Last year, I took an online class that came highly recommended by another writer. I can't begin to tell you how helpful it was in making me dig deeper than ever before into my characters' motivations. Laurie Schnebly is one of the best teachers I've come across. The classes are very reasonably priced and worth every penny.
UPCOMING CLASSES for 2012
Never any classes in December (unless it's a
two-day carryover!)
online: HOW TO START A BOOK & GET IT FINISHED (January 4-31, 2012)
writersonlineclasses.com/?page_id=711
Getting started is the first hurdle, but continuing all the way to The End is where even more writers run into trouble. This workshop looks at how, when and why to start (and keep) writing, roadblocks and solutions along the way, tips for coping with writer's block as well as rejection / discouragement / frustration, and how to regain the joy that sometimes gets lost in the writing process.
blog: THE
TRICKY PART
(January 13) romanceuniversity.org
Every writer has unique strengths, as well as a weakness or two. How do we use skills we take for granted to boost those that need improvement?
Every writer has unique strengths, as well as a weakness or two. How do we use skills we take for granted to boost those that need improvement?
online: DELICIOUS DIALOGUE & DYNAMIC DESCRIPTION
(February 6-29, 2012)
groups.yahoo.com/group/DDDD
Everyone tends to be better at writing one of the big D's. (If you're fabulous at both, you don't need this class!) What kind of dialogue makes your characters real? What kind of description works best for your voice? No two writers will use the same techniques for these key elements, but having new tools to choose from can make writing description and dialogue easier as well as more fun...not only for you, but for your readers as well.
Everyone tends to be better at writing one of the big D's. (If you're fabulous at both, you don't need this class!) What kind of dialogue makes your characters real? What kind of description works best for your voice? No two writers will use the same techniques for these key elements, but having new tools to choose from can make writing description and dialogue easier as well as more fun...not only for you, but for your readers as well.
blog: MASTERING
MOTIVATION
(February 17) seekerville.net
We all know what's at the heart of Goal-Motivation-Conflict, but how can we find the motivation that will make our characters fascinating to read about?
We all know what's at the heart of Goal-Motivation-Conflict, but how can we find the motivation that will make our characters fascinating to read about?
online: PLOTTING VIA MOTIVATION (March 5-30) writeruniv.com
Here's what previous people have said about this class: "I never thought I could plot my entire book from start to finish, but here it is. This is AWESOME." / "This month has truly changed the way I think about writing. I wish I'd taken Plotting Via Motivation before giving up on my earlier novels." / "Now that I look back in the notebook where I wrote all my homework, I realize I've got my book right here!"
live in Tempe, AZ: YOUR CONFERENCE PITCH
(Tuesday, March 26) desertroserwa.org
Turning a 30-second or
8-minute opportunity into an invitation.
online: MASTER CLASS: FROM PLOT TO FINISH
(April 2-13) writeruniv.com
A continuation of the Plotting-Via-Motivation process, this no-more-than-30-people group gets every member plotting a brand new or already-begun book (using your completed 14-point worksheet) from start to finish. No need to prepare a story idea, character bios, goal charts or anything else, because you'll learn how to plot an entire book--and actually have it ready to type--by the end of this hands-on workshop. (Class size limited.)
A continuation of the Plotting-Via-Motivation process, this no-more-than-30-people group gets every member plotting a brand new or already-begun book (using your completed 14-point worksheet) from start to finish. No need to prepare a story idea, character bios, goal charts or anything else, because you'll learn how to plot an entire book--and actually have it ready to type--by the end of this hands-on workshop. (Class size limited.)
live in Scottsdale, AZ: THE DOUBLE D'S
(Saturday, April 29)
desertroserwa.org/conferences/Phoenix-Romance-Writers-Conferences.php
A 45-minute version of the February class.
A 45-minute version of the February class.
online: REVISION HEL--NO, HEAVEN
(May 7-18) yosemiteromancewriters.com
Every writer knows about Revision Hell. But the chance for re-"envision"ing any concept that's attracted attention can be a golden opportunity. This class covers the psychological and the practical aspects of revision: when to do it, why (and why not) to do it, how to make the process easier, and--most important of all--how to know when you're finished.
Every writer knows about Revision Hell. But the chance for re-"envision"ing any concept that's attracted attention can be a golden opportunity. This class covers the psychological and the practical aspects of revision: when to do it, why (and why not) to do it, how to make the process easier, and--most important of all--how to know when you're finished.
blog: TAKE
YOUR Q
(May 17) romancingthegenres.blogspot.com
Asking questions is vital for writers, but how many questions do you want your reader to ask?
Asking questions is vital for writers, but how many questions do you want your reader to ask?
online: MASTER CLASS: Q IS FOR QUERY, A IS FOR ACK!
(June 4-15) writeruniv.com
No writer can get far without the most fundamental tool of selling their work: an effective query letter. But it's frequently a source of dread for writers who create compelling fiction, yet panic at the idea of creating a sales pitch. Laurie brings 25 years of advertising experience to the task of identifying what makes people want to buy a product--any product--and how to convince them yours is the one they want. (Class size limited.)
No writer can get far without the most fundamental tool of selling their work: an effective query letter. But it's frequently a source of dread for writers who create compelling fiction, yet panic at the idea of creating a sales pitch. Laurie brings 25 years of advertising experience to the task of identifying what makes people want to buy a product--any product--and how to convince them yours is the one they want. (Class size limited.)
July is always vacation month!
blog: CHOCOLATE,
WINE, COFFEE, SEX, OR SHOES
(July 19) 1stturningpoint.com
We all have words that immediately flag our interest -- but how do we find the trigger words for everyone else?
We all have words that immediately flag our interest -- but how do we find the trigger words for everyone else?
You've seen online
listings that made you buy immediately, knowing you wanted that book for sure.
You've seen others that told you "don't want this one" and others
that left you lukewarm. While nobody can (or should) write listings that
attract readers looking for a whole different type of book, writing blurbs that
turn browsers into buyers is easy to accomplish...with the hands-on techniques
from this brand new class.
online: NINE TYPES, THREE TASKS & DOZENS OF CONFLICTS
(September 3-28)
groups.yahoo.com/group/9Types
Writers who discover the versatility of enneagrams, the nine personality types and three subtypes developed by the Sufis and brought west a century ago, are fascinated by how easy it is to identify their existing characters and create new ones...each with uniquely heroic and distinctive traits, as well as a fatal (or not so fatal) flaw that naturally brings them into conflict with other characters AND with themselves.
Writers who discover the versatility of enneagrams, the nine personality types and three subtypes developed by the Sufis and brought west a century ago, are fascinated by how easy it is to identify their existing characters and create new ones...each with uniquely heroic and distinctive traits, as well as a fatal (or not so fatal) flaw that naturally brings them into conflict with other characters AND with themselves.
online: THE HERO'S JOURNEY, FOR HEROINES
(October 1-26) writeruniv.com
Christopher Vogler identified 12 steps for daredevil heroes who explore the outside world and return with the elixir. But a character whose emotional journey leads to flowering change instead of physical adventure, as described in Kim Hudson's 13 steps, will embark on a journey filled with other--more internal--challenges. For writers whose heroine faces her own less traveled road to discovery, this class offers a fascinating map.
Christopher Vogler identified 12 steps for daredevil heroes who explore the outside world and return with the elixir. But a character whose emotional journey leads to flowering change instead of physical adventure, as described in Kim Hudson's 13 steps, will embark on a journey filled with other--more internal--challenges. For writers whose heroine faces her own less traveled road to discovery, this class offers a fascinating map.
online: CREATING CONFLICT FOR COUPLES
(November 5-16)
writersonlineclasses.com
This workshop shows which of the common conflicts between couples who love each other are the most likely to threaten each stage of your hero's & heroine's relationship, and how to either escalate the tension between them OR relieve it...depending on whether you want to build the drama of a black moment, or to build a happily-ever-after that'll last beyond the wedding.
This workshop shows which of the common conflicts between couples who love each other are the most likely to threaten each stage of your hero's & heroine's relationship, and how to either escalate the tension between them OR relieve it...depending on whether you want to build the drama of a black moment, or to build a happily-ever-after that'll last beyond the wedding.
3 comments:
Wow, Ane, I'm bowled over...I had envisioned a paragraph about how swell my classes are, which would've been lovely right there. :)
But to see all this fabulous detail is amazing -- thank you, thank you, thank you!
Laurie, feeling truly blessed
Laurie, when a student receives instruction that changes their writing for the better, we become devout fans!!!
I couldn't agree more, Ane! Laurie is the best!
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