ONLINE WORKSHOPS: SPONSOR: Passionate Ink Chapter of RWA TITLE: He Shot The Sheriff And I Know Why INSTRUCTOR: Ann Roth DATES: February 14 – 27, 20111 DESCRIPTION: This class explores motivation-what it is, and how to develop and use it in creating characters that are three-dimensional and believable. DEADLINE TO REGISTER: Checks or Paypal must [...]

 Writers’ Corner: Round up of Classes, Conferences and Contests   Classes: The Black Diamond Chapter of RWA presents an online workshop Story Telling and Folk Tales with instructor, Masha Holl. Class runs from Jan. 31 – Feb. 27, 2011. Cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members. For more information visit,  http://www.bdrwa.com Yellow Rose [...]

By Edie Ramer I’m an indie author and proud of it. In addition to RWA-WF, I belong to two chapters and several loops, and quite a few of the writers in those groups are either self-published or interested in it. That includes mystery, paranormal, urban fantasy, romance, romantic suspense and erotica. A friend who writes [...]

RWA Chapter Contests Yellow Rose Romance Writers announces the 2011 Winter Rose contest for writers not published in book-length fiction in the last 5 years. Deadline: January 22, 2011, enter the prologue/first chapter (25 pages max), electronic entries only. Categories and judges: Contemporary Single Title, Margo Lipschultz, HQN; Historical (Includes Regency), Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks; Mainstream [...]

Conferences Join the North Louisiana chapter of RWA for its annual Written in the Stars conference! March 11-12, 2011 at Holiday Inn Financial Plaza, Shreveport, Louisiana. Editor and agent appts., multi-track workshops, industry workshops, booksigning, silent auction and raffles. We have wonderful workshops being presented. Check out the line up at http://www.nolastars.com. First Coast Romance [...]

ONLINE WORKSHOPS: SPONSOR:  Outreach International TITLE:  Plodding or Plotting DATES:  January 4 – 22, 2011 INSTRUCTOR:  Gail Gaymer Martin DESCRIPTION:  This class covers techniques that result in a story that flows rather than plods. It explores how the author makes the story connect with the reader using the 3 Act structure. DEADLINE: January 3, 2011 [...]

ONLINE WORKSHOPS OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL is pleased to announce Plodding or Plotting, an online workshop/class, with instructor Gail Gaymer Martin from Jan. 4 through 22, 2011. Registration deadline is Jan. 3, 2011. Cost for Outreach International members is $20 and $25 for non-members. For more information, visit http://www.oirw.net/campus/currentcourselist.htm. THE BLACK DIAMOND CHAPTER of RWA presents their [...]

RWA Chapter Contests NTRWA’s Great Expectation Contest has an earlybird registration date of December 11, contest closes December 30. Categories and judges: Contemporary Series – Victoria Curran, Harlequin Books; Erotic Romance – Katherine Pelz, Berkley Heat; Historical – Megan Records, Kensington Books; Inspirational – Natalie Hanemann, Thomas Nelson; Mainstream with Romantic Elements – Emilia Pisani, [...]

RWA Contests Booksellers’ Best Awards 2011. New categories this year for YA and Novella. Deadline is January 15, 2011. Best First Book category is an extra $6. For more info, see the Greater Detroit Romance Writers website. RWA Online Workshops Online Class: Platform: Build a Solid Foundation. Instructors: Jacquie Rogers and Ann Charles. Dates: December [...]

Hi. My name is Amy Atwell. I am a teller of stories. You might have seen Part 1 of this blog two weeks ago, where I discussed my journey to publication and my realization that while the format of books may change, the concept of story remains the same. That realization had a big impact [...]