The Muse Online Writers Conference

The ONLY online conference of its kind!

This page is being updated. Bookmark and come back often to see what else we'll have in store for you on October 13 - 19th.

To figure out your time zone LINK HERE.
Chats are one hour long workshops unless otherwise specified. Please make sure to prepare your questions ahead of time by reading the handouts you will have on hand by midSeptember. Everyone who registers for the conference will be receiving a schedule to pick and choose your workshops. Only once you've registered for your workshops will you be given the username and password to the Handout page.

CHATS ONLY

MONDAY - OCTOBER 13

9AM EST

BURN THOSE BUNNY SLIPPERS & BECOME THE SUCCESSFUL WRITER YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE!

with Susanne Rose

This workshop is for anybody contemplating chucking their day job to become a full-time writer and will benefit those who have already taken the plunge but feel like they're going in futile circles instead of progressing toward publication. 

Be sure to download the handout to find suggestions for homework and join us for the workshop to explore these topics and more:

Why it's important to dress for success and treat writing like a "real" job

How to look and sound like a pro from the very first day 

What's the difference between a goal and a dream?  How to set realistic benchmarks to measure your progress

How to ensure you'll keep that daily appointment with yourself and produce a quota of words/pages even when the muse is on strike 

Facing the fear of rejection and submitting what you write

Making sure all your eggs aren't in the same basket (i.e. not submitting to just one type of market that might disappear without warning)

I look forward to working with you at THE MUSE 2008 ONLINE WRITERS CONFERENCE!

Susanne Rose


10 AM EST

Organize Your Writing Life with Cheryl Malandrinos

Do you wish you had more time to write?  Are you sick and tired of wading through mounds of research, unopened mail, and books to find what you need for your next writing project?  Does the thought of meeting a deadline stress you out?  Then this is the workshop for you!  You’ll find ways to increase productivity through time management, organization, and stress management.  You’ll get tips on how to avoid distractions, how to balance your career and your family life, create an organized work space, and how to relieve stress so that you can make the most out of your writing time.  This and so much more when you register for Organize Your Writing Life today!

10AM EST

 Creative Block Buster for Poetry with Lisa Gentile

Stuck? Do you have a poem that seems like it just won’t spring to life? Are you trying to complete your first chapbook? Whether you have a draft, a note, an idea, or an image, you can move your work forward. Join creativity coach Lisa Gentile for a 5 day workshop on busting through creative blocks. You will have the opportunity to generate new poems, enliven existing pieces, and find new ways to hear what your material is telling you.

4PM EST

HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR CHILDREN'S BOOK "HOOKS" AN EDITOR.

By Margot Finke

Mid Gades and YA 

Make sure that final polish is throughout your manuscript:

Let’s chat about, VOICE, CHARACTER ENRICHMENT and FOCUS

And that’s just the beginning. . .

<><><><><><>

Picture Books

If you are writing in rhyme:

Make sure the meter is smooth and repeated.

And then, there are those rhyming words. . .

Just rhyming is NOT enough!!

<><><><><><>

Non Rhyming PBs

Keep the word count WAY under 1,000 words

Always think “illustrations”

Don’t waffle on!

REMEMBER: illustrations take care of the details.

<><><><><><>

There’s a LOT more to HOOKING an editor – so let’s CHAT


5PM EST

The Magic of Magic:

How to Create (and use) a Magic System with Christina Barber

Join award-winning, multi-published author, Christina Barber on the wondrous journey of creating your own magic system.

Learn how to use ancient mythologies or other systems of magic to bend, shape and create your own unique system of magic. Whether for use in epic fantasy, dark fantasy, contemporary fantasy or futuristic (sci-fi blend), this class will help you create your own magic!

8PM EST

Show and No Tell with Dindy Robinson

Editors often tell writers to “Show, don’t tell,” but what do they mean by this? What is the difference between showing and telling, and how, exactly, do you show your reader what is happening?



TUESDAY - OCTOBER 14

9AM EST
 

The Art and Science of Self-Publishing

with Susan K. Stewart

Whether your book is for a small niche market or a broad audience, it is easier than ever before to self-publish a quality product. Susan provides details of publishing for an audience smaller than 50,000; smaller even than 500. She covers building a quality product, cost, and marketing.


10AM EST

 Creative Block Buster for Poetry with Lisa Gentile

Stuck? Do you have a poem that seems like it just won’t spring to life? Are you trying to complete your first chapbook? Whether you have a draft, a note, an idea, or an image, you can move your work forward. Join creativity coach Lisa Gentile for a 5 day workshop on busting through creative blocks. You will have the opportunity to generate new poems, enliven existing pieces, and find new ways to hear what your material is telling you.

4PM EST

HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR CHILDREN'S BOOK "HOOKS" AN EDITOR.

By Margot Finke

Mid Gades and YA 

Make sure that final polish is throughout your manuscript:

Let’s chat about, VOICE, CHARACTER ENRICHMENT and FOCUS

And that’s just the beginning. . .

<><><><><><>

Picture Books

If you are writing in rhyme:

Make sure the meter is smooth and repeated.

And then, there are those rhyming words. . .

Just rhyming is NOT enough!!

<><><><><><>

Non Rhyming PBs

Keep the word count WAY under 1,000 words

Always think “illustrations”

Don’t waffle on!

REMEMBER: illustrations take care of the details.

<><><><><><>

There’s a LOT more to HOOKING an editor – so let’s CHAT


5PM EST

The Magic of Magic:

How to Create (and use) a Magic System with Christina Barber

Join award-winning, multi-published author, Christina Barber on the wondrous journey of creating your own magic system.

Learn how to use ancient mythologies or other systems of magic to bend, shape and create your own unique system of magic. Whether for use in epic fantasy, dark fantasy, contemporary fantasy or futuristic (sci-fi blend), this class will help you create your own magic!

8PM EST

Writing for the Trades (How to Make Money Writing Non-fiction)

with Linda J Hutchinson

What are “the trades” and how do you make money writing for them?  Register for this intensive workshop on how to make money writing non-fiction while, like most of us, you are waiting to sell film and international rights to your bestselling novels. 

Linda J. Hutchinson has been writing for construction, parenting, volunteerism, food, and writing print and online magazines – or “trade” journals – for the past four years.  She makes a steady income writing about moving dirt, setting girders, pouring concrete, diverting traffic, getting muddy, and getting it right.  She’s been paid to write about dangerously obsolete bridges that carry up to 500,000 cars, trucks, and big rigs per day, about rocking “crack babies”, mystery meat, her family (which is not always appreciated), and most things in between.

No matter what your background, there is a “trade” journal or magazine in existence that is just waiting for your input – and they will pay you to write for them. 

What are “the trades”?  How do you write for them?  How much can you make?  (Hint:  Many of the trades pay between 10 and 30 cents per word, and pay an additional amount for photographs.)

We’ll discuss AP Style, MLA Style, Chicago Manual of Style, and the inverted pyramid.  Then we’ll take a look at where to find opportunities for your writing, how to snare the assignments, and how to approach your prey. 

We’ll also discuss how to cyber-stalk your interview subjects without pi**ing them off. 

If you’d like to see examples of what these editors are looking for, visit www.lindajhutchinson.com.  An abundance of live links to sold articles may be found on the Published Clips page.

9PM EST

Wham, Bam, Thank You, Ma'am: Cutting to the Chase and Writing First Chapters That HOOK

By Sara Reinke

Did you know that prospective editors and agents sometimes make their decision as to whether or not to contract your work based on the first page of your manuscript? Some decide by the end of the first paragraph, and some even by the first sentence. Your book needs to start with a bang, a sure-fire hook to catch a reader's interest. In this fun-filled, fast-paced chat, learn the tricks of the trade for writing short-and-sweet, down and dirty first chapters that grab attention and don't let go.
 

WEDNESDAY - OCTOBER 15


10 AM EST

Organize Your Writing Life with Cheryl Malandrinos

Do you wish you had more time to write?  Are you sick and tired of wading through mounds of research, unopened mail, and books to find what you need for your next writing project?  Does the thought of meeting a deadline stress you out?  Then this is the workshop for you!  You’ll find ways to increase productivity through time management, organization, and stress management.  You’ll get tips on how to avoid distractions, how to balance your career and your family life, create an organized work space, and how to relieve stress so that you can make the most out of your writing time.  This and so much more when you register for Organize Your Writing Life today!

10AM EST

 Creative Block Buster for Poetry with Lisa Gentile

Stuck? Do you have a poem that seems like it just won’t spring to life? Are you trying to complete your first chapbook? Whether you have a draft, a note, an idea, or an image, you can move your work forward. Join creativity coach Lisa Gentile for a 5 day workshop on busting through creative blocks. You will have the opportunity to generate new poems, enliven existing pieces, and find new ways to hear what your material is telling you.

11AM EST

Virtual Book Tour with Karina Fabian

Your book is published!  You've sent out the media releases and the review requests.  Now what?  You want to get the word out, but you don't have the money or the time to take it on the road.

Time to get on the Information Highway with a virtual book tour.  Karina Fabian (www.fabianspace.com) will teach you the basics of setting up and conducting a book tour on the Internet.  We'll cover:

          *Finding websites that target your audience

          *The many ways of getting your book mentioned on-line from comments on a blog to interviews, chats, podcasts and more.

          *Presenting yourself effectively on-line.

          *Following up.

Karina has had wonderful success with her two virtual book tours to promote her catholic SF anthology, Infinite Space, Infinite God.  (http://isigsf.com)

12PM EST

Fine Tuning the Senses with Jane Bernard

Fine Tuning the Senses is how to break through writers block.  This approach to writing will connect you with your intuitive voice.   

Using the techniques in this course which are based on Fine Tuning, Connecting With Your Inner Power, you will recognize that intuition is your internal guidance system for accessing clarity.   Part of the discovery of Fine Tuning is that it is easy.  Importantly for each of us, clarity leads to a sense of self-recognition and accomplishment.

We have the answers to our writing conundrums, and they¢re at our finger-tips.  Fine Tuning helps open the door to the spark that drives your writing.  Through Fine Tuning you will recognize that spark driving you, connecting with the passion to write is your intuition. 

Fine Tuning the Senses workshop includes a series of interactive writing exercises using the 5 senses culminating in the creation of a platform connecting with our 6th sense, intuition.

This workshop is intended to be fun, educational and inspiring. 

Objective: Focusing on the senses turns the key, opening doors to your imagination. Fine tuning the senses lets you access the passion you have that enables you to clarify your message. Upon completion of this workshop, you will feel empowered and inspired as a writer and a communicator.


2PM EST

It’s All About You! Writing Personal Stories wiith Carol Celeste

Everyone has stories to tell and there are many ways to tell them. This workshop will focus on the personal essay. Personal essays are articulate, insightful stories from our lives, narrated in enticing prose to entertain and inform readers, whether family or the public. Writing our stories frees up buried emotions and thoughts, giving rise to epiphanies about how we have lived our lives. And it’s good for our health! In this workshop you will learn tips for writing personal essays that satisfy the writer through self-exploration and entertain the reader by using literary techniques. If publication is your goal, you'll learn how to identify print and online publications that publish what you write and how to submit your work. A daily writing prompt will be posted on the forum. Forum and chat.

4PM EST

What Aspiring Writers Need to Know

With Marie Delgado Travis

At the first Muse Global Conference, award-winning writer Marie Delgado Travis shared her tips and experiences with aspiring writers. Now, two years wiser, she again shares information on how to succeed in writing by really trying! Join her for an honest, heart to heart chat on such topics as getting published and self-publishing, building a platform as a writer and overcoming writer's block and rejection. Half big sister, half fairy godmother, Marie's chat may well give you, the aspiring writer, the encouragement needed to pursue your dreams. For more information on your cheerleader / presenter, visit Marie's web site at www.mariedelgadotravis.com


4PM EST

HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR CHILDREN'S BOOK "HOOKS" AN EDITOR.

By Margot Finke

Mid Gades and YA 

Make sure that final polish is throughout your manuscript:

Let’s chat about, VOICE, CHARACTER ENRICHMENT and FOCUS

And that’s just the beginning. . .

<><><><><><>

Picture Books

If you are writing in rhyme:

Make sure the meter is smooth and repeated.

And then, there are those rhyming words. . .

Just rhyming is NOT enough!!

<><><><><><>

Non Rhyming PBs

Keep the word count WAY under 1,000 words

Always think “illustrations”

Don’t waffle on!

REMEMBER: illustrations take care of the details.

<><><><><><>

There’s a LOT more to HOOKING an editor – so let’s CHAT


5PM EST

Laugh, your short story needs it with Ron Berry

Have a knack for writing short stories? But, does the opening grab the attention of the reader? Do your readers fall asleep reading them? I’ll help you with a few tricks I’ve learned about how to add that needed punch. Need ideas for short stories? I can help there also. If you write stories only about one or two topics, why not branch out? Expand your comfort zone into areas you know about but don’t realize. You’re the expert at lasagna, but what about that time it landed on the floor? To save embarrassment, write it third person, blame the cat. There’s a million stories out there. Help us write them.


8PM EST

Plotting your Novel: One Way to Get from Point A to Point Z and all the Places In Between with Dindy Robinson

You’ve got a story and you’re ready to put it on paper, but how do you handle all the side roads without losing sight of your main destination. This workshop will show you ONE way to organize your novel.

9PM EST

Writing Sex  -- “Hands on”  with Kassie Burns

If you want to learn how to write an effective sex scene, come prepared to participate. Writers in this workshop will be “caught in the act” – i.e., required to write a sex scene and submit it for critique.

Kassie Burns, a multi-published author of sensual SF and fantasy romance, will conduct the workshop and offer her feedback on what you’ve written.  She will remove all identification from submissions so they will be completely anonymous to other members of the group.

The scene you submit can be from a work in progress or written just for the workshop. However, Kassie does need to receive all scenes at least a week before the workshop begins. So sign up early and she’ll send you further details on how to submit your sex scene for feedback.

Kassie Burns currently has nine published sensual novels with publishers such as Loose Id, Samhain, Changeling Press and Extasy Books. Her Web site is: http://www.kassieburns.com

THURSDAY - OCTOBER 16

9AM EST

Frugal Writer’s Guide to Web Sites

with Susan K. Stewart

Every writer knows that a web site is essential for marketing. Whether you write books or articles, are a beginner or best-seller, a Internet presence is necessary. Learn the 5 Ws and H of building a web site. It is easier and cheaper than you think.


10AM EST

 Creative Block Buster for Poetry with Lisa Gentile

Stuck? Do you have a poem that seems like it just won’t spring to life? Are you trying to complete your first chapbook? Whether you have a draft, a note, an idea, or an image, you can move your work forward. Join creativity coach Lisa Gentile for a 5 day workshop on busting through creative blocks. You will have the opportunity to generate new poems, enliven existing pieces, and find new ways to hear what your material is telling you.


12PM EST

A Blueprint for Your Creative Space through the Power of  Feng Shui with Anna Maria Prezio, author of "Confessions of a Feng Shui Ghost-Buster"

Do you know where your most creative and productive areas of your house or office are located?

Do you know your most auspicious colors? How, when and where to use them?

A small change in your office or home work area can make the difference from being blocked to a creative flow.

The Principles of Feng Shui can help you call in the Muse and allow your intuitive power to manifest abundant creativity.

Power and Prosperity through Feng Shui and Color, a special report, will be provided to guide you through the process.

Creative space helps us connect to our innermost artistic creativity.  You'll know at least one way to harmonize your chi so that

your creativity can flow easily and effortlessly.

Get rid of those pesky ghosts that are holding you back from creating your materpiece.

Bonus: "Ten Rules to a Serene & Ghost-Free Environment" from Anna Maria's new book, "Confessions of a Feng Shui Ghost-Buster"


1PM EST

On Becoming a Professional Amateur with Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff

(A chat workshop and forum by Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff, member SFWA/HWA, multi-published author of fantasy and science fiction)

To be an amateur in the original sense of the word simply means to do something for love, though our culture has added the rider, "not for pay." An amateur writer, then, is generally taken to mean one who’s not paid for her efforts.

“Amateur” has also come to mean someone who lacks polish, skill and craft. Synonyms for “amateurish” include: unprofessional, sloppy, inept, slipshod, clumsy, crude. That doesn’t sound good.

To me, being a truly amateur writer—a lover of writing—means you love your craft enough to have a professional attitude toward it, a desire to do it with the highest level of skill you can. So, how do you make your craft reflect true amateurism and not the other kind? By weeding out the signs of amateurism and cultivating craft.

In this workshop, I'd like to offer some ideas on how to spot the "weeds" of amateurism in your writing, such as:

·        Sloppiness

·        Language Abuse

·        Mixed Metaphors

·        Character acrobatics

·        Black box scenes

·        Enter stage right

·        Disappearing (or uni-tasking) characters

·        Narrator as Barney or Why you should keep reading after kindergarten.

·        Serendipity

And more!



4PM EST

Creating Memorable Characters Chat

With Marilyn Meredith 

After you read the handout, ask any question that you might have about creating memorable characters. When creating your characters, you need to know what happened to them in their past to make the actions they take in the conflict they are faced with in your novel or short story.

You should know your characters well enough that they are more real than any of your family members or friends. After all, you know their innermost thoughts, something you never really know about the people you are with from day-to-day. 

Marilyn is the author of two mystery series: The Deputy Tempe Crabtree series and the Rocky Bluff P.D. series written under the name of F. M. Meredith. She has taught this class for several writers’ conferences including Epicon and Public Safety Writers Association. She’s a member of Epic, Sisters in Crime, PSWA, MWA, WOW, American Authors Association, and California Writers Club.

http://fictionforyou.com


4PM EST

HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR CHILDREN'S BOOK "HOOKS" AN EDITOR.

By Margot Finke

Mid Gades and YA 

Make sure that final polish is throughout your manuscript:

Let’s chat about, VOICE, CHARACTER ENRICHMENT and FOCUS

And that’s just the beginning. . .

<><><><><><>

Picture Books

If you are writing in rhyme:

Make sure the meter is smooth and repeated.

And then, there are those rhyming words. . .

Just rhyming is NOT enough!!

<><><><><><>

Non Rhyming PBs

Keep the word count WAY under 1,000 words

Always think “illustrations”

Don’t waffle on!

REMEMBER: illustrations take care of the details.

<><><><><><>

There’s a LOT more to HOOKING an editor – so let’s CHAT


8PM EST
Faith in Fiction with Maya Bonhoff and Karina Fabian

Award-winning authors, Maya and Karina, will discuss incorporating real and imaginary religions into your fictional world.

How to create new religions, how to write about real ones respectfully, incorporating details. 

A handout will be posted, and questions taken during a chat.


FRIDAY - OCTOBER 17

10 AM EST

 Creative Block Buster for Poetry with Lisa Gentile

Stuck? Do you have a poem that seems like it just won’t spring to life? Are you trying to complete your first chapbook? Whether you have a draft, a note, an idea, or an image, you can move your work forward. Join creativity coach Lisa Gentile for a 5 day workshop on busting through creative blocks. You will have the opportunity to generate new poems, enliven existing pieces, and find new ways to hear what your material is telling you.

4PM EST

HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR CHILDREN'S BOOK "HOOKS" AN EDITOR.

By Margot Finke

Mid Gades and YA 

Make sure that final polish is throughout your manuscript:

Let’s chat about, VOICE, CHARACTER ENRICHMENT and FOCUS

And that’s just the beginning. . .

<><><><><><>

Picture Books

If you are writing in rhyme:

Make sure the meter is smooth and repeated.

And then, there are those rhyming words. . .

Just rhyming is NOT enough!!

<><><><><><>

Non Rhyming PBs

Keep the word count WAY under 1,000 words

Always think “illustrations”

Don’t waffle on!

REMEMBER: illustrations take care of the details.

<><><><><><>

There’s a LOT more to HOOKING an editor – so let’s CHAT


8PM EST
World Building with Karina Fabian

EPPIE-winner Karina Fabian (www.fabianspace.com) guides you through creating realistic worlds you'll want to write about and your readers will want to read more of.  You'll be given questions to guide you in imagining your world, suggestions for modeling your world on current or historical worlds, and exercises to make your worlds seem real.  Karina has three major universes she's created to play in and has even created a website for her Dragon Eye, PI world.  (Come visit at www.dragoneyepi.net.)

9PM EST

How to Sell to Yourself

with VS Grenier

It‘s more than writing a good story or article when it comes to being noticed by publishers and editors. Think about it, how many bad books are out there making money? How many awful articles have you read in recent publications? Do you wonder how these writers are getting published and you’re not? Do you think it has to do with the catch 22 system? In some ways it does, but knowing how to sell yourself is key. You’re not just a writer, you’re a Salesman! And the product you’re selling is Yourself!

VS Grenier’s background in merchandise marketing has played a key role in how she sells herself as a writer and editor. Her ezine, Stories for Children Magazine wouldn't be making the head way it has over the past year if it wasn't for the tips she’s learned in marketing product.

As writers we are a product, not just our books. Many writers aren't successful because they don't know how to sell themselves; let a lone their writing. In this workshop we’ll cover:

·        Query and Cover letters

·        Writing a Synopses

·        Websites

·        Blogs

·        Newsletters

·        Marketing Strategies

1.    FREE Media Releases

2.    Cross Promotion

3.    Book Signings

4.    School Visits

5.    Word of Mouth


SATURDAY - OCTOBER 18

2PM EST

Epublishing and the YA market with Kim Baccellia

So you want to write YA? Writing the book is the easy part.  Kim Baccellia will share some things she's learned from epublishing her YA multicultural book, EARRINGS OF IXTUMEA. With either a small press or epublisher, it's up to the author to do the marketing.  She will share some things she learned on PR and how to get the buzz out there on your book.  Also she will share from her reviewer experience, trends she's seeing in upcoming YA.

Kim Baccellia is the author of the YA book EARRINGS OF IXTUMEA.  She's also a YA reviewer for Enchanting Reviews and has been a panelist for the Cybils-Children/YA blogger literary awards-for the past two years in which she helped judge over 100 books.  Currently she's working on a tween fantasy/romance.  Her website is www.kim-baccellia.com


4PM EST

HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR CHILDREN'S BOOK "HOOKS" AN EDITOR.

By Margot Finke

Mid Gades and YA 

Make sure that final polish is throughout your manuscript:

Let’s chat about, VOICE, CHARACTER ENRICHMENT and FOCUS

And that’s just the beginning. . .

<><><><><><>

Picture Books

If you are writing in rhyme:

Make sure the meter is smooth and repeated.

And then, there are those rhyming words. . .

Just rhyming is NOT enough!!

<><><><><><>

Non Rhyming PBs

Keep the word count WAY under 1,000 words

Always think “illustrations”

Don’t waffle on!

REMEMBER: illustrations take care of the details.

<><><><><><>

There’s a LOT more to HOOKING an editor – so let’s CHAT


7PM EST

Creating An Impressive Writing Website

With Linda Jo-Martin

This workshop will contain basic and intermediate level information on setting up and organizing a website or blog to promote your writing. Participants can ask questions about web design, search engine optimization, website content, blogging, or any other aspect of owning and developing a writer's website.


SUNDAY - OCTOBER 19

1PM EST

BEFORE COPY EDITING with Claudia Suzanne

 

Misplacing a comma or dangling a participle won't knock you out of the land-a-publisher contest -- but poor structure and static writing will.

 

Poor structure is the number one reason nonfiction books don't sell. It's the number one reason for novels, too, except in fiction, structure is called plot and characters. 

 

The number two reject reason for all books? Static writing. More than "show, not tell," more than active verbs and lyrical passages, static writing is all about  phrasing and ridding yourself of those academic "rules" you learned in school that no longer apply in 21st Century prose.

 

Learn how to correct your structure and brighten your prose from Claudia Suzanne, a ghostwriter who's worked on over 100 books -- including NY Times Bestsellers, award-winning novels, and her own internationally acclaimed title, This Business of Books (5th Edition in progress).

4PM EST

HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR CHILDREN'S BOOK "HOOKS" AN EDITOR.

By Margot Finke

Mid Gades and YA 

Make sure that final polish is throughout your manuscript:

Let’s chat about, VOICE, CHARACTER ENRICHMENT and FOCUS

And that’s just the beginning. . .

<><><><><><>

Picture Books

If you are writing in rhyme:

Make sure the meter is smooth and repeated.

And then, there are those rhyming words. . .

Just rhyming is NOT enough!!

<><><><><><>

Non Rhyming PBs

Keep the word count WAY under 1,000 words

Always think “illustrations”

Don’t waffle on!

REMEMBER: illustrations take care of the details.

<><><><><><>

There’s a LOT more to HOOKING an editor – so let’s CHAT


9PM EST
Writing the Short Story with Lea Schizas

For the entire week we'll explore various areas each day:
  • Why you need a great beginning
  • What makes for a memorable character
  • Using dialogue to move your story forward and removing taglines
  • Wrapping up your foreshadows for a satisfying ending
  • Finding a publisher-the do's and do not's
During our chat workshop, the entire hour will be devoted to answering questions so make sure you have your questions ready.

10PM EST
Conference Farewell Party

ALL WEEK FORUM
The all week forum will consist of individual workshop rooms for each of the Presenters courses. The link to the private forum and its password will be given once registration for workshops have concluded.

A Blueprint for Your Creative Space through the Power of  Feng Shui with Anna Maria Prezio, author of "Confessions of a Feng Shui Ghost-Buster"

Do you know where your most creative and productive areas of your house or office are located?

Do you know your most auspicious colors? How, when and where to use them?

A small change in your office or home work area can make the difference from being blocked to a creative flow.

The Principles of Feng Shui can help you call in the Muse and allow your intuitive power to manifest abundant creativity.

Power and Prosperity through Feng Shui and Color, a special report, will be provided to guide you through the process.

Creative space helps us connect to our innermost artistic creativity.  You'll know at least one way to harmonize your chi so that

your creativity can flow easily and effortlessly.

Get rid of those pesky ghosts that are holding you back from creating your materpiece.

Bonus: "Ten Rules to a Serene & Ghost-Free Environment" from Anna Maria's new book, "Confessions of a Feng Shui Ghost-Buster"


Adding Suspense with Authors J.D. Webb and Pepper Smith

Want a little more pizzazz on that page?  Get hands-on, practical experience in turning the mundane into something more in this week-long workshop.

The Art and Science of Self-Publishing with Susan K. Stewart

Whether your book is for a small niche market or a broad audience, it is easier than ever before to self-publish a quality product. Susan provides details of publishing for an audience smaller than 50,000; smaller even than 500. She covers building a quality product, cost, and marketing.

BEFORE COPY EDITING with Claudia Suzanne

 

Misplacing a comma or dangling a participle won't knock you out of the land-a-publisher contest -- but poor structure and static writing will.

 

Poor structure is the number one reason nonfiction books don't sell. It's the number one reason for novels, too, except in fiction, structure is called plot and characters. 

 

The number two reject reason for all books? Static writing. More than "show, not tell," more than active verbs and lyrical passages, static writing is all about  phrasing and ridding yourself of those academic "rules" you learned in school that no longer apply in 21st Century prose.

 

Learn how to correct your structure and brighten your prose from Claudia Suzanne, a ghostwriter who's worked on over 100 books -- including NY Times Bestsellers, award-winning novels, and her own internationally acclaimed title, This Business of Books (5th Edition in progress).


Building Your Author Platform

with Jamie Engle and Pauline Baird Jones

“Author Platform” is one of the buzz phrases floating around publishing houses. Besides looking at how well-written a book is, editors are looking at the author’s platform, or how well they’re connected to their community of readers. They’re looking to see if the author has a built-in audience - a community they can tap - for book sales and promotion. We’ll discuss what exactly an author platform is, how you begin to build one and how your platform ties in to book promotion and sales.

 

BURN THOSE BUNNY SLIPPERS & BECOME THE SUCCESSFUL WRITER YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE!

with Susanne Rose

This workshop is for anybody contemplating chucking their day job to become a full-time writer and will benefit those who have already taken the plunge but feel like they're going in futile circles instead of progressing toward publication. 

Be sure to download the handout to find suggestions for homework and join us for the workshop to explore these topics and more:

Why it's important to dress for success and treat writing like a "real" job

How to look and sound like a pro from the very first day 

What's the difference between a goal and a dream?  How to set realistic benchmarks to measure your progress

How to ensure you'll keep that daily appointment with yourself and produce a quota of words/pages even when the muse is on strike 

Facing the fear of rejection and submitting what you write

Making sure all your eggs aren't in the same basket (i.e. not submitting to just one type of market that might disappear without warning)

I look forward to working with you at THE MUSE 2008 ONLINE WRITERS CONFERENCE!

Susanne Rose


Creating An Impressive Writing Website

With Linda Jo-Martin

This workshop will contain basic and intermediate level information on setting up and organizing a website or blog to promote your writing. Participants can ask questions about web design, search engine optimization, website content, blogging, or any other aspect of owning and developing a writer's website.

 Creative Block Buster for Poetry with Lisa Gentile

Stuck? Do you have a poem that seems like it just won’t spring to life? Are you trying to complete your first chapbook? Whether you have a draft, a note, an idea, or an image, you can move your work forward. Join creativity coach Lisa Gentile for a 5 day workshop on busting through creative blocks. You will have the opportunity to generate new poems, enliven existing pieces, and find new ways to hear what your material is telling you.

Epublishing and the YA market with Kim Baccellia

So you want to write YA? Writing the book is the easy part.  Kim Baccellia will share some things she's learned from epublishing her YA multicultural book, EARRINGS OF IXTUMEA. With either a small press or epublisher, it's up to the author to do the marketing.  She will share some things she learned on PR and how to get the buzz out there on your book.  Also she will share from her reviewer experience, trends she's seeing in upcoming YA.

Kim Baccellia is the author of the YA book EARRINGS OF IXTUMEA.  She's also a YA reviewer for Enchanting Reviews and has been a panelist for the Cybils-Children/YA blogger literary awards-for the past two years in which she helped judge over 100 books.  Currently she's working on a tween fantasy/romance.  Her website is www.kim-baccellia.com

Exhibiting at Trade Shows and Book Fairs on a Shoestring Budget with Carol J. Amato

Exhibiting at trade shows and book fairs is a great way for any author to get exposure for his or her work, but doing so can be prohibitively expensive.  How can you take part in these professional events and keep your wallet intact? This session shows you how to be a force at these shows and how to have a great-looking booth on a shoestring budget.

Fine Tuning the Senses with Jane Bernard

"Green" Your Writing for Profit and Posterity with Lisa Logan

Profit, profit, PROFIT! As writers we all want it. Author promotion consultant and home/writing environmentalist Lisa Logan discusses how writers of all genres can utilize eco-friendly methods of writing, submitting, and promoting their work to increase profits, expand target audience...AND save the planet! An absolute must for writers looking to spike their profit margin, protect the environment...or both.

Helpful Editing/Grammar Tips With Dr. Bob Rich

Join Dr. Bob Rich for a weeklong workshop to help you tighten your manuscripts.

How to Critique Like a Pro with Carol J. Amato

So you’ve joined a critique group and you’re reading or listening to the other members’ manuscripts. What are you supposed to be looking for? What are you supposed to say? This session will tell you what you need to know to critique the various genres of fiction and nonfiction books and articles.

HOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR CHILDREN'S BOOK "HOOKS" AN EDITOR.

By Margot Finke

Mid Gades and YA 

Make sure that final polish is throughout your manuscript:

Let’s chat about, VOICE, CHARACTER ENRICHMENT and FOCUS

And that’s just the beginning. . .

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Picture Books

If you are writing in rhyme:

Make sure the meter is smooth and repeated.

And then, there are those rhyming words. . .

Just rhyming is NOT enough!!

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Non Rhyming PBs

Keep the word count WAY under 1,000 words

Always think “illustrations”

Don’t waffle on!

REMEMBER: illustrations take care of the details.

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There’s a LOT more to HOOKING an editor – so let’s CHAT

How to Sell to Yourself with VS Grenier

It‘s more than writing a good story or article when it comes to being noticed by publishers and editors. Think about it, how many bad books are out there making money? How many awful articles have you read in recent publications? Do you wonder how these writers are getting published and you’re not? Do you think it has to do with the catch 22 system? In some ways it does, but knowing how to sell yourself is key. You’re not just a writer, you’re a Salesman! And the product you’re selling is Yourself!

VS Grenier’s background in merchandise marketing has played a key role in how she sells herself as a writer and editor. Her ezine, Stories for Children Magazine wouldn't be making the head way it has over the past year if it wasn't for the tips she’s learned in marketing product.

As writers we are a product, not just our books. Many writers aren't successful because they don't know how to sell themselves; let a lone their writing. In this workshop we’ll cover:

·        Query and Cover letters

·        Writing a Synopses

·        Websites