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.***

September Workshop

12 Beats & Other Instruments to Tell a Story

By a.c. Mason

September 15-30, 2012

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: 12 Beats & Other Instruments to Tell a Story Presented by a.c. Mason

Plot beats in your story are the timekeepers of its rhythm and anchor your other instruments: characterization (emotions) and writing craft techniques (such as length of scenes, type of scene action/revelatory, dialogue, word usage, description, theme(s), tension (conflict) etc…)

There will be twelve lessons through which the attendees will be encouraged to assemble a five-act story worksheet as we complete the twelve beats to construct a plot, develop characters, and decide on writing craft technique tools to create the full score of the story. Each beat and instrument will be explained, broken down, then an example will be provided with comments as to how it feeds into the whole of the story. An easy-to-use worksheet will be provided at the end as a framework for future stories. These methods can also be used by plotters and pansters (while writing your first draft or during rewrites/revisions). This workshop is aimed to improve: where to start/end, pacing (fast/slow), conflict, saggy middles, tension (conflict), consistency, characterization (emotions), and when to use writing craft techniques: length of scenes, type of scene action/revelatory, short sentences, dialogue, description, etc...

We will cover: plot, characterization (emotions), and writing craft techniques.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Born from the union of her Scottish and Belgian mother and an African American and Cherokee father, a.c. Mason’s youth was filled with dichotomies and moving from place to place. She developed a curiosity to explore through writing the seedy side of our nature and desires. Given her own diverse background, she writes stories that represent the world she grew up in. She is fluent in French and English. For the past eight years of her life, she has worked with one foot in the past spanning such times as the 18th century, the Bering Strait theory to modern day, and now late Victorian. Her stories are the place where darkness meets human desire and fairytales endings are not promised but earned. In 2011 her work was nominated for six 2012 Bookie Awards. If you’d like to learn more about a.c. Mason, go to www.acmason.com.

WORKSHOP FEES:

$15 for Members
$20 for Non-Members

LIMIT: 30 Spots

To pay via PayPal, please send payment to workshops@passionateink.org and make the subject line WORKSHOP: 12 BEATS. 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: 12 BEATS 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.***

Chat and Pitching Opportunities

Calling all Passionate Ink members:

We will be hosting a chat and Q&A for members on the Passionate Ink Forums with Vicki Lewis Thompson on June 4-8, 2012. To participate please log into the PI forum between the dates mentioned and go to the Guest Chat area. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any one of the Passionate Ink Board Members. We’d be happy to assist you.

AND…

The following is a confirmed list of editors and agents for our pitching schedule. Please check the forum for more detailed editor preferences and additions to the schedule.

Pitch Schedule:

Alethea Spiridon Hopson, Entangled - June 15

Christa Desir, Samhain - July 13

Grace Bradley, Ellora's Cave - August 20

Linda Ingmanson, Samhain - September 13

Chris Keesler, Boroughs Publishing Group - October 19

Libby Murphy/Kerri-Leigh Grady, Entangled - December 7

How it works.

The pitch will be held in the PI forum. The author must have their pitch forwarded to pitch@passionateink.org the day before the pitch. The pitch forum will be open only for members that are pitching. The editor will have access to post comments, accept or reject a submission or ask for author contact.
Only the pitching member will have access to the pitch forum and only for the duration of the pitch. Once the pitches are completed the forum will be deleted so please ensure you copy the comments made about your pitch.

Each writer is to prepare and submit the following:
Name
Email – will remain anonymous, for administrative use only
Title
Genre
Word count of manuscript
A 300 word pitch
It is expected that the manuscript is complete and not a work in progress

Each editor may have specific requests and if so, they will be posted under General Business Discussion with an appropriate heading.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me. cristal@passionateink.org

June and July Workshops at Passionate Ink

Check out the next couple of workshops Passionate Ink is offering. 

 

Yes, You Can Use Commas Correctly

By MM Pollard

June 18-29, 2012

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Has comma chaos taken over your writing? Do you find yourself putting dashes where commas might go, but you’re not sure, so you throw in the dashes? Have you convinced yourself that commas hate you?

If so, fear not. During this workshop, MM Pollard will use her unique way of distilling information so that you will use commas like a pro and editors will notice.

MM throws in a bit of humor to make the lessons much more fun than your jr. high English classes were. Cross her heart!

A few topics she will cover in the workshop are

- comma use in introductory words and phrases, in non-restrictive clauses, in compound and complex sentences,

- comma use in dialogue;

- dashes and parentheses use instead of commas, and

- the comma conventions. No, you don’t have to attend a huge meeting with a bunch of commas.

Reward for doing your homework: If you post all of your homework when due, she’ll proofread your 1,000-word submission for grammar, usage, and punctuation errors. Critiquing story elements like point of view and character development she leaves to publishers.

Workshop Outline

Lessons will be posted on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Homework is due the day after it is assigned.

Lessons 1 & 2: You will learn the comma rules regarding introductory elements in a sentence – interjections, nouns of direct address, verbal and prepositional phrases, and subordinate clauses.

Lesson 3 & 4: You will learn the comma rules regarding restrictive and non-restrictive clauses, and appositive phrases. In Lesson 4, you will also learn the rules regarding dashes and parentheses and how to decide if you need commas, dashes, or parentheses.

Lesson 5: You will learn the comma rules regarding items in a series and compound sentences. You will also meet and learn to correct the dreaded comma splice.

Lesson 6: You will learn seven comma conventions, rules for using commas that don’t have a reason other than that’s how we do it in 2012.

Each lesson will have homework that gives you the opportunity to practice what you learned in that day. You will use your WIP for some of the homework assignments. I will give you passages for other assignments.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: As an English teacher and acquisitions editor for Black Velvet Seductions, MM Pollard has had the mission to find ungrammatical grammar, misused usage, and problematic punctuation in others’ writing. Mistakes seem to jump off the page for her – yes, she’s that good.

Her goal is to teach writers what they need to know about English grammar, usage, and punctuation so that they won’t need an editing service to correct their mistakes in these areas.

MM has presented or will present workshops for Muse Online Writers Conference, Savvy Authors, Writers Online Classes, Novelists at Work, and Orange County Chapter RWA, in addition to those in her virtual classroom.

 

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: EROTIC COMMAS. 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: EROTIC COMMAS 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.***

AND...

 

Creating the Perfect Predator

By LD Madison

July 7- 27, 2012

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Are all killers the same? Are all rapists motivated by the same things? Surprisingly, the answer is a resounding NO. Even though we’d like to think that all criminals are crazy or simply evil, they are complex creatures as varied and three-dimensional as the heroes we love.

 

Creating the Perfect Predator the perfect place to start your journey into the recesses of your villain’s mind and psyche. Learn how they became the way they are, why they do thing heinous things they do – and what they get out of it.

 

The four-week workshop is for authors at all levels of writing experience. There are no specific ‘prerequisites’ other than an open-mind, and a desire to create spine-chilling, believable predators. The workshop is meant to be an overview of criminals and predators – not just killers. It will include the psychology of rapists, arsonists, cult leaders and pedophiles – as well as a strategy for the hero/heroine to find and catch the villain.

 

Workshop Schedule

1. Introduction to Creating a Believable Predator

2. Profiling – What to look for

3. Killers – Are they all the same?

4. Arsonists – A Burning Obsession

5. Rapists – Who Rapes and Why They Do It

6. Pedophiles – Are They All the Same?

7. Cult and Satanic Crimes – Fool Me Once

8. How Does Your Hero Catch Them?

9. Conclusion – Wrap Up and Q&A

 

Assignments

I will assign homework where the students have to write a short scene - 500 words or less - using information learned in the ‘lesson’. For example, during the Killers lesson, they have to write a scene using from the killer’s point of view. For the Arsonist lesson, I have them write a scene from the point of view of the arsonist.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: LD has been writing and researching criminal behavior and subcultures for the past ten years. In addition to publishing erotic romances, LD has a degree in organizational psychology, and is currently working on a graduate degree in criminology.

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to email at: ldmadison.author@gmail.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: EROTIC PREDATOR. 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: EROTIC PREDATOR 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.***

March Workshop

UPCOMING WORKSHOP

Oh, the Horror! By J.K. Coi

March 16-31, 2012

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: EC authors know how to make readers tremble…but can they make you Shiver? Learn about one of EC’s newest genres—erotic horror! J.K. Coi is one of the debut authors for this spine-tingling genre and she’ll be sharing her views about what makes the horror genre one of the most famous and intense forms of entertainment.

One of the basic principles of horror is to take something that everyone is familiar with, and twist it until it becomes the very thing they've always dreaded...which is a good reason why there has always been sex in horror. This introduction will consist of examples of sex in horror, from film, art and literature. Participants will also enjoy an overview of the expectations and criteria of the horror genre and a brief discussion about the integral association between horror and sex.

Finally, the workshop will touch on craft techniques for the writer, as well as practical in-class exercises and advice. Attendees will be invited and encouraged to discuss and ask questions. 

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: J.K. Coi is a multi-published, award winning author of Paranormal Romance, Steampunk, and Horror, and writes Upper YA Fantasy as Chloe Jacobs. She believes that every story should have at least a little darkness to counterbalance the light at the end of the tunnel (and sometimes that darkness completely eclipses the light). When she isn’t writing, she loves to watch (dissect) horror movies and read (devour) horror books. Visit her online at www.jkcoi.com and www.chloejacobs.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: OH THE HORROR!. 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: OH THE HORROR! 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.***

Passionate Plume and Stroke of Midnight Changes

Hello Passionate Inkers!

Some of you may be wondering why the Passionate Plume and Stroke of Midnight contests haven't been announced.  I posted on the PI forum a few months ago that the time lines for the contests have changed.  Here is just a reminder of how the contests will work for the foreseeable future.

The 7th Annual Passionate Plume and Stroke of Midnight contests will open for entries in mid-March. The first round of judging will begin in May. The finalists will be announced in June right before the final round judges receive their entries.  The final results will be announced at the Passionate Ink party at the RWA National conference in July.

I am happy to announce that our very own Harlie Williams has agreed to co-ordinate the Stroke of Midnight contest this year.  Thanks for stepping up Harlie!

If you have any questions, please contact me, or Harlie, at:

passionate_plume@yahoo.com 

or at

som.coordinator@yahoo.com


Gina Gordon
Vice President and Passionate Plume Contest Coordinator

PI Members--Are You Registered?

Hey, Inkers -- we're preparing to go live with the Passionate Ink MyRWA forum/group and we need all of you to register with MyRWA so that you're THERE when we go to add you to the group. If you haven't registered for MyRWA at the RWA website, please do so ASAP.

Once the forum is set up and you're added, you'll be able to choose whether to read posts at the forum or receive them via email, as with a list-serve.

Keep your fingers crossed we can get everyone added by early next week!

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

Writing Erotica Steampunk by Christine D'Abo
February 1-15th, 2012

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Gears, gadgets and sex? The world of steampunk presents authors with a variety of opportunities to create fantastical worlds, while exploring the human condition through technology. Alternative histories, the bending of sexual identities, and the use of future technologies in a historical setting are all arenas authors can explore in the world of steampunk. This workshop will outline what the basics of steampunk, look at the used of politics, sex and technology, while weaving together a love story.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Multipublished author Christine d'Abo loves exploring the human condition through a romantic lens. She takes her characters on fantastical journeys that change their hearts and expand their minds. A self-professed sci-fi junkie, Christine can often be found chatting about her favorite shows and movies. When she's not writing, she can be found chasing after her children, dogs or husband.

Christine is published with Carina Press, Ellora's Cave, Samhain Publishing, Cleis Press and Berkley Heat.

WORKSHOP FEES:

$15 for Members
$20 for Non-Members

To pay via PayPal, please send payment to robinrotham@yahoo.com and make the subject line WORKSHOP: EROTIC STEAMPUNK. 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: EROTIC STEAMPUNK 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.***