March Workshop

Got High Concept?

By Lori Wilde

March 4-29, 2013

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Do you want to razzle-dazzle editors? Earn a bigger advance? Create media buzz for your book? Inspire Hollywood to come knocking? The way to achieve these goals is to come up with a dynamic high concept pitch that will knock the socks of editors and agents alike.

                                           

This workshop is designed to provide you with the tools you’ll need to mold your story idea into an intriguing one sentence pitch that can magically unlock closed doors. It’s simply the most effective way to capture a publisher’s interest.

This workshop will cover the following topics:

1. A step-by-step method for creating a high concept.

2. First aid for low concept books

3. Ways to make a high concept even better

4. Where to find high concept ideas

5. How to think like a high concept writer

6. Creativity and brainstorming exercises

7. Hints and tips from top industry insiders

8. Examples of high concept stories

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Lori Wilde has sold 69 novels and novellas to four major New York Publishing houses. She holds a bachelors degree in nursing from Texas Christian University and a certificate in forensics. She has also served as the RWA National conference workshop chair and PAN retreat chair. In 2007 she was honored by her local college as alumna of the year.

 Lori is a two-time RITA finalist and has four times been nominated for Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award. She’s won the Colorado Award of Excellence, the Wisconsin Write Touch Award, The Lories, The More Than Maggie, the Golden Quill, The Laurel Wreath and The BestBooks of 2006 Book Award.

Her books have been translated into 25 languages and excerpted in Cosmopolitan, Redbook, Complete Woman, All You and Quick and Simplemagazines. She lives in Texas with her husband, Bill.

WORKSHOP FEES:

$15 for Members
$20 for Non-Members

To pay via PayPal, please send payment to workshops@passionateink.org and make the subject line WORKSHOP: HIGH CONCEPT. Please be sure the information field includes the name and email address you will be using for the workshop.

To pay via check, please include WORKSHOP: HIGH CONCEPT in the memo area. Also, please include a note containing the name and email address you will be using for the workshop.

Mail checks to:

Robin L Rotham, Treasurer
P.O. Box 2412
Norfolk, NE 68702

***Permission to forward granted and encouraged.***

February Workshop Cancelled

The February workshop, Authors VS Editors has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconveniences this may have caused.

Thank you.

~Shay MacLean, Passionate Ink Workshop Coordinator

February Workshop

Author vs. Editors Ten Things I…About You!

Robin Matheson

February 5-6, 2013

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Author vs. Editors Ten Things I…About You!   The connection between author and editor remains one of the most unique in business. This workshop will review 10 key factors that can make or break a successful author-editor relationship. Apply the 4 Components of a Business Plan as it relates to authors. Special attention will also be paid to the nitty-gritty behind the 3 levels of the editing process.  There will be lots of opportunity for Q&A.  Target Audience: Beginner and Intermediate.  Length of Workshop: 2 day intensive. 

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: An award winning author, Robin Matheson holds an honors specialist degree in Classical Civilization and English and a Master of Education. She’s taught numerous courses at college, overseas and, more recently, online courses on writing. One of Robin’s greatest passions is traveling. In addition to their home base, she and her family have also lived in South East Asia and South Africa. Visit her at  www.robiemadison.com

WORKSHOP FEES:

$15 for Members
$20 for Non-Members

To pay via PayPal, please send payment to workshops@passionateink.org and make the subject line WORKSHOP: AUTHORS VS EDITORS. Please be sure the information field includes the name and email address you will be using for the workshop.

To pay via check, please include WORKSHOP: AUTHORS VS EDITORS in the memo area. Also, please include a note containing the name and email address you will be using for the workshop.

Mail checks to:

Robin L Rotham, Treasurer
P.O. Box 2412
Norfolk, NE 68702

***Permission to forward granted and encouraged.***

January Workshop

Author Marketing and Branding

By Cassandra Carr

January 7th - 18^th, 2013

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: In this class you will learn what a platform is, why you should blog, what to do before, during and after your book launches, some tips for book signings, and what should be on your website, as well as how to set up a Facebook fan page, a Goodreads author page, and an Amazon author page, plus much more!

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Cassandra Carr is a multi-published erotic romance writer who lives in Western New York with her husband, Inspiration, and her daughter, Too Cute for Words. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out on Twitter. Her debut novel, Talk to Me, was released by Loose Id on March 22, 2011. Head Games, Buffalo Intimidators book 1, released on November 2, 2011 from Siren Bookstrand, Caught will release December 13, 2011 from Loose Id, and Impact is coming in early 2012 from Ellora's Cave. For more information about Cassandra, check out her website at http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com, "like" her Facebook fan page athttp://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraCarr or follow her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/Cassandra_Carr.

WORKSHOP FEES:

$15 for Members
$20 for Non-Members

To pay via PayPal, please send payment to workshops@passionateink.org and make the subject line WORKSHOP: MARKETING. Please be sure the information field includes the name and email address you will be using for the workshop.

To pay via check, please include WORKSHOP: MARKETING in the memo area. Also, please include a note containing the name and email address you will be using for the workshop.

Mail checks to:

Robin L Rotham, Treasurer
P.O. Box 2412
Norfolk, NE 68702

***Permission to forward granted and encouraged.***

December Workshop

How to Design and Teach an Online Workshop

By Cathrine Chant

December 3-14, 2012

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: This two-week workshop begins with an overview of why you would want to create and teach an online workshop, and covers these topics:

1. Developing a workshop topic

2. Identifying your audience

3. Designing a lesson plan

4. Interacting with your students

5. Designing exercises for your students

6. Your  workshop proposal

7. Technical aspects of online teaching (e.g. Yahoogroups)

At the end of this workshop you will have a basic outline of your course and the first draft of a proposal ready to polish and send out to workshop coordinators.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Catherine Chant is a PRO member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA), and a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She served as Workshop chair or co-chair for her chapter, From the Heart Romance Writers (FTHRW) from 2005 to 2009 and has been teaching online workshops since 2006. Her short fiction and non-fiction work has appeared in RWA newsletters, CharacterS, SchoolArts, MetroKids, Twilight Times, Apollos Lyre, and various instructional websites where she writes about computers, gaming and crafts. Her young adult time travel romance WISHING YOU WERE HERE was a finalist in the 2008 Golden Heart awards. She is currently working a new young adult novel.

WORKSHOP FEES:

$15 for Members
$20 for Non-Members

To pay via PayPal, please send payment to workshops@passionateink.org and make the subject line WORKSHOP: DESIGN AND TEACH. Please be sure the information field includes the name and email address you will be using for the workshop.

To pay via check, please include WORKSHOP: DESIGN AND TEACH in the memo area. Also, please include a note containing the name and email address you will be using for the workshop.

Mail checks to:

Robin L Rotham, Treasurer
P.O. Box 2412
Norfolk, NE 68702

***Permission to forward granted and encouraged.***

November Workshop

*** Permission to Forward Granted and Encouraged***

BDSM in Romance - Understanding and Writing the Lifestyle for Romance Writers

By Sascha Illyvich

November 4-10, 2012

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: This workshop is for authors particularly in the romance genre who dabble BDSM in any form, be it writing spanking stories, light bondage, or like myself, heavier darker things.  Many folks think that once a book is written the author’s job is done.  Not so.  As any seasoned author knows, once we finish writing, we have edits, cover art choices, more edits, and of course the hype.  Marketing, promotions.  PR Hell as it is known in some circles.  That’s the toughest part of any author’s job IMO and will make or break any author dumb enough to rely solely on the publisher.  Our job as authors is a business and needs to be treated like such, even if we DO get to have a little more fun than any corporate schmo.  So, in order of author responsibilities:  1. Establish the Brand (I’m Sascha Illyvich, paranormal erotica/BDSM romance author)

2. Maintain the Brand (Primarily through PR, I write about wolves, fae, vampires, but you’ll never see me write a western!)

3. Grow the Brand (I write paranormal romances, which puts me in with the anime crowd who likes dark fantasy!)  This workshop will focus on Number 3:  Grow the Brand.  What authors often fail to realize is that in including different elements like spanking or light bondage that they are writing for their normal audiences but with a little more effort could target not just the fringe readers; those who are closeted about their darker desires, but those who are a little open with their darker desires.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: As the Acknowledged Bad Boy of Romance, I have been writing and published in this genre for the last twelve years, worked two large BDSM events in Houston with HPEP, been actively involved on mailing list discussions, read a few books, met and spent time with Jay Wiseman (Author of SM 101: A Realistic Introduction)   I occasionally write for Paddedkink.com, a BBW BDSM site.  I've been on numerous BDSM panels am an active Lifestyle Dominant and have been vetted.  Oh, and as I mentioned before, my Mom is a Lifestyle Domme – meaning when she realized that she enjoyed kinky sex, she sought out knowledge and became who she is today, teaching her son proper play.  My previous workshop, Writing from the Male POV and creating better heroes was a success both at Coffee Time Romance and at Collette Thomas’s Erotic Workshop yahoo group.  I have taught this workshop for HHRW RWA chapter and Savvy Authors.

WORKSHOP FEES:

$15 for Members
$20 for Non-Members

To pay via PayPal, please send payment to workshops@passionateink.org and make the subject line WORKSHOP: BDSM. Please be sure the information field includes the name and email address you will be using for the workshop.

To pay via check, please include WORKSHOP: BDSM in the memo area. Also, please include a note containing the name and email address you will be using for the workshop.

Mail checks to:

Robin L Rotham, Treasurer
P.O. Box 2412
Norfolk, NE 68702

***Permission to forward granted and encouraged.***

October Workshop

Theme & Motif: What’s it all about?

By Kate Freiman

October 1-21, 2012

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: This interactive workshop will focus on ways to find and use the meanings hidden in our stories, to discover what we want our stories to say to our readers, and how to use Theme and Motif to enrich and layer our writing in ways that will touch readers profoundly and put our books on their “keeper” shelves.

For the first two weeks, lectures will be posted covering popular and personal themes and motifs found in popular romance novels in today’s market. There will be assignments included with the lectures to generate discussion and soul-searching (bring your own hankies!). During the last week, we’ll focus on the practical side of incorporating theme and motif in your own writing including theme as a touchstone for creating and maintaining plot, conflict and characterization.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Kate Freiman is an award-winning, national best-selling author of romantic fiction in a number of sub-genres. A Golden Heart winner and RITA finalist, Kate holds a Master’s Degree in English Literature and served the Toronto Romance Writers chapter of RWA as president for five terms, founded the chapter’s popular contest (now renamed The Catherine), and instituted in-meeting “Accolades” at which chocolates are handed out for writing accomplishments (and double chocolates for rejections!). Kate has written articles and presented workshops on Theme and Motif, Story Structure, Voice and POV and Story Deconstruction and Pacing.

WORKSHOP FEES:

$15 for Members
$20 for Non-Members

To pay via PayPal, please send payment to workshops@passionateink.org and make the subject line WORKSHOP: THEME & MOTIF. Please be sure the information field includes the name and email address you will be using for the workshop.

To pay via check, please include WORKSHOP: THEME & MOTIF in the memo area. Also, please include a note containing the name and email address you will be using for the workshop.

Mail checks to:

Robin L Rotham, Treasurer
P.O. Box 2412
Norfolk, NE 68702

***Permission to forward granted and encouraged.***