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Workshops

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Online classes are an easy and inexpensive way to hone your craft or learn about the business, all from the comfort of your home and at your computer! YRW strives to offer the best options available. 

  • One-Step Sign Up: Pay and register all at once! Just click the "Buy Now" button below your chosen course to pay by PayPal.
  • To pay by check: Download the registration form by clicking the link below, fill out and send with payment to the address noted on form.
  • YRW does not offer cash refunds.  We offer class credit only.
  • All workshops are through Yahoo groups. Invitation to join group and lessons are via email from the instructor.
 

YRW WORKSHOP REGISTRATION FORM

WORKSHOP EVALUATION FORM
Please use this form to evaluate each workshop taken. Comments and opinions are useful to instructors and to YRW in planning future classes.
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How to Write FAST
Instructor: Peter Andrews

Dates: February 5 – March 3, 2012

Crank up the efficiency and get that novel, short story, article or script DONE. Through exercises, evaluations, tips and technologies, you can learn to write faster. Discover how to break through blocks, get ideas, develop plots, draft and polish in less time without losing quality.

Using handouts, group discussions, writing samples and exercises this workshop will cover:
  • Identifying obstacles to writing and remedies
  • Questions that help build plots, arguments, scenes and synopses
  • Developing your process notebook so you can write for results
  • Technology that speeds your writing
  • Fast identification of prose problems and checklists for rewriting
  • Dealing with distractions
  • Measurements that keep you on track
  • Writer's block and how to use it
 
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
  • Recognize obstacles to writing and avoid them
  • Use checklists and questions to create and organize material
  • Create stories and articles more quickly
  • Adapt and document known processes for writing that fit their style and intent

About Peter Andrews:
Currently a full-time speechwriter. His resume includes: teacher of different virtual courses for IBM and its clients; professional work in PR, as a Web producer and a radio producer; hundreds of nonfiction articles in print; has written and produced 30 minute videos, co-wrote one non-fiction book that came out October 2009 and another nonfiction book (ghosted) that came out in December 2010, a one-act play that was selected for two festivals including performances in both cases (once in a Manhattan theater). Peter has sold dozens of short stories, from 300 words to 5000 words, and has 12 finals (Oct '09 - Oct '10) in romance chapter contests.
 

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Developing Brand You!
Instructor: Jennifer Fusco
Dates: March 5 – March 30, 2012


Developing Brand You!
In this workshop, the audience will gain a deep understanding of brand, what it is, why it’s important to have one and how you communicate your brand on the web and in the social media space.   The audience will also learn self-evaluation techniques to develop their own brand statement.  By the end of the workshop, the audience will have a brand statement and a workable plan to help put their brand and marketing efforts in motion.
 
Where has this workshop been presented?
2011 RWA National Conference, NY, NY
2011 Connecticut Fiction Fest, North Haven, CT
 
About the Instructor:
Jennifer Fusco is the Creative & Brand Marketing Manager for the General Electric Company, North America. A two-time award winner of the Advertising Excellence Award for 2010, Jennifer also launched a successful national television ad campaign. She is passionate about Brand and believes it is a key to professional success. Her article titled, “How to Use the Power of Your Brand,” was published in August 2010 by Insights, an industry trade magazine and holds a B.A. in English from North Carolina State University.

In her writing life, Jennifer is a member of RWA’s PRO network, Vice President of the Connecticut Romance Writers Association and a writer of paranormal romance. She has completed two manuscripts. Jennifer lives in Connecticut with her husband and young son.

 

 

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Killer Openings
Instructor: Alexa Bourne
Dates: April 2 – April 27, 2012


Many people browse through a book store, pull a book off the shelf and read the first page. They decide right then, based on the 1st line, 1st paragraphs and 1st page, whether or not they’ll buy the book. Killer Openings dissects those all-important elements. Students study good and bad openings and discuss why they do or don’t work.  They can also submit their own opening lines/paragraphs/pages and receive a critique.

About the instructor:
Alexa Bourne has finaled in or won 21 RWA contests with 7 manuscripts.  (Most of those contests focused on the 1st few pages or the 1st chapter.)  She has a Bachelor’s in English Literature and a Master’s in Education.  www.alexabourne.com

 

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Revision Hel--No, Heaven
Instructor: Laurie Schnebly Campbell
Dates: May 1 – May 14, 2012


Every writer knows about Revision Hell. But the chance for re-“envision” of any concept that’s attracted attention can be a golden opportunity. This is an intensive class with daily lessons. It covers the psychological and the practical aspects of revision:  when to do it, why (and why not) to do it, how to  make the process easier, and--most important of all--how to know when you’re finished.

About the instructor:
Laurie Schnebly Campbell loves giving workshops -- for students from London and Los Angeles to New Zealand and New York – but it’s just one of her interests. 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.

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.  Visit Laurie at: http://www.booklaurie.com/

 

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Call of the Wild: wolf lore, truths and myths every writer should know
Instructor: Eva Gordon
Dates: July 9-27, 2012


Meetings/CallofWild.jpgA three week seminar for writers who are interested in writing about wolves and werewolves in their stories but who want more background on the basic biology and behavior of real wolves.  Writers will learn why the wolf evolved from admired archetype to savage, evil nemesis of man. The instructor will include original interviews of a few famous werewolves and the workshop will end with the students creating their own myths based on their created shifter characters.


About the instructor:
Eva Gordon, author of paranormal lycan romance and fantasy, has a BA Zoology, MA Biology and a California Secondary Teaching Credential in the Life Sciences. Eva volunteers as a wildlife educator and has volunteered at the Howling Acres Wolf Sanctuary in Southern Oregon. She loves delving into wolf and werewolf lore.  Visit Eva at:  http://evagordon.blogspot.com

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