative
Structure
Instructor: Jennifer Talty
When: February 1-28, 2010
Cost: $20 for HCRW and CRW Members, $25 for All Others

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
The key to writing the great book is understanding the craft of writing. The key to getting the attention of an agent or editor is through your ability to take a 100k novel that took you close to a year to write and break it down into a 1 to 2 page synopsis. Even harder is to reduce the novel into a
few sentences so that it conveys the essence of your story. This is no easy task for a writer.

This course will go over how to extract the KEY, ESSENTIAL, ELEMENTS of your story using Narrative Structure as the basis for your synopsis. I will offer lectures, as well as hands on time with your current work-in-progress so that you can see exactly how this method works. Then, once we have a bare bones outline, we will use that to draw out a pitch (which will also be the opening of your query letter) that is no longer than 3 to 5 sentences. The key is to first find your inciting incident, your major turning points, the dark moment, climactic scene, and resolution and only those elements of your story (this is your synopsis). Then, by examining these essential elements,
we will pull our protagonist, antagonist, (goals and motivation) the main conflict and plot, and the key hook we will develop the perfect pitch.

INSTRUCTOR BIO
Jenni received a BS degree in Business Education with a concentration in Marketing and Sales. She spent a few years teaching at the HS level and then at a local Community College. From there she worked for various companies as sales and product trainer. Her passion has always been a good story told in any form. She has two short stories and four full-length novels published with The Wild Rose Press. She teaches writing course at various conferences as well as Writers and Books of Rochester, NY.
Jenni takes her unique background in business and matches it to her years in theatre and brings it to her writing and teaching.

All payments for a workshop must be received by the registration deadline.
Late payments can be applied to a future HCRW workshop of your choosing.
Workshops require a minimum of 10 students.
Cancellations and Refunds:
No registration fees will be refunded.
If less than 10 students are registered by the registration deadline, then the workshop will be cancelled and you will be notified by email.
Your registration fee can be applied to a future HCRW workshop of your
choosing.

www.heartofcarolina.org

02/01/10 - 02/26/10 - Online Workshop - Passion, Heat & Ecstasy: Writing The Erotic Romance with Carolina Valdez and Lyndi Lamont

Yosemite Romance Writers is proud to present their online workshop for
January 2010.

Date: 02/01/2010 – 02/26/2010

Workshop title: PASSION, HEAT & ECSTASY: WRITING THE EROTIC ROMANCE

PASSION, HEAT & ECSTASY: WRITING THE EROTIC ROMANCE

Instructor: Carolina Valdez & Lyndi Lamont

Registration deadline: 1/31/10

Erotic romance! How do you capture the heat and passion of it? How do you build sensual tension between your main characters that explodes in sexual ecstasy? Join us for tips on this, including writing for readers of BDSM and GLBT stories, and learn what markets are open to submissions of erotic romance.

Carolina Valdez :

Carolina Valdez was multi-published and an award-winning freelance writer prior to selling her first romance to an electronic publisher. For fun, six years ago she dared herself to enter Amber Quill Press's contest for erotic short stories. Dark Stranger was a winner, and she's been happily writing for their Heat and Allure imprints ever since. She's had novellas place in The Lories, and her first gay romance.

Tie 'Em Up, Hold 'Em Down, finaled in the Passionate Plume 2009 Contest–Novella Division. Smoldering Embers, her latest paperback release, is a collection of her Passionate Plume finalist, its sequel, Hangin' With My Window Man, and Hole in One, a stand-alone.

Lure, her erotic heterosexual crime novella, was a 2007 EPPIE finalist. So far, all of her gay stories have hit Amber Quill Press's Top Ten Best Seller lists.

Lyndi Lamont:

Lyndi Lamont, aka Linda McLaughlin, sold her first romance novel in 1997 to Kensington Precious Gems. Since then she has written historical and Regency romance for Amber Quill Press and erotic romance, including male/male, for the erotic imprints of AQP.
When Linda started thinking about trying her hand at erotic romance, she talked to a friend who said writing it was freeing, and she was right. Since becoming Lyndi Lamont, she has discovered that writing erotic romance is a license to be naughty, and at her age, those opportunities don't come along very often!

FINDING JASON, her gay Regency short story, was a finalist in the 2008 EPPIES contest in the GLBT category .

Deadline to register: 01/31/2010

Fee: $20 YWR members; $25 non-members. RWA Membership isn't required;
Anyone can take our courses.

Where to sign up: You may register online at our website,
www.yosemiteromancewriters.com .

Please click the Pay Now button and follow the instructions for Paypal. You will receive a confirmation from us once your payment is received.

If you prefer to pay by check please mail to:

Yosemite Romance Writers

4294 W. Dakota Ave.

Fresno, CA 93722

You may also contact YRW at YosemiteRomanceWriters@yahoo.com if you have any
questions.

02/05/10 - 02/26/10 - Online Workshop - Fishing In: Hooks that Grab the Reader with Kristing Hardy

Does your MS/WIP lack the oomph at the beginning and end of your chapter?
Need help with that killer hook to keep your readers from putting the book down? Join Kristin Hardy as she explains why hooks are so important and how you can create them!

February 2010 — Fishing In: Hooks that Grab the Reader
Presented by Kristin Hardy
Dates: February 5-26
Deadline: February 2
FMI: http://lowcountryrwa.com/online-workshops/#FEB

Course Description:

They're used in hit songs.
They're used in movies.
They're used in television.
They're even used to catch fish.

Hooks. Whether you're talking about CD buyers, movie fans, romance readers or, yes, editors, the hook seals the deal. It gives the audience that one irresistible lure to make them want more. In the romance market, we hear a lot of talk about "classic hooks," with the assumption that everybody knows what they are.

What are these mythical hooks?
How do you use them,
Why do you need them and
What can they do to help you write books that sell?
And how do you spin them to be uniquely your own?

Instructor Bio:
Kristin Hardy is a fourteen year veteran of journalism. She's well versed in determining the correct source for a story and contacting them by e-mail/phone to get the accurate, detailed answers to her questions. To research her novels, Kristin has done a ride-along with a San Diego fire company, spent a day with a microbrewery brew master, toured the conservation laboratory of a major fine arts museum, watched maple sugar being made, interviewed everyone from U.S. Department of Agriculture officials to a World Cup ski champion.

A two-time RITA nominee, Kristin currently writes for Harlequin Blaze and Silhouette Special Edition. Her first novel, My Sexiest Mistake, won a National Readers' Choice Award and was subsequently made into a movie by the Oxygen Network. She has won an RT Bookclub career achievement award for series romance, as well as an award for Best Special Edition of 2006. Her
nineteenth book, Her Christmas Surprise, hit the shelves December 2007.

Read more about Kristin at her website: http://www.kristinhardy.com/

You can register for the following on-line class through February 2. Each class is $16.
FMI: www.lowcountryrwa.com/online-workshops/

Or email Online Workshop Coordinator, Veronica Alderson, lrwaonline@...
using the Subject line: LRWA ONLINE WORKSHOP. To subscribe to LRWA Online
Workshop monthly mailing list, LRWAonlinecourses@yahoogroups.com

02/05/10 - 02/26/10 - Online Workshop - Goal, Motivation, Conflict and Disaster with Misa Ramirez

Does your WIP/MS lack something? Not sure what it is? Are your characters conflicts easily solved? Maybe it's not the plot but Goal, Motivation, Conflict and Disaster. Join Misa Ramirez as she presents her techniques to understand why we must have these fundamental tools under our belt!

February 2010 — Goal, Motivation, Conflict and Disaster
Presented by Misa Ramirez
Dates: February 5-26
Deadline: February 2
FMI: http://lowcountryrwa.com/online-workshops/#FEB

Course Description:
Understanding Scene: How Goal, Motivation, Conflict, and Disaster Factor into It

According to Dwight Swain, author of Techniques of the Selling Writer, a scene is identified by action. The sequel is the reaction. But what does this mean in terms of your writing? What goes into a scene? Heck, what IS a scene?

The short answer is:
A scene is a representation of a conflict as it plays out for the protagonist of the scene.

Every scene has 4 basic elements:
The point of view character's goal, motivation
The conflict that stands in his or her way
The disaster, which brings into question whether the hero/heroine will succeed
A series of scenes and sequels combine to form your complete story

This online course will take you through the process of understanding the elements of a scene and will introduce the concept of sequel. You will use your favorite fiction to identify how authors use Goal, Motivation, Conflict, and Disaster, as well as write your own scene(s) using these crucial 4 elements. You will come away with a PDF file detailing everything discussed in the course.

Instructor Bio:
Misa Ramirez is the author of the Lola Cruz mystery series: Living the Vida Lola (January '09) and Hasta la Vista, Lola! (February 2010) from St. Martin's Minotaur. A former middle and high school teacher, and current CEO and CFO for La Familia Ramirez, this blonde-haired, green-eyed, proud to be Latina-by-Marriage girl loves following Lola on her many adventures. Whether it's contemplating belly button piercings or visiting nudist resorts, she's always up for the challenge. Misa is hard at work on a new women's fiction novel, a middle grade series, is published in Woman's World Magazine and Romance Writers Report, and has a children's book published.

Read more about Misa at her website: http://misaramirez.com and
http://chasingheroes.com

You can register for the following on-line class through February 2. Each
class is $16.
FMI: www.lowcountryrwa.com/online-workshops/

02/01/10 - 02/26/10 - Online Workshop - Organize Your Writing Life with Adele San Miguel

Check out this Colorado Romance Writers, Inc. Online Workshop Series class
for FEBRUARY 2010!

Workshop: Organize Your Writing Life
Speaker: Adele San Miguel
Date: February 1 - 26, 2010

DESCRIPTION: You are gifted with words but stifled by the limitations of your calendar and clock. Running your business and your family leave little
time for the seeds of creativity to take root, to blossom, and to flourish. Deadlines loom large and you are writing to the exclusion of all else, living an unbalanced life. This is the class for you.

Everything is possible once you figure out the details. This course will help you design a blueprint to achieve your writing goals. You will learn how to find space for them in your schedule and establish an organizational system that works uniquely for you. You will arrange the details of your life around your priorities.

BIO: Adele San Miguel is a certified Life Coach, fiction and freelance writer, and entrepreneur. She has an MBA, and is a graduate of an intensive
course on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, three children, and a Sheepdog named Lulu.

Fee: $20 CRW Members; $25 Non-CRW Members. FMI about the workshops or speakers, or to register: http://www.coloradoromancewriters.org or email Online Workshop Series Coordinator, Karen Docter, at coloromancewritersonlineclasses@yahoo.com.

A minimum of 5 students registered two days prior to class start is required for workshop to remain viable.

02/01/10 - 02/28/10 - Online Workshop - The Purposeful Writer with Laura Baker

Acclaimed teacher of DSM brings you a brand new workshop:

THE PURPOSEFUL WRITER

February 1 - 28

Month-long Interactive Class for just $30.00

To sign up and get more information just go to www.writersonlineclasses.com
or
www.discoveringstorymagic.com

Lift your writing to publishable through the power of your own storytelling strengths. The power of great storytelling is in you.

This workshop helps you define your own strengths then use those strengths to the greatest benefit.

How do you create a unique, compelling story? By building on the bedrock of your own strengths. Laura Baker, award-winning author and teacher of the acclaimed class series Discovering Story Magic, will help you tap into your own resources for enhanced storytelling skills, building characters and
increasing your novel's emotional resonance and dramatic purpose.

This month-long class is packed with exercises and feedback to help students progressively hone in on their own dramatic powers. Then we put those powers to work on your own story ideas using Laura's solid fiction foundation of a story box. The workshop explores motivations, structure, profound events and premise. Transform a basic story concept into a complex, fully-formed novel, empowered and impassioned from your own strengths.

WEEK ONE: Explore and define your unique storytelling strengths.

WEEK TWO: Through writing craft, build on your strengths by focusing on three significant underpinnings of great storytelling: your own unique
style, emotional resonance, and clear story purpose.

WEEKS THREE AND FOUR: Bring all the pieces together into a STORY VISION. You will build your own STORY BOX, starting from just an idea, to building characters, working with archetypes, premise and theme, to see your story vision come to life.

Throughout the month, receive guidance and feedback.

Bonus: During Week Two: For those with a completed manuscript, in a special exercise called LIST OF FIVE (explained in the class), receive individual feedback on the theme of your manuscript.

With an emphasis on discovering each writer's individual strengths, this workshop is appropriate for those at the beginning of writing as well as
those seeking to create a hallmark for their work. Define your vision and get going!

Instructor Bio:

From her first release, Laura Baker's books have garnered critical acclaim and awards, including the Daphne du Maurier. The list of national award
nominations include the National Reader's Choice, the RITA, and twice for Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Awards. Her last three books were all
selected as RT Top Picks. Her nonfiction articles on writing have been published in the "Writer's Digest," the "RWR," and numerous newsletters
across the country.

Endorsements of Laura's classes

"I am so thrilled with your assessment. Your reasoning [about a character flaw] made so much sense that scenes started flashing in my mind. I couldn't
get to the computer fast enough. You and Robin blow me away.:

"Your comments-your time and effort into really thinking about our stories-Wow!"

"My heartfelt thanks goes out to you for your mentoring of people and furthering their dreams. I actually have an idea about what a successful (and success producing) process is all about. A million thanks."

"Light bulb moments are so common when I'm learning at your side that I spend most of the time in this wild state of enlightenment and excitement.
Just incredible."

02/01/10 - 02/26/10 - Online Workshop - The Secrets To Selling To Woman's World Magazine with Kate Willoughby

Check out this Colorado Romance Writers, Inc. Online Workshop Series class
for FEBRUARY 2010!

Workshop: The Secrets To Selling To Woman's World Magazine
Speaker: Kate Willoughby
Date: February 1 - 26, 2010

DESCRIPTION: Publishing shorter fiction while waiting for The Call can be a tremendous boost to a writer's soul and pocketbook, and Woman's World magazine pays $800 for each 800 word romance story.

Kate Willoughby's popular class, "The Secrets of Selling to Woman's World Magazine," is appropriate for all skill levels, whether you're a rank beginner or polished professional. In it, you'll learn everything you need to know in order to write and submit romance stories to Woman's World including: current guidelines, generating story ideas, tricks for writing extremely short, story structure, choosing titles, character names, tone, POV, formatting, cover letters, tracking submissions, contracts, rights, and plot trends (2005 - present).

Plus, Kate has recently added a list of do's and don'ts directly from Patricia Gaddis, the Woman's World assistant fiction editor. So, come discover how to tap this lucrative, but hard to crack, market and in a couple of months you too might be cashing a check for $800 for but five pages of fiction.

BIO: Kate Willoughby's Woman's World expertise comes from four years of analysis, writing, and submission to the magazine. In that time, she's sold
to them seven times at a success rate of about 25%. At least two former students have also sold. In addition to her seven Woman's World stories, she has published eight novels and novellas, print and electronic, with Ellora's Cave and Liquid Silver Books.

Fee: $20 CRW Members; $25 Non-CRW Members. FMI about the workshops or speakers, or to register: http://www.coloradoromancewriters.org or email Online Workshop Series Coordinator, Karen Docter, at coloromancewritersonlineclasses@yahoo.com.

A minimum of 5 students registered two days prior to class start is required for workshop to remain viable.

02/05/10 - 02/26/10 - Online Workshop: Yummy Heroes with Jackie Ivie and Teresa Bodwell

He's a charmer. He's sexy. He's a bad boy, a man's man and every woman's dream. Now how to write him. Join Jackie Ivie and Teresa Bodwell as they teach us how to build a Yummy Hero! Mmm, like chocolate, too delicious to pass up!

February 2010 — Yummy Heroes
Presented by Jackie Ivie and Teresa Bodwell
Dates: February 5-26
Deadline: February 2
FMI: http://lowcountryrwa.com/online-workshops/#FEB
Course Description:
Creating the Yummy Hero

"Great heroes are like chocolate--luscious, good for nibbling and available in a variety of fillings."

Using examples from books and movies, the presenters start with the basic testosterone driven male to find the hero within. Whether he's a bad boy or smooth-talking charmer, a reluctant hero or a take-charge warrior every hero must have strength, compassion, determination, courage and the flaws that make him human. The author can mix, blend, and measure these traits to make
her hero unique.

This workshop looks beyond the Alpha/Beta debate to:
What makes a hero satisfying for his heroine?
How can the author best portray those heroic traits?

Sessions will focus on physical description, mannerisms, dialogue, and love scenes. Participants will have the opportunity to submit brief assignments for critique.

Instructor Bios:
Jackie Ivie lives with her family in Alaska, where she combines being a wife, mother, needlework fanatic, and US Postal retiree with a massive love of writing historical romances. Jackie's stories are set in the Scottish Highlands and always feature larger-than-life, big, brawny, beautiful,
kilt-wearing heroes and the feisty heroines that tame and claim them. She's always daydreaming of history, romance..., and heroes. THE KNIGHT AND WHITE SATIN, due in the fall of 2010, will be Jackie's seventh historical romance, featuring another brawny, beautiful...alpha-male hero and the woman he adores. Jackie's novels have placed/won 22 romance awards since the Beacon's Best First Book for LADY OF THE KNIGHT in 2004.

Read more about Jackie at her website: http://www.jackieivie.com/

Teresa Bodwell lives in Montana where the spirit of the Old West still runs through the mountains, rivers, and sweeping plains. That landscape inspires her stories of tough heroes and courageous heroines who struggle for survival, for family and for love. Teresa is the author of two western
historical novels and a novella in the anthology, MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COWBOYS. As an attorney, she has learned that life can be unfair and a happy outcome is not always possible. She enjoys writing stories where happy endings are guaranteed.

Read more about Teresa at her website: http://tbodwell.com/

You can register for the following on-line class through February 2. Each class is $16.
FMI: www.lowcountryrwa.com/online-workshops/

02/01/10 - 02/26/10 - Online Workshop - Writing And Selling Your Romance Novel with Jessica Barksdale Inclan

Yosemite Romance Writers is proud to present their online workshop for
January 2010.

Date: 02/01/2010 – 02/26/2010

Workshop title: WRITING AND SELLING YOUR ROMANCE NOVEL

Writing And Selling Your Romance Novel

Instructor: Jessica Barksdale Inclan

Registration deadline: 1/31/10

With 1.4 billion dollars in sales, 26.4 share of the market, and over 6,000 novels published every year, it's clear that the American public wants to read love stories. The other good news is that romances are fun to write.

This course begins by identifying current key sub-genres and their particular requirements, including contemporary, paranormal, inspirational, comedic, mystery, erotic, and historical. We then consider what story you want to write and how to structure its plot, scenes, conflict, central
characters, and most importantly, a believable romantic relationship. Short in-class writing exercises allow you to work on some of these important aspects, and you finish the day by learning about the marketplace and writing query letters. By the end of the class, you have a clear focus on
the type of romance novel you are writing, a working outline, a couple of new scenes, and knowledge on how to move forward in writing and preparing your book for the marketplace.

Jessica Barksdale Inclán's debut novel Her Daughter's Eyes, published in 2001, was the premier novel published under New American Library's new imprint Accent. Her Daughter's Eyes was a final nominee for the YALSA Award for the best books of 2001 and best paperbacks for 2001 and has been published in Dutch and Spanish. Her next novel The Matter of Grace was published in May 2002 and was re-released in a mass market version in May 2004. Her third, When You Go Away, came out April 1, 2003. Her fourth, One Small Thing, was published April 2004, and has been published in Dutch and Spanish. Her fifth, Walking With Her Daughter, was published in April 2005.
The Instant When Everything is Perfect was published in February 2006. In June 2006, she published the first in a trilogy from Kensington Books. When You Believe was followed by Reason to Believe and Believe in Me. Being with Him--the first in a second trilogy, was published February 2008 and the second, Intimate Beings, is due out October 2008.. She is a 2002 recipient
of the CAC Artist's Fellowship in Literature. Inclán teaches composition, creative writing, mythology, and women's literature at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California, and on-line creative writing courses for UCLA extension. She has studied with Sharon Olds, Anne Lamott, Kate Braverman, Grace Paley, Marjorie Sandor, and Cristina Garcia. Her short stories and poems have appeared in Rockhurst Review, Hotwired, The Salt Hill Journal, Free Lunch, The West Wind Review, The Prairie Star, Gargoyle and many other journals and newspapers. Her short story Open Eyes was given first prize by Sandra Cisneros for El Andar magazine's 2000 writing contest. She co-edited a women's literature/studies textbook Diverse Voices of Women (Mayfield Publishing, 1995). Ms. Inclán has degrees in sociology and English literature from CSU Stanislaus and a Master's degree in English literature from SFSU. Ms. Inclán lives in Oakland, California and is currently at work on her next novel.

Deadline to register: 01/31/2010

Fee: $20 YWR members; $25 non-members. RWA Membership isn't required;
Anyone can take our courses.

Where to sign up: You may register online at our website,
http://www.yosemiteromancewriters.com/ .

Please click the Pay Now button and follow the instructions for Paypal. You
will receive a confirmation from us once your payment is received.

If you prefer to pay by check please mail to:
Yosemite Romance Writers
4294 W. Dakota Ave.
Fresno, CA 93722

You may also contact YRW at YosemiteRomanceWriters@yahoo.com if you have any
other questions.

02/01/10 - 02/14/10 - Online Workshop - The Art of Rewriting with Martha Engber

The Art of Rewriting Presented by Martha Engber*
February 1, 2010 - February 14, 2010
$10 for FFnP Members; $20 for Non-members

*Click here to register*

As Dorothy Parker once said, "I can't write five words but that I change seven." While writing anything can be an arduous task, rewriting can be ten times as difficult and as bewildering. Yet rewriting also allows you the fantastic opportunity to not only improve the story you're currently working on, but your future writing, as well. In this class we'll discuss how to structure and employ various strategies that we'll then practice in class. We'll also talk about: adopting the right expectations; estimating the time necessary for completion; understanding the three levels of editing; breaking the job into manageable pieces; and seeking feedback as part of the process.

This workshop will be conducted via a Yahoo! email loop. Email invitations will be sent 48 hours prior to the beginning of the workshop.
Just register for the workshop and complete the payment process via PayPal. The cost is $10.00 for FFnP members and $20.00 for non-FFnP
members. Payment is expected when registering and your registration will not be complete until you've paid. Unpaid registrations will be
deleted 48 hours before the class. *Click here to register*

Martha Engber is the author of the literary novel, THE WIND THIEF (a great book club pick) and GROWING GREAT CHARACTERS FROM THE GROUND UP: A THOROUGH PRIMER FOR WRITERS OF FICTION AND NONFICTION

*A journalist by profession, she's interviewed former First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos, Apollo 13 astronaut James Lovell, actress Marlo Thomas and other celebrities. A workshop facilitator, lecturer and book editor, she's had a full-length play produced in Hollywood. Her poetry and fiction have appeared in Watchword, Iconoclast, Bookpress, the Berkeley Fiction Review and other literary journals. She maintains Growing Great Writers From the Ground Up , a site for writers. Martha lives with her family in Northern California.

02/08/10 - 02/28/10 - Online Workshop - Writing Action Scenes the WWE Way with by Matt and Natalie Duvall

*Writing Action Scenes the WWE Way Presented by Matt and Natalie Duvall*
February 8, 2010 - February 28, 2010
$10 for FFnP Members; $20 for Non-members
*Click here to register *

Real action is messy, brutal, confusing, and usually over in a matter of minutes. To write a realistic action scene would be difficult, and in fiction more often than not it can cause your audience to quickly lose interest. Pro wrestling is a sport, but it is an entertaining dramatic interpretation of a fight, rather than the real thing. The moves are extravagant, attention-grabbing, choreographed representations of real martial arts moves, designed to tell a story, not to inflict any real or permanent damage.

This isn't to say that you need an action scene in every book you write. But you can apply the principles of WWE™-style to any scene that describes physical action – your clumsy hero's "trip" through a fancy restaurant, or your heroine's left-footed attempt to entice her desired mate through a seductive dance. Plus, you can broaden the appeal of your scenes to a male audience by incorporating these concepts.

We will discuss four of the key components of WWE™ entertainment, along with examples from a variety of fictional works, to show that these concepts can (and have) been used in wildly successful novels.

The first thing necessary is interesting characters. Next is outside interference, which can illuminate hidden motives for both the villain and the hero and give scenes a twist. Cheering for the underdog is the third component. Finally, every pro wrestler has a trademark move. In romance writing, the trademark move can be what gets the girl, or vice versa.

The class will explore samples from popular novels and give students many opportunities to write their own action scenes. It will also involve discussions of legitimate fighting techniques, honed from years of martial arts traditions. Questions will be encouraged so that writers can manipulate action scenes in their current works in progress.

This workshop will be conducted via a Yahoo! email loop. Email invitations will be sent 48 hours prior to the beginning of the workshop.

Just register for the workshop and complete the payment process via PayPal. The cost is $10.00 for FFnP members and $20.00 for non-FFnP
members. Payment is expected when registering and your registration will not be complete until you've paid. Unpaid registrations will be deleted 48 hours before the class. *Click here to register *

*Former professional wrestler, Matt Duvall (The Prince of Polyester) and his wife Natalie share a penchant for action... and writing. Matt wrestled professionally for 10 years, appearing on national television with World Wrestling Entertainment. He and Natalie train in Krav Maga and Isshinryu karate, where they were named Northeast OIKKA champions in the 35 & older category, even though they're both under 35. The pair holds Master's degrees in writing popular fiction from Seton Hill University and are currently working on their MFA from the same school. Matt published a number of short stories, and Natalie freelanced for the local paper. Both teach at the high school level (Matt teachers computers and Natalie teaches English – which makes online writing instruction a perfect fit!).

02/15/10 - 03/14/10 - Online Workshop - Mythic Elements with Marcy Weydemuller

Mythic Elements Presented by Marcy Weydemuller*
February 15, 2010 - March 14, 2010
$15 for FFnP Members; $25 for Non-members
*Click here to register*

*

Add Depth to Your Novel with Mythic Elements

Because they encompass timeless motifs, mythic elements can add an extra layer of depth to a novel, whether contemporary, historical, paranormal or fantasy. Mythic elements have contributed to the success of many stories from Star Wars and The Princess Bride to O Brother, Where Art Thou, Troy, and Raiders of the Lost Ark trilogy. During this four week course we'll examine some metaphoric functions that help build emotional resonance and memory.


Course overview and objectives:

Through illustration, exercises, and resources we'll discuss:

The connections between external geography and 'internal' landscapes and examine how geographical landscapes can become mirrors.


The symbolic power of setting as mirrors and maps including mirror resonance in art and music.

We'll discuss the emotional resonance of 'soul language' with a look at how images act as metaphorical mirrors, or conduits, to learn a new language of the spirit that expresses timeless, universal motifs.


Metaphors and symbols build truth in allusion and echoes that build powerful connections. We'll look at these echoes found in metaphor, symbols and illusions of our personal history, literature, scripture, folk-tales, songs and culture.

This workshop will be conducted via a Yahoo! email loop. Email invitations will be sent 48 hours prior to the beginning of the workshop.


Just register for the workshop and complete the payment process via PayPal. The cost is $15.00 for FFnP members and $25.00 for non-FFnP members. Payment is expected when registering and your registration will not be complete until you've paid. Unpaid registrations will be deleted 48 hours before the class. *Click here to register*



Marcy Weydemuller received a B.A. in history and sociology from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada and an M.F.A. in writing from Norwich University in Vermont with a special focus on YA fantasy and poetry. In addition to teaching creative writing classes she taught college freshman for five years and is a member of SCBWI. Currently she is pursuing her own writing projects and is a freelance editing.

03/01/10 - 03/31/10 - Online Workshop - Empowering Characters Emotions with Margie Lawson

This course is designed for writers of ALL GENRES, published or
unpublished.. You do NOT have to be a member of PASIC to take the class.

You'll work at your own pace, on your own level.

EMPOWERING CHARACTERS' EMOTIONS (details below) -- PASIC EXCLUSIVE CLASS --
WILL ONLY BE OFFERED ONCE THIS YEAR

Presenter: Margie Lawson

Cost: $20.00 PASIC members, $30.00 non-members - payable by PayPal

Deadline to Register: February 27, 2010

TO REGISTER, GO HERE:

http://pasic.net/class_lawson_032010.html

CLASS INFORMATION:

Would you like to learn how to:

Capture emotion on the page?

Hook the reader by eliciting a visceral response?

Analyze your scenes?

Fix scenes that don't work?

Increase micro-tension?

Add psychological power to a good scene and make it stellar?

This power-packed on-line class covers the following topics and more:

The EDITS System
Deep Editing techniques
Four Levels of Powering Up Emotion
The Full Range of Body Language:
Facial expressions, Dialogue Cues, Proxemics, Posture, Gestures, Avoidance
and
Deception Cues
Fresh Visceral Responses
Cliché-busting
Motivation Reaction Units
Ideomotoric shifts
Subtext Power
Emotional Authenticity
Backstory Management
Emotional Hits
Rhythm and Cadence and Beats
Carrying a Nonverbal Image Forward
Projecting Emotion for a Non-POV character

About the Presenter:

Margie Lawson-psychotherapist, writer, and international presenter - focuses
her analytical skills on writing craft. A former adjunct professor, Margie
taught psychology courses at the graduate and doctoral levels. Applying her
expertise in the writing world, she developed innovative editing systems and
deep editing techniques. Her deep editing tools are used by all writers,
from beginners to multi-award winners. She teaches writers how to edit for
psychological power, how to immerse the reader in the fictional world, how
to write page turners..

Margie developed six on-line courses she teaches once per year. The lectures
from all her courses are available as Lecture Packets through Paypal from
her web site.

Empowering Characters' Emotions
Deep Editing: The EDITS System, Rhetorical Devices, and More
Digging Deep in to the EDITS System
Defeat Self-Defeating Behaviors
Writing Body Language and Dialogue Cues Like a Psychologist
Powering Up Body Language in Real Life: Projecting a Professional Persona
When
Pitching and Presenting

In the last six years, Margie presented full day Master Classes for writers
fifty-four times, sharing her deep editing techniques with over four
thousand
writers. Last year Margie was brought in as a guest speaker to present full
day Master Classes in Melbourne for Romance Writers of Australia, and in
Auckland, for Romance Writers of New Zealand.

To learn about Margie's 3-day Immersion Master Classes, full day Master
Class presentations, on-line course schedule, Lecture Packets, or
newsletter, visit: www.MargieLawson.com.

Read what graduates of Margie Lawson's courses and master classes say:

Randy Ingermanson, Ph. D., author of WRITING FICTION FOR DUMMIES,
award-winning fiction author, creator of Snow-Flake Pro, in-demand writing
instructor:

"In the twenty years I've been writing fiction, two teachers have astounded
me with their insights and taught me something radically new: Dwight Swain
and Margie Lawson.

After reading Margie's material on nonverbal communication and empowering
characters' emotions, something clicked in my brain. Margie taught me a new
ways to empower my writing."

Karin Tabke, Bestselling author:

"I had so many epiphany moments Saturday my head was twitching. It's still
twitching! I wish I had attended Margie's Empowering Characters' Emotions
master class earlier. My writing is stronger, more vivid, more emotional.
The effects of the workshop were immediate. I highly recommend if you have
the opportunity to take Margie's workshop in person, do it."

Colleen Coble, CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers and Bestselling
author:

"The workshop I went to last month was the best I've ever been to, bar
none.. And I've been to plenty. Margie's workshop was so awesome, I'm going
over my notes from what she taught before I start my next book. She's a
genius, pure and simple."

Melanie Milburne, Bestselling, Award Winning author:

I just sold my 31st title and my editor loved the book. She thought I had
written a really sophisticated story with powerful emotion. So thank you
Margie!

I have worked my way through Margie's Empowering Characters' Emotions, and
Deep Editing Lecture Packets, and found them wonderful. Her deep editing
techniques have really lifted my writing. It's so exciting working on each
new novel now knowing I have these amazing techniques to engage the reader
in a more emotionally satisfying way. Thank you again, Margie!

Cheryl Wyatt, Award Winning author:

"I LOVED Margie Lawson's class. WOW. WOW. WOW. Wish I would have discovered
her sooner. Fabulous. My writing will soar to the next level. She's an
incredible teacher and such a fun teacher. Great lady. I plan to take all
her online courses."

At the Steeple Hill spotlight, at the RWA National conference, editors
Krista Stroever and Melissa Endlich mentioned my books. They talked about
how my writing has a depth of emotion that makes them cry. They said that's
the kind of emotive writing they want to see from authors trying to break
in.

Margie, I know I have you to thank for the strong core of emotion that
people say are in my books. Thank you for bringing your wealth of knowledge
and sharing with us. You truly are amazing.

Jeri Smith-Ready, Bestselling author:

I owe it all to Margie Lawson (and my editor) for helping me whip my books
into shape. I used her Empowering Characters' Emotions and Deep Editing
lectures as my bible for my final drafts. I am so grateful I discovered
Margie's editing expertise. I can't say enough about what a difference it
makes to have Margie's 'voice' pushing me to make each word count and each
sentence pop!

Linda Warren, Award Winning Best-selling author:

I'm thoroughly enjoying your Deep Editing lectures. And learning. I feel as
if I've been writing in the dark. All of a sudden you've turned on the light
and my weak and dull writing is transformed into powerful and fresh. I love
it!

As an author I get tired of the "thumping" "pounding" heart. "Lifted"
"raised" eyebrow, too.

After your full day Empowering Characters' Emotions master class at NOLA
Stars, I wrote this line: "She cocked her eyebrow with the power of a .38
special."

As I told you in Shreveport, I've never taken a workshop because getting
around is so hard for me. I'm glad I waited for a Margie Lawson Master Class
to begin to learn about the power of words, the power of writing. You're
brilliant.

CJ Lyons, Award Winning author:

Margie's Empowering Characters' Emotions and Deep Editing classes not only
helped me to get in touch with my characters' visceral reactions, they also
showed me ways to use my characters' emotions to drive my plots in
compelling and evocative new directions!

Lyn Cote, Bestselling, RITA nominated, author:

I love a teacher who knows how to break down the individual skills and
content in order to put into practice what is being taught. I've taken
Margie's
Character Emotion and EDITS classes and have used them ever since.

Margie's lessons are always practical and make such a difference! If you
haven't taken them and implemented them, YOU SHOULD. "
Deadline to Register: February 27, 2010

02/01/10 - 02/12/10 - Online Workshop - Powerful Openings with Kris Kennedy

If you want to publish, you have to grab your reader from the very first
word. Come join us as we welcome Kris Kennedy to our online campus.

Class: Powerful Openings
Instructor: Kris Kennedy

Dates: February 1 - 12, 2010
Registration Deadline: January 31, 2010
Fee: $10/HHRW members, $20/others

To register for this class: http://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/classreg.htm
FMI: HHRW Campus Coordinator: classes@heartsthroughhistory.com

Class Description:

In this competitive market and fast-moving world, the vast majority of
readers are not going to spend the time `sinking into' a good book, not
unless it has a powerful opening that really hooks them and promises great
drama. This 2 week class will discuss specific, simple strategies for
writing powerful openings that hook the reader-be it an agent, an editor, or
a reader-and don't let go.

Bio:
Psychotherapist, mom, wife and writer, Kris Kennedy doesn't have much time
for anything. Including reading. A story opening has to absolutely grab her
for her to keep reading. She's been working to hone these skills and
strategies to help make her own book potent from the very first work. Kris
won RWA's Golden Heart® for Best Historical Novel in `08. Her debut book,
THE CONQUEROR, came out in May `09, and her second THE IRISH WARRIOR, winner
of the `08 GH, comes out in June, from Kensington. She recently signed
another 2 book contract with Pocket.

Format: Course is conducted via Yahoo Groups email with lessons and Q&A. You
will receive an invitation to join the group a few days before. If you
don't receive this invitation, please contact the Campus Coordinator:
classes@heartsthroughhistory.com

For additional information, contact the Campus Coordinator at
classes@heartsthroughhistory.com

To register for this class: http://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/classreg.htm

02/01/10 - 02/14/10 - Online Workshop - The Mad Science of Writing: How to Create and Build a Brand Around the Invention that is Your Book with Corey Blake

February Online Workshop

February 1-14, 2010 Mini Workshop
The Mad Science of Writing: How to create & build a brand around the
invention that is your book!
Presented by Corey Blake

Every writer has a little mad scientist within them that loves to explore,
adores creation, and deplores business theory, but for writing to actually
reach its intended audience, it has to be created and marketed like an
invention. Corey's talk articulates the need for a writer to define the
theme of their work, produce their genius invention (a manuscript) and then
build the campaign that will launch their book out into the world. It's a
light-the-fire-under-your-pants talk with proven steps based on Corey's
decade of experience as an actor, director, producer, writer and business
owner.

INSTRUCTOR'S BIO:

Corey Blake, coauthor of Edge! A Leadership Story (June 2008, with Bea
Fields and Eva Silva Travers), From the Barrio to the Board Room (January
2008, with Robert Renteria) and Excalibur Reclaims Her King (December 2008,
with Angelica Harris), and Chairman of the Dream for Writers of the Round
Table Inc. and Writers of the Round Table Press is considered a dream
facilitator for professionals looking to change direction in their lives
through a pioneering manuscript. Corey acts as the director of the story and
the brand and has built his business around the development, marketing, PR
and distribution of exceptionally written content intended to positively
impact the world.

After working for ten years in Hollywood, as an actor, producer, director
and then writer, Corey realized that the collaborative approach to
filmmaking could be brought over to book development. Since then, he has
played a key role in the development of more than three hundred screenplays
and manuscripts. He has won nine festival awards for his work in
entertainment and contributed articles to nearly three dozen industry
publications including Script Magazine, Writer Magazine (cover article), and
the Los Angeles Journal.. Corey Blake's work as a writer and development
producer has been featured on Fox News and in articles in Backstage West,
MovieMaker Magazine, Hollywood Scriptwriter Magazine and Dance Magazine. He
speaks frequently around the country on the topic of writing, publishing and
branding an author.

Regular, (Month-long) classes, consisting of at least 2 lessons per week for
CRW and HCRW members is $15, all others $25. Mini, (2 week) classes,
consisting of 2-3 lessons per week for CRW and HCRW members is $10, all
others $15.

*Please Note: If paying by Paypal, please send money to
workshops@carolinaromancewriters.com.

Registration Deadline: January 25th Register Now!

03/26/10 - 03/27/10 - Conference: Framingham, MA - Let Your Imagination Take Flight Conference

On behalf of the RWA-New England Chapter's Conference Committee, I am happy to invite you to attend our 2010 Let Your Imagination Take Flight Conference.

The conference will take place March 26-27, 2010, at the Sheraton Tara in Framingham, MA. Speakers include: Keynote, Mary Janice Davidson; Luncheon, Judith Arnold; and EXTRA! Workshop titled Emotion: The Heart of the Novel conducted by Brenda Novak.

For a direct link to our registration page, go to:
http://www.necrwa.org/Forms/conference.html

This email is my opportunity to share some important changes to the NEC Conference registration process with you.

The major change to note: We will not be doing a conference mailing as we have in years past. Conference registration information will only be made available via the Chapter web site. Attendees will have the option to register electronically using PayPal, or to print the registration form from the web site and snail mail that form with a check.

The second major change to the registration process concerns what we have traditionally called the EXTRA workshop. In years past, we have opened the EXTRA to anyone who wanted to pay the 'extra' fee to attend it. This year, we are opening up this session to the first one hundred registrants (no extra cost). Therefore, attendance for this session

Emotion: The Heart of the Novel – presented by Brenda Novak - will be first come, first serve. We are asking that you select the workshop on the registration form, so if extra tickets are available, we
know who to add to our alternate list.

As will the assignment of editor and agent pitch appointments, just as we have in years past.

We are still looking to line up an additional editor for the conference.Our slate of industry professionals so far includes:

Editors:

-Keyren Gerlach (Harlequin)

-Kathy Cottrell (Wild Rose Press)

-Holly Schmidt (Ravenous Romance)

Agents:

- Diana Fox (Fox Literary Agency)

- Eileen Fallon (Fallon Literary Agency)

The conference ends Saturday, March 27, with a book signing - a portion of the proceeds will go to benefit MA literacy. If you are a published author and are interested in participating in the book signing, please note this on the registration form.

Please continue to check the NEC web site for updates or changes at
http://www.necrwa.org/conference.htm

After registering, you will be directed to a page with a link for a special conference hotel rate of $109/night single/double until March 6, 2010. After March 6, regular room rates apply. You may also call: (508) 879-7200. If calling, mention NEC to receive the discount rate.

We look forward to seeing you March 26-27, 2010, at the wonderful Sheraton Tara in Framingham, MA!

Sincerely,
Mary Reiber, 2010 Conference Chair
Lori Philbin, 2010 Registration Chair
Let Your Imagination Take Flight Conference

02/08/10 - 02/21/10 - Online Workshop - Adding Those Memorable Characters and Creatures to Your Book with Linda Wisdom

Adding Those Memorable Characters and Creatures to Your Book

Sponser: San Diego RWA

Fee: $15-20

Date: February 8-21, 2010

Presenter: Linda Wisdom

FMI: http://www.rwasd.com/training/

Creating Those Memorable Characters

The best part about having an imagination is the ability to come up with anything. And I do mean anything!

We'll talk about what makes an unforgettable character or creature. How you can even use them for branding. Even if a reader might forget the title of your book they will remember the fun characters you've created.

We'll coax your imagination to come up with characters and creatures that your readers won't soon forget by searching for something unusual and giving it a personality and characteristics including a bit of a back story to partner with your main character.

We'll take the unbelievable and make it believable, so you'll have those special unforgettable characters and creatures.

After all, who knew fangy bunny slippers would become so popular?

Bio - Linda is a born and bred Californian who's written from the first day she could hold a crayon.

After she sold her first two books to then brand spanking new Silhouette Books she continued on, also writing for Dell Candlelight Ecstasy, Harlequin Books, Bantam Loveswept, and a romantic suspense for Kensington.

Her office shows the magick she likes to instill in her books with her collection of dragon and faery figurines, Pocket Dragons and Halloween Barbies.

Her Hex series, along with some of her backlist books, have been optioned for TV and movies.

She lives in Southern California with her husband, two dogs, a parrot, and tortoise that all create their own form of magick.

02/01/10 - 02/26/10 - Online Workshop - Plotting Via Motivation with Laurie Schnebly Campbell

Motivation is what drives your story. Any of us could write a book in which the characters set out for a three hour tour and get shipwrecked on an uncharted desert isle. We've seen what seven such characters would do...over and over and over again. But what would YOURS do? If you nail down any character's motivation, it doesn't matter whether the ship capsizes or lands safely three hours later. Your characters will create a plot from WHATEVER happens, because you've got their motivation built in from the very beginning. Find out how, with a workshop that covers: * Motivation's Big Question * The Surprising Core * How Deep Do You Go? * Motivation Checklist * The 14 Blanks * Goal vs Motivation * Building Your Plot "Plotting Via Motivation" February 1-26, 2010 $30 at www.WriterUniv.com Laurie Schnebly Campbell grew up in a family that talked "motivation" around the dinner table. While her day job in advertising is responsible for her synopsis skills, her Master's in Counseling works for motivating characters in her novels...including one that beat out Nora Roberts for "Best Special Edition of the Year." Check her out at www.BookLaurie.com.