April Writer U classes

MASTER CLASS: From Plot To Finish
by Laurie Schnebly Campbell
April 1-12, 2013
$65 ($60 by check) at www.WriterUniv.com

Prerequisite: Must have completed Plotting Via Motivation class worksheets at some point

A continuation of the Plotting-Via-Motivation process, this limited-enrollment group gets every member plotting a brand new book (with the 14-point worksheets already on hand) from start to finish. No need to prepare a story idea, character bios or anything else, because you’ll learn how to plot an entire book -- and actually have it ready to type -- by the end of this hands-on workshop. The two-week session will include:

    * Defining the motivation of each main character
    * Recapping your original 14-point worksheet
    * Completing the new Plot Chart from beginning to end
    * Distributing the highlight scenes through each segment
    * Choosing an outline or a free-flowing format
    * Setting up your book’s unique structure for completion

Laurie Schnebly Campbell (www.booklaurie.com) always finishes a Plotting Via Motivation class wishing for the chance to see what happens to the wonderful stories begun there — and wondering how long it’ll take to see the finished books for sale. So she’s excited about speeding the process along, and getting to watch while the plots and characters take on their full shape.

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INDIE TRACK: Building Your Blog
by Ginger Calem
April 1-26, 2013
$40 ($35 by check) at www.WriterUniv.com

So you want to start a blog but you don’t know the difference between a widget and a gravatar. That’s okay! Ginger Calem is living proof that if she can do it, so can you. You will go from “no blog” to “blogger” in 30 days. Through lectures, homework, class discussion, and step-by-step instructions for using WordPress -- the system this class is designed for -- you’ll build  your own blog, customize it, launch it and firmly splash into the blogging waters. (Goggles and floaties are optional.) During the month you’ll learn about:

    * Considering why to blog and whom you want to reach
    * Researching what the “blogs that work” are doing right
    * Choosing your blog’s name and theme so it’s YOU
    * Adding widgets and fun personalization to customize your WordPress blog
    * Management: creating posts, adding images & videos, handling comments
    * Launch: publishing your first blogs, sharing on Facebook & Twitter
    * Tools for moving forward: topics, followers, creating “blog buzz”

Ginger Calem is in hot pursuit of her writing career and has been a presenter at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference. When she’s not cavorting with her fictional characters, she’s hanging out with a plethora of awesome people in the Social Media arena. Ginger discovered blogging was a fun way to keep her writing muscle pumped, her creativity unchecked and the best way to interact with readers and writers. She loves it (really) when people visit her blog atwww.gingercalem.wordpress.com and hang out with her on twitter @GingerCalem.

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MASTER CLASS: Body Language
by Mary Buckham
April 15-26, 2013
$65 ($60 by check) at www.WriterUniv.com

Prerequisite: Must have a manuscript that you are actively working on.

If you think you have a good handle on the intentional body language your characters use on the page but want to create more depth, greater subtext, clearer messages for your readers, then consider EMOTIONAL BODY LANGUAGE. Along with fascinating material like non-verbal greetings and some of the subtle (but oh so fun) differences between the body language of men and that of women, you’ll also learn:

    * The differences between aggressive and defensive body language
    * Dominant and Submissive body signals
    * Negative and positive body messages
    * Open, closed or relaxed positions
    * Power body language and leadership body messages
    * Reading deception through body language

Mary Buckham is the author of WRITING ACTIVE SETTING: Book 1; the best selling book in a three-book series on the craft  of writing and an award-winning romantic suspense author. Currently she presents writing workshops online and nationwide. Mary encourages you to visit her website at www.MaryBuckham.com for more information about her and her current writing projects including her newest releases!

Writer U March Classes

I.P. TRACK: Before You Indie-Publish
by Frankie Robertson
March 4-29, 2013
$40 ($35 by check) at www.WriterUniv.com

Are you thinking about self-publishing, but not sure it's the right path for you? Have you wondered if "going indie" is worth it? Can it work for "real" people? Frankie Robertson wondered the same thing before plunging into the ever-changing world of indie publishing. She shares her discoveries regarding what to do and how to do it, and gives you guidelines on how to navigate your way through the shifting sands to your goal -- selling lots of books. Through a blend of lectures and optional homework assignments, you'll learn about:

* Why self-publishing makes sense today
* Coping with the shift from traditional to indie publishing
* How to wear two hats: author and publisher
* One exclusive distribution platform vs. many
* Covers, editing and formatting: outsourcing vs. doing it yourself
* Finding a good vendor and how long it all takes
* What really works to get the word out
* Money, personal goals, and measuring success

Frankie Robertson writes paranormal romance and romantic fantasy. She is the author of five titles, four of which are indie-published. In addition to sharing with writing groups the numerous advantages and disadvantages of indie publishing, she's currently developing a non-fiction book about her journey. You can learn more about Frankie and her books at www.frankierobertson.com.

Writer U January Classes

SIX WEEK CLASS: Discovering Story Magic
by Laura Baker
January 3-February 13, 2013
$90 ($85 by check) at www.WriterUniv.com

Prerequisite: For greatest benefit, please come prepared with a story idea, not a finished manuscript, to use for brainstorming.  And please see the movie Casablanca as close to the start of class as possible.

The acclaimed method for creating a story they can’t refuse is back for six weeks! Here is the clear process to creating three-dimensional characters, sustainable conflict, and a plot that escalates to wrenching black moments. This three-step technique has been the path for many unpublished writers to finally start selling and used by bestselling authors to broaden and deepen their stories. Bring this magic to YOUR book! Receive personal attention and brainstorm on your own story with critically-acclaimed and award-winning author Laura Baker. In this class you will:

* Learn what Inciting Incident catapults your story into compelling drama
* Create sustainable conflict that escalates within a tight, interwoven plot
* Use Character Flaw to compel the story
* Brainstorm villains who provoke struggle AND insight for your protagonist
* Use Turning Points to braid plot and character.
* Create visceral connections between plot, subplot and secondary characters
* Broaden the scope of your story with theme
* Hook your readers with escalating stakes and emotions

Laura has over two decades of experience as a writer, teacher, and coach. Her national award nominations include the National Reader’s Choice and the RITA, and her articles have been published in the Writer’s Digest and newsletters across the country. “Story Magic…is a no-fail system for achieving interesting characters and a coherent plot—and more.” Jasmine Cresswell, USA Today bestselling author of more than sixty novels. For more information visit her website: www.fearlesswriter.com.

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MASTER CLASS: How To Become A Social Media Superstar
by Lisa Pietsch
January 14-25
$65 ($60 by check) at www.WriterUniv.com

Prerequisite: Must have a website (free from WordPress.com if you don’t yet have a website) plus Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest accounts (all free). Accounts need not be populated or used yet, but you will need them for the class.

Stop the madness! You need to know where your social networking is taking you and stop the constant time-suck of blogging, updating your unfriendly website, juggling Facebook Profiles, Groups and Fan Pages, Tweeting, Pinning, and staying on top of your Goodreads, Amazon and MySpace pages. You need a 50-hour day to get it all done and still write! Learn from a social media professional how to manage your social networks like a superstar and bump up your book sales in only 30 minutes per day. In this master class, you’ll learn to:

* Maximize your author website content without adding more work
* Completely automate your Facebook Fan Page
* Take advantage of Twitter time to score big
* Make Goodreads work for you
* Profit from Amazon Author Central’s benefits
* Become a Pinterest pro and hook your readers
* Manipulate every opportunity for automation without looking like a bot

Lisa Pietsch lives, eats and breathes social media. She is a successful Social Media marketing consultant as well as a bestselling, multi-published novelist. Her clients include authors, editors, publishers, graphic designers, models, restaurants, retail stores (online and off) and even tequila distributors. Lisa has served as managing editor for five content-rich online communities and several online and print newsletters. She currently lives in the Hill Country north of San Antonio, Texas and online at www.LisaPietsch.com.

November Writer U On-Line Classes

Scene and Sequel
by Patricia Kay
November 5-30, 2012
$30 at www.WriterUniv.com

Are you finding it hard to understand and apply the principles of story construction using Scene and Sequel? If you are, you're not alone. Many writers, even multi-published veterans, find the concept a difficult one. But now help is at hand. By utilizing a combination of fourteen lessons, homework, class discussion, and feedback on your written work, this class on building blocks to great fiction will take the mystery out of Scene and Sequel. You'll learn:

* What a scene is and isn't
* Planning and revising scenes for maximum effect
* How and when to use sequels
* Controlling pace with scene and sequel
* Choosing the best point of view
* Writing for the strongest emotional impact
* Flashbacks: when and how to use them
* How to write a unique love scene

Patricia Kay is the USA Today bestselling author of more than 50 novels of romance and women's fiction. An acclaimed teacher, she formerly taught writing classes at the University of Houston and has given workshops all over the country. She now limits her teaching to online classes. You can learn more about her on her website at www.patriciakay.com.

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Master Class: Cops, One on One -- How Your Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) Relates to His or Her World
by M.A. Taylor
November 12-23, 2012
$55 at www.WriterUniv.com

Prerequisite: Must have a story (at any stage of completion) featuring a law enforcement officer.

There's a reason the divorce rate among law enforcement officers is so high. Most of it is due to the manner in which the officer relates to, or expresses himself to, the people in his life.  Why is the spouse the last person to know about a particularly nasty day? What makes some LEOs so unreasonable with their children? How can any LEO be friendly with a convicted pedophile? During this in-depth look at how LEOs relate to the people around them, M.A. Taylor's lectures and scene discussions will explore:

* Personal relationships with family, friends and off-duty acquaintances
* Relationships with criminals, from informants to targets
* Working relationships with partners and supervisors
* The balance between law enforcement and non-sworn officers
* Professional relationships with other agencies and departments
* Relationships with the public and people LEOs meet through work

M.A. Taylor spent more than twenty years in law enforcement. After seven years with the California Highway Patrol (CHP), she became a Special Agent for the California Department of Justice (DOJ), spending over a decade in Narcotics...including assignment to a Federal DEA-HIDTA Task Force. Margaret's areas of expertise range from surveillance to wiretaps to tribal gaming, sexual predators, investigations and more.

Writer U On-Line Courses for October

The Hero's Journey, For Heroines
by Laurie Schnebly Campbell
October 1-26, 2012
$30 at http://www.writeruniv.com/

What happens when a character's journey is more about relationships, with others and with herself, than about daredevil action? Joseph Campbell and Christopher Vogler have identified 12 popular steps for a hero who explores the outside world and returns with the elixir. But what about a character whose journey leads to flowering change instead of physical adventure? Her challenges, as described in Kim Hudson's 13 steps, will sometimes contradict, sometimes parallel and sometimes compliment the traditional hero's journey...and for writers whose heroine faces her own less-traveled road to discovery, this class offers a fascinating map.

* Establishing the world of dependence
* Moving from dormancy to risk
* Sampling an unrealized dream in secret
* Balancing the old world with the new
* Embracing change, which results in chaos
* Facing self-doubt and the ultimate choice
* Bringing new light to a different world

Laurie Schnebly Campbell always wondered what was wrong with her, not really GETTING the Hero's Journey, until she discovered its feminine counterpart. Then she got excited -- not only by the premise, but also by the chance to create a brand new class for WriterU. She can't wait to see who else shares her enthusiasm for characters making discoveries within themselves, as well as within the world...no matter what their gender.

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Commit the Perfect Crime
by Stephen D. Rogers
October 1-26, 2012
$30 at http://www.writeruniv.com/

Killing people ain't hard. It's the getting away with it that's murder. Whether your protagonist is the criminal who commits the crime or the sleuth/detective who seeks justice, you need to mastermind a plan that will convince readers to come along for the ride. You need to create a sense that nothing can go wrong, and then -- logically -- make it all come apart. Crime may not pay, but writing about it does. In this class you'll learn how to:

* Motivate the various characters to make their actions seem inevitable
* Cripple the first leg of the investigative tripod: motive
* Cripple the second leg of the investigative tripod: means
* Cripple the third leg of the investigative tripod: opportunity
* Plant the clue or trait that causes things to unravel
* Draw out the suspense until the axe falls

Derringer winner Stephen D. Rogers is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Private Eye Writers of America, and the Short Mystery Fiction Society. He judged the Daphne du Maurier (published category) for the Romance Writers of America, Mystery/Suspense Chapter, for four years and has written columns and articles for Dabbling Mum, Writer's Digest, and Writing World. Over five hundred of his stories and poems have appeared in more than two hundred publications.

August On-Line Classes at Writer U

MASTER CLASS: Building Bolder Scenes
by Alicia Rasley
August 6-17, 2012
$55 at www.WriterUniv.com

Prerequisite:
Must have finished a manuscript previously and have a book started to work with in the class. (It can be the completed novel if you're willing to revise.)

Scenes are what the reader remembers long after your plot and character names are forgotten. "Remember the chocolate chip cookie scene? What about the scene in the mall where she saw the earrings and realized her husband was cheating?" Powerful scenes will make your stories vivid and your characters come alive. In Alicia Rasley's premier master class on building bolder scenes, students will work on designing scenes for greater drama and emotion. Some aspects of the work will include:

* Designing the scene conflict for drama
* Forcing characters to be active by setting/attempting scene goals
* Using cause/effect to keep "scene beats" plausible and clear
* Keeping the characters -- and the readers -- off balance with complications
* Powering up scene endings to make readers start another chapter
* Building suspense and humor with the Magic Rule of Three
* Creating an emotional arc for intense emotional moments

Alicia Rasley is the author of The Power of Point of View and The Story Within Plotbook. This RITA-award-winning author and nationally known writing workshop leader is also a small press editor and a writing instructor at Ivy Tech State College and the University of Maryland. She blogs on editing at www.edittorrent.blogspot.com and has writing-craft articles archived at www.rasley.com. Her novel, The Year She Fell, was released in winter 2010 by Bell Bridge Books.

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MASTER CLASS: Dialogue That Dazzles
by Lori Wilde
August 20-31, 2012
$55 at www.WriterUniv.com

Prerequisite: Must have completed at least one manuscript.

Dialogue that dazzles is about creating the most exciting, compelling conversations you've ever written. Stellar dialogue can make your story leap to life the way nothing else can. If you've gotten comments from editors and agents that your dialogue is trite or stilted or dull, this workshop will teach you how to write fresh, natural, dazzling dialogue. Focusing mostly on dialogue from television and movies, because screenwriters are adept at creating dialogue that "shows" instead of "tells," you'll learn new techniques to make your dialogue stand out and dramatically increase your chances of selling your book! Topics include:

* What exactly is great dialogue?
* Using dialogue to breathe life into your characters
* How to create expressive language
* People rarely say what they mean--subtext
* Structuring dialogue to match real conversations
* Dusting your book with dazzling dialogue
* Examples of dialogue that dazzles

New York Times and USA Today best selling author Lori Wilde has sold 69 novels and novellas to four major New York publishing houses. She holds a bachelors degree in nursing and a certificate in forensics. A past RITA finalist whose novels have been translated into 22 languages, she has won numerous honors including including four Romantic Times Reviewers Choice and the BestBooks of 2006 Book Award.

Another June Writer U Class

MASTER CLASS: "Body Language and Emotion"

by Mary Buckham

June 18-29, 2012

$55 at www.WriterUniv.com


Prerequisite: Must have a manuscript that you are actively working on.

If you think you have a good handle on the intentional body language your characters use on the page but want to create more depth, greater subtext, clearer messages for your readers, then consider EMOTIONAL BODY LANGUAGE. Along with fascinating material like non-verbal greetings and some of the subtle (but oh so fun) differences between the body language of men and that of women, you’ll also learn:


* The differences between aggressive and defensive body language

* Dominant and Submissive body signals

* Negative and positive body messages

* Open, closed or relaxed positions

* Power body language and leadership body messages

* Reading deception through body language



Mary Buckham is co-author of BREAK INTO FICTION: 11 Steps to Building a Story That Sells and an award-winning romantic suspense author. She has a non-fiction book and hundreds of freelance articles to her credit, and is a former magazine editor. Currently she presents writing workshops online and nationwide. Mary encourages you to visit her website at www.MaryBuckham.com for more information about her and her current writing projects including her newest release coming in June!

Another June Writer U Class

MASTER CLASS: "Editor-Proof That First Chapter"

by Don McNair

June 11-22, 2012

$55 at www.WriterUniv.com



Prerequisite: Must have written the first chapter of a finished manuscript on a Work In Progress.



Why did that editor reject your novel? The sad truth? Editors reject most manuscripts after only simply glancing at their first chapters. It's as if their problems were lit with neon. This course will help you spot your own manuscript's problems and-better-yet, help you fix them. Use that rejected "first chapter" as your practice field for identifying and resolving your craft mistakes, then apply your new knowledge to the total manuscript. It will become much more compelling, and hopefully-published! You'll learn how to:


*  Use strong "hooks" that draw attention

* Turn "info dumps" into sparkling, vital prose

* Strengthen verbs and correct passive voice

* Strip away author intrusions and eliminate foggy phrases

* Identify any crippling character filters

* Solve numerous other writing bugaboos



Don McNair spent his working life editing magazines, producing materials for an international PR firm, and heading his own marketing communications firm. Having won the Public Relations Society of America’s Emmy and Oscar equivalents as well as publishing hundreds of magazine articles, five novels and three non-fiction "how-to" books, he now concentrates on editing novels (see McNairEdits.com) and teaching online. See a recent student’s description of her experience in another of Don’s classes, at louisebehiel.com/tag/don-mcnair/.

June Writer U Classes

MASTER CLASS: "The Alpha Female, from Angelina to Zenobia"


by Laurie Schnebly Campbell

June 4-15, 2012

$55 at www.WriterUniv.com

Prerequisite: Must be writing or planning a heroine with some unique internal and/or external strength

While alpha males are easy to define -- they're the big strong leaders -- alpha females are trickier. What makes a woman strong? In the animal world her power comes from mating with the alpha male, but heroines throughout history have drawn power from more than just a top-dog mate. Still, even a real-life woman who rules her world, whether that's a large family or a small empire, can't have all the answers...if she did, she'd be starring in a biography rather than a novel. Discover what readers love about alpha females, with lessons and (always optional) homework on:

* Her hidden weaknesses...and hidden strengths

* Relationships with equals and with her underlings

* Where her power comes from: body, mind, soul

* When and how she should fight to win

* Which challenges we can't let her overcome

* What she'll need for a plausible happy ending

Every time Laurie Schnebly Campbell taught her class on "Alpha Males, from Abe to Zeus," the question came up: What about alpha females? She always regretted not knowing enough about that topic to teach it, but a lot of reading and watching alpha heroines in action has provided new insight into what makes those characters work. So here's the answer!

Writer U May On-line Classes

"Make 'em Laugh, Make 'em Cry, Make 'em Wait"
by Patricia Kay
May 1-25, 2012
$30 at www.WriterUniv.com

Great books are about more than good plotting, likable characters, lots of conflict, and skillful writing. For a book to really grab a reader, the author must make an emotional connection with that reader. Otherwise, even though the reader may enjoy the book, it won't be one he'll remember. It won't be one he'll talk about. And it won't be one he'll recommend to to others. In this class, you'll learn various dramatic techniques that will help you stir your reader's feelings and make him feel he has an emotional stake in the story's outcome.

* Making your reader care: the dramatic journey
* Crafting powerful scenes that accomplish what you envision
* How sequels help you involve your reader
* Psychic distance: one of your most powerful tools
* Suspense and tension on every page
* Various emotional responses and ways to elicit them
* Building your own emotional palette

Patricia Kay is the USA Today bestselling author of more than 50 novels of romance and women's fiction. An acclaimed teacher, she formerly taught writing classes at the University of Houston and has given workshops all over the country. She now limits her teaching to online classes. You can learn more about her on her website at www.patriciakay.com.

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"Fearless Writing"
by Laura Baker
May 1-31, 2012
$30 at www.WriterUniv.com

It all began with Fearless Writing. Writers start with freedom from doubts and just a passion for story. Then all too soon you struggle to overcome weaknesses in your storytelling. But what if the very thing you're muscling into submission is what would empower you? This is the premise of Fearless Writing -- that what you call flaws are what make your stories unique. Packed with exercises and feedback from award-winning author Laura Baker, this class taps your own dramatic powers, then puts those powers to work, transforming your story concept into a Story Vision empowered with your own strengths.

* Find the story you need to write
* Define your emotional and thematic motivators
* Through writing craft, focus the three underpinnings of great storytelling
* Create your own defining Storytelling Paragraph
* Turn ideas into a story using the Story Box process
* Learn the power of premise
* Bonus special exercise for those with a completed manuscript

With Laura's coaching, many unpublished writers are now published, and the techniques she teaches are used by NY Times bestselling authors. One author said, "Light bulb moments are so common when I'm learning at your side that I spend most of my time in this wild state of enlightenment and excitement. Just incredible." For more information about Laura's coaching classes and critiquing visit her website: www.fearlesswriter.com.

Writer U May On-line Classes

"Make 'em Laugh, Make 'em Cry, Make 'em Wait"
by Patricia Kay
May 1-25, 2012
$30 at www.WriterUniv.com

Great books are about more than good plotting, likable characters, lots of conflict, and skillful writing. For a book to really grab a reader, the author must make an emotional connection with that reader. Otherwise, even though the reader may enjoy the book, it won't be one he'll remember. It won't be one he'll talk about. And it won't be one he'll recommend to to others. In this class, you'll learn various dramatic techniques that will help you stir your reader's feelings and make him feel he has an emotional stake in the story's outcome.

* Making your reader care: the dramatic journey
* Crafting powerful scenes that accomplish what you envision
* How sequels help you involve your reader
* Psychic distance: one of your most powerful tools
* Suspense and tension on every page
* Various emotional responses and ways to elicit them
* Building your own emotional palette

Patricia Kay is the USA Today bestselling author of more than 50 novels of romance and women's fiction. An acclaimed teacher, she formerly taught writing classes at the University of Houston and has given workshops all over the country. She now limits her teaching to online classes. You can learn more about her on her website at www.patriciakay.com.

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"Fearless Writing"
by Laura Baker
May 1-31, 2012
$30 at www.WriterUniv.com

It all began with Fearless Writing. Writers start with freedom from doubts and just a passion for story. Then all too soon you struggle to overcome weaknesses in your storytelling. But what if the very thing you're muscling into submission is what would empower you? This is the premise of Fearless Writing -- that what you call flaws are what make your stories unique. Packed with exercises and feedback from award-winning author Laura Baker, this class taps your own dramatic powers, then puts those powers to work, transforming your story concept into a Story Vision empowered with your own strengths.

* Find the story you need to write
* Define your emotional and thematic motivators
* Through writing craft, focus the three underpinnings of great storytelling
* Create your own defining Storytelling Paragraph
* Turn ideas into a story using the Story Box process
* Learn the power of premise
* Bonus special exercise for those with a completed manuscript

With Laura's coaching, many unpublished writers are now published, and the techniques she teaches are used by NY Times bestselling authors. One author said, "Light bulb moments are so common when I'm learning at your side that I spend most of my time in this wild state of enlightenment and excitement. Just incredible." For more information about Laura's coaching classes and critiquing visit her website: www.fearlesswriter.com.

Plotting Via Motivation Writer-U On-line class

Plotting Via Motivation
by Laurie Schnebly Campbell
March 5-30, 2012
$30 at www.WriterUniv.com

Motivation is what drives your story. Any of us could write a book in which the characters set out for a three hour tour and get shipwrecked on an uncharted desert isle. We've seen what seven such characters would do...over and over and over again. But what would YOURS do?

If you nail down any character's motivation, it doesn't matter whether the ship capsizes or lands safely three hours later. Your characters will create a plot from WHATEVER happens, because you've got their motivation built in from the very beginning. Find out how, with a workshop that covers:

* Your biggest question in motivation
* The surprising core that makes it possible
* How deep do you go?
* The Motivation Checklist, with 14 blanks
* Difference between Goal and Motivation
* Using motivation to build your plot

Laurie Schnebly Campbell (www.booklaurie.com) grew up with a marriage-counselor mother, preparing her to write happy endings for her own books -- including one that beat out Nora Roberts for "Best Special Edition of the Year." The only thing she loves more than writing is working with other writers, which is why she now has a dozen novels on her bookshelf with acknowledgments from authors who loved her class!

February Writer U Classes

February 1-29, 2012
"Pacing: How To Create a Page Turning Manuscript"
by Mary Buckham
$30 at www.writeruniv.com

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: common pacing pitfalls to avoid
* The ten elements of strong pacing
* How to use subplots and secondary characters
* How to avoid a sagging middle
* Learning what a beat is and how to use it
* Great beginnings and endings that have your readers wanting more!

Mary Buckham is co-author of BREAK INTO FICTION: 11 Steps to Building a Story That Sells and an award-winning romantic suspense author. She has a non-fiction book and hundreds of free-lance articles to her credit, and is a former magazine editor. Currently she presents writing workshops online and around the country. Mary encourages you to visit her website at www.MaryBuckham.com for more information about her and her current writing projects.

September Writer-U On-Line Courses

September 1-30, 2011
"Sex On The Page: Understanding & Crafting Sexual Tension"
by Mary Buckham
$30 at www.writeruniv.com

How do you write great sexual tension? That's the question Mary Buckham posed to Linda Howard, Stella Cameron, Susan Anderson, Nancy Warren and more romance writers who write great sexual tension, from sweet to spicy hot. This workshop combines lessons from writers with the 12 stages of Intimacy from Desmond Morris' works and more recent findings on the amazing role biology plays in mate attraction and selection...findings that can be applied directly to creating powerful sexual tension. So if you want to learn how to increase the sexual tension in your work, don't miss this opportunity. Topics include:

* Sex versus Intimacy: the difference
* Using conflict to increase sexual tension
* The importance of certain details
* How to portray body language
* Maximizing biological differences between the sexes
* Analyzing those who write sexual tension well
* Exercises for your work in progress

Mary Buckham is co-author of BREAK INTO FICTION: 11 Steps to Building a Story That Sells and an award-winning Romantic Suspense author. She has hundreds of free-lance articles to her credit, a non-fiction book and is a former Magazine Editor. Currently she presents writing workshops online and around the country. Mary encourages you to visit her website at www.MaryBuckham.com for more information about her and her current writing projects.

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September 12-23, 2011
MASTER CLASS: "Behind the Badge: Cracking Your Cop's Emotional Shield"
by Margaret Taylor
$55 at www.writeruniv.com

Prerequisite: must have a cop character in mind for a current or future book.

"Behind the Badge: Cracking Your Cop's Emotional Shield" takes a hands-on approach geared toward helping you discover who your law enforcement character really is. Drawing on nearly twenty-four years of observations and experiences in the world of law enforcement, Margaret Taylor created this class for writers to dig deep and discover the foundation of any cop character's actions and motivations. Taking your law enforcement officer (LEO) from a simple caricature to a potentially flawed, but truly fascinating, character includes:

* Getting beneath the skin of your LEO
* Going from cliché to real
* What makes your LEO tick
* How training helped mold your cop character
* The all-important characterization and motivation
* How assignment-location affects your LEO's personality

M.A. Taylor spent more that twenty years in law enforcement. After seven years with the California Highway Patrol (CHP), she became a Special Agent for the California Department of Justice (DOJ), spending over a decade in Narcotics...including assignment to a Federal DEA-HIDTA Task Force. Margaret's areas of expertise range from surveillance to wiretaps to tribal gaming, sexual predators, investigations and more.

Writer U August On-Line Course

August 1-26, 2011
Writing Your Synopsis "Mad Men" Style
by Laurie Schnebly Campbell
$30 at www.writeruniv.com

What do successful students say about this advertising-style workshop? American Title winner Marie-Claude Bourque: "That synopsis I sent...got me into the 8 finalists!" NYT bestseller Allison Brennan: "Laurie's classes are fabulous. I'm still not an expert at the synopsis, but I'm head and shoulders better than I was." Brand new Harlequin author Patty Hall: "It taught me a great deal more than I thought I could learn." Four-sales-in-a-row Sally Clements: "This approach has given me all the tools I need to go back and whip my older, non-selling synopses for previous works into shape." Tools include...

* Why synopses are like ads (and what makes them work)

* Choosing your target market/s (and how to reach them)

* Getting to know your product from the buyer's perspective

* Communicating your unique selling points (like all great ads do)

* Brainstorming, strategizing, nuts & bolts, and the big DON'Ts
* Homework assignments (always optional) to exercise your new skills

Laurie Schnebly Campbell credits her day job in advertising with making it easy to write every synopsis she's ever done, but it wasn't until friends commented on her ability that she realized not everyone HAS a Madison Avenue background. So she put together the copywriting techniques that make people want to buy whatever new product they read about, and shows how to use 'em during this hands-on workshop (followed by a master class in October).

Writer U July On-Line Courses

July 1-31, 2011


Laws of Motion: Plotting the Compelling Story


by Laura Baker


$30


at http://www.writeruniv.com/





Do you know what your story is REALLY about? How would your writing be different if you knew the answer? Receive personal attention and brainstorm on your own story as you plot your book with critically-acclaimed and award-winning author Laura Baker. With over two decades of experience as a writer, teacher, critiquer and judge, Laura will teach you a revolutionary way of managing the dynamics of plot, character and conflict. This session is packed with information and feedback, but all the lessons and plotting are at your own pace.





In this class you will:





* Learn how to construct Story and Character Arcs* Use the Story Question to create clear and compelling conflict


* Define the decision that changes your protagonist's life


* Plumb the heart of your story using struggle and insight


* Discover and use three setup scenes for every Turning Point


* Use mini-epiphanies to launch the protagonist into escalating action


* Create a visceral connection of plot to subplot


* See your story vision come to life





With Laura's coaching, many unpublished writers are now published, and the techniques she teaches are used by NY Times bestselling authors. One writer said, "I now know what's been missing from this story. I finally 'feel' the layers and the textures and the plot is no longer contrived. I'm so excited! I'm digging in, writing my little brain out!"





For more information about Laura's coaching, classes and critiquing, visit her website: http://www.fearlesswriter.com/





~ ~ ~July 11-22, 2011


MASTER CLASS: Urban Fantasy


by Eileen Wilks


$55


at http://www.writeruniv.com/





Prerequisite: Must be reading, writing or considering urban fantasy.


What is urban fantasy? Why has it stayed hot?





Eileen Wilks, NY Times bestselling author of three dozen novels and short stories -- including the twelve which comprise her World of the Lupi series -- addresses the 21st-century genre that's attracted millions of new readers and continues drawing more every month. Focused solely on writers with an interest in urban fantasy, this hands-on workshop looks at the craft of blending fantasy, and reality...with in-depth information on topics like building a world and creating plausible characters ("Mary Sue need not apply").





During this two-week session, you'll also learn about:


* What urban fantasy readers look for


* Genre-busting books that work


* Placing limits on characters -- supernatural and otherwise


* Creating a setting and magic that works


* Urban fantasy publishers to watch for


* Writing a series: how much planning does it take?





Ever since her first release in 1996, "World of the Lupi" series author Eileen Wilks has consistently appeared on national bestseller lists. With thirty-two books in print and novellas in nine anthologies, her award nominations include Career Achievement in Series Romantic Suspense. Eileen covered territory in Canada and Venezuela, as well as twelve U.S. cities in five states, before coming home to West Texas where she's lived for over 30 years.

June On-Line Classes at Writer U

June 1-24, 2011
Show Don't Tell: Say More With Less
by Kris Kennedy
$30 at WriterUniv.com

Every writer knows the importance of "Show, Don't Tell," but what's the best way to achieve that? One of Kris Kennedy's favorite techniques is replacing back story with implication, because writers don't need to spell everything out. "Trust the reader. She's smart. She'll pick things up." This class provides specific tools for saying more with less, such as focusing on here-and-now vs. there-and-then, specifics vs. generalizations, choosing the right details, and a variety of other techniques to create gripping books with a lively pace, deep characterization and compelling conflict. Concepts include:

* Creating tension on every page
* How conflict and pacing affect bestselling fiction
* Making readers ask questions, and making them worry
* How to imply back-story, viewpoint and more
* Using dialogue (or avoiding a conversation) to increase tension
* Intensifying the external world as a pacing tool
* The power of understatement, denial and emotion in the moment

After winning RWA's® Golden Heart Award for Best Historical Romance and landing a two-book contract with Kensington, Kris Kennedy realized that in order to balance her love of craft with publisher deadlines and family, she needed some highly efficient writing techniques. This course covers some of those strategies, which can help find the heart of a scene and a character using fewer words for more impact. Her latest release (DEFIANT, Pocket Books) received a starred Publishers Weekly review.

~ ~ ~

June 6-17, 2011
MASTER CLASS: Magazine Writing In Depth
by Julie Rowe
$30 at WriterUniv.com

Prerequisite: Must have studied magazine writing basics.

For everyone who's looked at the basics of magazine writing in one of Julie's previous classes, this limited-enrollment group provides a never-before-offered opportunity for in-depth critiques of your articles and queries. Along with thoughtful suggestions and comments on how to enhance your material before it goes off to the right editor, as well as editing and organizational tips to maximize your writing time and your earning potential, Julie will offer advice on a variety of magazine writing topics. This two-week session will include:

* Choosing which magazines and editors to query
* The title, hook and angle most likely to sell
* Writing a knock-out query letter
* Slanting a topic for different magazines
* Highlighting text with sidebars and photography
* Creating a portfolio and finding your niche

Julie Rowe has been freelancing for magazines for over six years. She's an enthusiastic instructor who enjoys lively discussion and encourages questions. Her articles have appeared in numerous magazines such as Today's Parent magazine, Reader's Digest (Canada), The Canadian Writer's Journal, Writer's Digest, Canadian Living, What's Up Kids Magazine, the Romance Writer's Report, True Romance, and various RWA chapter newsletters.

~ ~ ~

June 12-25, 2011
MASTER CLASS: Active Settings
by Mary Buckham
$55 at WriterUniv.com

Prerequisite: Must have a manuscript that you are actively working on.

Readers usually remember the plot and characters of a story, but setting is every bit as important in creating a memorable world. In this two-week class, Mary Buckham shows -- for the first time online -- how to give your setting an active role in your story. Use Deep POV to spin boring descriptions into engaging prose. Find out if you're writing passive or active setting and if you are maximizing the setting possibilities in YOUR story. You'll learn:

* How does setting impact your story?
* What is the difference between active and passive setting?
* How can setting show conflict or emotion?
* How can setting show characterization?
* How can setting impact your conflict...both internal and external?
* What do readers need and not need from a setting?

Mary Buckham is co-author of BREAK INTO FICTION: 11 Steps to Building a Story That Sells and an award-winning Romantic Suspense author. She has hundreds of free-lance articles to her credit, a non-fiction book and is a former magazine editor. Currently she presents writing workshops online and around the country. Mary encourages you to visit her website at www.MaryBuckham.com for more information about her and her current writing projects.

From Plot to Finish On-Line Class

April 18-29, 2011
MASTER CLASS: "From Plot to Finish"
by Laurie Schnebly Campbell
$55 at WriterUniv.com

Prerequisite: Must have completed Laurie's "Plotting Via Motivation" workshop.

A continuation of the Plotting-Via-Motivation process, this limited-enrollment group gets every member plotting a brand new book (with the PVM worksheets already on hand) from start to finish. No need to prepare a story idea, character bios or anything else, because you'll learn how to plot an entire book -- and actually have it ready to type -- by the end of this hands-on workshop. The two-week session will include:

* Defining the motivation of each main character
* Recapping your original 14-point worksheet
* Completing the new Plot Chart from beginning to end
* Distributing the highlight scenes through each segment
* Choosing an outline or a free-flowing format
* Setting up your book's unique structure for completion

Laurie always finishes a Plotting Via Motivation class wishing for the chance to see what happens to the wonderful stories begun there -- and wondering how long it'll take to see the finished books for sale. So she's excited about speeding the process along, and getting to watch while the plots and characters take on their full shape.

April Writer-U On-Line Classes

April 4-29, 20011
"Love Your Voice"
by Julie Rowe
$30 at WriterUniv.com

Every writer wants a fabulous voice. This workshop helps identify what makes your voice special, and shows how to capitalize on your natural strengths, with a look at the seven key elements of every author's unique voice. Participants will see specific examples of how each one works, followed by writing exercises that provide them with the tools to refine, polish, and -- depending on the kind of writing they want to pursue -- possibly even change their Voice.

The elements include:

* Emotion: How much? What kind? How do you show it?
* Core Story/Theme: The core idea that inspired your novel
* Setting & Description: Environment is a critical element of Voice
* Pacing: An art of its own
* Conflict: What characters want and why they can't have it
* Characterization: Who you write about and how you develop them
* Mechanics: The rules of writing and when to break them

Julie Rowe discovered the power of "voice" when she double-finaled in the 2006 Golden Heart. Her investigation into what makes some books stronger than others led to RWR's "Love Your Voice" article and conference workshop. She teaches communication workshops at Keyano College in Alberta, and her work has appeared in numerous magazines such as Today's Parent, Reader's Digest (Canada) and Canadian Living. Her first book, Icebound, will be released by Carina Press in fall 2011.

* * *

April 4-29, 2011
"NLP For Character Building"
by Mary O'Gara
$30 at WriterUniv.com

Readers clamor for books by authors whose characters are believable, as well as for characters that feel right to the reader. Neuro linguistic programming (NLP) studies show you how to make your characters' words and body language resonate, and how to make conflicts so deep that the reader understands why the character is torn apart by them. As you learn about characters, you'll also be learning simple tricks to make your life easier and more creative, including:

* Why no two witnesses describe an event the same way
* Connections between language, eye movement, body posture and emotions
* How memory works and what real change requires
* Sensory choices that make a hero strong: Schwarzenegger's process
* Motivation-what motivates both you and your character
* Metaphors and humor that work
* Four stages of learning and seven levels of change
* Proven ways to increase creativity and make writing easier

Mary O'Gara, Phd, is an award-winning writer who is also a Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner. She is a professional astrologer and psychic who studied NLP herself in order to learn more about creativity and intuition. Mary is a creativity coach and has been teaching writing workshops online for more than fifteen years.

March Writer U On-Line Class

March 1-25, 2011
Pacing: How To Create a Page Turning Manuscript
by Mary Buckham
$30 at www.writeruniv.com

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: common pacing pitfalls to avoid
* The ten elements of strong pacing
* How to use subplots and secondary characters
* How to avoid a sagging middle
* What a beat is and how to use it
* Great beginnings and endings that have your readers wanting more!

Mary Buckham is co-author of BREAK INTO FICTION: 11 Steps to Building a Story That Sells and an award-winning Romantic Suspense author. She has hundreds of free-lance articles to her credit, a non-fiction book and is a former Magazine Editor. Currently she presents writing workshops online and around the country. Mary encourages you to visit her website at www.MaryBuckham.com for more information about her and her current writing projects.