UPCOMING WRITING WORKSHOPS January–December 2023 From Laurie Schenbly Campbell

Laurie Classes for 2023! 

Online: PSYCHOLOGY FOR CREATING CHARACTERS
(Jan. 9-20) SoCalRomanceWriters/events

• Tools for determining naturally lovable (and intriguingly flawed) characters include Adlerian birth order, Jungian thought/feeling scales, the Dewey priorities, and other theories of temperament. Learn which ones will offer the best opportunities for conflict between your realistic hero & heroine...whose “inborn” personalities will both oppose and attract.

Zoom: BLOCK-BUSTING / PROMO TO SUIT YOUR PERSONALITY
(Jan. 14, 10:15-1:30 Pacific) Orange County RWA (registration opens 12/31)

• Putting the joy back in writing, & promotions that won’t grind you down.

Zoom: CONFLICT FOR EVERYONE IN YOUR BOOK
(Feb. 4, 1 pm Mountain): Coeur du Bois

• Co-workers? Siblings? Neighbors? Lovers? See how to give them all trouble.

Online: DEEP & DEEPER POV
(Feb. 6-17) s in c guppies dot wild apricot dot org (Guppy members only)

• We all know readers like getting deep into a character’s soul, and we know the way to make that happen is through Deep POV. But how exactly do you present someone’s viewpoint so fully that readers will feel like they’re truly inside this person on the page? There are a surprising number of techniques for making that process easier, whether you’re creating a brand-new character or intensifying one who’s already in progress.

Zoom: CHOOSING YOUR HERO’S FATAL FLAW
(Feb. 14, 8:30 pm Eastern) Greater Detroit Romance Writers (members only)

• Which of the nine enneagram types will give your characters the best story?

Online: PLOTTING VIA MOTIVATION
(March 6-31) writeruniv.com/classes/plotting-via-motivation/

• Here’s what writers have said about the course in previous years: “I never thought I could plot my entire book from start to finish, but here it is. This is AWESOME.” / “This month has truly changed the way I think about writing. I wish I’d taken Plotting Via Motivation before giving up on my earlier novels.” / “Now that I look back in the notebook where I wrote all my homework, I realize I’ve got my book right here.”

Zoom: HIS PERSONALITY LADDER
(March 11, 10 am Eastern) Connecticut RWA

• Track your hero’s arc through seven core steps he’ll need to climb in his story.

Online: FROM PLOT TO FINISH
(April 10-21) writeruniv.com/classes/onemaster-class-from-plot-to-finish/

• For anyone who’s taken Plotting Via Motivation online or in person at some point, this 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: WHERE THE TROUBLE STARTS
(April 26) writers in the storm blogspot

• It begins a long time before the first meeting, explosion, or lingering glance....

Online: BUILDING CONFLICT FROM THE HEAD DOWN
(May 8-19) groups.io/g/ConflictHD

• Great conflict comes from not only the situation, but from within the characters themselves. This class offers tools for shaping basic personalities into heroic, appealing characters who'll naturally wind up in conflict. Explore the various types, archetypes and subtypes -- ideal for creating clashes between genuinely likable people -- and see which will offer the best opportunities for conflict that’s built in right from the start.

Online: WRITING A SERIES...
(June 5-16) s in c guppies dot wild apricot dot org (Guppy members only)

• It’s one thing to write a stand-alone novel. It’s another to write a sequel, a trilogy, a box set or an open-ended series that’ll continue for as long as you want. While great storytelling is great storytelling no matter the format, there are techniques to keep in mind when writing a series that will not only keep your readers on board through every story, but keep you from burning out while they’re still waiting for more.

Online: HOW TO WRITE YOUR FIRST (OR 45th) SYNOPSIS
(June 19-30) groups.io/g/Synopsis

• If you’ve ever had trouble writing a synopsis, here’s a hint: pretend you’re writing an ad. An advertising copywriter for 25 years, Laurie was amazed to discover that the same skills which helped her sell bikes, bouquets and birdbaths also helped her sell books. Discover how to use those Mad Men techniques to interest “consumers” (whether they’re agents, editors, reviewers, or whoever) in your product.

Zoom: MAKING REJECTION WORK FOR YOU
(July 1, 4 pm Eastern) Women’s Fiction Writers Assn

• Turning rejection into a profitable experience, personally and professionally.

July is always a no-class month, which sounds a bit rowdy...hmm. :)

Blog: EDGE OF THEIR SEATS
(July 28) writers in the storm blogspot

• How long should you keep readers in suspense? When should it rise and fall?

Online: TICK...TICK...BUILDING TENSION
(August 7-18) groups.io/g/Tension

• The ticking clock. The infamous day. The elusive stranger. The sizzling glance. The unbreakable promise. The haunting memory. The forbidden love. Tension is what keeps readers awake far too late at night, and what makes them rave about your book even before they reach the final page. How do you create that kind of tension? Think of a story you’ve already started writing, or are just beginning to plan, and see how to build...build...build....

Online: THE HERO’S JOURNEY, FOR HEROINES
(Sept. 4-29) writeruniv.com/classes/journey-for-heroines/

• Christopher Vogler identified 12 steps for daredevil heroes who explore the outside world and return with the elixir. But a character whose emotional journey leads to flowering change instead of physical adventure, as described in Kim Hudson’s 13 steps, will embark on a journey filled with other -- more internal -- challenges. For writers whose heroine faces her own less traveled road to discovery, this class offers a fascinating map.

Online: GROWING YOUR HEROINE
(Oct. 2-13) writeruniv.com/classes/growing-your-heroine/

• This limited-enrollment master class picks up where September’s ends, focusing on the heroine’s journey through everything she needs to overcome from beginning to end. Starting with a “stick figure” and moving to your work in progress, chart the route she’ll use for transcending her weak points -- as well as those of people she cares about -- while avoiding both the false triumph and false disaster of her own story.

Blog: FORWARD, BACK, FORWARD, BACK
(October 30) writers in the storm blogspot

• No reader wants a perfectly smooth ride, but how many roadblocks are okay?

Online: HIS PERSONALITY LADDER
(Nov. 6-17) groups.io/g/Ladder

• Track your hero’s arc through the seven core steps he’ll need to climb during his journey from a not-yet-heroic character to one who’s fully earned his victory by the end. Of course, the heroine has her ownladder to climb, often in parallel stages...until the finale, when they reach their ultimate triumph. (There’s even a ladder for the villain, although he seldom makes it to the top.)

Laurie Schnebly Campbell published half a dozen romances with Harlequin, including one that beat out Nora Roberts for “Best Special Edition of the Year,” before discovering the only thing she loves more than writing is working with other writers. So she started giving workshops every month, online and in-person, and now has a special area on her bookshelf full of books with acknowledgments from authors who’ve loved her classes.

Time To Brush Up Or Learn New Writing Skills?

 
If you're brushing up on writing techniques or want to learn some new ones, Laurie's classes are a great place to start. I speak from experience!

online: MORE THAN SETTING: WORLD-BUILDING

(February 7-18, 2022)

rwakissofdeath.org/product/more-than-setting-world-building/

       Of course your book needs a setting that contributes to the story, but your characters’ story world goes far beyond just the time and place they occupy. It’s also the people who surround them, the expectations they take for granted, the rules that infuriate them, the attitudes they share with their society -- whether or not they realize it -- and more. All those elements belong in your story world’s setting, and here’s how to build a world that works.

Zoom: MAKING INTROVERTED CHARACTERS INTERESTING 

(February 19, noon-1pm Eastern/9-10am Pacific)

get link & handouts by emailing Laurie at address on booklaurie.com

       Free for anyone who makes any size contribution to any (not-the-usual) charity they feel like God has in mind.

online: PLOTTING VIA MOTIVATION

(March 7-April 1)

writeruniv.com/classes/plotting-via-motivation/

       Here’s what writers have said about the course in previous years: “I never thought I could plot my entire book from start to finish, but here it is. This is AWESOME.” / “This month has truly changed the way I think about writing. I wish I’d taken Plotting Via Motivation before giving up on my earlier novels.” / “Now that I look back in the notebook where I wrote all my homework, I realize I’ve got my book right here!”

online: FROM PLOT TO FINISH

(April 11-22)

writeruniv.com/classes/onemaster-class-from-plot-to-finish/

       For anyone who’s taken Plotting Via Motivation online or in person at some point, this 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.

online: CHOOSING THAT FATAL FLAW

(April 16, 4pm Eastern)

https://contemporaryromance.org/workshop/choosing-that-fatal-flaw

       The ideal flaw isn't totally random, tossed in at the last minute to keep a character from being Too Perfect. Instead, it's built right into their personality -- which means it's guaranteed to create turmoil that’ll keep the plot moving, along with a flip-side asset that'll enable your character to triumph in the end. See what kind will work best for your people, whether they're starring in a current story or taking the lead in another to come.

Zoom: DYNAMIC DIALOGUE & DELICIOUS DESCRIPTION

(April 23, 9am Pacific): AgedToPerfectionRomanceWriters.com/workshops/

       Use whichever of the Ds you’re better at to improve your work on the other.

Live retreat in San Antonio: SPRING GATHERING

for details, email Laurie at address on booklaurie.com

(April 28-May 1) Morning workshops, afternoon consultations (four individual half-hours with each of eight writers), and time for writing...plus relaxing!

Laurie's  Bio:
Laurie Schnebly Campbell published half a dozen romances with Harlequin, including one that beat out Nora Roberts for “Best Special Edition of the Year,” before discovering the only thing she loves more than writing is working with other writers. So she started giving workshops every month, online and in-person, and now has a special area on her bookshelf full of books with acknowledgments from authors who’ve loved her classes.

Free Expressions Webinars Feature Amazing Writing Gurus ~ Don't Miss These

 

I know, that's quite the claim I've made in the headline, but as I've taken some of these sessions last year, it's a more than valid claim!

You can "Test Drive" a session if you're unsure by attending the Free Webinar I've listed below

NOVEMBER 11, 2021: CRAFT COLLECTION NIGHT WITH WRITING SUCCESS SERIES INSTRUCTORS

6:30 PM ET - 9:00 PM ET

A FREE webinar/Q&A with writing lessons from Donald Maass, Lorin Oberweger, Jonathan Maberry, Jordan Rosenfeld, James Scott Bell, Carol Despeaux-Fawcett, Sheree Greer, Grace Burrowes, Henry Neff, DiAnn Mills, Geodie Baxter, Leah Henderson and Veronica Rossi! Come be our guest for quick craft tips and Q&A’s from these writing pros. Topics to be covered: creating iconic characters, theme and meaning, effective revision, poetry techniques for prose, deep viewpoint, and much more!

FREE EXPRESSIONS SESSIONS LINK

What if you can't make a session or want to revisit it?

There are replays available!!! They'll be sent to you after the session is complete, usually within 24 hours.

Here's what I do to keep them handy. Download to an external drive that is exclusively for all my classes that are on video. Thus I have my very own library of amazing workshops with stellar instructors.

Sign up for their newsletter as well while you're visiting the site. 

Lorin Oberweger's Free Expressions newsletter offers tips, tools and inspiration. The newsletter in itself is amazing. 

So do yourself and your craft a favor, check this out and see for yourself if I'm write...errr right :)

BTW, 

Ten-percent of webinar proceeds to benefit worldcentralkitchen.org.

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October - January: Laurie Schnebly Campbell Classes

 Never Stop Learning. 

That's my motto and Laurie's classes help my writing in a big way.

online: BUILDING YOUR BRAID
(Oct. 11-22)
writeruniv.com/classes/building-braid
       Once you’ve outlined the elements of your braid in September, this hands-on master class takes you through the steps of assembling it from beginning to end. Each day’s assignment will keep you going, accomplishing more actual writing than in any usual two-week period, with individual feedback during every segment of the process.

Zoom: CREATING YOUR HERO’S FATAL FLAW
(Oct. 16, 10am Central) free at ACFW, RSVP to LoriDeJongWrites@gmail.com
       Every main character needs a heroic trait with a flip-side that, er, isn’t.

blog: HOW DEEP SHOULD YOU GO?
(Oct. 27) writers in the storm blog dot com
       When & where deep POV works, or doesn’t work...plus a free-class-prize.

online: DEEP & DEEPER POV
(Nov. 1-12)
writeruniv.com/classes/deeper-pov
       We all know readers like getting deep into a character’s soul, and we know the way to make that happen is through Deep POV. But how exactly do you present someone’s viewpoint so fully that readers will feel like they’re truly inside this person on the page? There are a surprising number of techniques for making that process easier, whether you’re creating a brand-new character or intensifying one who’s already in progress.

online: PUTTING THE JOY BACK IN WRITING
(January 10-21, 2022, only for members of Sisters In Crime Guppies)
s in c guppies dot wild apricot dot org
       For anyone determined to make 2022 a Better Writing Year, this class offers practical and psychological techniques for dealing with writer's block. Part of that block is a lack of joy in the process, so this roll-up-your-sleeves session looks at the causes -- including boredom, exhaustion, and fear of success -- and the benefits of getting blocked. Writers finish with new awareness of what works for them, and with renewed inspiration for returning to the craft they love.

---

Laurie's  Bio:
Laurie Schnebly Campbell published half a dozen romances with Harlequin, including one that beat out Nora Roberts for “Best Special Edition of the Year,” before discovering the only thing she loves more than writing is working with other writers. So she started giving workshops every month, online and in-person, and now has a special area on her bookshelf full of books with acknowledgments from authors who’ve loved her classes.

Class Flash ~ New Quarter's List of Writing Classes with Laurie Schnebly Campbell

Zoom: BUILDING CONFLICT FROM THE HEAD DOWN
(April 10, 1pm Eastern) HCRW, open to non-members

Zoom retreat: SPRING GATHERING
(April 17-18) Already filled with eight writers, but there’ll be more in June, October & February.

Blog: WHEN EMOTION GETS TRICKY 
(April 23) writersinthestormblog.com
       We’ve all seen too much, and too little. How do we find the balance?

Zoom: CHOOSING THAT FATAL FLAW + HIS PERSONALITY LADDER
(April 24, 10:30 + 1 Eastern) MMRWA Retreat From Harsh Reality 

Online: SHOWING EMOTION
(May 10-21)
writeruniv.wordpress.com/classes/showing-emotion
       Everyone knows how important it is to show rather than tell. But when it comes to showing emotion, that can be…well, tricky. How do you keep from going over the top and making readers roll their eyes? How do you avoid not going far enough and sending their attention downhill with every word? Learn the tricks of conveying emotion for readers of whatever genre you’re writing and how to find the right balance between plummeting, purple prose, and perfection.

Online: WRITING A SERIES…

(June 7-18, only for members of Sisters In Crime Guppies)
s in c guppies dot wild apricot dot org
       It's one thing to write a stand-alone novel. It’s another to write a sequel, a trilogy, a box set or an open-ended series that’ll continue for as long as you want. While great storytelling is great storytelling no matter the format, there are techniques to keep in mind when writing a series that will not only keep your readers on board through every story, but keep you from burning out while they’re still waiting for more.

Zoom retreat: SUMMER GATHERING
(June 26-27) https://booklaurie.com/info-contact/
       Ask about the wait-list for this eight-writer group, with morning workshops and individual chats with Laurie about your work.

Online: PLOTTING VIA MOTIVATION
(July 5-30)
writeruniv.wordpress.com/classes

        Here’s what writers have said about the course in previous years: “I never thought I could plot my entire book from start to finish, but here it is. This is AWESOME.” / “This month has truly changed the way I think about writing. I wish I’d taken Plotting Via Motivation before giving up on my earlier novels.” / “Now that I look back in the notebook where I wrote all my homework, I realize I’ve got my book right here!”

Laurie's Bio:
Laurie Schnebly Campbell published half a dozen romances with Harlequin, including one that beat out Nora Roberts for “Best Special Edition of the Year,” before discovering the only thing she loves more than writing is working with other writers. So she started giving workshops every month, online and in-person, and now has a special area on her bookshelf full of books with acknowledgments from authors who’ve loved her classes.

---

Laurie Schnebly Campbell ~ 9 Writing Classes Jan-April Schedule

 online: PERFECT PITCH

(Jan. 4-15, 2021, only for members of Sisters In Crime Guppies)
SinCGuppies
            Are you pitching your work at a conference? In an email? By letter, by phone, 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!

Writing Classes by Laurie Schnebly Campbell

online: NEW YEAR, NEW YOU
(Jan. 18-29, 2021)
https://rwasd.com/classes/ (scroll down on that page for class info)
            Whether it’s the first rejection, the 50th-book slump, or just not getting the story you want, frustration is part of every writer’s life. For some, it’s a nuisance; for others, it’s the end of a career.. For anyone determined to make 2021 a Better Writing Year, this class offers both practical and psychological techniques for dealing with rejection, writer’s block, frustration, motivation, and other issues that keep writers from loving their craft.

online: HIS & HERS MYERS-BRIGGS
(Feb. 1-12, 2021)
hearts through history dot com
            Just about everyone has taken the Myers-Briggs quiz identifying their own personality type. It works equally well for characters who, even with their own individual traits, still show aspects of those various personalities in your novel. Naturally, each type has intriguing and attractive elements that make readers want to see more, as well as some problematic issues that’ll keep their story conflict coming…and going…and coming…

Zoom retreat: WINTER GATHERING
(Feb. 20-21) Already filled with eight writers, but ask BookLaurie at Gmail about the wait-list.

blog: PLOTTER + PANTSER = PERFECTION
(Feb. 26) writers in the storm blog
            How to combine the advantages of each method…plus a free-class-prize!

online: PLOTTING VIA MOTIVATION
(March 2-27)
writeruniv.wordpress.com/classes
            Here’s what writers have said about the course in previous years: “I never thought I could plot my entire book from start to finish, but here it is. This is AWESOME.” / “This month has truly changed the way I think about writing. I wish I’d taken Plotting Via Motivation before giving up on my earlier novels.” / “Now that I look back in the notebook where I wrote all my homework, I realize I’ve got my book right here!”

Zoom: MAKING REJECTION WORK FOR YOU
(March 13, time tba) AgedToPerfection RWA

Zoom: REVISION HELL TO EDITING HEAVEN
(March 16, 7:30pm Central Time) Austin RWA

online: FROM PLOT TO FINISH
(April 5-16)
writeruniv.wordpress.com/classes
            For anyone who’s taken Plotting Via Motivation online or in person at some point, this 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.

Zoom retreat: SPRING GATHERING
(April 17-18) Already filled with eight writers, but ask BookLaurie at Gmail about the wait-list.

Laurie's  Bio:
Laurie Schnebly Campbell published half a dozen romances with Harlequin, including one that beat out Nora Roberts for “Best Special Edition of the Year,” before discovering the only thing she loves more than writing is working with other writers. So she started giving workshops every month, online and in-person, and now has a special area on her bookshelf full of books with acknowledgments from authors who’ve loved her classes.

Class Flash & August Q/A By Laurie Schnebly Campbell

Plan your next year of writing courses, blog reading, and virtual retreats!

blog: WHAT’S GONNA HAPPEN?

(July 29) writersinthestormblog.com 
If the answer is too obvious, why keep reading? Unless it’s for a prize...

online: BUILDING TENSION
(August 10-21) https://groups.io/g/Tension         

The ticking clock. The infamous day. The elusive stranger. The sizzling glance. The unbreakable promise. The haunting memory. The forbidden love.

Tension is what keeps readers awake far too late at night, and what makes them rave about your book even before they reach the final page. How do you create that kind of tension? Think of a story you’ve already started writing, or are just beginning to plan, and see how to build…build…build….

blog: MORE THAN ADVENTURE & LUCKIEST THIRTEEN
(Aug. 25) originalitybydesign.blogspot & 
(Aug. 26) writersinthestormblog 

What more could readers want besides a free-class prize? Well, let’s see…

online: THE HERO’S JOURNEY, FOR HEROINES
(Sept. 1-26)   writeruniv.wordpress.com/classes/journey-for-heroines            

Christopher Vogler identified 12 steps for daredevil heroes who explore the outside world and return with the elixir. But a character whose emotional journey leads to flowering change instead of physical adventure, as described in Kim Hudson’s 13 steps, will embark on a journey filled with other -- more internal -- challenges. For writers whose heroine faces her own less traveled road to discovery, this class offers a fascinating map.

Zoom: VIRTUAL RETREAT WEEKEND
(Oct. 10-11)
email BookLaurie@yahoo.com

Holler if you’d like to be on the waitlist!

online: GROWING YOUR HEROINE
(Oct. 12-23)  writeruniv.wordpress.com/classes/growing-your-heroine            

This limited-enrollment master class picks up where September’s ends, focusing on the heroine’s journey through everything she needs to overcome from beginning to end. Starting with a “stick figure” and moving to your work in progress, chart the route she’ll use for transcending her weak points -- as well as those of people she cares about -- while avoiding both the false triumph and false disaster of her own story.

online: THE ALPHA MALE, FROM ABE TO ZEUS
(Nov. 2-12)  hearts through history            

Readers love alpha males. (Maybe not for a real-life marriage, but for a book of romantic adventure there’s nothing better.) Yet writers sometimes find it tricky to create an alpha male without falling into stereotypes. What makes an alpha male? (It’s more than just power.) What challenges does he face? (The answers will surprise you.) How can your hero take on solely the alpha-male traits you want? Get ready to find out…and maybe to fall in love.

And, yep, December is always a no-classes holiday. Which seems contradictory.

online: PERFECT PITCH
(Jan. 4-15, 2021, only for members of Sisters In Crime Guppies) sincguppies      

Are you pitching your work at a conference? In an email? By letter, by phone, 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!

online: NEW YEAR, NEW YOU
(Jan. 18-29, 2021) rwasd com            

Whether it’s the first rejection, the 50th-book slump, or just not getting the story you want, frustration is part of every writer’s life. For some, it’s a nuisance; for others, it’s the end of a career. For anyone determined to make 2021 a Better Writing Year, this class offers both practical and psychological techniques for dealing with rejection, writer’s block, frustration, motivation, and other issues that keep writers from loving their craft.

online: HIS & HERS MYERS-BRIGGS
(Feb. 1-12, 2021) hearts through history

Just about everyone has taken the Myers-Briggs quiz identifying their own personality type. It works equally well for characters who, even with their own individual traits, still show aspects of those various personalities in your novel. Naturally, each type has intriguing and attractive elements that make readers want to see more, as well as some problematic issues that’ll keep their story conflict coming…and going…and coming…

blog: PLOTTER + PANTSER = PERFECTION
(Feb. 26) writersinthestorm blog            

How to combine the advantages of each method…plus a free-class-prize!

online: PLOTTING VIA MOTIVATION
(March 2-27) writeruniv.wordpress.com/classes

Here’s what writers have said about the course in previous years: “I never thought I could plot my entire book from start to finish, but here it is. This is AWESOME.” / “This month has truly changed the way I think about writing. I wish I’d taken Plotting Via Motivation before giving up on my earlier novels.” / “Now that I look back in the notebook where I wrote all my homework, I realize I’ve got my book right here!”

online: FROM PLOT TO FINISH
(April 5-16)writeruniv.wordpress.com/classes

For anyone who’s taken Plotting Via Motivation online or in person at some point, this 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.

online: SHOWING EMOTION
(May 10-21) https://groups.io/g/Emotion            

Everyone knows how important it is to show rather than tell. But when it comes to showing emotion, that can be…well, tricky. How do you keep from going over the top and making readers roll their eyes? How do you avoid not going far enough and sending their attention downhill with every word? Learn the tricks of conveying emotion for readers of whatever genre you’re writing and how to find the right balance between plummeting, purple prose, and perfection.

online: WRITING A SERIES…
(June 7-18, only for members of Sisters In Crime Guppies) sincguppies 

It's one thing to write a stand-alone novel. It’s another to write a sequel, a trilogy, a box set or an open-ended series that’ll continue for as long as you want. While great storytelling is great storytelling no matter the format, there are techniques to keep in mind when writing a series that will not only keep your readers on board through every story, but keep you from burning out while they’re still waiting for more.

As always, July is a vacation month. La la la…

AUGUST Q&A

Q: Should I focus on one specific internal problem, or several problems, while these characters struggle with the plot events (and their relationship)?

A: Either way, you can keep the tension building -- and if those several problems turn out to be connected, that’s all the better. Things will keep getting worse and worse and worse, and every attempt at making them better might SEEM to work out for a while but doesn’t solve the problem after all.

This is what we want happening as your characters struggle with whatever the external situation and their internal conflict/s might be.

And regardless of what's happening on the action front, we can be pretty sure that it'll have SOME effect, good or bad, on their relationship.

* Maybe things look good, which makes them appreciate each other more.
* Maybe things look bad, which makes them realize they need each other.
* Maybe things look good, which makes them suspicious of each other.
* Maybe things look bad, which turns them against each other.

You don't need to use ALL those possible responses (whew!) every time something in the external action looks better or worse. But keep in mind those are handy options for upping the stakes anytime you want to increase the tension -- OR give readers a moment of relaxation -- regarding the characters' relationship.

So you can sure use a relationship as one way of building tension...but if you’ve got a solo protagonist, you can build just as much tension in the ways coming up next!

Laurie, figuring different readers appreciate different kinds of tension which makes it even more handy that they all need the same techniques

Laurie's  Bio:
Laurie Schnebly Campbell published half a dozen romances with Harlequin, including one that beat out Nora Roberts for “Best Special Edition of the Year,” before discovering the only thing she loves more than writing is working with other writers. So she started giving workshops every month, online and in-person, and now has a special area on her bookshelf full of books with acknowledgments from authors who’ve loved her classes.

Class Flash ~ 2nd Quarter Class Schedule From Laurie Schnebly Campbell!

online: FROM PLOT TO FINISH
(April 8-19)
writeruniv.wordpress. com/classes
            For anyone who’s taken Plotting Via Motivation online or in person at some point, this 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.

live in Tucson: YOUR PLOT / CHARACTER / STORY BRAID
(April 27, 11-2) tucsonrwa.org/
             Weave your story's strands to surprise & satisfy genre readers.

 live in Toronto: From MOTIVATION to PLOT to OUTLINE (& BEYOND)
(May 11, 9-4) torontoromancewriters.com/using-motivation-to-plot-your-next-book/
            Bring some random fragment for a story idea you can use to see how the process works, and take home an outline. Don’t think of this as a “fix” for your current work, but rather as a tool for when you begin your next…and the next… and the next…. And if you need to finish revising your current work before starting the next, don’t miss the finale on turning Revision Hell into Heaven!

online: TECHNIQUES FOR SHAPING CHARACTERS
(May 13-24) heartsthroughhistory. com
            Tools for determining naturally lovable (and intriguingly flawed) characters include Adlerian birth order, Jungian thought/feeling scales, the Dewey priorities, and other theories of temperament. Learn which ones will offer the best opportunities for conflict between your realistic hero & heroine...whose “inborn” personalities will both oppose and attract.

live in Phoenix: YOUR HERO’S FATAL FLAW
(May 28, 7:30-8:30) desertroserwa.org/
            Which wonderfully heroic trait makes him Mr. Not-Yet-Perfect?

blog: GRAB ‘EM, KEEP ‘EM, BRING ‘EM BACK
(May 31) writersinthestormblog. com
            Sure, you’ve got to start strong. But that’s not necessarily enough.

online: BOFFO BEGINNINGS & FAB FINALES
(June 10-21) writeruniv.wordpress.com/classes
            How can you make sure your book will draw readers in from the very first paragraph, through the next several pages, continuing into further chapters until they realize they’ve been reading so fast and so deep they can’t put this story down? How can you leave them, after reaching The End, so wonderfully satisfied with the book they just finished that they’re already vowing to read whatever else you’ve written and are going to write next? That’s what this class is about.

live in San Diego: BRAIDING YOUR STORY
(June 15, 10:30am) rwasd.com/meetings
            Same as the April's two-hour workshop, but this one will be a half-hour longer! 

Laurie's  Bio:

Laurie Schnebly Campbell published half a dozen romances with Harlequin, including one that beat out Nora Roberts for “Best Special Edition of the Year,” before discovering the only thing she loves more than writing is working with other writers. So she started giving workshops every month, online and in person, and now has a special area on her bookshelf full of books with acknowledgments from authors who’ve loved her classes.