I’d like to invite you on an adventure with me for the next 26 days. You might notice the A-Z Challenge avatar to the right of this post. That’s right, I’m a part of that challenge and for you, my readers, I want to give you a chance to get to know the Women of the Bible series better by sharing excerpts, character sketches and interviews, research behind the stories, and reviews from other readers with you.
I hope you’ll come along and I’d love for you to leave your thoughts and comments.
The Hybrid Author, self-published, will be released on April 21st, by Dianne G. Sagan.
The book to clarify confusion over what the definition of a ‘hybrid author.’
You’ve heard the term at writers conferences discussed in panels and over dinner tables.
With a publishing industry in constant change, authors find themselves trying to make decisions about whether or not to self-publish or traditionally publish.
Now you have a book that explains the Hybrid Author path.
Including interviews with C. J. Lyons, Joanna Penn, J. A. Konrath, Hugh C. Howey, Marie Force, Barbara Morgenroth and Jennifer Archer.
Available in three weeks — on Kindle and in print — watch for details about giveaways on Goodreads and a Launch Party on Facebook. Sneak peek of the cover in two weeks!
Pansies are some of my favorite flowers and they have brightened our garden all winter long between snow storms and rain. They are the beautiful color that gives me hope for warmer weather as the cold night temperatures hold on this year, and help me remember that spring flowers will come again. The pear trees are in full bloom. Tulips will be out soon and are always a sign that the winter has let go and spring is here.
Spring flowers aren’t the only thing that is new with our warming temperatures. I don’t know about you, but I love sitting out in the back yard in my swing enjoying a new book with a glass of sweet tea or lemonade. I know that sweet tea is something that is particular to those of us in the South – it’s iced tea that is already sweetened. Have you ever tried putting a little fresh lemonade in your iced tea and top it off with a sprig of fresh mint from the garden? Better than a mint julep!
In your list of books to read this Spring, I hope you’ll add Miriam’s Room. Coming Soon! I know you’ve waited awhile for this one and it is finally at the publisher. The next book in my Women of the New Testament series. Meet Miriam, John Mark’s mother. She is a lot like you and me. A woman who believes she can do anything. She is a wife, mother, manages a household, known in her community, and must meet many challenges in life. Miriam shares relationships with different people and grows from each. Her upper room is a special place to her and those in her life. Why?
I’ll be giving you hints, excerpts, and the release date over the next few weeks.
Ghostwriters and aspiring ghostwriters- -take off your cloaks of invisibility for a moment and check out these two upcoming opportunities to meet other ghosts, learn new skills and techniques, and join our growing community of professionals.
1) Ghostwriting Certificate Program is now online at Cal State U., Long Beach. The next class begins February 16, 2013. Go to www.ccpe.csulb.edu and search for “ghostwriting& quot; for full information and registration.
2) Ghostwriters Unite!, the first international conference for, by, and about ghostwriters, takes place at the Long Beach Hilton on May 3, 4, and 5. Go to http://ghostwriters unite.com for info and registration. Early bird special rates end April 1st.
These are great opportunities for anyone who is interested in ghostwriting. Even though the first listing may be too short for you to make the deadline, if you live in the Long Beach area, then you can sign up for the next course cycle. I have done some ghostwriting, as many of you know, and enjoyed it. If you don’t live in that area, then check at your local colleges and universities. They may have ghostwriting programs or classes available. Best of luck.
Title: Creating Great Characters
Presented by: Maggie Ball
Date: December 07, 2011 (Wednesday)
Time: 5:00 – 5:45 PM EST (U.S.)
Format: Live Webinar
Handout: Yes
Cost: Free
Workshop Description:
Think of amazing characters, such as Sherlock Holmes, Scarlett O’Hara (Gone with the Wind), Tarzan, Scout Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird), Peter Pan, Charlotte (Charlotte’s Web), T. S. Garp (The World According to Garp), Nick and Nora Charles (The Thin Man), Harry Potter, the list goes on and on.
Characters are at the heart of every great story and every fiction author needs to know how to create good ones. Think temperament, intelligence, appearance, physical characteristics, quirks, moods, mannerisms, and so on. Great characters need to be real, engaging, and motivating; they need to keep the reader reading. They need to touch something in the reader; they need to be remembered.
Join Maggie Ball as she discusses characterization.
To register for “Creating Great Characters” email Maggie Ball at:maggieball@compulsivereader.com
Details to attend the LIVE WEBINAR will be provided upon registration.
There will also be a bonus PDF workshop handout included and registered attendees will receive a recording of the live webinar.
For complete details go to:
http://www.writersonthemove.com/p/writers-on-move-workshop.html
Presented by: Karen Cioffi
Date: November 18, 2011
Time: 7PM, EST (U.S. Time)
Workshop Format: Live Online Chat
Handout: Yes
Fee: Free
Workshop Description:
Surely, you’ve all hear by now about informational products. If not, it’s all about creating a product that provides needed or wanted information to others . . . information others will be willing to pay for.
And, it’s not difficult at all.
So, what might be an example of an informational product?
Simple, anything that, again, will provide people with information / knowledge they need or want. Information that will solve a person’s problem or will help them get where they want to be. It might be a report, an e-book, a workshop, you get the idea.
To help you get in the informational product game, Writers on the Move is hosting a workshop presented by Karen Cioffi that will give you the steps you need to get where you want to be: creating and selling informational products.
To register for “Create and Sell an Informational Product” email Karen Cioffi at:
karencioffi [at] ymail.
The workshop is free, but all registrants will be added to the Writers on the Move and the presenter’s mailing list.
Details to the LIVE CHAT will be provided upon registration.
We’ll be offering (at the discretion of the presenter) an After Workshop Package of this workshop for those who didn’t register and would like to purchase it. It’ll include the live chat transcript, the workshop handout, and possibly a podcast. Be sure to Get Yours when it’s available!
It’s like holding back a wave and then the dam breaks – the story starts pouring out of my thoughts and through my fingers. The story unfolds on the screen in front of me. Over 200 participants live in my area for 2011. Well over 300,000 world wide took part in this blitz to write 50,000 words in 30 days. My outline is in place and my thoughts keep going back to the story I want to write. Research files sit ready on my book shelf.
Our Amarillo area kick-off is tomorrow (Sunday, October 30, 2011) to get everyone to the starting line. Lots of free and discounted things are available to participants. If you’re not signed up yet, you still have time. It only takes a few minutes and even if you don’t write the full 50,000 words you are eligible for surprises just for signing up.
I do hope you’ll come and join us on this journey. If you want to attend the kick-off then here is the information:
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Amarillo Northwest Branch Library (on west 9th across from the V.A.hospital and just to the east, next door, to Amarillo College West Campus.
2:00pm – 4:00pm
Have a great weekend and great NaNoWriMo!
It’s already October 18th and only 13 days left in this month. Then ….. NaNoWriMo begins. You can start writing at one minute past midnight on November 1st if you want to. Are you wondering how to get ready for this crazy rush to write the first draft of a novel – 50,000 words or more in 30 days?
Answer: 1620.9 words a day will get you there!
How to get ready?
Go online to the National Novel Writing Month website and sign up for free. I’ve you’ve participated before then just go in and put your new information for this year.
You can find people in your area who are also participating and each area has a volunteer coordinator. Some of the participants get together for a kickoff party and then meet periodically to have a “write in” and work on their manuscripts as a group.
Decide on the subject. Write a basic outline for the book. Decide on a working title. Do some character development charts for the major characters.
Don’t be intimidated by the number of words required. Even if you don’t make it within the 30 day challenge continue writing until you’re finished. Look at it this way. How far along will you be on your novel if you don’t give it a try? I’ve participated off and on for the past several years and made it all the way to my goal of 50,000 words for the first time last year. I promise that it is an exhilarating feeling when you type “The End.” I hope you’ll join me this year. Let me know if you sign up.
WritersMarket.com lists hundreds of writing conferences for writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, writing for children, journalism, and more. Here are five coming up in autumn:
Austin Film Festival & Conference will be happening in Austin, Texas, October 20-27. The conference portion of it will last October 20-23.
The James River Writers Conference will be taking place in Richmond, Virginia, from October 6-8 at the Library of Virginia.
From October 21-23, the South Carolina Writers Workshop will be hosted at the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort.
On November 12, Towson University will host the Baltimore Writers’ Conference from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Steve Almond is slated as the keynote speaker.
Flathead River Writers Conference takes place October 1-2 at Flathead Valley Community College in Montana.
