Online Writing Courses

MOOD STATUS: "Focused". Got a lot on my plate today but I am determined to get stuff done today. :)

Well, my online writing class ends today. Wah.

I learned SO MUCH--although I have to admit I was not the best or most active student in the class. *blushes* But that's okay, because the notes I gathered and the excerises I did have given me a lot to chew on. Overall, this class has made me grow as a writer and will not only help my story I'm working on now, but also my next story I'm tinkering with. So I'm very excited about that!

And as a result, I'm already looking at other writing courses I can take. :)

Here are a few that are coming up in the near future that look pretty interesting:

GUERILLA TACTICS FOR WRITERS IN A SLUMP
INSTRUCTOR: Lori Wilde
May 3rd - 30th, 2010
COST: $15 - Members, $25 - Non Members
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 1st, 2010
FMI: http://www.oirw.net/campus/currentcourselist.htm
Have you been writing a long time and while you've received some recognition for your work you're just not getting the attention you deserve? Or, were you published once, then found yourself without a publisher and now you can't get break back in? Or are you currently published but your career seems to be barely bumping along? This workshop is designed provide answers to those questions and catapult you onto the publishing fast track. “Guerilla Tactics for Writers in a Slump” will illustrate exactly what's holding you back and keeping you from being the writer you're truly meant to be.
Find out more:
http://www.loriwilde.com/

TOP 10 REASONS A MANUSCRIPT IS REJECTED
May 3, 2010 – May 22, 2010
Instructor: award-winning author and literary agent Lois Winston
This will be a hands-on workshop where students are encouraged to participate so that everyone has the benefit of learning what works and what doesn’t in their writing as well as in various parts of the submission process. Topics covered will include: knowing and understanding various genre conventions, editing and proofing, writing dynamic query letters, how to write a synopsis, the all-important first pages of the manuscript, technical skills, storytelling skills, voice and style.
FMI and to register: http://www.beginningwriterworkshops.com/

Understanding Scene: How Goal, Motivation, Conflict, and Disaster Factor into It
May 3 - 30, 2010$25
BDRWA members/$30 non-members (4 week class)
According to Dwight Swain, author of Techniques of the Selling Writer, a scene is identified by action. The sequel is the reaction. But what does this mean in terms of your writing? What goes into a scene? Heck, what IS a scene? This online course will take you through the process of understanding the elements of a scene and will introduce the concept of sequel. You will use your favorite fiction to identify how authors use Goal, Motivation, Conflict, and Disaster, as well as write your own scene(s) using these crucial 4 elements. You will come away with a PDF file detailing everything discussed in the course.Instructor Bio: Misa Ramirez is the author of the Lola Cruz mystery series: Living the Vida Lola (January '09) and Hasta la Vista, Lola! (February 2010) from St. Martin's Minotaur.
Read more about Misa at her website: http://www.misaramirez.com

"Storyboarding" with Shayla Black (aka Shelley Bradley)
May 16-22
RRRW Members - $15; Non-members - $20
Hate blinking cursors or rewriting? Have a very time-pressed schedule? To avoid all of those and maintain sanity in the middle of deadlines and challenging books requires a little more pre-plotting than Ready with some characters, Set with an opening scene, Go! Storyboarding for the Story Challenged uses different formats (and thus, different parts of your brain) to help you construct your plot. Part visual, part analytical, this method of storyboarding allows you to plot the skeleton of a story or put all the story flesh on its bones, right down to the last freckle or drop of sweat. Bio: Shayla Black (aka Shelley Bradley) is the national bestselling author of 25+ sizzling contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances for multiple print and electronic publishers. FMI -- http://redriverromancewriters.com/workshops.php

Character(s) and Conflict—More Is More and More Is Better
May 10 - Jun 6
Six lessons, four weeks
Presenter: Todd Stone, the Novelist's Boot Camp guy
Ever hear an editor say "Sorry, your story has too much conflict?"Didn't think so. And you probably won't, either. In this workshop we'll provide you with how-to techniques excerpted the award-winning "Novelist's Boot Camp" (from Writers Digest Books) and theNovelist's Boot Camp workshops that will help you amp up your story'sinternal and external conflict, build in conflict from the very beginning ofyour story, help simplify plotting, make setting a character, and make yousmarter and more confident about your writing process and product. This workshop works for all genres, for aspiring and published authors, andfor both pantsers and plotters.*COST:* *$15 for Members * $25 for NON-Members
*REGISTRATION:* http://www.savvyauthors.com/event.cfmEventID=109

Synopsis writing class
Instructor: Camy Tang
Starting May 3rd: For four weeks.
This from Camy: I’ll be working with you to write a synopsis for your manuscript during the class. By the end of the month, you will have:
1) a one sentence hook for your manuscript proposal
2) a five sentence pitch, which you can also use in a query letter
3) a comprehensive 2-page single spaced synopsis for use in a proposal or submission4) a character synopsis to include with your 2-page synopsis or in place of it
5) if your manuscript is completed, a full chapter by chapter synopsis (usually anywhere from 4-10 pages) for if an editor asks for a more complete story synopsis, OR at the very least, the means to write one if your manuscript is not yet completed.
Cost is $30.
FMI: http://storysensei.blogspot.com/2010/04/story-sensei-synopsis-class-and-self.html

Sound good, huh?

Now I must get back to my copy edits today because I want to send them in way before they're actually due. :)

Are you planning on taking an online writing course?
Have you recently taken a good one?

Please share!