Call of the Wild : Wolf Lore, truths and myths every writer should know about wolves

3rd -17th

A month long seminar for writers who are interested in writing about wolves and werewolves in their stories but who want more background on the basic biology and behavior of real wolves.  Writers will also learn why the wolf evolved from admired archetype to savage evil nemesis of man.

Lessons:

Part 1.

1. Introduction
2. Wolf Natural History

   A. Basic Biology
   B. Wolf Behavior

Part 2.

1. Wolf Lore in Europe and Central Asia
2. Wolf as totem
3. Wolf as enemy of man

Eva Gordon, BA Zoology, MA Biology, California Secondary Teaching Credential in the Life Sciences. She volunteers as a wildlife educator and has volunteered at the Howling Acres Wolf Sanctuary in Southern Oregon. She loves doing presentations on wolf and werewolf lore. She writes paranormal romance and fantasy novels. She is author of the Wolf Maiden Chronicles. Werewolf Sanctuary is book 1 and is followed by Beast Warrior: Viking Werewolf and soon to be published White Wolf of Avalon: Werewolf Knight. With many more coming in the saga. She loves delving into werewolf lore and writes what she calls her  ‘werewolfhistoricals’ romance novels. She also pursues non-fiction scholarly research on global werewolf lore.

Eva Gordon is our Seminar Host

Writing the Novel for Beginners

All Month Long

Have you always wanted to write a novel but don't know where to start? Let Amber guide you in getting to that first book! Step-by-step on how to create your first novel in as little time as 30 days! Let's put your mind to the test and write that book together!

Amber Grosjean is our Seminar Host

Setting the Scene

Each word on the page should be used to draw the reader deeper into the story.  Setting each scene, from the background to symbolism, is a crucial part of what grabs the readers and keeps them.  Learn the importance of setting the scene and using active and accurate descriptors to make the world of your characters come alive.

Join us as we show you how to make your fantasy world a reality!

- Is alliteration a good thing?

- How much background is too much background?

- Can cutting back on description be a bad thing?

Collaborator's Information: 

K.G. McAbee has had more than a dozen books and nearly seventy short stories published. Her work has won a variety of awards, including the Dorothy Parker Award of Excellence from Reviewers International, first place in the Writers’ Journal Fiction Contest, and the Independent E-Book Award for Best Reference Book. She is an Eppie Award finalist in fantasy and winner in children’s books, a Dream Realm Award finalist in adult fantasy, a Sapphire Award finalist is short fantasy, and a Derringer Award finalist in mystery. The Dark Legacy, published by Calderwood Books, won the 2008 Dream Realm Award for Best YA Fantasy. She writes fantasy, both YA and adult, mystery, science fiction, pulp and horror.

Cynthia D. Witherspoon’s publication experience includes Something’s Got to Give-(2004-2005 The Concept) as well as Chorus of the Dead in Whortleberry Press’ short story collection entitled It Was a Dark and Stormy Halloween.  Her short story Rest My Brothers was most recently published in  Christmas in Space  (Whortleberry Press). Her awards include an Honorable Mention in The Writer’s Workshop of Asheville’s Words of Love Contest (2009) as well as second place in the Eleventh Annual Hub City Writer’s Project Fiction Contest (2009).

K.G. McAbee and Cynthia D. Witherspoon is our Seminar Host

Nuts & Bolts of Writing Better

May 24-29

You say you want to be a writer, yet you can't seem to make yourself get to the keyboard consistently enough. Learn some tried and true methods of how to get yourself to the computer and stay there. We'll also take a peek at how to create 3-dimensional characters who will drive the storyline to help those pages mount up. And we'll dig into methods of how to make your scenes work harder for you while getting emotion on every page. 

What you'll learn
*how to make writing a habit
*letting your characters do the work
*making your scenes work hard
*adding emotion to every page

Robyn DeHart is our Seminar Host

The Trickier Bits of Fiction

August 1-5

This thoughtful and fun workshop is designed to make developing writers think about the nuances of the craft rather than repeating the same old, same old.

The function of each of your characters: goodie? Baddie? Robin Hood? An unreliable narrator? 

The page is your stage and your characters the actors; don't let them stand around and just read their lines. Characters must act, react and interact.

Chapters 1 and 2 have different functions: how and why and the importance of forward momentum. 

Manipulating character emotion: why character emotion and reader emotion need not be the same.

Ideas and exercises for becoming your character.

Sue Moorcroft writes novels, short stories, serials, articles, courses and writing 'how to' books. She's an experienced creative writing tutor and knows that most 'how to' articles, books and courses about writing a deal with fundamental craft. Moving on to the next level is hard for the developing writer because the material simply isn't out there. So she's agreed to bring you some ...

Sue Moorcroft is our Seminar Host

Project Management Skills for the PrePublished Author

All month long

Author Dana Marton used skills learned at her corporate job to get published and stay published. In the past five years, she's sold 25 books (without an agent) that are published in over a dozen countries in many languages. She's a Rita finalist and the winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence. And it all started with a little project management.

--SWAT chart

--Force Field Analysis

--creating your best possible proposal

--your to do list while waiting for the call

Dana Marton is our Seminar Host

Jordan Dane's Master Class for Writing Suspense

4th - 17th

Join national bestseller & critically acclaimed Jordan Dane when she shares her "Master Class in Writing Suspense." In this unique online class, Dane will provide a comprehensive workshop on writer’s craft that will include:

• Where do story ideas come from and how to start
• How to create characters editors are looking for
• Ten key elements to writing a thriller
• Where do I go for killer research

Ask your questions after every daily session and all during the week of October 4. Answers will be posted the following week – Oct 11-17th.

JordanDane is your Seminar Host

Seven Power Rules of Dramatic Sentences

1st - 5th

When I completed my first manuscript, I thought a national day of celebration should be proclaimed.  Imagine my chagrin when I discovered contest judges, agents, and editors weren't impressed by my 700 neat pages.  They expected not only that each chapter, page, and paragraph be effective, but they also demanded that exacting standard apply to each sentence and even each word.  Didn't they know that perfectionism of this level put them at risk for early cardiac arrest?

When I had no luck changing their minds, I decided I would have to conform. And these seven rules made all the difference.

Lyn Cote will be your Seminar Host

2009 Seminars/Classes

2008 Seminars/Classes