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

The Backspace Writers Conference in New York is unique. There are no pitch sessions: no sweaty palms and nauseated tummies. There are no workshops on plot, character or dialogue. The entire weekend is devoted to the business side of writing with some of the best agents in the business as the teachers. Thursday, you will have the opportunity in small groups to dissect your query letters so that they sparkle and shine. Friday the same will be done with the opening two pages of your manuscript. Though there are no formal pitch sessions, there will be plenty of opportunities to talk to agents in a relaxed, informal setting (better for you AND the agent!). This is the type of conference I would love to go to if I lived closer to New York. Unfortunately, Seattle is the opposite end of the earth. A beautiful end of the earth, but really, really far away from Anywhere Business Oriented.

Backspace Agent-Author Seminar
November 5 & 6, 2009
Radisson Martinique, New York City

Check out the list of participating agents:

Jeff Kleinman (Folio Literary Management) • Paige Wheeler (Folio Literary Management) • Jennifer DeChiara (Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency) • Colleen Lindsay (FinePrint Literary Agency) • Elizabeth Evans (Reece Halsey Literary Agency) • Emmanuelle Alspaugh (Judith Erlich Agency) • Stephany Evans (FinePrint Literary Agency) • Gina Panettieri (Talcott Notch Literary) • Laney Katz Becker (Folio Literary Management) • Diana Fox (Fox Literary) • Jason Allen Ashlock (Movable Type Literary Group) • Joanna Stampfel-Volpe (Nancy Coffey Literary & Media Representation) • Elisabeth Weed (Weed Literary) • Scott Hoffman (Folio Literary Management) • Michelle Brower (Wendy Sherman Associates) • Daniela Rapp (Editor, St. Martin’s Press) • Matthew Mahoney (Ralph M. Vicinanza Ltd.) • Holly Root (Scott Waxman Agency) • Jennie Dunham (Dunham Literary, LLC) • Alexandra Machinist (Linda Chester Agency) • Miriam Kriss (Irene Goodman Agency • Janet Reid (FinePrint Literary Management) • Lois Winston (Ashley Grayson Literary Agency)

What is your favorite fairy tale? Do you prefer the dark originals or the Disney retellings? In Neil Stevenson’s THE DIAMOND AGE, he writes that the original fairy tales encourage “subversiveness,” and that this lesson is imperative to grow an inquisitive, free-thinking mind. I had always thought of the original tales as being cautionary, not encouraging rebellion. Heroes and heroines break the rules and get set upon by evil. Have I been looking at them the wrong way?

I came across a new creative writing tool for Seattle area writers today. The Fairy Tale Factory offers workshops in writing fairy tales. Students will study the genre and learn to compose their own stories. The six-week workshops focus on learning to plot tightly and explore one’s own creativity. I have always loved Fairy Tales–Baba Yaga, the Firebird, Raven, along with Rapunzel and her ilk. Gruesome originals, humorous fractured retellings and Disneyfied happily-ever-afters. Patricia C. Wrede’s Enchanted Forest Chronicles (Book 1: Dealing with Dragons) is one of my favorites for the way she weaves in traditional fairy tales with a twist.

Wednesday nights, September 16 – October 21: Intro to Writing Fairy Tales

Spend six weeks in the land of Fairy. Learn the basic rules of the genre, plus a variety of approaches to fairy tales as readers and as writers. Study western European tales from the late middle ages to modern times. Write a lot! Writing exercises assigned after each class. By the end of the course you will have written at least one original fairy tale of your own. All experience levels welcome.

The writing world is shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of well-known script writer and writing coach Blake Snyder yesterday. A guru of story structure, Mr. Snyder gave workshops to both the Greater Seattle RWA and at the Romance Writers of America National conference last year in San Francisco. His book, Save the Cat!, is one of those writing craft books that is never far from my side. I remember sitting in the workshop thinking, “Break through!!!,” and I know many of my fellow writers agreed with me. Mr. Snyder broke the Hero’s Journey down into fifteen easy to use, recognizable steps. He could explain how almost anything fit his 15 Beats, even a Tide commercial. I won an autographed copy of his book at the workshop and spoke with him briefly. He was incredibly personable and seemed to truly be interested in each writer’s development.

Mr. Snyder, you will be missed. Thank you for the workshop and book that have allowed my own writing to progress in leaps and bounds.

To see notes on Blake Snyder’s 15 Beats from the GSRWA workshop: click here.

To visit his website, buy his book and read more information about his life and passing: click here.

Calling all aspiring authors with polished manuscripts to sell! The lovely ladies at BookEnds Literary Agency have joined twitter. To celebrate, they’ve announced a new opportunity to pitch your book in 140 characters. Follow @BookEndsJessica and @BookEndsKim this week and be ready for the windup when they ask you to “Start Twitching!” Respond to the agent who announced it with your pitch. Remember, you can use no more than 140 characters and must complete your thought. @ replying to the correct agent takes up valuable space, but you can’t reply to Kim when Jessica sent out the call. Check out their blog for more info.

Let’s practice, shall we? Describe the last book you read in 140 characters:

“Regency star-crossed lovers reunite after botched elopement. Must forgive meddling fathers, realize big misunderstanding & risk hearts again.”

(EVERYTHING AND THE MOON by Julia Quinn)

Dorchester, the publishing house that brought you the American Title and Mr. Romance contests, is again looking to social networking for their next publishing contract. (Marie Claude Bourque, the winner of American Title V, will be published in February 2010.) Dorchester is bringing cell phone novels–popular in Japan–to America by inviting aspiring authors to post their novels in short increments online. Fans and readers will download, read and vote on their favorites. The winner of the NEXT BEST CELLER CONTEST earns a coveted publishing contract with a $2000 advance.

“Our increasingly fast-paced and chaotic lifestyles have created challenges for many individuals who can’t or won’t make the time to read.  Between fragmented attention spans, the enthusiasm and devotion cultivated by fan participation in reality television and the social networking revolution, we think the time is perfect to bring readers and writers together through Textnovel and we hope to discover America’s Next Best ‘Celler’.” -  Brooke Borneman, Dorchester’s Sales and Marketing Director

The serial novel was popular in the Victorian era, with now-famous authors Charles Dickens and Louisa May Alcott making a career out of it. Dorchester’s latest contest pairs Victorian romanticism and futuristic technology; Did someone say Steampunk?

The list is long, but here are 13 highlights of why you–aspiring author that you are–should come to the Emerald City Writers Conference this year:

EMERALD CITY WRITERS CONFERENCE

20th Anniversary
Sponsored by the Greater Seattle Romance Writers’ of America
October 9-11, 2009
Bellevue Hilton
Bellevue, Washington

1. Speeches by Lisa Jackson, Christine Warren and Claire Delacroix (aka Deborah Cooke)
2. KATIE MACALISTER: From Slush Pile to NYT List
   New York Times Bestselling Author
   A no-holds-barred discussion for authors with strategies on how to build a career rather than just sell books, deal with adversity, identify your brand, create a support team, and deal with publisher and reader expectations
3. BOB MAYER: The Military for Writers
   NY Times Bestselling Author
   An introduction to the military from conventional warfare, through Special Operations, the War on Terror, weapons of mass destruction and insight into the men and women who make up our armed forces-all tailored for the writer who might need research in this area.
4. ELIZABETH BOYLE: The Nuts and Bolts -Let’s Tear Apart Your Manuscript
   New York Times Bestselling Author & RITA Winner
   Everyone always says to never bring a manuscript to conference, well they were right until now. Please bring your completed draft or finished masterpiece and Elizabeth will walk you through how she tears apart her work and puts it back together again, ensuring that all the chapters, scenes and parts are working and polished and ready for publication. Be ready to cut, revise and evaluate your work like never before. This workshop is not for the squeamish or those who don’t like to get their hands dirty. You absolutely need your manuscript to get the most out of this workshop, so please bring to conference a printed copy of your pages and be ready to work.
5. MARY BUCKHAM: Pacing
   What keeps a book intriguing enough to have fans turn the pages and not set it down? How can one author’s books have you riveted and another’s leave you feeling ho-hum? Ever wondered if there are key craft tips and techniques to balance fast-paced conflict, tension, suspense or mystery, action and emotion? In PACING: HOW TO CREATE A PAGE-TURNING MANUSCRIPT you’ll learn: the ingredients of a page-turner, what hooks are and how to maximize them, the power of effective scenes and the most common pacing pitfalls to avoid! Participants will be entered into a drawing for a signed copy of BREAK INTO FICTION® and a one of Mary’s chock- full-of-info Lecture Packets.
6. YASMINE GALENORN: Urban Fantasy- A Walk on the Witchy Side
   USA Today Bestselling Author & 2009 RITA Finalist
   Where can kick-butt heroines take on the bad guys while making love to vampires, demons, and dragons? Urban fantasy, of course. The paranormal genre is hot, and the books even hotter. Eager fans line up in droves for their favorite Beyond-Buffy characters. But what’s the separation between urban fantasy and paranormal romance? A thin line. Join USA Today bestselling urban fantasy author Yasmine Galenorn for a look at the worlds where the men are hot and not always human, the women are dangerous, and your best friend may be a baby calico gargoyle. Learn techniques to make your magic make sense, your characters balanced, and how to leave your readers wanting to save the world with you again and again and again!
7. CHERRY ADAIR: Subtext
   NY Times Bestselling Author
   One of the hallmarks of a good writer is dialog rich in subtext. Subtext is the underlying drive and meaning behind your character’s words. Not what your character says, but what they mean. Meaning that might not be apparent to the character, but that should be evident to the reader. Cherry Adair shows you how to create subtext to add zing, depth, and texture to your story to make your characters three dimensional.
8. PAT WHITE & ALEXIS MORGAN: Writing the Series and Making It Sizzle
   Across the many sub-genres in romances, one of the hot trends in romance today is the series. Multi-published authors Alexis Morgan and Pat White will discuss the reasons series are so popular with both readers and writers, how to structure a series, and the various elements that make readers come back for more. Alexis and Pat will cover the different types of series, world building, keeping track of story elements, and how to make each story stand alone while continuing the story arc that drives the entire series.
9. ROBERT DUGONI: Power Editing
   New York Times Bestselling Author
   Now that you’ve typed, “The End” – you’re finished. Or are you? Review the common mistakes novelists make and how to fix them before submitting to an agent or editor. Learn five steps to editing your manuscript including: making judgments about your protagonist and antagonist, evaluating secondary characters, tightening the manuscript, reviewing word and sentence choice and polishing your work to eliminate typos and misspellings.
10. PETER SENFTLEBEN, GINA ROBINSON & SHELLI STEVENS: The Editor/Author Relationship: How to work with your editor from the call to published book and beyond
    Assistant Editor Peter Senftleben of Kensington Publishing and two of his authors, Shelli Stevens and Gina Robinson, discuss how the relationship between an editor and an author works and the process for taking a manuscript from the call to a book on the shelf.
11. Pitch sessions with editors Wanda Ottewell (Harlequin), Peter Senftleben (Kensington) and Megan McKeever (Pocket Books)
12. Pitch sessions with agents Steven Axelrod (The Axelrod Agency), Alexandra Machinist (Linda Chester Literary Agency) and Vivian Chum (Prospect Agency)
13. Make fabulous writing friends (like 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.

This weekend I had the amazing opportunity to attend a small writer’s retreat on plotting. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard or learned so much. The days were long, but the creative juices were flowing. Ideas flew. Dark moments were plotted. Love scenes were illustrated. Chocolate was consumed.

You too can learn plotting at the knee of New York Times Bestselling author Cherry Adair by bidding on her masterclass at Brenda Novak’s auction for diabetes research. At the moment the auction is going for $650, which is a little over $100 per person for you and your writing friends to chip in. Believe me, it’s well worth it.

A Writer’s Perfect Getaway and Master Class in One for up to Six People!

Two days of intense Master Class level workshops with New York Times Bestselling author Cherry Adair for up to six people would be amazing. But there’s more!

Author Cherry Adair opens up her beautifully appointed guesthouse just a few yards from Lake Morton with a huge deck overlooking the lake toward the picturesque Pacific Northwest icon, Mt. Rainer. With enough room to sleep six, a full kitchen, a fireplace, a small gym, and access to canoe and paddleboat, this getaway is only a short distance from shopping and less than half an hour from downtown Seattle. Learn plotting and layering techniques, character development, pacing and more with an author Romantic Times has dubbed “One of the reigning Queens of Romantic Adventure”, then lounge out on the deck with a bottle of wine and soak in the one of a kind view.

Package includes lodging and amenities only. You are responsible for your own food and transportation.

Plotting Boards and Sticky Notes

Plotting is more fun in a group. We all started out with plotting boards marked with 20 squares in 4 rows and 5 columns. Each square was numbered chapter 1-20. Chapter 10 is the midpoint. Chapter 17 or 18 is the Dark Moment. There are plot crises at the end of each row. Then we chose our sticky note colors. Orange is danger, green scene, hot pink sex, a color for the hero and a lighter shade of the same color for the hero’s backstory, likewise with the heroine, a color for the villain and other major characters. One thought per sticky note, for instance “Heroine goes for a hike.” The sticky notes are then layered, as you see on my board to the right.

Cherry starts with her orange notes for danger, but you can do whatever works best for you. Put down the first inklings of your idea, and your fellow plotters will help flesh it out. Most important: Goal, motivation & conflict (GMC). Why him? Why here? Why now? Cherry recommends starting with your Villain. What does he want? What motivated him in his nefarious scheme? What stands in his way? Construct GMCs for your hero, heroine and other important characters.

Remember that your characters need to transform from caterpillars into butterflies (as Blake Snyder put it). Why is this story important to the reader? What theme or lesson are you trying to convey by telling this story? Hope? Redemption? Courage? Love? Good will triumph over evil. Love conquers all. Every scene within the novel should have a reason for being included in the overall story. As Cherry would say, “What the F is the Point of This Scene?”

Plotting plotting plotting….writing writing writing. Where are you going? Why are you going there? What stands in your way?

Bid on Cherry Adair’s weekend plotting class. You’ll thank me later.

It’s that time again: send in your entries to the Emerald City Open (ECO) and sign up for the Emerald City Writer’s Conference for fabulous workshops, the chance to dazzle agents and editors, and a rollicking good time with fellow writers. I had a lovely time last year and intend to be there this year too.

Conference registration begins May 16th.

ECO contest deadline June 1st.

Christine Warren at ECWC 2008

20th Anniversary
Emerald City Writer’s Conference
Sponsored by the Greater Seattle Romance Writer’s of America
October 9-11, 2009
Bellevue Hilton
Bellevue, Washington

• Editor & Agent Appointments
• Educational & Inspirational Sessions
• Bookfair
• Chat Sessions with Your Favorite Authors
• Social Events for Networking

Join us as we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the first Emerald City Writers Conference. In addition to group editor and agent appointments, the conference features educational sessions taught by published authors and experts in their field. Classes cover everything from the writing craft to online marketing. Chat sessions with best selling authors are also featured.

The annual bookfair offers opportunities to mingle with your favorite authors. Several social events provide opportunities for networking with other writers, published authors, editors and agents making this annual conference a not-to-miss event.

Our Speakers
Keynote Speaker: Claire Delacroix
Featured Speakers: Lisa Jackson & Christine Warren

Special Guests
Cherry Adair, Elizabeth Boyle, Stella Cameron, Megan Chance, Bob Dugoni, Yasmine Galenorn, Susan Mallery, Bob Mayer, Jane Porter and more!

Editor & Agent Appointments
Registrants are offered the opportunity to pitch in group appointments to editors and agents of their choice; appointments are scheduled on a first come, first served basis, so register today! Emerald City Opener finalists will receive private appointments.

Editors
• Wanda Ottewell, Editor: Harlequin
• Peter Senftleben, Editor: Kensington
NOTE: Peter will also be speaking at a session entitled “The Editor/Author Relationship: How to work with your editor from the call to published book and beyond”
• Megan McKeever, Editor: Pocket Books

Agents
• Steven Axelrod, Agent: The Axelrod Agency
• Alexandra Machinist, Agent: Linda Chester Literary Agency
NOTE: Alexandra is also speaking at a session entitled “What Every Agent Wishes Every Author Knew.”
• Vivian Chum, Agent: Prospect Agency

Registration is limited. To register, visit www.gsrwa.org.

Emerald City Opener
Deadline June 1

Does your first scene compel editors to ask for more?
Your opener is the hook that attracts an editor or makes a potential reader decide to purchase your book.

Polish the first seven pages of your manuscript and send them to the Emerald City Opener Contest. You will receive feedback in the form of detailed score sheets. Your judges (published writers or Golden Heart finalists and winners) are encouraged to include comments on your entry. First, second, and third place winners in each category will receive an award certificate and an individual editor or agent appointment at the Emerald City Writers’ Conference (Oct. 9-11, 2009). In addition, the first place winner in each category will receive a $25 gift card.