June 29, 2009
Sign Up for This Course, Today: Begins July 1
Urgent: Sign Up for This Course Today!
Nancy Martin is an inspiring speaker and author of over 50 books including the Blackbird Sisters Mystery Series. She is teaching an online course through Pennwriters that begins on July 1, 2009 and runs through July 22 (with 3 sessions per week). The course is called HOW TO WRITE A CHARACTER-DRIVEN PLOT. You can register using PayPal or a credit card at this address: http://tinyurl.com/PennwritersCourse200907
The fee is $25 for Pennwriters members and $30 for nonmembers.
I have seen Nancy speak on several occasions and can't get my pen to write fast enough in her presence. She is informative and encouraging with a there's-room-for-all-of-us-to-succeed attitude. I'm sure the notes on Day One will be worth the entire course fee!
See you in class!
Judy
Posted by Judy at 09:52 PM | Comments (0)
May 01, 2009
Jodi Picoult: Need I Say More?
If you haven't read a Jodi Picoult (pronounced "peek- o") book, it's not too late to catch the wave. Great writing aside (because that's a must for me to ever recommend an author), her plots are issue-based and her characters are more than three-dimensional; after just a few pages, you feel as if you've known them all of your life.
If you choose to read only one of Picoult's titles, I recommend you reach for My Sister's Keeper (2004). Why? Because, among other features, the author leaves you with no choice but to read to the end. Because you have to know what happens.
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Posted by Judy at 09:51 AM | Comments (5)
April 24, 2009
God Winks, Mind Blinks & Clarity of Character
I'm wondering just how long one bowl of soup can last. I'm writing in a local coffee shop today and across the way, within perfect earshot, is a truly annoying voice. Talk about distinct. And fast. And nonstop.
It belongs to a middle-aged woman who either had a couple of doses of Red Bull before she arrived or only has one hearing friend, the nodding woman sitting across from her who forgivingly keeps checking her cell phone.
Rather than pick up my laptop and move, however, I tune in. I listen to her run-on stories about continuing to pay her 25-year old daughter's credit card and about a college coed who got pregnant by a janitor. The woman dips her bread and fills her spoon and still the bowl remains mostly full. I want her to leave, but I don't.
For this woman has presented me with a gift: Clarity of Character.
Continue reading "God Winks, Mind Blinks & Clarity of Character"
Posted by Judy at 12:57 PM | Comments (12)
April 08, 2009
Take a Positive Approach: Attend a Conference for Writers
Currently, there's a lot of chatter on the web (and tweets on twitter) surrounding the agent-author relationship. In brief, some of the postings turned negative when several participating writers complained about certain agents' policies including the no-response-means-I'm-not-interested one (in other words, when a writer sends a query, an agent doesn't respond at all unless she is interested in seeing more of the manuscript). Writers complained that they deserved the courtesy of a "no thanks" reply, at least.
I won't continue on the subject, here, because I feel enough has been said. When I had something specific to offer in the way of advice or opinion, I posted in the comment sections of the corresponding blog entries. If you'd like to catch up on any of the goings on, click on some of the blogs listed to the right of this posting.
If there's enough talk about the above-mentioned controversy, why then did I bring it up here? For two reasons:
1. To inform you of its existence, in case you didn't already know.
2. To NOT hop on the bandwagon and, instead, to help you use this fodder as fuel to propel you into writing/editing/submitting action.
How? By doing what every good writer should do in the spring/summer seasons: Attend a writers' conference.
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Posted by Judy at 10:40 AM | Comments (2)
April 04, 2009
WRITE NOW Writing Camp for Kids: Pittsburgh's Original Creative Writing Camp
The Fifth Annual WRITE NOW Writing Camp for Kids is now accepting registrations.
My colleague and friend Mary Patouillet and I founded an exciting, information-packed WRITING CAMP INTENSIVE for students entering grades 4th - 8th. Borders Books and Music in the Shops at Northway on McKnight Road in Pittsburgh has offered us our premium venue for the past five years. Borders employees are extremely accommodating. In fact, their Regional Vice President and other regional managers have visited the camp and commented on what a unique offering WRITE NOW Writing Camp is! It's a warm and encouraging, positive experience that both parents and students truly enjoy.
This year, WRITE NOW Writing Camp will be held the week of June 22 – 26, 2009. Due to demand over the past three years, we host two sessions. Choose either the 9:00 AM – noon OR 1:30 – 4:30 PM session. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!
The camp features Brainstretch Exercises and Round-robin Breakout sessions in fiction, nonfiction (including essays), and poetry. We also focus on various skills and techniques that help students learn to edit and improve their writing projects. At the end of the week, the students take home a bound book of their camp creations. It is a keepsake that is both a reference guide and a memory book.
As a unique feature, WRITE NOW's curriculum changes every year due to the high number of returning campers.
This year we're hosting our fifth annual WRITE NOW Writing Camp. We've attracted campers from 33 different schools and homeschoolers, as well. Kids come together from as far north as Evans City and as far south as Upper St. Clair to enjoy this event. We provide a unique, comfortable environment that encourages self-expression and interaction. What better way to release your child's creativity?
WRITE NOW Writing Camp is designed for students who love to write and for those whose parents wish they did! Click below to find out how to register and for more details.
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Posted by Judy at 09:17 AM | Comments (2)