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PITCH SESSIONS WITH:

Please check each publisher's and agent's links to familiarize yourself as to what they are seeking, their guidelines, and so forth.

Submissions for placement in a pitch session will open up to attendees beginning of September. In the meantime, finish your manuscripts,

prepare a 150 - 200 word pitch, and be ready when the pitch registrations open up. Those who will be pitching will be asked to send the following information:

YOUR NAME

YOUR EMAIL

YOUR TITLE - GENRE- WORD COUNT

YOUR PITCH

PITCH SESSION GUIDELINES NOW OPEN:

Send me the above information to museitupeditor AT yahoo DOT ca

Deadline SEPTEMBER 25, 2012, no later than this.

Place MUSE PITCH on the subjecting heading and the requested information within the body of your email.

WORKSHOPS ARE STILL BEING UPDATED. PLEASE BOOKMARK AND COME BACK OFTEN

PITCH SESSIONS

Andrea Brown Agency

Caryn Wiseman - agent
Friday - Oct 12, 2012

7PM EST

4RV Publishing

Vivian Zabel

Wednesday - Oct 10, 2012

8PM EST

We're looking for middle grade and YA, as well as science fiction, fantasy (without vampires, zombies, or werewolves), romance without graphic sexual detail, Christian, mystery/suspense, nonfiction. We do not want graphic violence detailed.

Marlene Castricato

Crescent Moon Press

Wednesday - Oct 10, 2012

6PM EST

Marlene Satter

Double Dragon Publishing

Blood Moon

Wednesday - Oct 10, 2012

4PM EST

Will be taking pitches for either Double Dragon or Blood Moon Publishing

D4EO Literary Agency

Joyce Holland - agent

Thursday - Oct 11, 2012

11AM EST

What I want: A book I can't put down. Characters I can fall in love with on page one. Emotion, drama, humor, excitement...the same things you want in a book.

Move me. Then tell me where you see your book in the publishing world. Did you target a market? Please say you targeted a market.

Write something wonderful, and I'll take it, honest.

My favorite genres: thrillers, romance, mysteries, and mild sci-fi. The same genres for YA books. I enjoy memoirs and true crime. No children's picture books.

What I don't want: Kudos from other writers, platform books, episodic romps, vampire books, wizard school books. Do not praise your own material, or me as an agent. Know this one thing about me: I really, really want to represent great writers. I live to find that jewel in the slush pile. I hope it's yours. Please call me Joyce when you write. I am not the enemy.

MuseItUp Publishing

TIME TO BE ANNOUNCED

PUBLISHERS in our week long forum and their workshops to be offering in their own forum room:

4RV Publishing

Meet Vivian Zabel, publisher, staff, and authors

Crescent Moon Press

Meet Marlene Castricato, staff, and authors

Workshops to be held in the Crescent Moon Press room:

OCT 8

Spells and Potions with Diane M. Haynes

In this workshop, learn how to create your own potions & spells using candles, color, herbs and stones. Charts, examples and a list of books for furthering your research will be provided.

Diane M. Haynes, author of YA Fantasy/Romance, Rift Healer, owns a New Age shop in Central Massachusetts and has been exploring alternative spiritual practices for over twenty years. She lives by the Wiccan Three-Fold Law: Everything You Put Out--Good or Bad--Comes Back Times Three.

OCT 8

Research of The Salem Witch Trials, Fact & Fiction and how to apply informative research into your writing with Elizabeth Cheryl

Elizabeth Cheryl is full time writer. Her mother, Cheryl and her family were from Newton, a small town in Massachusetts. Elizabeth grew up over the years learning and absorbing her mother's spiritual teachings through many types of religions. Elizabeth takes readers on their own transcending journey of discovery. An inspiring, fresh look at how far our generation has come in finding true love and a greater awareness for our own spiritual transformations.

Oct 9

Being an Effective Critique Partner with Constance Phillips

Tips and guidelines on how to give effective critiques and getting the most out of the critiques you receive.

Constance Phillips lives in Ohio with her husband, two ready-to-leave-the-nest children, and four canine kids. Her perfect fantasy vacation would involve hunting Dracula across Europe with her daughter, who also digs that kind of stuff. When she's not writing about fairies, shifters, vamps, and guardian angels, she's working side-by-side with her husband in their hardwood flooring business.

OCT 9

Herblore with Agnes Jayne

Are you looking for money? A little basil might help you with that. It might also bring you luck, love, and even rid your home of hostile spirits.

Do you need some good luck? Try putting an acorn in your pocket.

Perhaps it's love that you want – Gardenia might help you with that. So might cinnamon, lavender, rosemary, and a variety of other herbs that you may have sitting in your spice cabinet right now.

Herblore is a tradition that stretches back for centuries, and its study is a virtual treasure trove for writers of paranormal fiction. As writers of the fantastic, we are constantly searching for new knowledge to authenticate and create interest in our characters. Many of the characters in my novel, The Problem with Power, are of the witchy variety, and the study of this age-old magical tradition was central to the development of my characters, and I daresay that you might find it to be of value as well.

Agnes Jayne is the author of The Problem with Power, a debut novel released by Crescent Moon Press. She is also a college-level instructor of Writing and Literature. Her interests lie in British Literature, folklore, and the study of herbs.She lives high in the Blue Ridge Mountains of West Virginia with her husband, son, and a plethora of adopted pets.

OCT 9

KING ARTHUR - FACT VS FICTION with Suzanne Shanken

Did King Arthur really exist? Were there really Knights in shining armor? Why are all the women in Arthurian tales depicted as villains? The legend of King Author is one of the most controversial topics in the world of history. The plots, adventures, and lives of Arthurian characters are teeming with inaccurate facts and medieval political propaganda that lead most modern Arthurian fans to believe the fictional tomes of novelists writing 700 years after King Arthur allegedly lived.

Suzanne Shanken received a university scholarship by winning a short story contest and earned bachelor degrees in both British Archeology and Ancient Religions. Her love of writing found a home in the university newspaper and while student teaching creative writing classes. Suzanne studied Arthurian legends extensively. Her goal was to write tales where the Arthurian women are heroes, not villains. She achieved this goal after the publication of her book "The False Gwenevere" in 2012.

OCT 10

The Tension In Your Novel with Cindi Madsen

This workshop will pit fact against fiction and reveal the truth about those wonderful Arthurian tales that continue to fascinate hundreds of people worldwide.

As a history buff, Suzanne enjoys attending Renaissance Faires where she participates in battle reenactments and archery competitions. She lives 7,000 feet up in a small mountain community, where primitive nature is a constant inspiration for expanding her metaphysical studies.

OCT 10

Write the Fight with Courtney Farrell

Female characters don’t scream for rescue anymore. Now they’re gutsy girls who fight for what’s right. Learn how to write gripping, realistic fight scenes for your female protagonist with author and TKD black belt Courtney Farrell.

She is currently working on another Arthurian romance with Morgana le Fey as the heroine.

OCT 10

Research—How It Can Be More Inspiration than Perspiration with Kate Lutter

Research--that dreaded 8 letter word. For some writers, it becomes a trap they fall into where they can’t stop and begin to write. For some it’s the journey they can’t start because they feel too overwhelmed. Take a breath and drop by to hear some new ideas on how and where modern writers find not just information but inspiration for their stories.

Visit Suzanne at her website: www.suzanneshanken.com

OCT 11

A novel in 30 days with Kate Evangeslista

Write a novel in thirty days by writing a chapter a day. The first of the month is the first chapter and so on until by the end of the month, a novel is born. No outlining, just letting the story flow where it wants to go.

When Kate Evangelista was told she had a knack for writing stories, she did the next best thing: entered medical school. After realizing she wasn't going to be the next Doogie Howser, M.D., Kate wandered into the Literature department of her university and never looked back. Today, she is in possession of a piece of paper that says to the world she owns a Literature degree. To make matters worse, she took Master's courses in creative writing. In the end, she realized to be a writer, none of what she had mattered. What really mattered? Writing. Plain and simple, honest to God, sitting in front of her computer, writing. Today, she has four completed Young Adult novels.

Oct 11

Creating Your Fantasy World with Marne Ann Kirk

So, you're writing a fantasy, set on Milonia? Cool. What kind of currency do they use? What do your characters eat? What is the social make-up and how did it help form your characters' beliefs? If you haven't considered these questions, perhaps this class will help you create a better developed world for your characters to play in. We'll discuss what considerations are vital when world building and some of the pitfalls authors tend to get stuck in. So join me and let's discuss world building!

Marne Ann Kirk grew up wild, exploring the vast high deserts and mountains of the West with her family as a child. Marne Ann loved making up stories and, well, lied about just about everything. Thankfully, she grew out of the lying stage...now she calls it story-telling. She lives with her husband in Western Colorado, where they enjoy their children, grand-children, and too many Shih-Tzu beasties. She hopes you enjoy her novels, Love Chosen and Goddess on the Run. You can find out more about Marne Ann and her stories through her publisher, Crescent Moon Press, or visit her at: www.marneannkirk.com or www.cowboysndragonscafe.blogspot.com

Oct 11

mythology and fairy tales as a basis for new stories with Sasha Summers

Sasha is part gypsy. Her passions have always been storytelling, history, and travel. It's no surprise that her books visit times past, set in places rich with legends and myth. Her first play, 'Greek Gods and Goddesses' (original title, right?), was written for her Girl Scout troupe. She's been writing ever since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she's doing so. Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.

Oct 12

Creating the Paranormal or Alien Character with Christine Ashworth

How to create paranormal or alien characters that are alien enough, and yet a reader can empathize with them? That is the trick every good author of paranormal fiction knows. Let Christine help you find, define, and refine the parameters of your own, unique creatures!

Christine Ashworth is the author of The Caine Brothers Series, a paranormal series about tribreds - characters that have demon, human and Fae bloodlines running through them. She also writes about vampires, werewolves, full-blooded demons, full-blooded Fae, and angels. You can find her at http://christine-ashworth.com

Oct 13

Mastering Point of View with Cindy Young-Turner

Are you a head hopper? Can’t decide between first person and third person? Or does the word “omniscient” make you want to run for the hills? Let’s talk point of view. I’ll cover the basics and provide examples to help you figure out what works best for your story. You’ll never be afraid of slipping into the dog’s point of view again—unless you mean it.

Louann has written numerous radio talk shows, articles on adoption, and is the author of Journeys, The Adventure of Leaf. She was the senior editor of American Carriage House Publishing and assisted in the writing, editing, and formatting of the award winning book, AdoptingOnline.com.

Oct 14

Made to Order: The perfect recipe for great characters that your readers will eat up with Jean Murray

Are agents or editors not connecting with your characters? Do your characters feel flat or one dimensional? Need a quick fix? Well, you may have been following the wrong recipe. Characters need more than flaws to grab a reader’s attention. Grab that onion from your refrigerator and a large knife, because we are going to get to the heart of the problem—character ingredients, layering and so much more. Make your readers, agents and editors hungry for more.

Jean Murray was born and raised in a small town on the east coast. In her pursuit of a nursing degree, she aspired to see the world and joined the Navy. One of the benefits of her membership in the Armed Forces, she has had the opportunity to travel and live in different parts of the world and the United States. Her travels abroad have given her the opportunity to experience different cultures. It inspired her to delve into Ancient Egyptian myths and legends for her debut novel, Soul Reborn, book 1 in the Key to the Cursed series from Crescent Moon Press, now available.

Oct 14

Get the Most out of the Internet for Research and Fun! with Louann Carroll

Getting Your Facts Straight Research on the Internet is a lot more than just ten seconds with Google or Yahoo—even if you type fast. Did you know that there are over eighty billion web pages published and most of them aren’t worth even looking though? If you are writing science fiction, you have to have your facts right. Even the supernatural can be found online, giving you great new ideas. Learning the pros and cons of research is the number one way you can help your manuscript be as ‘real’ as possible. You don’t want to make mistakes that others will bring to your attention once your book is available to the public. Discover: Whether or not you should you use more or less search terms. What kind of research you need. What is the difference between hard research and soft research? How putting the two together can be fun! The best search engines available. With thousands of web pages added every day, this workshop will benefit you in finding the facts, or even theories, you need to add substance and style to your manuscript.

Louann Carroll is a Native Californian living in the Sierra Nevada foothills with her husband, Dennis. Mother to three children, she is an avid rock, fossil, and gem hunter who enjoys sharing her finds with her family and friends. She is a student of alternative religion, archaeology, anthropology, and paleontology. Carroll has written radio talk shows and articles on adoption. She is the author of Gemini Rising, a sci-fi romance, A Shadow of Time, a paranormal romance, Journeys, The Adventure of Leaf, and numerous children's stories.

Double Dragon Publishing & Blood Moon Publishing

Meet Marlene Satter

Double Dragon Publishing

Blood Moon

MuseItUp Publishing Forum

WEDNESDAY - OCTOBER 10, 2012

The Hows and Whys of Writing Short Stories with Conda V. Douglas

Never before have there been so many opportunities for writers of short stories to sell those stories. But that's only one of several reasons to write short stories. All the whys and the more important hows will be covered in Conda V. Douglas' workshop, "The Hows and Whys of Writing Short Stories." Conda's short stories have been published over 70 times, including, this past September, "A Foodie Fairy's First Foray" by Muse It Up Publishing.

THURSDAY - OCTOBER 11, 2012

"Why Middle Grade?" with Emma Eden Ramos

This past March, The New York Times published an article titled "Your Brain on Fiction." "Stories," Annie Murphy Paul wrote, "stimulate the brain and even change how we act in life." In this day and age, as a result of advanced technology, we are constantly being bombarded with information, opinions and advertisements. Even as adults, we can find it difficult to weed out the good from the bad, the harmful from the potentially helpful. For young people, however, learning to make these distinctions can be a matter of life and death, success and failure. While it may not be the answer, there is no doubt that fiction, with its relatable characters, can play an enormous role in shaping a child's understanding of the world. In this workshop, we will look at the components of a middle grade story. How do they differ from those of YA and adult fiction? We will discuss the importance of character growth and maturity. Is it absolutely crucial that an MG character learn at least one significant life lesson? If so, why? And, lastly, we will explore what it takes to develop a relatable protagonist that young teens can turn to.

FRIDAY - OCTOBER 12, 2012

Writing the Unreliable YA Narrator with Mindy Hardwick

Liars, thieves, and unsavory young adult characters. How do we craft a story with an unreliable YA narrator without alienating the reader? In this workshop, we’ll look at three techniques to help us bring the unreliable character to the page. Writing exercises as well as examples of unreliable characters in YA novels will be provided.

How to Incorporate themes in your YA novel with Barbara Ehrentreu

WEEKLONG WORKSHOPS

A Basic Writerly Logo Workshop with Mindy Crump

Day 1 - Gather Information: Information such as the name of the writer/business, possible slogans, colours, purpose and other specifics

Day 2 - Programs: Logo creating doesn't have to be done using fancy programs and not all of them have to cost you money. There will be a list of programs for students to try and play around with (most are free) for the day.

Day 3 - Designing; Part 1: Learning about which fonts to choose and how being picky about choosing one can be a good thing.

Day 4 - Designing; Part 2: Students will learn about the copyright laws using graphics, and how using basic shapes can enhance a design

Day 5 - Puzzle Time: This is when students gather all of the pieces for their logo and put it all together. They will learn how placement can make or break the look of a logo.

Day 6 and 7 - Contest: Students are given the option of entering a contest by submitting their own logo they worked on during the week.

Prize: Creation of either an ebook cover or a logo for free done by The Write Web Design owner Melinda Crump.

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Breaking into the Homeschool Market with Susan K. Stewart

According to Education World, homeschooling has increased by 75% since 1999. Traditional textbook publishers have found this market, but you don’t have to write textbooks or study guides to tap into the market. Susan K. Stewart began homeschooling in 1981, before it became fashionable, and has seen the successes and the failures. She will provide hints and tips on breaking into this market with your product, plus a few ideas for creating products for homeschoolers. Fiction writers encouraged to attend.

Susan's writing career began with a neighborhood newspaper, drawn and written by hand. Her first published work was a poem in her elementary school "literary" booklet.

Since these humble beginnings, she has written for newspapers and magazines, and currently writes regular columns in The California Parent Educator and Home School Enrichment. Her articles have also appeared in The Teaching Home, Tehachapi News, and Sacramento Bee, and she has contributed to several projects. With her husband Bob, Susan self-published Y2K in the City. Her most recent books is Science in the Kitchen and Preschool: At What Cost?. Susan also proofreads and edits for Christian Home Educators Press.

Since 1985, Susan has been bringing her realistic, yet encouraging messages to conferences, retreats, and small groups. Susan is available to speak at your conference or retreat. Her trademark is inspiring practical solutions. She brings her experience and openness to each topic. Inspire your audience with Susan’s practical and encouraging presentations.

www.practicalinspirations.com

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Creating Realistic Criminals with Joyce Anthony

Creating realistic characters adds that extra punch to your fiction. This workshop will take you into the mind of serial killers, rapists, arsonists and a number of other criminals. Details are based are forensic psychology research used by today’s FBI and other law enforcement organizations. Make your criminal so real your readers constantly check their back as they read!

Everything I Need to Know Is on the Internet with Susan K. Stewart

The wealth of information on the Internet is amazing. It’s not called The Information Super Hiway without good reason. Research is more than a Google search. It still requires getting out of the chair, and away from the computer.

Susan K. Stewart will take you back to the basics of research. She will show you not just how to do Internet research, but also how to combine it original document sources, interviews, and roaming the stacks at the library. Be prepared for some quick assignments to learn the skills.

Susan's writing career began with a neighborhood newspaper, drawn and written by hand. Her first published work was a poem in her elementary school "literary" booklet.

www.practicalinspirations.com

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Fine Tuning the Senses with Jane Bernard

Fine Tuning the Senses is how to connect with your creative process. This approach to writing will connect you with your intuitive voice.

Using the techniques in this course based on Fine Tuning, Connecting With Your Inner Power, you will recognize that intuition is your internal guidance system for accessing clarity. Part of the discovery of Fine Tuning is that it is easy. Importantly for each of us, clarity leads to a sense of self-recognition and accomplishment.

We have the answers to our writing conundrums, and they’re at our fingertips. Fine Tuning helps open the door to the spark that drives your writing. Through Fine Tuning you will recognize that spark driving you, connecting with the passion to write is your intuition.

Fine Tuning the Senses includes a series of interactive writing exercises using the 5 senses culminating in the creation of a platform connecting with our 6th sense, intuition.

During the 1-hour workshop I look forward to answering questions about writing and intuition. The idea is for the attendees to leave stimulated and ready to write.

This workshop is intended to be fun, educational and inspiring.

Focusing on the senses turns the key, opening doors to your imagination. Fine-tuning the senses lets you access the passion you have that enables you to clarify your message. Upon completion of this workshop, you will feel empowered and inspired as a writer and a communicator.

Jane's a philosopher who writes about intuition. Besides writing books and speaking about connecting with your intuition, Jane has been a Writing Professor at several universities. Currently she 's writing an innovative philosophy book about reconnecting with your intuitive voice to think differently and how to use this to solve problems that are plaguing your life and our world.

Jane's degrees in Philosophy and Special Education, and three decades of informal Zen practice create her uniquely accessible perspective on intuitive thinking. Her current project is a focus on using music to connect with your muse. www.BoomerRevival.com

Jane was asked to write a book about intuitive eating. Based on interviews and observation, her book, Am I Really Hungry guides people to recognize their intuitive cues to effortlessly be in control of their eating. These same cues guide us as writers, too. She is a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution, The Dramatists Guild, The Groucho Club (UK) and the International Speaker's Bureau/.

Jane been on The Montel Show and is a regular on national radio helping people connect with clarity to make empowering Life choices by using their senses with intuition and experience.

Jane's presentations at the Muse conference are generally lively and provocative. This will be her fourth year. She appreciates and looks forward to those who keep coming back.

Jane's books are available on Amazon and Kindle. These include:

Fine Tuning is a simple book where each page offers a sound bite of insight. It will open your mind to the possibility of living intuitively. People use it like an oracle to spontaneously open to any page when something feels 'off'. This book is a great for people of every generation.

Am I Really Hungry? was written to help people use intuition to lose weight. It is a reference book that talks about using intuition to defuse emotional buttons. This book clearly gives you the 10 tools that keep you aware of physical cues from your 6th sense. Reading it will change the way you think about eating for good.

How to Hook an Editor in 500 Words or Less with Lynnette Labelle

"You never get a second chance to make a first impression." Anyone who’s been rejected by an editor can tell you this is true. To make it past the slush pile, you need to be able to hook your reader from the very first pages.

How to Hook an Editor in 500 Words or Less will teach you to avoid common mistakes authors make in the first pages of their novels. You'll learn how to edit your work to create a compelling hook and ensure an editor will be clamoring for more.

In this workshop, we'll look at real examples of participants' first pages. If you would like to have your hook critiqued by a professional editor, please send the first five hundred words of your manuscript to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with “Muse Sample Edit” in the subject line. Save the pages as a Microsoft Word doc or docx and include the genre and title. Ten submissions will be chosen at random and used as examples during the workshop. This class is offered October 8-12 (Monday-Friday).

The deadline for the 500 word sample is October 7, 2012 at noon CST, but you don’t have to wait until then. If your sample is ready, send it now.

About the Instructor: Lynnette Labelle is a freelance copyeditor, proofreader, and manuscript editor with over eleven years of experience. She specializes in developmental copyediting, substantive or big picture editing, and line editing for romance (romantic suspense, paranormal romance, romantic thriller, contemporary romance, and romantic comedy), mystery, thriller, suspense, horror, crime, paranormal/supernatural, urban fantasy, and YA. She proofreads nonfiction and all fiction genres, and helps writers create hooky query letters and strong synopses.

Lynnette has a bachelor of education degree from the University of Manitoba, where she specialized in English and French. She excelled in Advanced Creative Writing in university and studied writing for children and teens through the Institute of Children’s Literature. She’s a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association, Romance Writers of America, RWA Online, and Savvy Authors.

To learn more about Lynnette’s editorial services, check out her website: www.labelleseditorialservices.com and follow her on Twitter: @LynnetteLabelle.

WIN! WIN! WIN!

Win one of Lynnette’s editorial services. The winner can choose between:

-a query letter critique with two revisions

-Unraveling the Mystery of GMCs—a one-on-one class on goals, motivations, and conflicts, where she’ll help you with your characters’ GMCs.

For more information on Lynnette’s classes and query letter or synopsis critiques, go to her website: www.labelleseditorialservices.com

Learn how to enter the contest here: http://labelleseditorialservices.com/contest/

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How to Write a Story, Not Just 50K, in 30 Days with Jean Viola Ryan

It's almost that time again, folks. National Novel Writing Month is a great idea, but like many great ideas, it require preparation. In this weeklong workshop, you will start that preparation. First you will learn to find your emotional connection to your writing, because without that, 1. writing 50K becomes a chore and 2. because if you don't have it, neither will your reader. After this, you will come up with story sentences, something to help keep you focused for 30 days so your book becomes a story, rather than 50K. You will work on some very loose plotting and brainstorm a few candy bar scenes you can write when writers block strikes.

Jean Viola Ryan's debut novel, The Mark of Abel, was a 2007 National Novel Writing Month winner. That was back before she took a single workshop or read any books on writing. After spending several years revising that monstrosity, she decided that she didn't want to be a panstser any more and took every workshop she could find about plotting. This workshop will incorporate several tricks she picked up.

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Introduction to ePublishing with Susan K. Stewart

Writers can no longer ignore e-publishing. It is a vital part of your marketing plan. Whether you are publishing through traditional companies or self-publishing, you need to be aware of the various e-books available, distribution methods, and how they fit in your marketing plan. This course will cover basics of e-publishing: types of e-books, pricing, and more.

Susan's writing career began with a neighborhood newspaper, drawn and written by hand. Her first published work was a poem in her elementary school "literary" booklet.

www.practicalinspirations.com

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Knock Your Block Off! with Jane Bernard

CONTENT: Writer’s Block

What is it?

How to recognize it,

Who gets it?

What does it mean?

Why does it happen?

Beating it.

Writer’s block is the experience of feeling boredom, resentment, frightened, or confused, when you sit down to write. It happens to everyone and there is nothing pleasant about it. Still it is part of writing. The goal of this course is to help writers to recognize their writing process and writer’s block.

I will give the students a few provocative questions about their writing experiences relating to writer’s block, and then do a 1-hour workshop answering questions.

I will talk about how to beat writer’s block by understanding how to get around it psychologically. This course is designed for opening up the blocked writer.

Mostly I want to help people with getting the results they're seeking. The 1-hour workshop will be devoted to this. Bring questions about your writing process for me to address.

A copy of my e-book, Knock Your Block Off! which addresses writer's block. It can be downloaded for free with code # QY88R through Smashwords.com

This is different from “Fine Tuning The Senses” which focuses on using the 6 senses to help people break through the ice to begin and continue the creative process.

Jane been on The Montel Show and is a regular on national radio helping people connect with clarity to make empowering Life choices by using their senses with intuition and experience.

Jane's presentations at the Muse conference are generally lively and provocative. This will be her fourth year. She appreciates and looks forward to those who keep coming back.

Jane's books are available on Amazon and Kindle. These include:

Making Writing Snap with publisher Vivian Zabel from 4RV Publishing

Writing can be drab and boring; blah in places and interesting in others; or it can grab the reader and keep him engaged from the first page to the last. In a week-long forum workshop, Vivian Zabel presents material and exercises to help writers make their writing interesting from beginning to end.

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My Dear, I Don’t Give A Damn: The Power of Dialogue

Geared for the new and intermediate writer, My Dear, I Don’t Give A Damn: The Power of Dialogue will focus on ways to incorporate dialogue into scenes to make your story sparkle. Using examples from books and movies, we’ll explore the many purposes of dialogue in storytelling.

Day 1

Welcome and introduction to class, grammar basics, the great “said” debate and a case of “adverbitis.”

Day 2

How dialogue reveals character, motivation, emotion, socioeconomic background and more.

Day 3

How dialogue can advance the plot, govern the pacing, intensify conflict, and create suspense.

Day 4

Learn how dialogue can enhance the setting and show context.

Day 5

Dialogue pitfalls to avoid, general observations about using dialogue and one method of writing better dialogue.

Award-winning author Ginger Hanson writes contemporary and historical romance novels, as well as essays and short stories. Her contemporary romance series is set in the fictional town of Tassanoxie, AL, a small town full of second chances. Fall in love with the town and its characters in Feather’s Last Dance, Ellie’s Song and A Christmas Diamond for Merry.

Enjoy historical adventure romance? Try Lady Runaway, Ginger’s recent venture into the Regency era and her third historical romance. Two Civil War adventure romances lurk on her backlist. And if you want to learn what it’s like to write a historical romance as a first book, read Ginger’s entertaining article, “Quest for Vengeance” in the Twilight Times Books anthology How I Wrote My First Book.

A workshop presenter at writers' conferences, Ginger also gives programs for clubs, schools, and libraries. In her nonfiction past, she worked as a “clean up” writer and copyeditor of FAA handbooks, wrote a lot of newsletters and served a stint as a humor columnist for a small town newspaper. When not writing, Ginger volunteers with the Friends of the Library and practices Tai Chi to maintain her sanity.

To learn more about the goings on in Tassanoxie, AL, visit with the town gossip, Miss Mabel at missmabeltalkstassanoxie.blogspot.com

Visit Ginger Hanson at

www.gingerhanson.com

Feather's Last Dance

Available in print & ebook

www.gingerhanson.com

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Poetry: Not Just for Writing Verse with:

Michele (Head conference moderator extraordinaire), Margaret Fieland, Lin Nieswender, Anne Westlund, Mary Jensen, and

Carla Girtman

In this week-long, interactive workshop you'll: explore the use of poetry and imagery to refine and re-find your project's heart in any writing genre; practice three poetic forms; critique and have your poems critiqued;
discuss collaborative efforts; and have the opportunity to develop your own critique group. Each day's assignments are short, but build on each other. Three subject-specific chats scheduled.
Bonus: the top three poems created during the workshop will be published in an upcoming issue of Apollo's Lyre e-zine!

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Strategies for Breaking Through Writer's Block with Mary Jo Guglielmo

Most writers experience a time when they are stuck and can’t get their creative juices flowing. This creative block can be a paralyzing and frightening landscape. If a writer is unable to break through this block, it can derail a writing career. If you have ever smacked into a creative wall and felt stuck in the writing process, this workshop is for you.

This workshop will help you identify the root causes of your creative blocks. We will focus on the creative process and fool proof block-buster techniques designed to help release your creative muse. Strategies for increasing productivity and structuring your creative life to avoid blocks will be explored. Participants will complete daily assignment designed to unearth the root of their blocks and experiment with different strategies to connect with their muse.

About the instructor: Mary Jo Guglielmo is a writer and intuitive life strategist who has helped writers move their writing careers forward. Combining intuitive insights with practical know-how, Mary Jo has helped clients discover how to live their authentic path—their True North. Through the Do North coaching program which she created, Mary Jo services empower individuals to chart their course of action and DO True North. Mary Jo offers Artist Breakthrough Sessions at reduced rates. Contact Mary Jo at www.donorth.biz or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Submission Packet Throes with Lisa Lickel

Ready to submit your baby for publication or agent representation?

You mean, like, there are rules to this game?

Yes, Virginia, there are a lot of rules to getting published, and this week we’ll analyze the general intent of them. From the very basics about finding the right editor/publisher or agent to what all those scary terms like synopsis, writer’s credentials or market analysis to the most basic difference between cover and query letter, we’ll tackle them all. Questions and Answers are good; doing the brief homework that involves researching and analyzing the web sites of possible publishers and agents and reporting back is helpful. A chat is available. The content of this workshop is geared for beginners, but anyone can brush up and contribute advice and experience to others.

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Supporting Characters with Devon Ellington

ATTENTION: A Three Day Workshop - TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY ONLY

October 9, 10 & 11, 2012

One of the many challenges writers face is creating supporting characters that are unique and memorable without either falling into overused tropes or taking away from the primary relationship between protagonist and antagonist. This three-day workshop gives an overview of supporting archetypes in fiction and other types of entertainment, and ideas on how to twist them, shape, them, develop them, and make them uniquely your own. Be prepared to write -- there will be a combination of overviews, discussions, and short exercises.

Presenter bio:

Devon Ellington is a full-time writer, publishing under a half a dozen names in both fiction and non-fiction. She’s published hundreds of articles and short stories. Her plays are produced in New York, London, Edinburgh, and Australia. ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT (as Annabel Aidan) was named a “hot book for cold Cape Cod nights” by the CAPE COD TIMES. HEX BREAKER was released by Solstice Publishing. Devon is a regular at the Muse Conference, and teaches both online and in-person all over the world. Visit her website, www.devonellingtonwork.com and her blog on the writing life, Ink in My Coffee, http://devonellington.wordpress.com.

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“True Lies - Writing Covert Training and Missions into Fiction” with D.S. Kane

What You’re About To Learn… is How to Write about Covert Services

So, you’re writing something in fiction requiring black ops. Probably a thriller, but it could be anything. What are the characteristics of a real covert operative? How do they train, and where? Which nationalities have a “secret police force”? Who are the best known spies in world history, and what made them memorable? As someone who can offer you a bit of first-hand expertise in the intelligence business, I’ll present answers to these general questions. And; I have three writing assignments for you here as well.

I write fiction with covert operatives as the primary characters.

We’ll cover:

· A Very Brief History of Espionage

· A Little About Global Intelligence Agencies And Those Who Work There...

o First, an Overview

o Notes on The Organization Chart

o The Tension A Writer Can Use

· Where does a covert agent train?

· Tradecraft – Counter-surveillance, Surveillance, Cyber-terrorism and Sundries

o Tradecraft

o Technology for Spycraft

· Writing Covert Training and Covert Missions

o How to Pace Fiction using Covert Operatives

o Basic Pacing Tools and Techniques

· Your First In-Class Assignment...

· Your Second In-Class Assignment...

· Your Third In-Class Assignment...

· Espionage Writers and their Glossary

· Bibliography

· How an Espionage Writer Organizes their Computer

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Writer's Block with Mary Jo Guglielmo

Mary Jo Guglielmoo will offer daily assignments and as a group will help writers explore their blocks and try different strategies to push through these blocks.

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Writing 101 with Mary Andrews

A seven day forum which will explore a subject a day:

Monday--Facing the blank page

Tuesday--Plotting techniques

Wednesday--Character & World Developement

Thursday--Point of View

Friday--Passive Writing vs Active

Saturday--How to 'Show, don't tell'

Sunday--Self Editing techniques

Mary Andrews writes science fiction—Psionic Science Fiction—which encompasses the inevitable fusion of man, machine, and the paranormal.

For over two decades Mary has sought out and studied writing from too many mentors to list. She is an unconventional thinker who thrives ‘out of the box.’ Her favorite question is: WHY, since that answer, enables all solutions. She claims little fear of change: in fact, she has adventured through multiple career choices, testing many waters and distant horizons before finally realizing a love for writing.

Currently the director of the Write Right Critique Group in Lubbock, Texas, Mary continues to follow her muse, or rather, document its whereabouts, from a recreational past through the Society for Creative Anachronisms to the barely unfolding universes in her mind.

She heartily invites one and all to visit her website’s writer’s resources page as well as read samples of her work at http://FirebornChronicles.com

Published books:

The Fireborn Chronicles: Fireborn Found (BOOK I) by Swimming Kangaroo Press
The Fireborn Chronicles: Resonances (BOOK II) by MuseItUp Publishing
The Fireborn Chronicles: Revelations (BOOK III) by MuseItUp Publishing

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Writing News Releases with Forrest Shultz

This workshop will be held in this group only:

WRITING NEWS RELEASES

Discussions of how to write news releases

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CHAT WORKSHOPS

MONDAY - OCTOBER 8, 2012

10AM EST

Breaking into the Homeschool Market with Susan K. Stewart

Please see his weeklong forum description above.

4PM EST

Knock Your Block Off! with Jane Bernard

Please see his weeklong forum description above.

TUESDAY - OCTOBER 9, 2012

9AM EST

Everything I Need to Know Is on the Internet with Susan K. Stewart

Please see his weeklong forum description above.

5PM EST

True Lies with D.S. Kane

Please see his weeklong forum description above.

7PM EST

The Benefits and How-to of Book Reviews with Magdalena Ball

A complete 1 hour primer on reviews – why you need them, how to get them, and how to give them to garner publicity for your own book.

WEDNESDAY - OCTOBER 10, 2012

NOON EST

Fine Tuning the Senses with Jane Bernard

Please see his weeklong forum description above.

THURSDAY - OCTOBER 11, 2012

10AM EST

Introduction to ePublishing with Susan K. Stewart

Please see his weeklong forum description above.

FRIDAY - OCTOBER 12, 2012

7PM EST

Q&A with literary agent, Caryn Wiseman from the Andrea Brown Agency

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How to Incorporate themes in your YA novel with Barbara Ehrentreu

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