Dazzling Dialogue Workshop

Is your dialogue deadly dull? Do your characters open their mouths and put your readers to sleep?

If your dialogue could use a little dazzle, check out Writing Great Fiction: Dialogue, offered by Writers Online Workshops.

http://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/retail/courses.aspx?r=writing-effective-dialogue

I’m teaching the section starting November 19. The course runs for 6 weeks, and will give you lectures, reading assignments, writing assignments, and group critiques. Soon, you’ll be the dialogue king!

Hope to see you there.

Liz

New Workshop for AllWriters’ Workplace & Workshop

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AllWriters’ Workplace & Workshop brings two more instructors on board!
WAUKESHA – Into a studio already overflowing with creative talent, two more instructors are finding their way. Authors Elizabeth Delisi and Karlyn Thayer are joining the online faculty at AllWriters’ Workplace & Workshop!

ELIZABETH DELISI will be teaching an online course on using Tarot Cards to enhance your writing. Elizabeth has wanted to be a writer since she was in first grade, and probably would have written in the womb if she could have convinced her mother to swallow a pencil. But life hasn’t always gone the way she planned, and on her road to publication she worked as a motel maid, waitress, secretary, administrative aide, substitute teacher, and newspaper reporter. Elizabeth’s novels include a Fatal Fortune, first in the Lottie Baldwin paranormal mystery series; Lady Of The Two Lands, a time-travel romance; and Since All Is Passing, a suspense. She’s written contemporary and paranormal romance novellas for One Touch Beyond; Enchanted Holidays; Holiday Hearts; Holiday Hearts 2; and Cupid’s Capers, and has also published two short story collections, Mirror Images and Penumbra. In addition to her writing, Elizabeth edits for several small publishers and individuals, and besides teaching for AllWriters’, she teaches for Writer’s Digest. She’s taught at Barnes & Noble online, and for various RWA chapters. Elizabeth lives in New Hampshire.

KARLYN THAYER will be teaching a how-to class in writing the romance and a refresher course in grammar. Karlyn has had numerous romance stories published, along with a few literary-type tales. One story was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Her work has been published in the literary journal of Ball State University and many more magazines. When not writing, Karlyn takes care of seven former race horses, along with dogs and cats. Karlyn is a member of Toastmasters International and is known for presenting humorous talks. “I try to include a little humor in everything I do. I think the world needs more humor. Sometimes we have to work to find the funny side of situations, but doing so is worth the time and effort if we can bring laughter to our own lives and the lives of others. Yikes, I just realized this paragraph is way too serious!”

AllWriters’ Workplace and Workshop offers on-site and online writing courses in all genres and abilities of creative writing, as well as coaching, editing, and marketing services. A schedule of classes and registration is available online at http://www.allwriters.org or you can call 262-446-0284.

Two Exciting Writing Courses

I’m teaching two exciting writing courses, starting this month.

ESSENTIALS OF MYSTERY WRITING

Do you love reading a good mystery? Have you always wanted to write one? During the Essentials of Mystery Writing workshop, you’ll have the choice of creating a brand new mystery story from scratch or working with a story you already have in progress.

In this course you will:

* Learn how to construct a compelling mystery plot
* Develop fascinating characters
* Plant clues
* Keep your readers turning the pages, eager to find out what will happen next

Course Structure

The workshop will consist of six one-week sessions. Each session will include online lectures and associated textbook reading assignments, along with a writing assignment to be submitted to the instructor for private review. In addition, work will be posted each session for group review and feedback. Throughout the workshop you will be able to participate in asynchronous lecture discussion and be encouraged to take advantage of ongoing informal discussions and posted self-directed writing and creativity exercises. (1.2 CEUs)

For more info or to sign up, go here: http://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/retail/courses.aspx?r=essentials-of-mystery-writing

ESSENTIALS OF ROMANCE WRITING

Do you yearn to write a romantic story? If so, you need to know what sets romance writing apart from other types of fiction. This course explores why romance is the same, yet different. Some essential components of romance are unique to the genre, while some romance requirements are identical to those of any good fiction story. Neither Stephen King nor Tom Clancy could sit down and write a romance unless he first familiarized himself with the specific factors that create a successful romance. This workshop will help you to understand those specific factors that make up the specialized world of romantic fiction.

In this course you will:

* Learn how the hero of an action novel differs from the hero of a romantic novel
* Master the tricky business of putting your hero and heroine together and keeping them together-yet-apart until the story’s close
* Create the sexual tension that will have your readers turning the pages late into the night
* Discover conventions must be followed and what rules can be broken for readers to embrace your work

Course Structure

The workshop will consist of six one-week sessions. Each session will include online lectures and associated textbook reading assignments, along with a writing assignment to be submitted to the instructor for private review. In addition, work will be posted each session for group review and feedback. Throughout the workshop you will be able to participate in asynchronous lecture discussion and be encouraged to take advantage of ongoing informal discussions and posted self-directed writing and creativity exercises. (1.2 CEUs)

For more info or to sign up, go here: http://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/retail/courses.aspx?r=essentials-of-romance-writing

And for those of you who read all the way down here, use this code to get a 10% discount: ED9A

Hope to see you there!

Liz

10% Discount on Writing Workshop

10% Discount on Writing Workshop

In case you’ve been waiting to take a writing workshop when the price comes down and you can get a good deal, your time is here.

Use coupon code ED9A when you register, and you can take 10% off any 2009 writing workshop at Writers Online Workshops, the online writing school of Writer’s Digest magazine.

Here’s the upcoming workshop I’m teaching:

Essentials of Romance Writing, July 23 – September 2, 2009
Description: Do you yearn to write a romantic story? If so, you need to know what sets romance writing apart from other types of fiction. This course explores why romance is the same, yet different. Some essential components of romance are unique to the genre, while some romance requirements are identical to those of any good fiction story. Neither Stephen King nor Tom Clancy could sit down and write a romance unless he first familiarized himself with the specific factors that create a successful romance. This workshop will help you to understand those specific factors that make up the specialized world of romantic fiction.

In this course you will:

* Learn how the hero of an action novel differs from the hero of a romantic novel
* Master the tricky business of putting your hero and heroine together and keeping them together-yet-apart until the story’s close
* Create the sexual tension that will have your readers turning the pages late into the night
* Discover conventions must be followed and what rules can be broken for readers to embrace your work

The workshop will consist of six one-week sessions. Each session will include online lectures and associated textbook reading assignments, along with a writing assignment to be submitted to the instructor for private review. In addition, work will be posted each session for group review and feedback. Throughout the workshop you will be able to participate in asynchronous lecture discussion and be encouraged to take advantage of ongoing informal discussions and posted self-directed writing and creativity exercises.

For more information, or to register, go here: http://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/retail/courses.aspx?r=essentials-of-romance-writing

~~~~~~~~

Hope to see you there!

Liz

Guest Blogging

Hey, everyone, just a quick note to let you know I’m guest-blogging this week at Star-Crossed Romance:

http://star-crossedromance.blogspot.com/2009/05/guest-elizabeth-delisi.html

I’ve posted an article on how to use your words to enhance the atmosphere and mood of your story. And if you post a comment, you might be a lucky winner of a free e-copy of my suspense novel, SINCE ALL IS PASSING. Check it out!

Developing Your Story With Tarot

PERMISSION TO FORWARD

Looking for a new way to breathe life into your outlining process, your plots, your characters? If so, have we got a class for you! Registration is now open for the Southern Tier Authors of Romance (STAR) April On-line Workshop: I PREDICT A NEW STORY IN YOUR FUTURE: Developing Your Story with the Tarot, with Elizabeth Delisi.

Elizabeth Delisi, a.k.a. Madame Liz, will teach you how to use the ancient art of the Tarot to develop stories, plots and subplots, heroes, heroines and villains. And more! You’ll learn the history of the Tarot, how to choose a deck, how to read the cards, and how to use those readings to develop and improve your writing.

THE INSTRUCTOR: Elizabeth Delisi’s novels include: Fatal Fortune, first in the Lottie Baldwin paranormal mystery series; Lady of the Two Lands, a time-travel romance, and Since all is Passing, a suspense. She’s written contemporary and paranormal romance novellas for One Touch Beyond, Enchanted Holidays, Holiday Hearts, Holiday Hearts 2, and Cupid’s Capers, and has two short story collections, Mirror Images and Penumbra. In addition, she edits for several small publishers and individuals, and teaches on-line writing course for Writer’s Digest. Visit Elizabeth’s web site at: www.elizabethdelisi.com. Registration begins March 1, and runs through April 1, 2009.

THE CLASS: The class will run from April 2 – 30, and will consist of a mix of lectures, exercises and discussions that will be conducted via a private Yahoo Groups listserv. All writers are welcome. If you know how to send e-mail, then you’ve mastered all of the technical skills you need to participate in our workshops. You will be automatically enrolled in the workshop’s listserv just before the class beings. All of the messages posted by the instructor and other students will be delivered directly to your inbox, although you may also view them from the Yahoo website.

THE COST: $20 for RWA members; $25 for non-members.

TO REGISTER: To register, send a check or Money Order in U.S. Dollars, made out to STAR On-Line Workshop, and mail to: Carol A. Henry, STAR On-line Workshop Coordinator, 90 Dry Brook Road, Willseyville, NY 13864. Alternatively, if you have a PayPal account, you can pay by going to http://www.PayPal.com. Select the “send money” button, enter the amount due, and STAR’s email address for payment: starpay@gmail.com. Then send your registration information to Carol at: carolhenry@frontiernet.net).

REGISTRATION INFORMATION: name, address, phone number, email address, RWA#

NEED MORE INFORMATION: Visit STAR’s website at: www.STARRWA.ORG, or contact Carol at carolhenry@frontiernet.net.

10% Discount on Writing Workshops

In case you’ve been biding your time, waiting to take a writing workshop when the price comes down and you can get a good deal, your time has come.

Use coupon code ED9A when you register, and you can take 10% off any 2009 writing workshop at Writers Online Workshops, the online writing school of Writer’s Digest.

Here are the upcoming workshops I’m teaching:

Essentials of Romance Writing, April 9 – May 20, 2009
Description: Do you yearn to write a romantic story? If so, you need to know what sets romance writing apart from other types of fiction. This course explores why romance is the same, yet different. Some essential components of romance are unique to the genre, while some romance requirements are identical to those of any good fiction story. Neither Stephen King nor Tom Clancy could sit down and write a romance unless he first familiarized himself with the specific factors that create a successful romance. This workshop will help you to understand those specific factors that make up the specialized world of romantic fiction.

In this course you will:

* Learn how the hero of an action novel differs from the hero of a romantic novel
* Master the tricky business of putting your hero and heroine together and keeping them together-yet-apart until the story’s close
* Create the sexual tension that will have your readers turning the pages late into the night
* Discover conventions must be followed and what rules can be broken for readers to embrace your work

The workshop will consist of six one-week sessions. Each session will include online lectures and associated textbook reading assignments, along with a writing assignment to be submitted to the instructor for private review. In addition, work will be posted each session for group review and feedback. Throughout the workshop you will be able to participate in asynchronous lecture discussion and be encouraged to take advantage of ongoing informal discussions and posted self-directed writing and creativity exercises.

Essentials of Mystery Writing, April 23 – June 3, 2009
Description: Do you love reading a good mystery? Have you always wanted to write one? During the Essentials of Mystery Writing workshop, you’ll have the choice of creating a brand new mystery story from scratch or working with a story you already have in progress.

In this course you will:

* Learn how to construct a compelling mystery plot
* Develop fascinating characters
* Plant clues
* Keep your readers turning the pages, eager to find out what will happen next

The workshop will consist of six one-week sessions. Each session will include online lectures and associated textbook reading assignments, along with a writing assignment to be submitted to the instructor for private review. In addition, work will be posted each session for group review and feedback. Throughout the workshop you will be able to participate in asynchronous lecture discussion and be encouraged to take advantage of ongoing informal discussions and posted self-directed writing and creativity exercises.

Writing the Novel Proposal, April 23 – July 29, 2009
Description: Congratulations! For months, maybe years, you’ve worked diligently to craft well-rounded characters, map out every plot point and intricate sub-plot. You’ve researched your setting and made sure every detail is accurate. You’ve written and revised and revised some more and now—finally—your novel is finished. After you’ve taken a well-deserved break and toasted your accomplishment, it’s time to find a home for your masterpiece. But just how, exactly, do you go about finding an agent or editor, and—even more important—getting one of them to say “yes”? If your goal is commercial publication, you need to know how to approach the market the way successful novelists do—with a professionally presented novel proposal.

At the conclusion of this workshop you will have developed a proposal package to submit to agents or editors—including query/cover letter and synopsis. You will also revise and polish the opening chapters of your novel (up to 12,000 words) with your instructor’s feedback. In addition, you’ll identify appropriate potential editors and agents to send your proposal when you’re finished.

This workshop will consist of seven two-week sessions. Each session will include online lectures and associated textbook reading assignments, along with a writing assignment specifically related to your novel, which will be submitted to the instructor for private review at the end of the first week of the session. During the second week of each session, work will be posted for group critique. Throughout the workshop you will be able to participate in asynchronous lecture discussion and group critique sessions, and encouraged to take advantage of ongoing informal discussions and posted self-directed writing exercises. (2.8 CEUs)

Please note: This workshop is ONLY for students with completed novel manuscripts; it is specifically intended to help you market your finished novel with the goal of commercial publication.

For more information, or to register, go here: http://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/retail/courses.aspx?r=writing-the-novel-proposal

~~~~~~~~

Hope to see you in one or all!

Liz

Guest Blogger Emily Bryan

Please help me welcome my guest blogger today, Emily Bryan, author of “Vexing the Viscount.” If you want to learn a little about the historical background to her story, read on…you’ll love it. And one lucky commenter will win a copy of “Vexing the Viscount”…so be sure to check it out below.

Liz

The South Sea Stock Swindle

VEXING THE VISCOUNT by Emily Bryan

Move over, Madoff! Long before that Wall Street hustler took his customers for a “ponzi” ride, there was the South Sea Stock Swindle. I like to use real historical events in my back stories, so that total economic collapse in Georgian England is part of the back story for my upcoming VEXING THE VISCOUNT.

When I ran across the South Sea debacle in my research, I knew I could use it to set up some basic conflicts in my story. Money is one of the most divisive things on earth. All I had to do was put my hero and heroine on opposite sides of the stock crash.

I wanted to use Daisy Drake, one of the orphans from PLEASURING THE PIRATE as my heroine. And because we know her as a child, I decided it would be fun if she also knew the hero as a child. Turns out Lucian Beaumont and his father visited Daisy’s family in the summer of 1720. Lord Montford tried to convince Daisy’s uncle to invest his newly discovered pirate’s gold in the South Sea Company. Daisy’s uncle refuses. Loudly. The South Sea Company intended to trade in slaves to the emerging South American nations and Gabriel Drake will not invest a cent in a slaver. Lucian’s father storms out and Daisy isn’t even able to say goodbye to the dark eyed boy who stole her heart.

When the South Sea Company crumbles and Lucian’s father is ruined, he holds a deep-seated grudge against all things Drake. Fast forward to 1731. Lucian is trying to restore his family’s fortune. He has discovered some Roman ruins on his father’s estate and hopes to follow the clues to an ancient Roman payroll that went astray. Daisy is a Latin whiz and would love to help him, but his father’s resentment makes it hard for Lucian to accept her. So by night, she masquerades as the French courtesan, Blanche La Tour, with an offer to help in the excavation. By day, Daisy plays the bespectacled Rowena Clavenhook to keep Lucian’s father from realizing he has a Drake on his property.

Playing at being a courtesan is playing with fire and Daisy is in real danger of being burned. Lucian is attracted to both Daisy and Blanche and suspicious of the similarities between them. How far will she go to prove that she’s a “woman of pleasure”? And if he gets involved with Daisy, how will he explain to his father that he’s smitten by Gabriel Drake’s niece?

So many of the nobility were caught by the South Sea scheme. Even Sir Isaac Newton lost 20,000 pounds! If you’d like to learn more about the South Sea Stock Swindle, please visit my blog here. When our market was circling the bowl, I shared about this Georgian financial disaster. It helps to keep in mind that everything is cyclical and besides, as Daisy and Lucian learn, love is much more important than money.

I’ll be awarding a signed copy of VEXING THE VISCOUNT to one lucky commenter. Just post a comment or question today or tomorrow (Jan. 10 or 11) and first thing Monday morning, I’ll pick the winner! I look forward to hearing from YOU! Be sure to check back to see if your name is drawn.

Emily

Advanced Novel and Romance Writing Workshops–save 10%

I have a couple of courses coming up that I’ll be teaching for Writers Online Workshops, the online teaching division of Writer’s Digest. Here are the details:

Advanced Novel Writing Workshop: Students who have completed a novel workshop now have the opportunity to continue working on their novel manuscripts with help from a published novelist and the encouragement and feedback of their peers. When you’ve completed this workshop, you will have written—and received feedback on—200 pages of your novel manuscript.

Throughout the workshop you’ll be able to participate in discussion with the instructor and the class in the Lecture Hall, and group critique sessions with other workshop members in the Critics’ Corner.

My section of this course starts December 4. For more info or to sign up, go here: http://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/retail/courses.aspx?r=advanced-novel-Writing-workshop

Essentials of Romance Writing Workshop: Do you yearn to write a romantic story? If so, you need to know what sets romance writing apart from other types of fiction. This course explores why romance is the same, yet different. Some essential components of romance are unique to the genre, while some romance requirements are identical to those of any good fiction story. Neither Stephen King nor Tom Clancy could sit down and write a romance unless he first familiarized himself with the specific factors that create a successful romance. This workshop will help you to understand those specific factors that make up the specialized world of romantic fiction. Weekly lessons will address critical ingredients of romance writing so that you may create a new romantic story or—if you prefer—work with a story-in-progress.

Above all, a story of romance should whisk the reader away to a different place, a different life, a different reality. This workshop will show how a romance is put together to do just that—to allow the reader to escape from mundane cares. You’ll learn how the hero of an action novel differs from the hero of a romantic novel. You’ll learn the tricky business of putting your hero and heroine together and keeping them together-yet-apart until the story’s close. You’ll learn how to create the sexual tension that will have your readers turning the pages late into the night. What conventions must be followed and what rules can be broken for readers to embrace your work? You may be surprised!

The workshop will consist of six one-week sessions. Each session will include online lectures and associated textbook reading assignments, along with a writing assignment to be submitted to the instructor for private review. In addition, work will be posted each session for group review and feedback. Throughout the workshop you will be able to participate in lecture discussion and be encouraged to take advantage of ongoing informal discussions and posted self-directed writing and creativity exercises.

My section of this course starts December 4. For more info or to sign up, go here: http://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/retail/courses.aspx?r=essentials-of-romance-writing

And, just because you read it here on my blog, you can save 10% on either workshop by using this code: ED9A

Hope to see you there!

Bungee Jumping for Writers, or How to Be Your Own Editor Workshop

Workshop Announcement from Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction, WRDF

WRDF’s Online Workshop, The Tipping Point, Presents:

Bungee Jumping for Writers, or How to Be Your Own Editor

Editing for most writers is like diving off a bridge head-first with a large rubber band attached to their ankles…not a pretty sight. Join Elizabeth Delisi as she shows you a less hazardous approach to self-editing.

In this three-day workshop, Elizabeth will cover seven areas that plague most writers.

Dialogue Dos and Don’ts

Flashbacks: How and When to Use Them

Jean’s Jeans: The Difference between Possessives and Plurals

Which or That?

Do Your Chapter Endings Keep the Reader Reading?

Should the Author be a Know-It-All: Choosing Your POV

Trim (the Excess Words From) Your Prose

Join us for this terrific workshop:

Date: January 12-14

Price: WRDF Members $5.00

Non-Members $12.00

(Psst! Hint: WRDF membership is free. Go here to sign up: http://romancewriterandreader.ning.com/)

Payment must be received ten days prior to workshop. Limited registration, so reserve your spot early)

Paypal Available

To register or for more info, contact Lynda at thetippingpoint@lyndacoker.com

Be there or be square!