Writer’s Corner

Workshops
RWA San Diego (RWA-SD) presents: “GUILT-FREE AUTHOR PROMOTION: Picking the Right PR Options For You”
PR consultant/Berkley author Marcia James and a slate of promotion-savvy guest lecturers will present this two-week online workshop that provides insider tips, hard-won knowledge, and the tools to pick the PR options right for YOU. Workshop participants will learn about author branding, create tag lines, and identify elements within their work that lend themselves to niche marketing. In addition to the guest-lectures, Marcia will discuss cross-promotion, print and trinket PR materials, author interviews, and more. And all participants will receive Marcia’s 280-page Microsoft WORD file, filled with detailed information on all types of promotional options.
April 5th – 18^th.  Cost is $15 for RWA-SD members and $20 for non-members. See http://www.rwasd.com/training/index.html for registration.

Dunes & Dreams RWA Chapter present their April 2010 Online Workshop: Bringing a Setting to Life with Cheryl St. John

Have you ever read a book that made you feel as though you were right there experiencing the story? Would you like to know how to trigger a response like that in your readers? Cheryl will provide instruction on how to bring a setting to life. She’ll explain the pitfalls of backstory and details, and she will share how to create authenticity.

April 5 through April 30

Registration deadline is April 3rd.
Cost: $10 D&D members, $25 all others. Payable in US funds only (paypal or checks)
Http://www.dunesanddreams.org/writing-workshops or
Email the coordinators at workshops.ddrwa

Heart of Dixie, RWA presents: Snakebite Scenes and Hollywood Plots: Enhancing Action and Emotion in Romance

Carrie Lofty, author of sexy, adventurous historical romances for Kensington, will demonstrate how action can make your novel more exciting and more emotional. For plotters, pantsers, and everyone in between, this course can unblock your creativity and help you power through that draft, adding action and heart to every page.
Date: May 3 – 17, 2010
Cost: $20
Register at <http://www.heartofdixie.org> www.heartofdixie.org by May 1.
Questions? Contact the online coordinator at online

Check out Lowcountry RWA’s 4 exciting workshops for April!
1. Behind the Scenes: The Research Before the Book
Presented by Jacqui Jacoby
Dates: April 5-30
Deadline: April 2
Fee:  $16.00
http://lowcountryrwa.com/online-workshops/#APR; www.lowcountryrwa.com/online-workshops/

2. Plotting For Pantsers
Presented by Beth Daniels, aka Beth Henderson, J.B. Dane
Dates: April 5-30
Deadline: April 2
Fee:  $16.00
http://lowcountryrwa.com/online-workshops/#APR; FMI: www.lowcountryrwa.com/online-workshops/

3. Infusing The Romance Novel With Emotional and Sexual Tension
Presented by Laurie Sanders
Dates: April 5-30
Deadline: April 2
Fee:  $16.00
http://lowcountryrwa.com/online-workshops/#APR; www.lowcountryrwa.com/online-workshops/

4. The Pirates Guide to a Successful Publishing Career
Presented by Natalie J. Damschroder
Dates: April 5-17
Deadline: April 2
Fee:  $16.00
http://lowcountryrwa.com/online-workshops/#APR; www.lowcountryrwa.com/online-workshops/

Or email Online Workshop Coordinator, Veronica Alderson, lrwaonline(at)yahoo(dot)com using the Subject line: LRWA ONLINE WORKSHOP.  To subscribe to LRWA Online Workshop monthly mailing list, LRWAonlinecourses

Sex & Violence (Without the Sex) and Alpha Male Warriors with Bob Mayer
Presented by The Passionate Ink Chapter of RWA
April 4, 2010 – April 18, 2010
$15 for PI Members; $20 for Non-members
This presentation will focus both on how to write action scenes effectively, but also understanding the subtext to the scene in terms of reality, personalities, and effect on plot and character.
For more information: workshopchair

May The Force Be With You (Adding Realistic Law Enforcement & Legal System Elements Into Your Novel)
Learn “cop talk”, criminal evidence procedures, anatomy of a lawsuit, and more!
Speaker: Kerri Nelson
Date: April 5 – 30, 2010
Visit Kerri’s website at: www.kerrinelson(dot)com

Celtic Hearts Romance Writers Workshop Academy Presents: The Power of GMC: Crafting Compelling Characters and Kick-Butt Stories
by Renee Knowles and Eliza Knight

Dates: 4/5/2010 – 4/30/2010

Register: www.celtichearts.org
Changing Genres: How to Decide What to Keep & What to Dump, What to Change, What to Enhance, When Following Trends, Jumping into Different “Lines” or Going Down a New Road
Speaker: Beth Daniels
Date: April 5 – 30, 2010
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

The Passionate Ink Chapter of RWA Presents A special workshop to fund the Passionate Ink Perseverance Fund*
WRITING EROTIC ROMANCE

Presented by Angela Knight

May 3, 2010 – May 31, 2010
$25
For more information: workshopchair
*100% of all entry fees from this workshop will go to fund the Passionate Ink Perseverance Fund. The purpose of the fund is to assist those RWA members who may be facing difficulties paying their Passionate Ink chapter dues.

Elements of RWA Online Workshops Presents The Tiny Art of Elevator Pitches: How to Craft Them and How to Use Them
by Carrie Lofty
April 5 – 16
Elements Member $9, Non-member $15
Registration ends April 1
To register for this workshop click <http://www.elementsofrwa.com/wkshp_reg2.htm> here.
http://www.elementsofrwa.com/workshops.html

Los Angeles Romance Authors is looking for promo items for goodie bags for our annual one day workshop on May 15th.  New York Times Bestselling author, Bob Mayer, is the workshop instructor/speaker.  We expect 50 to 60 people. Please send your promotional items by May 7^th.
We will also have raffle baskets. We accept books, cds, other items and baskets themselves for this fund raiser. Items should be sent to Tamera at the above address by May 7th to ensure timely receipt.
For more information on the workshop, please go to: http://www.lararwa.com/workshop
If you have any questions, please contact Tammi Flora at programming@lararwa.com
 

Warrior Writer Workshop
Warrior Writer is a holistic approach that integrates the artist’s creativity with the business savvy needed to succeed in publishing. The workshop is a nine-step plan that will provide the tools for writers of all levels to become the most successful authors each can be.

When: May 15, 2010
Who: National Bestselling Author, Bob Mayer
Where: Beverly Garlands Holiday Inn at Universal Studio Hollywood
Cost: $75 for LARA members (if paid April 5 – May 5 $85), $80 for OCC, EVA & San Diego RWA members (if paid April 5 – May 5 $90), $85 for RWA members (if paid April 5 – May 5 $95), $95 for Non-members (if paid April 5 – May 5 $110)
To learn more and to register go to: http://www.bobmayer .org/index.
For more information and to register please go to: http://www.lararwa.com/workshop.html
If you have any questions, please contact Tammi Flora at programming@lararwa.com
 

OCCRWA Presents “Tapping Into the Secrets Behind the Success of Nora Roberts, Stephen King, and J.K. Rowling and Every Best Seller and Blockbuster Film” with Carol Hughes
April 12 to May 8, 2010
Enrollment Information at _http://www.occrwa.http://www.occrwhttp://www._
(http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclassApril10.html)
COST: $20 for OCC members, $30 for non-members

Coming in May 2010–
“Another Time, Another Place” with Terry Blain
The class will cover all the elements that make a historical
romance historical – from how to do the research to incorporating that
information into your story through the craft of writing.
http://www.occrwa.http://www.occrwhttp:/_ (http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclasses.html).
Contests

Southern Magic is proud to present the winners for The 2010 Linda Howard Award of Excellence contest for unpublished writers at www.southernmagic.org

Northwest Houston RWA announces The 18th Annual Lone Star Writing Competition
The contest is now open for entries. The Lone Star Writing Competition is one of the few contests with two published authors and one unpublished author judging the first round. Finalists will be sent to BOTH an agent and an editor for judging.
Early bird entry fee: $5 discount on all entries submitted by midnight May 23, 2010; $15 for NWH members/$20 non-NHW members.
Entry fee: After May 23, 2010 – $20 NWH members; $25 non-NWH members.
All electronic this year. Entries must arrive via email by midnight June 6, 2010. Enter and more information at www.nwhrwa.com.

Central Ohio Fiction Writers’ Ignite the Flame Contest
Whatever sort of heat you’re building between your hero and heroine, it all begins with the spark of their first meeting. The Ignite the Flame Contest is designed to help you polish that critical scene so that it crackles with romantic energy!
Eligible: Authors unpublished in book-length fiction
Submit: 15 pages h/h first meet or reunion meet scene & one page optional unjudged set-up. Electronic submissions and paypal available as well as traditional submission at www.COFW.org
Fee: $22 COFW members, $27 others.
Judges: PRO and PAN Judges
Deadline: May 8, 2010.
Prize: $25 to first place in each category.

LAST CALL FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS
Be a part of Seattle’s 2010 Emerald City Writers’ Conference, Oct 1-3, 2010.
Craft, Promotion, Research and PRO topics desired.
Submit by April 1st, 2010 at www.gsrwa.org/proposal.php

Indiana Romance Writers of America presents The 20th Anniversary of INDIANA’S GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY 2010
DEADLINE: Entries must be received by June 27, 2010. For your convenience, IGO accepts only electronic entries.
ENTRY FEE: $25. Can use PayPal or mail a check.
Further information and contest rules are available through our IRWA Web site: www.indianarwa.com