Professional Publishing: Seminar, Ottawa, ON, Apr 12

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Ottawa Parliament from the Museum of Civilization

 

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These are Some of the Seminar Topics:

• Explore new publishing possibilities; don’t limit yourself to books only
• Learn how to make more money with your writing, your manuscript’s content
• Become a brand and leverage the content of your book into other markets
• Market and publicize your book successfully on a budget
• Find out about Government grants and funding possibilities

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What You Will Get Out of this Seminar
Receive lots of useful information for your future literary career in this workshop. Find out how to navigate the modern publishing world while in the relaxed atmosphere of a group of writers. Get hundreds of valuable practical hands-on tips how to promote your book without even spending money for it – through your writing and earn more money, while leveraging your manuscript and the research you have done for your book.
Should you not be able to attend on April 12: we offer the same seminar on April 26 too!

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About the Fascilitator Doris Heilmann
Doris studied Business, Marketing and e-Publishing and authored books and magazine articles for several aviation publications in Europe, before she founded her own magazine “USA by Air” in the early 90’s and successfully ran it for more than ten years. Now, she writes non-fiction books, several blogs and facilitates seminars for writers – all dedicated to help authors establishing their successful writing careers. After all, Doris knows the publishing business and marketing inside out and has been in the field for more than 30 years.

Save $20 Early-Bird-Discount before April 5, and register for only $59

http://www.111publishing.com/seminar-ottawa/

Read our valuable tips for authors at http://SavvyBookWriters.com/blog
Get even more practical help for your future career.

For any questions or writers group discounts please email us:
111Publishing@gmail.com

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $179 for three months – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,050 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.
Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing
http://www.111publishing.com
http://www.e-Book-PR.com/
http://www.international-ebooks.com/
http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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Writers Conferences 2014: Meet Publishers, Agents, Editors and Fellow Writers

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One of the main benefits of attending a writers retreat or conference is the opportunity to meet editors, agents, publishers and other writers.  Widening your circle of connections in the literary world can help you mark your own presence as an author, to learn about the publishing industry, and how to get your book published / author-publish.  Learn even more about the craft of writing.

Equally important is gaining understanding of book business realities. For instance, why is the marketing plan so important in your proposal, and what do agents and editors expect to see in yours? Here are just a few of the many writers conferences and retreat offers in the USA for 2014:
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Santa Barbara, CA, June 7 – 12, 2014

http://www.sbwritersconference.com

Program Description
Daily AM & PM concurrent workshops & plenary sessions, evening speakers, panels, Advance
Submission with agents & editors, late-night pirate workshops.
Program Length 6 days
Group Size or S:T Ratio 200
Program Focus:  Autobiography/Memoir, Fiction, Humor, Journalism, Marketing, Mystery, Nature, Non-fiction, Playwriting, Poetry, Publishing, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Screen-writing, Travel,
Faculty: 30 daily faculty plus evening speakers
Costs   $625 includes barbecue, cocktail reception, awards banquet.
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Jackson Hole, WY, June 26-28, 2014

http://jacksonholewritersconference.com

Three manuscript critiques with authors & editors. Tracks for fiction, creative nonfiction, magazine, young adult, and poetry; workshops, talks & craft sessions.
Program Length 3 days
Group Size or S:T Ratio 4:1
Program Focus:  Children’s, Fiction, Journalism, Marketing, Mystery, Nature, Non-fiction, Poetry, Publishing, Travel, Young Adult
Costs:   Early bird $365
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Mendocino Coast Writers Conference, July 31 – August 2, 2014

http://www.mcwc.org

Program Description
5 morning workshops with same presenter each day; large forum readings and discussions with editors, agents, & newly published authors; afternoon lecture sessions on craft.
Program Length 3 days
Group Size or S:T Ratio workshops 15:1
Program Focus:  Autobiography/Memoir, Children’s, Fiction, Journalism, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Publishing, Screenwriting, Young Adult
Faculty 13+ presenters. Includes authors, editors & literary agents.
Costs:   Earlybird $525. $60/consultation. Lodging $55-$250 & camping; hostel-like farmhouse $18-$25/night.
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Squaw Valley, California  July, August 2014

http://www.squawvalleywriters.org

Morning workshops, afternoon panel discussions, individual conferences, craft lectures, staff readings
Program Length 7 days  Deadline April 1, 2014
Group Size or S:T Ratio 20-124
Program Focus:  Autobiography/Memoir, Fiction, Mystery, Nature, Non-fiction, Poetry and Screenwriting
Faculty 28 instructors for the Fiction Workshop, 5 for the Poetry Workshop, 8 for the Screenwriting Workshop.
Costs:   $840 includes 6 dinners. Shared (single) lodging in local houses & condos arranged for $350 ($550)/week; inexpensive bunk bed available.
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Corte Madera, CA, August 14 – 17, 2014

http://bookpassage.com/travel-food-photography-conference

Travel Writers & Photographers Conference
(Just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco)
bpconferences@bookpassage.com

Geared to Food & Travel writers and photographers this Conference has an extraordinary, international reputation among publishers, editors, and writers. This four-day Conference offers an array of writing and photography workshops in the morning, a full afternoon of panels and discussions, and evening faculty presentations.
The faculty includes publishers, magazine editors, photographers, travel essayists, food writers, guidebook writers and more.  Price: $635.00

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Key West, FL, every January

http://www.kwls.org
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Key-West-Beach

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4-day seminar includes readings, conversations, lectures, panel discussions. 4-day writers’ workshops feature AM writing sessions (limit 8-12/instructor) and PM individual consultations, talks, open readings.
Program Length Seminar: 4 days / Workshops: 4 days each
Group Size or S:T Ratio Seminar: 350-400 / Workshops: 12:1
Program Focus
Autobiography/Memoir, Children’s, Fiction, Humor, Journalism, Mystery, Nature, Non-fiction, Playwriting, Poetry, Publishing, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Screenwriting, Travel, Young Adult
Costs   Seminar $495; Workshops $450. The next Writers’ Workshop Program will take place between the two Seminar sessions, January 12-16, 2014.
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Conferences offer valuable education for aspiring writers.  Workshops can help with developing writing skills, everything from crafting better dialogue to making clever use of literary devices. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of a conference is the fact that editors and literary agents are there not only to participate and educate aspiring writers, but also to seek out new talent!
For a full list of writers retreats in the North America please go to:  http://writing.shawguides.com

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If you would like to get help in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites: We offer all this and more for only $159 for 3 months! Learn more about this individual book marketing help http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars.
Or visit http://www.e-book-pr.com/book-promo/ to advertise your new book, 99-cent specials or your KDP Select Free Days on Amazon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://on.fb.me/TvqDaK
http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

Don’t forget to spread the word on other social networking sites of your choice for other writers who might also enjoy this blog and find it useful. Thanks

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10 Reasons to Get Help Boosting Your Books Success

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Soaring to New Heights …

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Our blog has had now more than 1.385,000 visitors, over 2.400 subscribers, on three Twitter pages we have more than 30.000 followers, in our Google+ circles are 5,000 people. On Goodreads we have 5,000 friends, not to mention Pinterest, Facebook with two accounts, StumpleUpon, Tumblr, the 111Publishing.com website… and some more …
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Why do we list all this? To show you how much visibility your book(s) can get when we help you to built a community / network platform and a brand for you as an author.  We show your book constantly on all these sites!   More info: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars
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10 Reasons – and Some More to Choose our Valuable Book Marketing Help:

• Three hours of one-on-one Book Marketing Online Seminar phone-consultations
• Unlimited book marketing consultations by email for up to three months
• Unlimited social media help by email for up to three months
• Instructions / Checklist / Hundreds of links for you to use for your book promotions
• Free e-book: “Book Marketing on a Shoestring” launch in March 2013
• Support & advertising your book on free days with Amazon KDP to hundred thousands
• Blog posts including cover image/author bio/book description on both, blog and our websites
• NEW: Author interview on our blog website & help to advertise your free days
• NEW: “Book of the Month” recommendation on a major book lover site
• Advertising of your book several times/week for 3 months on all our social media sites
• Plus one surprise gift we will reveal once you sign up!
• MORE FEATURES will be added soon
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Most important: the article and the interview we did with you and all the postings on our Social Media sites stay there FOREVER! This way it will have a long-term effect on your book sales. Compare this with advertisers who might charge you $100/year, just for a small, single pic of your book cover.
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As you can see, our Book Marketing Help is customized for you, the author, and we will individually work with you on your book’s success. It all starts with our purchase of your book and then an evaluation of your book’s sales page, your social media presence and your marketing activities so far. We will explain you the benefits of various steps in building the platform for you as an author and how you can establish a brand without incurring extra cost, such as expensive ads or how to avoid costly POD’s.
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Get Help from Professionals who Have Studied Marketing & E-Publishing for years – and who have more than 30 years experience in book publishing, magazine publishing and now e-publishing.

We do NOT sell publishing / marketing videos, pre-recorded Webinars or DVD’s! We really work one-on-one with you!!! In some cases we worked up to 20 hours per client – it is not only the time we talk with everyone, it is the research in each case and the amount of time we invest in individual programs we create for each of our clients.  We recently did a search of several dozen book publicity sites and their price for similarly individual marketing and comparable work would be around $2,500.

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer all this and more for only $159 for three months! Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars
Or visit http://www.e-book-pr.com/book-promo/  to advertise your new book, specials, your KDP Select Free Days or the new Kindle Countdown Deals.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 970 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.
Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing
http://www.111publishing.com
http://www.e-Book-PR.com/
http://www.international-ebooks.com/
http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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I am very excited to tell you about our upcoming Writer’s Seminar at Sea. We’ll be sailing on
November 3, 2013, aboard the incredible new cruise ship “Breeze”, recently named 2012’s “Best New Ship” by Cruise Critic. Learn effective techniques to market your books, network with peers, and have the time of your life in the exotic Caribbean! Partially tax de-ductable!

Seminars are on days at sea, so there is lots of time to explore the Caribbean Islands. Seminar-Cruise starts from $1.032 pp ALL INCLUSIVE & for spouses who don’t attend only $832. See complete details http://writers.thecruiseevent.com/

Related articles

• Learn & Sail
• 13 Reasons for Writers to Cruise the Caribbean

Caribbean Cruise

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Arriving with the cruise ship in Nassau do as the locals do: Sway to the rhythms of steel-pan bands; savor fresh conch in Arawak Cay or sip cold Kalik beer to beat the heat. The charms of this tropical isle revolve around sun, sea, and sand Or you can shop at the lively markets in Nassau’s town center.  You will have lots of time to hit the shops.  What if you don’t like shopping?  If you rather prefer to have a leisurely time on the beaches and gardens of one of Nassau’s big hotels?  They offer day passes to use their pools, their very clean beaches and recreational sports equipment, such as snorkel equipment or kayaks.   Don’t miss a dip in the turquoise Atlantic. If you are looking for an inexpensive alternative to day passes at the Atlantis Resort, choose either the Nassau Sheraton or the RUI Palace Beach Resort.

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13 Reasons for Writers to Cruise the Caribbean

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Many cruise travelers want more stimulating activities on days at sea than simply reclining by the pool, sitting on the bar, drinking or playing cards. A growing number of cruise lines are adding programs – interactive workshops, lectures from experts, culinary demonstrations and seminar presentations on a variety of topics.
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Carnival Cruise Lines added a Seminar for Writers at the brand new “Breeze”, which departs on November 3, 2013 from Miami into the Caribbean. Stops will be in:

– Nassau, Bahamas
– Grand Turk
– Ocho Rios, Jamaica

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Why is it a fantastic possibility for writers to spend their vacation (or part of it) on a Caribbean cruise and learn at the same time about publishing and book marketing?

1. Before you start your NaNoWri Month, learn which publishing possibilities are out there and how you could create your author platform – before your book is ready to publish.

2. November is a great vacation month in the Caribbean, and at this time of the year cruises are more for adults as the school year is in full swing.

3. Spoil the author in your life and have this event booked before Valentines Day – as it is a fantastic gift for your loved one, better than any chocolates or over-priced dinners. What you pay for a Valentine evening out is almost the down payment for this cruise!

4. This unique “Workshop-At-Sea” will help authors to:

• Strategically establish a writing career
• Create their own brand and platform

5. The seminar gives writers suggestions:

• How to market and publicize their books on a budget or for FREE
• Find book publishing funding sources, grants and writers residencies

6. The seminar will help you to:

• Identify their target readers and 
• how to reach these potential book buyers, without incurring costs

7. As a Special Guest at this “Seminar Cruise” you qualify for Discount Rates on spectacular shore excursions, such as to the cascading waterfalls of Dunn’s River, near Ocho Rios, Jamaica, or diving excursions on Grand Turk’s protected coral reef.

8. This Book Marketing & Publishing Seminar will be held during the days at sea – two half-day lectures – and offers as an added value, one-on-one consultations for authors.

9. Staterooms in this time-limited offer are unobstructed and in preferred categories and include the amazing exclusive events / amenities, outlined in #11
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10. For this 6 Night Cruise, spouses who are not participating in the seminar, get a reduction of $200 for their fares. Prices are “Per Person” and include all port charges, government fees, taxes and mandatory pre-paid gratuities. The Carnival website and most other online cruise sites do NOT include these “extra” charges…but this special offer rates DO!

11. Signing up with the cruise representative requires only a down payment of $250 per person, the remaining is due latest to the end of July 2013. Packages start at $1.032 per person for a double, and $832 for those who are not attending the seminar.

12. Authors who established a writing business can partially deduct costs for the cruise, such as the two days at sea, the seminar fee (which is included in the faire) and transportation / accommodation to Miami. For details ask your tax advisor.

13. Cruise voyages are very inclusive and offer great value:

• Brand new attractive staterooms 
• Transfer to Miami pier
• A bottle of Sparkling Wine in every stateroom
• Chocolate Covered Strawberries in every stateroom
• FREE Photograph Credit for every stateroom
• An Onboard Bon Voyage “Meet & Greet” Party
• Two Book Marketing Success Workshops plus individual consultations
• A Private Farewell Party with champagne toast
• Your cruise certainly includes all your meals in the regular dining venues, a smorgasbord of on-board entertainment including Vegas style shows/musical performances/comedy & variety shows, and some beverages (coffee/tea/juices).
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If the idea of taking a publishing and book marketing class and experiencing the pleasures of cruising at the same time appeals to you, you can conveniently and safely book your reservation online at http://Writers.TheCruiseEvent.com  or call Dancing Moon Travel (404) 913-4FUN

Cruise ships to the Caribbean fill up months in advance. Our experience shows that many of the best and preferred cabins will be reserved within just a few weeks!!  Plus, there are several other niche groups scheduled to be on board. If you are considering cruising with us, register now.

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If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to check out all previous posts of this blog (there are almost 600 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Chime.in, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Follow on Twitter: @111publishing

And don’t forget to spread the word on other social networking sites of your choice for other writers who might also enjoy this blog and find it useful. Thanks, Doris

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Be Spoiled for Choice …

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… how you want to learn book promotion.  And there is a lot to learn: Publishing evolves constantly and the success of your book(s) is very much depending on you, no matter if you self-publish or if you go with one of the big publishers. 

Choices in publishing, essentials of book / e-book layout and design, your platform and brand,  optimizing social media, use of non-traditional ways of book marketing, book distribution, online retailers, learning about  marketing on a shoestring… it’s over-whelming.  But not if you get help from someone who has studied e-publishing and marketing for many years – and practices it all.

Choose between weekend seminars or sign-up for customized online marketing training (special offer in December)  

… or plan ahead for a publishing and book marketing seminar on a 5-day Caribbean Cruise on board of the Carnival Breeze, a brand new cruise liner, taking off in Miami, FL, on November 3, 2013.  Make your travel plans soon, bookings for this offer start at the end of this month!  

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Hello, I’m Doris-Maria Heilmann with 111 Publishing.  We are not only publishers of traditional and eBooks, we extensively market our authors books.  We also host informative seminars for authors on the “art” of promotion. 

During the last years, publishing books has totally changed. Nowadays we writers need to build our own platforms, identify our own demographics, and find our own market share – even if we are with a traditional publishing house!  The profession has changed and we need to adapt in order to succeed.   

Our unique “Seminar-At-Sea” will help authors to:

• Strategically establish a writing career
• Create our own brand
• Identify our target readers
• Find out how to reach these readers
• Market and publicize our books on a budget
• Find free book publishing funding sources

Soon I will be announcing all the details of this spectacular opportunity.  But for now…mark November 3, 2013 on your calendars!!  Connect with your peers and learn invaluable information to enhance your writing career…all while having the time of your life on an exotic Caribbean Cruise!!

Doris-Maria Heilmann

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If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to check out all previous posts of this blog (there are almost 600 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Follow on Twitter: @111publishing

And don’t forget to spread the word on other social networking sites of your choice for other writers who might also enjoy this blog and find it useful. Thanks, Doris

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Cruise Seminars for Writer and Publishers

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Crystal Cruises’ World Cruise segments can be a voyage of learning and self-discovery, offering guests literally hundreds of hours of expert instruction as your ship cruises through the world.
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Chris Owen is a travel writer from Orlando Florida. He mentions in his blog the February 2, 2013  24-day world cruise segment from Lima to Buenos Aires that has dozens of stimulating classes, hands-on lessons and interactive workshops in everything from golf to global affairs, from Pilates to painting, from memoir writing to magic.

Just to name a few:

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  Carnival Breeze

  How to appreciate Chilean wine through visits to Chile’s Napa-like Casablanca Valley

  How to perfect your swing in PGA pro-led golf clinic

  Improve computer skills through Crystal’s own Computer University@Sea

• How to tell your story during reflective memoir-writing workshops 

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However, not everyone has time for a 24-day cruise or wants to spend that amount of money. What about a 5-day / 6-night Bahama cruise, that offers valuable hands-on seminars in publishing and book marketing – for not even a tenth of the price? Stay tuned for more information.  And the best of all: you can deduct parts of your cruise from your taxes.  http://writers.thecruiseevent.com
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If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to check out all previous posts (there are more than 550 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Follow on Twitter: @111publishing

And don’t forget to spread the word on other social networking sites of your choice for other writers who might also enjoy this blog and find it useful. Thanks, Doris
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30 Books by Bestseller Author Rayne Hall

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… and what you can learn from her.

Rayne Hall is the author of thirty books in different genres (mostly horror, fantasy and non-fiction) and under different pen names, published by twelve publishers in several countries and languages (mostly English, German, Polish and Chinese).  Her short stories have been published in many magazines, e-zines and anthologies.

Rayne holds a college degree in publishing management as well as a Masters degree in creative writing.  Over three decades, she has worked in the publishing industry as a trainee, investigative journalist, feature writer, magazine editor, production editor, page designer, concept editor for non-fiction book series, anthology editor, editorial consultant and more.
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Currently, she tries to regain the rights to her out-of-print books so she can update them and publish them as e-books.  After living in Germany, China, Mongolia and Nepal, she has settled in south east England where she lives in a dilapidated seaside town of former Regency and Victorian grandeur.

Outside publishing, she has worked as a museum guide, apple picker, tarot reader, adult education teacher, trade fair hostess, translator and bellydancer.  Many of these experiences have provided fodder for fiction: several of Rayne’s stories feature bellydancers. Many of Rayne Hall’s stories explore the individuals’ responsibility for their choices, and the dark side of the human psyche. Her horror tales are psychological, creepy and suspenseful rather than gory.

She edits a series of themed multi-author short story anthologies (Haunted: Ten Tales of Ghosts, Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires, Cutlass: Ten Tales of Pirates, Scared: Ten Tales of Horror etc). For a list of books currently published under the Rayne Hall pen name, go to Amazon:

She judges writing contests (mostly for short stories, horror or fantasy fiction), coaches authors and teaches online classes for writers among others:

• ‘Writing Fight Scenes’

• ‘Writing Scary Scenes’

• ‘Writing about Magic’

• ‘Edit your Writing’ 

These classes are for intermediate to advanced-level writers and professional authors – definitely not for beginners or the faint-of heart.  Get an up-to-date list of scheduled classes.

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WRITING FIGHT SCENES – the e-Book.
Learn step-by-step how to create fictional fights which leave the reader breathless with excitement.
The book gives you a six-part structure to use as blueprint for your scene. It reveals tricks how to combine fighting with dialogue, which senses to use when and how, how to create a sense of realism, and how to stir the reader’s emotions. You’ll decide how much violence your scene needs, what’s the best location, how your heroine can get out of trouble with self-defence and how to adapt your writing style to the fast pace of the action.

There are sections on female fighters, male fighters, animals and weres, psychological obstacles, battles, duels, brawls, riots and final showdowns. For the requirements of your genre, there is even advice on how to build erotic tension in a fight scene, how magicians fight, how pirates capture ships and much more. You will learn about different types of weapons, how to use them in fiction, and how to avoid embarrassing blunders. Note: The book uses British spellings.

Writing Fight Scenes is vailable from Amazon (US site), Amazon (UK site), Barnes&Noble, Smashwords, iTunes,  Kobo and other online booksellers.

Rayne is active on Twitter where she posts #writetip tweets. If your profile says that you read or write, she will follow you back.
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Do You Write Historic Novels?

History wasn’t short of wars and battles. Unless you can find detailed testimonials of eye-witnesses in archives, you need to employ some techniques to describe realistic battle scenes. Thanks to guest blogger Rayne Hall we get some very interesting tips here:

WRITING BATTLE SCENES
by Rayne Hall

Here are some techniques for creating powerful, exciting, realistic battle scenes. The biggest challenge in writing a battle scene is the point of view. To make the experience exciting and moving, it is best to stick to the perspective of a single fighter. However, the individual soldier can’t see what goes on a few feet from him, let alone what’s happening at the other end of the battlefield or how the sun dyes the horizon bloody red.
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Here’s a possible solution: Show the terrain before the fight begins, and have the general give a pep talk explaining the overall strategy. Once the fighting is over, show the battlefield and have your point of view character talk with his comrades about the implications.

Do you want to involve the reader’s emotions? Stack the odds against your heroes. The readers’ natural sympathies lie with the smaller army. The greater you can make the numerical difference, the better. The evil overlord’s army is bigger than the hero’s, and it is much better equipped, too.

Have you heard of the battle of Thermopylae (480 BC), when three hundred Spartans defended Greece against thousands of invading Persians? The Spartans knew they were going to die, and fought anyway, to gain time for their homeland to prepare further defences. Since then, thousands of battles have been fought – and forgotten. Thermopylae is remembered. The story has been retold in many novels, non-
fiction books, and films. The incredible bravery against overwhelming odds still rouses audiences’ emotions. When writing your own battle scenes, use Thermopylae as your inspiration.

Battles don’t just happen: they are usually planned. At least one side seeks the battle and is prepared. The generals plan a battle strategy in advance, and make sure that their officers know it. In the heat of the battle, it’s often impossible to change strategy or give orders. Sometimes, soldiers are still fighting when the battle has already been decided, because they don’t know that their king is dead or the enemy general has surrendered.

Often, the location decides the outcome of the battle. Generals choose the location carefully – and so should you, the author!  If the battle takes place on a slope, the army uphill has a huge advantage, because it’s easier to fight downhill than uphill, and because missiles fly further. Each general tries to make the battle happen in terrain which favours his own army, and where the enemy can’t fully deploy his. For example, chariots are fearsome on the plain, but useless in the mountains. Foot archers can fight on any terrain, especially in the mountains. The general who has many chariots will try to force a battle on the plain, while the general who has archers will try to lure them into mountainous terrain. If one general has a small army and his enemy has a large one, he’ll try to lure them into a gorge or other restricted space where they can’t move.

Armies are organised in units either by level of skill and experience (elite, veterans, novices, untrained peasants…) or by weapons and equipment (cavalry, infantry, archers, spearmen, chariots…) or both.

Before the battle, the general probably addresses the troops, firing their fighting spirit and courage. This pep talk may include de-personalizing the enemy, because soldiers are more willing to kill monsters than to kill fellow human beings. It’s easy to kill a man whom you consider a menace to your children, and difficult to kill him if you think of him as a fellow human who loves his children as much as you love yours.

Noble thoughts and ideals have no room during battle. The thinker of noble thoughts and carrier of high ideals during battle won’t survive. If you want to show your hero’s nobility, do it when the fighting is over: perhaps he gives the fallen enemies a decent burial, or ensures that his captives get medical treatment and food.

Consider using interesting or extreme weather to make your battle scene unusual. Imagine pristine snow which gets trampled, becomes slippery, and stains red with blood. Or a strong wind which blows arrows off course. Or blistering heat and glaring sun. Or week-long rain turning the field into knee-deep mud, making it difficult for foot soldiers, let alone horses or chariots. Or fog blocking the view of the enemy.

At the beginning of the battle, both armies shoot missiles to take out as many of the enemy as possible before they get close. In a historical novel, clouds of arrows may darken the sky before the battle begins. When the fighting is under way, describe only what the point of view character can see: this is probably only what is immediately before him, such as the enemy weapon stabbing at him.

To create excitement, mention sounds: the clanking of swords, the hissing of arrows, the pinging of bullets.
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Once the fighting is over, the survivors count their dead, bandage their wounds and repair their weapons. In this section, you can inject realism… Soon after the battle, there’ll be carrion birds (e.g. crows, vultures) feeding on the corpses. There’ll be humans (probably the victorious soldiers) gathering up re-usable weapons (because weapons are valuable) and looting the corpses. The battlefield is covered in
blood, gore, and amputated limbs. The stench is awful, because in death, the bladder and bowels have opened. Plus, there’s the smell from injuries, not just blood (which starts to stink only after a while) but the content of stomachs and intestines from belly wounds. The stench gets worse after a few hours, especially if the weather is hot. After some hours, the corpses will be crawling with flies, and before long, there’ll be maggots.

If you’re aiming for great realism, you may want to spend several paragraphs describing the gruesome aftermath. If you want to create more light-hearted entertainment, it’s best to keep the aftermath section short and to skip the gory details.

For tips on writing all kinds of fight scenes – from duels to riots, from self-defence to pirate attack – you may find my book “Writing Fight Scenes” useful. It’s available as an e-book. http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Fight-Scenes-ebook/dp/B005MJFVS0/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2

If you have questions about writing battle scenes, feel free to ask. I’ll be around for the next week and will respond: rain_dancer_uk – a t – yahoo.com

 

 

Sail to Success: Writing and Publishing Classes

Norwegian Sky Cruise Ship

December 3-7, 2012 • Bahamas Cruise
Norwegian Sky 4-Day Bahamas Cruise – combined with publishing and writing seminars:

Have a part of your manuscript critiqued by the publisher who publishes Mercedes Lackey, Joe Haldeman and Harry Turtledove amongst many others.

Learn about contract negotiations by the agent who negotiates on behalf of Lois McMaster Bujold, Catherine Asaro and the estate of Robert A. Heinlein.

Get to know all the inside tricks by some of the best and most experienced writers in the genre today, including:

Mike Resnick, who has won more awards than anyone else (living or dead) in short fiction and is the guest of honor at this year’s Worldcon.  Kevin J. Anderson with 48 bestsellers and over 23 million copies of books in print. One of the most popular SF writers today.  Nancy Kress, multiple award winning author of the ground breaking ‘Beggars in Spain’ (Hugo/Nebula), and an author who is fondly known as ‘The Queen of Novellas’ since every novella she writes appears to get nominated for a major award.  Rebecca Moesta, who specializes in the lucrative young adult market and has penned numerous YA bestsellers, including those set in the Star Wars universe.

And as if this wasn’t enough…you get to do all this while on a cruise ship visiting the Bahamas in a classroom limited to only 22 students.  Significant discounts are available for early sign-ups. 

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Pingates

 

Have You Heard About LitChat’s Fiction Writing Course?

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LitChat is a fun, fast, and friendly way for booklovers to talk about books on Twitter. Authors and Readers can chat on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 4-5 pm (EST).

LitChat offers an intensive Fiction Writing Course on September 16 – 19 in South Beach, FL.
“Take your writing to the next level at LitChat’s first annual Writer’s Advance. The LitChat Writer’s Advance offers two days of intensive fiction writing education to a small group of writers seeking to sharpen skills, fine-tune their writer’s voice, and plot their own literary success.”

September 16-19, 2012
The Betsy Hotel South Beach, 1440 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL

Taught by a faculty of award-winning authors, including master instructors Jon Clinch and Les Standiford, the LitChat Writer’s Advance includes two sessions with a master instructor, ample writing time, two read and critique sessions with master instructors, a panel discussion with published authors, and a public reading series featuring published authors. Panelists confirmed so far include: Debra Dean, Keith Cronin, Patricia Engle.

The host of LitChat’s Writer’s Advance is South Beach’s most literary boutique hotel, The Betsy  Included in the full Writer’s Advance tuition is a welcome reception on Sunday, September 16, 2012, coffee and tea breaks each morning, and a group dinner on Monday night.

Writer’s Advance tuition Early Bird until August 1, 2012: $250
Writer’s Advance tuition August 2-September 15, 2012: $300
Writer’s Advance tuition at the door: $350 (if space is available)
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If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to check out all previous posts (there are almost 500 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “Like” next to it.

Follow on Twitter: @111publishing

And don’t forget to spread the word on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Tumblr or StumbleUpon – or other social networking sites of your choice) – other writers might also enjoy this blog and find it useful.

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Quitter Conference: From Day Job to Dream Job

Who doesn’t dream to write full-time and become a successful author?  Why not just doing it?  What holds us back?  Get some inducement at

The Quitter Conference, Nashville, TN September 21-22
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We all have unique gifts and talents … and unique dreams. What are yours? What gets your heart pounding? Maybe you do vision your dream and you just don’t know how to get there. Either way, Jon Acuff invites you to be a Quitter!

At the Quitter Conference, you’ll learn how to:

• Follow a step-by-step process to find out what your dream is. You kind of need to know that first.
• Face the three biggest fears that keep you from going for your dream.
• Create, organize and execute 10 times as many ideas at a time. (Yes. 10 times.)
• Use social media to build what your dream needs to succeed
• Recognize the six signs it’s time for you to jump ship.
• This is how to get from your day job to your dream job.

It’s a two-day crash course in finding, chasing and succeeding at your passion. This is also a great chance to network with people just like you who are working hard on turning their dreams into reality.

The Quitter Conference in Nashville, TN, September 21–22
Early Bird Tickets $119 – After July 23 price goes up to $139

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If you enjoyed this blog post, please feel free to check out previous posts (there are almost 500 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “Like” next to it.

Follow us on Twitter: @111publishing

And don’t forget to spread the word on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Tumblr or StumbleUpon – or other social networking sites of your choice) – other writers might also enjoy this blog and find it useful.

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For Writers Who Are Serious About Achieving Success!

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Writers Conference in Denton (DFW area) July 21 – 22, 2012

From their invitation:
In a world filled with people who think they are writers, only a handful will truly succeed. What separates them from the rest of the crowd? They take advantage of all the available opportunities and resources to promote their work and themselves. So, you have to ask yourself – Are you as well known as you could be? Are your books selling as well as they should?

Nowadays, writers are expected to take on more of the marketing and promotional duties.
They have to not only write, they have to blog and post and tweet as well. They have to build their own platforms, identify their own demographics, and find their own market share. The profession has changed and anyone who does not adopt and adapt will not succeed.
The LEXICON WRITERS CONFERENCE seeks to assist, promote, and educate writers in all genres and fields, including fiction, non-fiction, screenplay, and graphic novel. Published and unpublished writers are invited to attend. Meet with established writers, literary agents, publishers and marketing experts to discuss your finished or unfinished manuscripts. We will also have experts in various fields to provide technical information.

The LEXICON WRITERS CONFERENCE will be held on July 21 – 22, 2012 in Denton, Texas but we have special events set up for the 19th and 20th as well.
LOCATION:
The BEST WESTERN PREMIER AND HILTON GARDEN INN located at HOSPITALITY HILL in Denton, Texas – 30 minutes north of D/FW International Airport and Dallas, Texas. The two host hotels have special rates for attendees and have waved their cancellation policy, allowing people to cancel their rooms up to 4:00 the day of July 20, 2012.

Sign up now for the conference and take advantage of the reduced prices (See Information Page for prices and deadlines). Be sure to indicate whether you are interested in attending the Friday Night Meet and Greet Dinner or any of the other special programs.
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Discover How You Can Profitably Self-Publish a Book

Get all your publishing questions answered – self-publishing that is – at the 4th annual Self-Publisher’s Online Conference (SPOC) May 8-10, 2012 

Expert speakers include: Dan Poynter, Chris Garrett, Peter Bowerman, Joel Friedlander, Dan Janal, Sandra Beckwith, Susan Daffron, James Byrd, Dana Lynn Smith, Penny Sansevieri, Joshua Tallent, Carolyn McCray, Roger C. Parker, Andrea Vahl, Gary Barnes and Kathy Goughenhour.
Read about these speakers (they are the “who is who” in publishing advice) at http://www.selfpublishersonlineconference.com/Agenda.aspx

Each day has a “theme” that is designed to help you reach your publishing goals.  Note: ALL Times are PACIFIC time.  SPOC is a virtual conference, so you can attend in your pyjamas if you like.

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Day 1 – WRITING / PUBLISHING May 8

9-10 am (PDT)
James Byrd & Susan Daffron
The Big Picture: How to Bring Your Book into the World

11am -12 noon (PDT)
Chris Garrett
Be More Productive and Build Your Authority

1-2 pm (PDT)
Writing & Publishing
Q&A Roundtable

3-4 pm (PDT)
Peter Bowerman
The “Write Way” to Publish and Promote

5-6 pm (PDT)
Joel Friedlander
Publishing Strategies for Self-Publishers

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Day 2 – PROMOTING YOUR BOOK May 9

9-10 am (PDT)
Dan Janal
Build Your Brand and Get More Prospects with Publicity

11am -12 noon (PDT)
Sandra Beckwith
What’s Your Hook?

1-2 pm (PDT)
Book Promotion
Q&A Roundtable

3-4 pm (PDT)
Dana Lynn Smith
Top 10 Book Promotion Strategies for Authors

5-6 pm (PDT)
Penny Sansevieri
Fans, Followers and Friends: Maximize Social Media to Sell More Books

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Day 3 – E-BOOKS, INFOPRODUCTS & BEYOND May 10

9-10 am (PDT)
Joshua Tallent
Ebook Design, Formats and Workflow

11am -12 noon (PDT)
Carolyn McCray
Maximize Your Book Sales on Amazon.com

1-2 pm (PDT)
Ebooks & Beyond
Q&A Roundtable

3-4 pm (PDT)
Roger C. Parker
Leveraging Your Book into Prospects, Products, & Profits

5-6 pm (PDT)
Andrea Vahl
Build Your Expert Status with a Powerful Social Media and Publishing Combination.

All passes give you access to the virtual SPOC Exhibit Hall and seminar recordings. They will give you access to the SPOC Exhibit Hall and seminar recordings.

$147.00 – SPOC 2012 Standard Pass.
Enter the coupon code FFW12 at checkout and you will save 10%!

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2012 Writers Conferences and Why You Benefit From Attending

One of the main benefits of attending a writers retreat or conference is the opportunity to meet editors, agents, publishers and other writers.  Widening your circle of connections in the literary world can help you mark your own presence in that world, learn about the publishing industry, and how to get your book published.  Just a few of the many retreat offers:

Jackson Hole, WY, June 28 – 30, 2012

http://jacksonholewritersconference.com

Program Description
Three manuscript critiques with authors & editors. Tracks for fiction, creative nonfiction, magazine, young adult, and poetry; workshops, talks & craft sessions.
Program Length 3 days
Group Size or S:T Ratio 4:1
Program Focus:  Children’s, Fiction, Journalism, Marketing, Mystery, Nature, Non-fiction, Poetry, Publishing, Travel, Young Adult
Costs:   Early bird $365

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Mendocino Coast Writers Conference, July 26 – 28, 2012

http://www.mcwc.org

Program Description
5 morning workshops with same presenter each day; large forum readings and discussions with editors, agents, & newly published authors; afternoon lecture sessions on craft.
Program Length 3 days
Group Size or S:T Ratio workshops 15:1
Program Focus:  Autobiography/Memoir, Children’s, Fiction, Journalism, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Publishing, Screenwriting, Young Adult
Faculty 13+ presenters. Includes authors, editors & literary agents.
Costs:   Earlybird $525. $60/consultation. Lodging $55-$250 & camping; hostel-like farmhouse $18-$25/night.

Squaw Valley, California  July, August 2012

http://www.squawvalleywriters.org

Program Description
Morning workshops, afternoon panel discussions, individual conferences, craft lectures, staff readings
Program Length 7 days
Group Size or S:T Ratio 20-124
Program Focus:  Autobiography/Memoir, Fiction, Mystery, Nature, Non-fiction, Poetry and Screenwriting
Faculty 28 instructors for the Fiction Workshop, 5 for the Poetry Workshop, 8 for the Screenwriting Workshop.
Costs:   $840 includes 6 dinners. Shared (single) lodging in local houses & condos arranged for $350 ($550)/week; inexpensive bunk bed available.
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Purchase, NY   June 25 – 29, 2012

http://www.mville.edu/writersweek

Program Description
Five 3-hour morning workshops in a particular genre (Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry,Writing for Young Readers, Graphic Novel). Afternoons include special workshops, readings, session with editors & agents, and individual manuscript consultation.
Program Length 4-1/2 days
Group Size or S:T Ratio 80-100
Program Focus:  Autobiography/Memoir, Children’s, Fiction, Marketing, Non-fiction, Poetry, Publishing, Screenwriting, Young Adult
Costs:   $725 for the week. 2 graduate credits are also available for graduate tuition (extra fee).
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Edmonds, WA, September 30 – October 2, 2012

http://www.ci.edmonds.wa.us/ArtsCommission/wots.stm

Program Description
Focus is on the craft of writing. 4 sessions/day & a choice of 4 workshops/session; Saturday keynote, pre-conference workshops on Friday.
Program Length 2-1/2 days
Group Size or S:T Ratio Max 200
Program Focus:  Autobiography/Memoir, Business/Technical, Children’s, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Journalism, Marketing, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Publishing, Travel, Young Adult
Faculty:  30 additional presenters speaking on a variety of topics.
Costs:   $139/2 days ($116 early bird), $72/1 day. Pre-conference workshops $68, writing contest entry $10, manuscript critique $25, Keynote (open to the public) $16 adult/$10 student.

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Santa Barbara, CA, June 9 – 14, 2012

http://www.sbwritersconference.com

Program Description
Daily AM & PM concurrent workshops & plenary sessions, evening speakers, panels, Advance
Submission with agents & editors, late-night pirate workshops.
Program Length 6 days
Group Size or S:T Ratio 200
Program Focus:  Autobiography/Memoir, Fiction, Humor, Journalism, Marketing, Mystery, Nature, Non-fiction, Playwriting, Poetry, Publishing, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Screen-writing, Travel,
Faculty: 30 daily faculty plus evening speakers
Costs   $625 includes barbecue, cocktail reception, awards banquet.

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Corte Madera, CA, August 9 – 12, 2012

http://bookpassage.com/travel-food-photography-conference

(Just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco)
Conference Coordinator: Kathryn Petrocelli
Phone: (800) 999-7909 ext 239
bpconferences@bookpassage.com

Geared to Food & Travel writers and photographers this Conference has an extraordinary, international reputation among publishers, editors, and writers. This four-day Conference offers an array of writing and photography workshops in the morning, a full afternoon of panels and discussions, and evening faculty presentations.
The faculty includes publishers, magazine editors, photographers, travel essayists, food writers, guidebook writers and more.

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Key West, FL, every January

http://www.kwls.org

Program Description
4-day seminar includes readings, conversations, lectures, panel discussions. 4-day writers’ workshops feature AM writing sessions (limit 8-12/instructor) and PM individual consultations, talks, open readings.
Program Length Seminar: 4 days / Workshops: 4 days each
Group Size or S:T Ratio Seminar: 350-400 / Workshops: 12:1
Program Focus
Autobiography/Memoir, Children’s, Fiction, Humor, Journalism, Mystery, Nature, Non-fiction, Playwriting, Poetry, Publishing, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Screenwriting, Travel, Young Adult
Costs   Seminar $495; Workshops $450.
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For a full list of writers retreats in the USA go to:  http://writing.shawguides.com

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