Writing Conflict Hurts
May 18, 2021 by marianne h donley in category Ages 2 Perfection Online Class, Online Classes tagged as Aged to Perfection, Craft, June 2021, Melinda Curtis, Writing class, writing conflict
Writing Conflict Hurts
Presented by: Melinda Curtis
Date: June 1 – 30, 2021
Pricing: A2P Member fee: $15
Non-A2P Member fee: $30
About the Workshop:
Writing conflict hurts – not just because it makes your characters suffer, but also because it’s painful to create and carry through on the page. However, conflict drives story and holds an editor’s attention, which means it sells books. Conflict also entices readers to turn the page, which helps create a satisfying experience (plus repeat purchases). Bring a story idea to this interactive course and learn how to build, refine or edit your stories by creating compelling conflict and stronger plots, one element at a time. Takeaways include:
- Developing story goals that are hindered by conflict
- How to deepen character and create emotionally satisfying endings
- Better understanding of internal and external conflict
- The “bumpers” that keep your characters acting consistently
- Conflict that catches the attention of editors and agents
- Summarizing and presenting your finished or developing story, including synopses, taglines and product descriptions
About the Presenter:
Prior to writing romance, award-winning, USA Today Bestseller Melinda Curtis was a junior manager for a Fortune 500 company, which meant when she flew on the private jet she was relegated to the jump seat—otherwise known as the potty. After grabbing her pen (and a parachute) she made the jump to full-time writer. A hybrid author, Melinda has over 60 titles published or sold, including 40 works to Harlequin and five to Grand Central Forever, mostly sweet romance and sweet romantic comedy. One of her books, – Dandelion Wishes –, was made into a 2020 TV movie – Love in Harmony Valley. She recently came to grips with the fact that she’s an empty nester and a grandma, concepts easier to grasp than movies made from her books or jet-setting on a potty
0 0 Read moreFreedom and Framework: Story Planning for Pantsers
February 18, 2021 by marianne h donley in category Online Classes tagged as A2PSRWA, Aged to Perfection, Catherine Chant, Online Class, Online Classes, pantsers
Presented by: Catherine Chant
Date: March 1 – 31, 2021
Pricing: A2P Member fee: $15
Non-A2P Member fee: $30
About the Workshop:
Flying by the seat of your pants to write the first draft for your book feels so freeing. It’s a time to play, to experiment, to try out new ideas. What fun!
But diving into a project as big as a novel without any plan at all often means a lot of extra work after the draft is completed as you scramble to revise hundreds of pages that might have no cohesion, inconsistent characters, or a wandering plot.
One way to lessen that extra work is to go into the rough draft phase of your book with a better idea of where the story’s headed. That doesn’t mean knowing everything about your story (how boring would that be?), but it does mean knowing something to give your story direction. “Outline” is a scary word for most pantsers. It sounds restrictive, it sounds tedious, it sounds boring. So, there will be no “outlines” here. Nope. None. Instead, you’re going to build yourself a “framework” for your story that’s open and flexible, with plenty of room for playing, experimenting, and checking out new ideas off the beaten path whenever the inspiration strikes you.
Story Planning for Pantsers: Keep your freedom, but keep on track, too.
About the Presenter:
Award-winning author Catherine Chant is a Romance Writers of America (RWA) Golden Heart® finalist. She writes rock ‘n’ roll romantic fiction and stories with paranormal twists for young adults as well as books on creative writing topics.
Catherine worked for 15 years as an IT computing & communication consultant at her alma mater Boston College before becoming a full-time writer. She teaches several online workshops for writers throughout the year and provides instructional articles on computing, gaming and crafts to different websites.
You can find out more about Catherine at her website.
Tips and Tricks for Shining Online An Aged 2 Perfection Online Workshop
January 18, 2021 by marianne h donley in category Online Classes tagged as Aged to Perfection, Brenda Clotildes, Online Class, Zoom
Tips and Tricks for Shining Online
Presented by: Brenda Clotildes
Date: February 6 – 19, 2021 – includes 2 live sessions!
Pricing: A2P Member fee: $10
Non-A2P Member fee: $20
Registration: Aged to Perfection Workshop
About the Workshop:
We’re all spending more time on screen these days. Whether it’s a Zoom meeting, Instagram interview or Facebook launch party, we all want to look our best. This workshop will provide a checklist of things to do—and NOT to do—to help you be prepared, no matter where you’re virtually appearing. No special equipment necessary!
About the Presenter:
Brenda Clotildes spent more than thirty years as a television writer/producer. She’s helped everyone from mechanics to politicians look natural yet professional on camera. As Brenda Margriet, she writes savvy, slow burn, contemporary romances with ordinarily amazing characters. Readers have called her stories “poignant,” “explicit and steamy,” “interesting, intriguing and entertaining,” and “unlike any romance you’ve read before” (she assumes the latter was meant in a good way).
Help! I’ve Lost My Muse! An Aged 2 Perfection Online Class
January 18, 2021 by marianne h donley in category Online Classes tagged as Aged to Perfection, Online Class
Presented by: Lois Winston
Date: February 1 – 28, 2021
Pricing: A2P Member fee: $15
Non-A2P Member fee: $30
Registration: Aged 2 Perfection Workshops
About the Workshop:
What do you do when Maizy Muse takes off for parts unknown and leaves you staring at a blank computer screen? In this workshop, Lois Winston, a USA Today and Amazon bestselling and award-winning author and retired literary agent, will offer some unorthodox tips for recapturing that AWOL muse, banishing writer’s block and stimulating creativity. The workshop will employ everything from Madison Avenue advertising to Dear Abby, from Bruce Springsteen to standing in line at the supermarket checkout counter, and more. Attendees will be encouraged to participate in the various assignments (sometimes bizarre, always fun) that accompany each lesson. The workshop will end with the “Help, I’ve Lost My Muse Challenge” which, if completed, will result in the creation of captivating characters and a dynamic plot for your next manuscript.
About the Presenter:
USA Today and Amazon bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and nonfiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is a former literary agent and an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry.
Website: www.loiswinston.com
Newsletter sign-up: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z1z1u5
Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog: www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/anasleuth
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Anasleuth
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/722763.Lois_Winston
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lois-winston
Not Just Stretch Marks and Hot Flashes: Writing the Seasoned Romance
January 18, 2021 by marianne h donley in category Events, Online Classes tagged as Aged to Perfection, Jeannie Moon, One-day Workshop, Seasoned Romance Writers, Writing the Seasoned Romance
Not Just Stretch Marks and Hot Flashes: Writing the Seasoned Romance
Presented by: Jeannie Moon
Date: January 23, 2021, Saturday, 9AM PT
Pricing: A2P Member fee: No Charge
Non-A2P Member fee: $10
Registration: Aged to Perfection Workshops
About the Workshop:
Romance readers are growing older and so are the heroes and heroines in the genre they love. This workshop will take you through the ins and outs of writing a seasoned romance from the physical realities of age to the subtleties of the older mindset. See how publishers are starting to embrace romances with more mature characters.
Topics covered will include both craft and marketing, so authors can explore issues surrounding age, including:
- The concept of love being ageless
- How intimacy between older characters can be sexy and fun
- The myth of eternal youth (and why we don’t need it)
- Tropes that work well with seasoned romance
- How to envision and pitch your book in a changing market
- Fighting ageism in the industry
About the Presenter:
USA Today bestselling author Jeannie Moon has always been a romantic. When she’s not spinning tales of her own, Jeannie works as a school librarian, thankful she has a job that allows her to immerse herself in books and call it work. The author of sixteen contemporary romances for Tule Publishing and Penguin Random House, Jeannie is married to her high school sweetheart, has three grown kids, three lovable dogs and is a lifelong resident of Long Island. If she’s more than ten miles away from salt water for any longer than a week she gets twitchy.
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