Seattle is a hotbed of writers and readers, which means book signings and craft workshops galore. I’ve got my eye on the Valentine’s Day Victorian Tea–tea and romance novels? How can you go wrong? Also, Patricia Briggs will be signing the latest Mercy Thompson book in March. If I haven’t gone into labor, I’ll be there with bells on.

PNWA Craft Workshop: Story, Structure, Subplot, Scene, Style: Keys to Rewriting Your Novel by Robert J. Ray
Thursday, February 11, 7 pm
The key to rewriting your novel is a workable plan: Story first, then Structure, Subplots,  (Key) Scenes, and Style. The toughest rewriting task is fixing your subplots. Before you can fix a subplot, you must peel it away from the novel, using tools like Character Arc, Character Grid, Scene List, Scene List, Scene Profile, Scene Template, and Core Story. Learn how to use these tools and make your rewrite hum in a hands-on workshop (with writing in the room) led by Robert J. Ray, using techniques from his latest book, The Weekend Novelist Rewrites the Novel.
Participants should bring a prose sample, two pages, double-spaced.
Chinook Middle School. Non-PNWA members are allowed to attend two meetings. Please see the PNWA website for more information.

Saint Valentine’s Day Victorian Tea book signing
Saturday, February 13, 2-4pm
Join local authors who delight in creating romantic stories set in the Victorian era at the Bellevue Library. Music, refreshments and a book signing will follow the program. Sponsored by Bellevue Friends of the Library. Books will be available for sale at this event. Organized by the King County Library System.

author of Prima Donna	author of All He Desires	author of Promise Me

You’ve got an idea – now what? Seattle overflows with authors, and many of them teach classes on the craft of writing. Take advantage of these fabulous opportunities this summer by signing up for a class or conference. Remember: ideas are the easy part. Writing takes creativity and discipline. Get ahead of the curve by learning to organize and structure your ideas. Registration starts soon and fills up fast.

Pacific Northwest Writers Conference

July 30 – August 2, 2009
Seattle Airport Hilton & Conference Center
Find what you’re looking for at the 54th Annual PNWA Conference. Tracks for Sci-fi/Fantasy, Romance, Mystery/Thriller, YA and Screenwriting authors. Learn the business side of writing. Pitch to agents and editors. Key note speaker Terry Brooks (author of bestselling Shannara fantasy series).

Romance Track: What Puts the Love in Romance: The Five Fundamental Elements of Great Romantic Fiction
New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Boyle explores the five things every writer should consider as they plot, write and edit not only their romance novel, but the romantic elements of any story. Come and learn what it is that makes a romance novel unique, keeps the reader entertained, and leaves the author with a sale-ready happy ending of a novel.

Fantasy/Science Fiction Track: Roadmap to Fantasy and Science Fiction Subgenres
Agents and Editors explain the popular niches in the fantasy and science fiction markets and who is buying what.

Young Adult Track: Puberty is Not Enough: What You Need to Write Middle-Grade and YA Fiction
We’re living in what has been called a golden age of teen and tween literature, but those interested in writing for young readers have their work cut out for them. All the usual writing challenges apply, but with particular twists regarding reader age groups, subject matter, themes, language, pace, point of view, marketing, and more. We’ll talk about how to write for this market, review marketing considerations, and share plenty of suggested reading and resources that can help you develop tween and YA manuscripts that sizzle.

Summer Classes at Hugo House!

Summer quarter at Hugo House–trust us, this is not your mother’s summer school. This July, we are offering one-day, four-week and one-week intensive classes in just about everything under the literary sun. David Wagoner will be doing his annual summer poetry reading class–this time focusing on Scribner’s anthology “Best American Poetry 2009,” which David edited. Ryan Boudinot will lead an intensive workshop on characters and what they do, speak, think and feel. And, of course, there are plenty of other great poetry, prose and publishing classes to help you hone your craft or get your work in print from Karen Finneyfrock, David Lasky, Diane Mapes, Paul Nelson and other favorite Hugo House teachers.
General and online registration begins on Tuesday, May 26 at noon.
For more information about these classes and to register online, visit our class catalog. To register by phone, call (206) 322-7030.

UW Experimental College Writing Courses

Writing Fiction & Short Stories
Writing is a natural skill that everyone can develop. In this class, students will write short stories and other word pieces and get feedback from the instructor and others in the class. The focus will be on developing our writing skills, finding our genuine voices, learning to let the process happen effortlessly and spontaneously. Also: information about copyrighting and getting published. Instructor Nils Osmar is the author of a short story collection, The Hungry Time, and has also written stage plays, screenplays and magazine articles. All levels welcome.

Discovering Your Story: An Introduction to Memoir Writing
Who are you? How have you become the person that you are? This course will revolve around a series of in-class “free-writing” exercises inspired by themes such as childhood, family, identity, work, and home. Students will be encouraged to read aloud from their exercises in a supportive and respectful environment. We will also talk about ways to begin organizing your memoir(s) and how to write vividly and honestly. Taught by Anne Liu Kellor. Writers of all levels are welcome.

Writing the Non-Fiction Book Proposal
Got an idea for a non-fiction book? Don’t start writing it until you’ve taken this class! In six weeks, you’ll clarify your idea, identify what’s unique about your book, research and analyze the market, develop a plan to reach your audience and create an overview of your book. In-class writing exercises, discussions and homework assignments provide support and structure as you assemble a complete proposal. Most non-fiction books–from self-help to narrative nonfiction, from travel to memoir–are sold on the basis of a proposal.

NSCC Continuing Education Writing Courses

Writing for Children and Young Adults
The manuscript for a board book is ten words, and a picture book maxes out at a thousand words. Young adult novels give the writer 50,000 angst-ridden words with which to work. This eight-week class will explore the craft and rules of writing and publishing good books for children and young adults.

The Art of Creative Writing
Whether you are new at creative writing or have been at the process for a while, this class will show you ways to improve the depth and flow of your storytelling. This course will explore unconventional writing exercises and visual techniques to enliven your work, whether in the description of a character, a setting, a situation, an object or an emotion.

Writing and Publishing your 1st Book (or 7th)
Bobbie Christensen, California author of ten published books including award-winners and best-sellers, will show you how to develop and complete your manuscript in just 6 weeks following her own 10 step plan. Create a page-turner whether writing fiction or non-fiction, cookbook or textbook. Then learn how to submit your work to a publisher or self-publish and keep the profits, plus all about POD’s, E-books, etc. $15 material fee payable at class includes book and free consulting at any time.

The weeks of madness have begun!

1. WRITING
Where have I been the last few days? Madly writing. Not blogging. WRITING. Madly. Writing fiction is lot harder than I anticipated. Silly me. But gosh, how I enjoy it.

2. PITCHING
My very first Agent pitch is next week at the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Conference. I am terrified. I must start practicing a 10 minute pitch, as well as a 4 sentence elevator pitch, but I have no idea where to start. “Write it like you write your book reviews,” one friend suggested. I’d love to, but my mind won’t grasp it. Gah!

Another stress point – the PNWA sent me an email apologizing that one of the three-or-so agents who accept Romance manuscripts can no longer attend. They’ll do their best to get me another appointment with an agent in my genre, but if they can’t they hope I still have fun at the conference. I’m terrified about pitching, but I still want to do it! Oye Vey.

3. NETWORK THIS
My business cards arrived from VistaPrint and they are cut off-center. All of them. Do I have time to reorder before the conference??? I don’t know.

4. WHAT NOT TO WEAR
The PNWA Literary Contest Award dinner is next Saturday, July 19th. My critique partner confirmed they do indeed call all the finalists up in front of the room. Oh NOOOOOOS! What should I wear???

The RWA RITA and Golden Heart Award dinner is Saturday, August 2nd. I hear finalists wear Oscar-worthy gowns. Is that true? What do regular conference attendees wear? What should I wear?

I don’t have time to go shopping. I have to WRITE!

5. IT’S MY PARTY AND I’LL CRY IF I WANT TO
My birthday is on Tuesday. Happy Birthday to me. You know what I really want? A publishing contract. Where’s my fairy godmother?

Yesterday I got the call that my manuscript is a finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest in the Romance division. I couldn’t believe it. Obviously I’m thrilled! The contest judges the first 28 pages of an unpublished manuscript.

Awards and Benefits
Finalists (eight in each category) will be notified prior to the PNWA Annual Summer Conference,
July 17 – 20, 2008. Award Winners will be announced at the conference.

• Awards will be given for:
  1. First Place: $600 and the Zola Award. The Zola Award honors founding member Zola Helen Ross for her vision in creating a writing community over 50 years ago.
  2. Second Place $300
  3. Third Place $150
• Every entry accepted in the contest will receive two critiques, a valuable tool for any writer.
• Finalists who attend the PNWA Summer Conference will receive a Finalist ribbon for their name tag, giving them high visibility to the agents and editors at the conference. In addition, their manuscripts will be made available to these agents and editors.
• First-Place winners will have the opportunity to attend the Agents and Editors Reception at the PNWA Summer Conference.

This month I will be Interviewing Regency author Jenna Petersen about her upcoming Lessons from a Courtesan sometime close to the release date of June 24th.

June 16-18, when Mr. Wonderful gets back from his whirlwind tour of Europe, I will be tagging along with him to Chicago. I’m looking for good books that are set in the Windy City in either the romance or urban fantasy genres. So far I have Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden series and Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ Chicago Stars series. What else should I read? Any restaurant recommendations?

JUNE 2008

• June 4: Mercer Island Library Writing Workshop. Author Bob Mayer presents on “The Original Idea—The Core of Writing and Selling Your Book and Idea“, 7pm Mercer Island Library.
• June 7: Greater Seattle RWA meeting – author Terry McLaughlin presents First Kiss Scenes, 11 am – 1 pm, Shoreline Library.
• June 7: The Lusty Wenches Book Club discusses The Duke of Shadows by debut author and Gather.com winner Meredith Duran.
• June 7: Richard Hugo House Write-O-Rama, workshops on writing, fundraiser, 9:30 am – 5 pm, Richard Hugo House, Seattle.
• June 10: Muli-award winning author Jo Beverly speaks to the Eastside RWA Chapter, 7-9pm, Newport Way Library Bellevue.
• June 16-18: WANDERLUST – Ciara visits the Windy City
• June 17: Elliot Bay Bookstore Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Group discusses Elizabeth Bear’s Dust, 6:30 pm, Seattle.
• June 18: Mercer Island Library Writing Workshop. Paranormal Romance Author Alexis Morgan presents on “Get Organized–Get Writing!”, 7pm Mercer Island Library.
• June 19: PNWA Meeting – Agent Alice Volpe presents on “How to Pitch to an Agent,” 7pm, Chinook Middle School, Bellevue.
• June 23: Author Jacqueline Carey reading and book signing of Kushiel’s Mercy, 7pm, University Bookstore, Seattle. (I just bought Kushiel’s Dart thanks to the overwhelming recommendation by Sarai and the lovely Desert Island Ladies!)
• June 24: Author Jacqueline Carey reading and book signing of Kushiel’s Mercy, 7pm, Powell’s Books at Cedar Hill Crossing, Beaverton, Oregon.

Anything else I should add?

Photo: If Mercy Thompson was a pinup girl.

So you may have noticed that I have a gazillion ideas and sometimes I fail to follow through with them. There simply isn’t enough time to do everything, so sometimes I’ll announce “upcoming” and you will never see anything come of it. It doesn’t mean I don’t try to do everything I say I am going to. Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.

1. New Design: Most of the pinup girls in the header are by Gil Elvgren. The chick on the broom represents wanderlust. That’s right. My other car is a broom. What do you think?

2. Upcoming Guest Post: I finally got one of my friends to read a romance novel and talk to me about it. My friend Scott has agreed to write us a book review of his impressions of DARK LOVER, the Black Dagger Brotherhood Crack sensation by J.R. Ward. Stay tuned.

3. Aspiring Romance Author Book Club: Our next meeting is June 7, discussing THE DUKE OF SHADOWS by Meredith Duran. I have heard fabulous things about this book and am looking forward to reading it.

4. Mercer Island Library Writing Workshops: Join us for a series of free writing workshops that will spark your creativity, get you organized and guide you through the publishing maze. This series is co-sponsored by Pacific Northwest Writers Association

• The Original Idea—The Core of Writing and Selling Your Book and Idea: Presented by Bob Mayer Mercer Island Library, Wednesday, June 04, 7pm. Can you say what your book is about in 25 words of less? This is essential to both writing a tight book and selling it. We will discuss ways to find and state your original idea so that you stay on course while writing the book and excite those you tell when trying to sell it.
• Get Organized–Get Writing!: Presented by Alexis Morgan. Mercer Island Library, Wednesday, June 18, 7pm. Best selling author Alexis Morgan shares tips on how to get organized to write. Learn how to set both long and short term goals that will help you achieve success in your writing career. Alexis is published in several sub-genres and her paranormal romances feature warriors charged with defending humans from an ancient threat. This August she will release her seventeenth full length book, Dark Warrior Unleashed, the first book in her Talions series, as well as her first short story.

5. Emerald City Writers’ Conference registration is now OPEN! Conference dates are October 10-12, 2008 in Bellevue, Washington.

Scheduled Speakers

• Welcome: Susan Mallery
• Key Note: Julia Quinn
• Closing: Allison Brennan
• “Write the DAMN Book!” Challenge: Cherry Adair

Agents and Editors

• Carolyn Grayson of Ashley Grayson Literary Agency
• Angela James of Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
• Kevan Lyon of Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency
• Leis Pederson of Berkley Books, Penguin Group (USA)
• Barbara Poelle of Irene Goodman Literary Agency
• Deb Werksman of Sourcebooks, Inc.
• Kim Whalen of Trident Media Group, LLC

I just wrote my very first synopsis, and good lord it was tough, despite the advice in a recent PNWA lecture. I’d rather pull out my toe nails!

Presentation: Writing the Synopsis
Presenter: Robert Dugoni
Date: January 24, 2008, 7 pm
Organization: Pacific Northwest Writers Association

Thriller author Robert Dugoni presented to a full room of PNWA members on how to approach agents and editors to get your book published. Basing his talk on Elizabeth Lyon’s Sell Your Novel Toolkit: Everything You Need to Know about Queries, Synopses, Marketing and Breaking-In, Dugoni focused on the holy trinity of publishing applications: the Query Letter (the Business Card), the Synopsis (the Resume), and Sample Chapters (the Interview).

I. The Query Letter

The first paragraph should be about your novel and should wet the reader’s appetite to find out more…in the form of the synopsis. The second paragraph should tell about the author and include professional organizations (related to writing) and publishing history. It should demonstrate the author’s dedication to the craft.

II. The Synopsis

Dugoni recommended following Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey story structure as outlined in Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey. These are: Ordinary World, Call to Adventure, Refusal of the Call, Meeting with the Mentor, Crossing the First Threshold, Road of Trials, Approach to the Inner most Cave, The Inner most Cave, Seizing the Reward, Return with the Reward, The Resurrection, The Reward. I suggest following Blake Snyder’s 15 plot points instead, unless you don’t mind identifying the gate guardians and goddesses in your story.

For each beat of story structure write one to two sentences about your story, you’ll end up with a synopsis. Yay! Most contests I have looked at ask for a synopsis that is no more than 5 pages. Dugoni said 2 is fine

III. The Sample Chapters

The sample chapters are almost always your first three chapters. You should have strong opening and closing sentences to hook your reader.

Anyways, I got the first and third parts down, but the synopsis is killing me. How can I condense my story into a few pretty sentences. That’s the problem – making it pretty. And exciting. And attractive. Oy vey.

I also found this helpful website with sample synopses and tips on writing a good one.

Who doesn’t have the next Great American Novel gathering dust in the corners of his or her mind, brought out to be rehashed and embellished upon during particularly boring meetings at work, waiting until the office is organized, the kids are out of the house, free time is available to be finally written down? Perhaps it’s your memoirs, the illicit family history, the next Harry Potter, the next blockbuster screenplay… Everyone has a story rumbling around in his or her head just waiting for the right time. Stop procrastinating. What you really need (myself included) is a DEADLINE and a concrete goal to work toward. Well here is your chance!

The 2008 Pacific Northwest Writers’ Association Literary Contest has been announced and your new Deadline is February 22, 2008. That gives you and me four months to start writing. You don’t have to finish the manuscript…you can only submit your first 28 pages (including synopsis) of a full length book. Is a full-length work too intimidating? Submit a short story! Still too much? Submit a short essay! Can’t decide which category to enter? Submit to them all! (I assume, unless you are Sherrilyn Kenyon and can turn out a novel in two weeks, you already have a good head start on a number of projects if you intend to attempt this incredible feat.)

Categories!

Category 1: Mainstream
Category 2: Inspirational (new!)
Category 3: Romance Genre (wuv, true wuv!)
Category 4: Mystery/Thriller/Horror Genre
Category 5: Science Fiction/Fantasy Genre
Category 6: Young Adult Novel
Category 7: Non-Fiction Book/Memoir
Category 8: Screen Writing/Play-writing
Category 9: Poetry
Category 10: Adult Short Story
Category 11: Children’s Picture Book (can’t submit illustrations), Short Story or Ch. Book
Category 12: Adult Short Topics: (Article/Essay/Short Memoir)

Why Enter?

Accepted entries receive two valuable critiques, not to mention cash prizes for winners. Semi-finalist or Finalist? Shmooze with writers, editors and agents with your own spiffy name tag attachment that proclaims your awesomeness at next summer’s Pacific Northwest Writers’ Conference and be announced at a special winners dinner. This is the chance you’ve been waiting for. You now have a concrete goal and deadline to guide your work. Carpe Diem!