As always, I'm thrilled you bring you Laurie's classes. She rocks.
(April 9-20) writeruniv.wordpress.
A continuation of the March process open solely to people who've taken PVM online or in person at some point, this no-more-than-30-people group gets you plotting a brand new or already-begun book (using your completed 14-point worksheet) from start to finish. No need to prepare a new story idea, character bios, goal charts or anything else, because you'll see how to plot an entire book -- and actually have it ready to type -- by the end of this hands-on workshop.
blog: YOU'RE DRIVING ME CRAZY
(April 20) writersinthestormblog.com
Some people just strike sparks. How can that work for your book?
online: RELATIONSHIPS BY ARISTOTLE: MYERS-BRIGGS
(May 7-18) https://groups.yahoo.
Myers-Briggs relationships haven't changed much since the days of ancient Greece. Aristotle identified personality types for different types of people who, even though their descriptive names have changed, still embody those who wind up in your novel. Naturally, each type has intriguing and attractive elements that make readers want to know this person, as well as some problematic issues that'll keep the conflict coming...and going...and coming...
blog: PERFECT PITCH
(May 16) romanceuniversity.org
Musicians envy people with that gift, but it's equally important for writers.
blog: SELLING WITHOUT BRAGGING
(May 30) seekerville.blogspot.com
How can you interest people in your work without being all Me-Me-Me?
online: PERFECTING YOUR PITCH
(June 3-14) https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/
Are you pitching your work at a conference? In an email? By phone, by letter, by chance if you run into someone browsing for a good book? The techniques will be slightly different for each situation -- and while writers tend to feel more anxiety when pitching face-to-face, it's useful to have a plan of action for every possible scenario. Whether you're pitching an agent, editor, interviewer, publisher or regular reader, learn how to make it a good experience for you both!
Laurie Schnebly Campbell loves giving workshops for writer groups about "Psychology for Creating Characters," "Making Rejection WORK For You," "Building A Happy Relationship For Your Characters (And Yourself)" and other issues that draw on her background as a counseling therapist and romance writer.
In fact, she chose her website (www.BookLaurie.com) so people would find it easy to Book Laurie for programs.
But giving workshops -- for students from London and Los Angeles to New Zealand and New York -- is just one of her interests. During weekdays, she writes and produces videos, brochures and commercials (some of which feature her voice) for a Phoenix advertising agency. For several years she would turn off her computer every day at five o'clock, wait thirty seconds, turn it on again and start writing romance.
It finally paid off. Her first novel was nominated by Romantic Times as the year's "Best First Series Romance," and her second beat out Nora Roberts for "Best Special Edition of the Year." But between those two successes came a three-year dry spell, during which Laurie discovered that selling a first book doesn't guarantee ongoing success.
"What got me through that period," she says, "was realizing that the real fun of writing a romance is the actual writing. Selling is wonderful, sure, but nothing compares to the absolute, primal joy of sitting at the computer and making a scene unfold and thinking 'Wow! Yes! This is great!'"
After six books for Special Edition, she turned her attention to writing non-fiction -- using her research into the nine personality types to help writers create plausible, likable people with realistic flaws. Her other favorite activities include playing with her husband and son, recording for the blind, counseling at a mental health center, traveling to Sedona (the Arizona red-rock town named for her great-grandmother, Sedona Schnebly) and working with other writers.
"People ask how I find time to do all that," Laurie says, "and I tell them it's easy. I never clean my house!"
Laurie welcomes email from readers—send her a "Hello!"
No comments:
Post a Comment