Marketing Your Writing - Starts Wednesday!

The next WIES Workshop starts Wednesday - Marketing Your Freelance Writing.

Writing is an art. Publishing is a business. Do you think like a business manager as you market your writing to publishers? The marketing mix model, used by businesses everywhere, will give you a new way to look at your marketing efforts. The marketing mix has four components: Product, Promotion, Place, and Price. The Christian business marketing mix contains a Fifth P, Prayer. Learn to manage the P's to create your own personal marketing plan for your writing career.

Topics covered will include:

· Overview of the marketing mix concept
· Defining your product
· Promotion methods and message
· Networking, being in the right place and the right time

· Pricing your work
· The role of prayer in planning


Instructor: Emily Akin
Course Dates: September 15, 2010 - October 8, 2010 (4 weeks)
Cost: $100

Register today!



 

Want to Learn How to Blog?

Blogging is more than a web journal, it encompasses everything from marketing to ministry and so much more. If you're thinking about blogging but don't know where to start, are intimidated or frustrated by the details of setting up a blog, Clearing the Blog Fog will get you going.

In this six-week online course, you'll learn the benefits and the basics of blogging, and how to set up a blog from start to the final tweaks. When you're done, you'll have a blog that's ready to roll.

This course will cover:

• Benefits of blogging

• Setting up your blog

• Posting

• Basics of blogging

• Pictures Plus!

• Ready-made layouts

• Personalize your blog – Decorate!

• Sensible and super sidebars

• Personalize that header

• Pages and Nav Bar basics

• Create siggys, separators, buttons, and banners

• Feedburner and Facebook

Instructor: Patty Wysong

Course Dates: August 23, 2010 - October 1, 2010 (6 weeks)

Cost $125

Register here today to reserve your space.

Register Now for Introduction to Writing Christian Novels

One of our most popular courses returns next month at WIES Workshops - Introduction to Writing Christian Novels. And because I'm still having problems with my other Web site, you'll need to register from this page. Please help us spread the word about this powerful course!

This six-week course addresses the fundamentals of novel writing for the Christian market, and then builds on basic skills to take writers a step beyond -- everything you need to help you craft a compelling story from concept to completion! Topics covered will include: Great Beginnings, Characterization, Mastering Point of View, Writing Techniques, the DOs and DON’Ts of Dialogue, and Spit and Polish Revisions.


Instructor: Virginia Smith

Virginia Smith left her job as a corporate director to become a full time writer and speaker with the release of her first novel Just As I Am. Since then she has contracted fourteen novels and published numerous articles and short stories.

She writes contemporary humorous novels for the Christian market, including Murder by Mushroom, Stuck in the Middle, and her newest releases, Age before Beauty and Scent of Murder.

In March of 2008 she was named "Writer of the Year" at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. Ginny has taught writing skills at conferences such as American Christian Fiction Writers, Florida Christian Writers Conference, and Kentucky Christian Writers Conference. She also serves as a judge in ACFW’s Genesis contest, and provides detailed feedback to aspiring writers through a variety of critique venues. An energetic speaker, Virginia loves to exemplify God's truth by comparing real-life situations to well-known works of fiction, such as her popular talk, "Biblical Truths in Star Trek."
Visit Virginia Smith's Web site.

Course Dates: July 12 - August 20, 2010


Cost: $125
Registration Now Open. Deadline to register is Tuesday, July 7th.

To Register: Click on the button below and submit your registration fees. Your payment is your registration. A few days prior to the beginning of your course, you will be added to the course e-mail group. If you wish to use a different address than the one submitted with Paypal, please add a note to your payment, or send Tracy an e-mail when you send payment.

  

Writing the Historical Romance

 Morning, Pixels! Just a quick post this morning.

My Write Integrity web site was "attacked" by some kind of malware (we're not sure how it happened - that's still being investigated.) The hosting company has removed it, and everything is back to normal - except for Google's block of the site. We've requested a review, and are waiting for them to review it to remove the block.

In the meantime, we have another WIES Workshop coming up, and people may not be able to get to the site to register for it. So, I'm posting a link here on the blog in hopes that anyone interested in taking the course can register here if they can't get through on the web site.

Here's the course info:

Writing the Historical Romance

Students will get an overview of the most common time periods and settings selling in the CBA. A variety of research techniques, scene setting, use of historical details and figures within stories will also be discussed. Students will do a market analysis and prepare a proposal for submission, along with developing a resource file.

Instructor: Kathleen Fuller

Course Dates: June 7, 2010 - July 16, 2010

Cost: $125

To Register: Click on the button below and submit your registration fees. Your payment is your registration. A few days prior to the beginning of your course, you will be added to the course e-mail group. If you wish to use a different address than the one submitted with Paypal, please add a note to your payment, or send Tracy an e-mail when you send payment.

Basics for Beginning Fiction Writers

I'm excited to announce our next WIES Workshop - I've taken some of Jeanne's classes myself, and she is an excellent instructor. This class is perfect for anyone wanting to learn how to write fiction, so be sure to tell your friends about it.


To write fiction, one must know more than the average punctuation, usage, grammar and style. In the Basics for Beginning Fiction Writers class you will learn the different components of a work of fiction that must be present, whether writing short stories or full-length novels.


Instructor Jeanne Marie Leach uses a concise and methodical system to help beginning writers of fiction to know which step to take next, regardless of where they are in their writing endeavors.

This course will cover the following:

• Opening hooks and chapter ending hooks
• For full-length novels – what needs to be shown in the first chapter
• Point of View (POV)
• Proper dialogue, including tags and beats
• Novel formatting
• Plot development and research
• Character development and emotions
• Showing vs. telling
• Active vs. passive
• Proper use of flashbacks or back story
• Consistency in character traits and scene props
• Preachiness in Christian novels
• Overused words that mark the writer as a beginner to publishers and agents
• Over explanation that insults the reader
• Uncertainty of character actions

This class gives beginning writers a springboard from which they can gain direction and understanding of the basic mechanics of writing. Information gleaned from many sources is arranged in a step-by-step timeline and an order most beneficial to beginning writers.

Course Dates: April 26, 2010 - May 21, 2010

Cost: $100

Register today to reserve your spot. (Deadline to register is Monday, April 19th.)

Need Help with Dialogue?

We have an awesome line-up of WIES Workshops for April - and today (Monday) is the registration deadline for one of them!

Dynamics of Dialogue is a four-week course taught by the incredible Eva Marie Everson.

What are today's readers (and editors!) looking for when they thumb through your book? White space. Simply put, white space is dialogue. Formatted properly, it shows the reader with one glance that this will be a quick, easy, entertaining read. And this is exactly what they are looking for. But dialogue is an area of writing both fiction and nonfiction that screams, "Amateur!" faster than anything else. Editors today are amazed at how little potential writers know about writing dialogue properly and in such a way as to pull a reader into a scene rather than making him want to scream as he runs away!

In this four-week course, allow Eva Marie Everson to show you the dynamics of writing dialogue. From tag lines to staggering tags, from adding action and voice inflection, you will learn it all in a fun, hands-on workshop. By the end of four weeks, writing dialogue will come to you as naturally as ... well ... speaking!

Instructor: Eva Marie Everson

Course Dates: April 5, 2010 - April 30, 2010

Cost: $100

Read what students have to say about this course.

Today is the deadline to register for Dynamics of Dialogue - register here!

Want to Write for Children?

Do you love children and have a desire to write for them? Learn to engage a children’s heart and mind with words and stories in Karen Whiting's online course, Learn to Write for Children.

This six-week course will cover:

*Making words count with onomatopoeia, repetition, and figures of speech
*Show don’t tell exercises
*Verbs that tell instead of show
*Pizzazz factors
*Great openings
*Trends in the children’s market
*ABCs of children’s markets
*Plot and story
*Layered activities and games
*Getting into a child’s mind exercise
*Children’s genres
*Picture books
*Devotions for kids
*Nonfiction
*Stories
*Activities
*Teacher resource books


Instructor: Karen Whiting
Course Dates: March 15 - April 23, 2010
Cost: $125

Deadline to register is this Monday, March 8th, so reserve your spot now!

www.WIESworkshops.com


If writing for children isn't your cup of tea, be sure to check out the full WIES Workshop schedule - we've got some great courses lined up the coming months!

Taking Settings to the Next Level

Author Lena Nelson Dooley will begin teaching "Taking Settings to the Next Level" on Monday, March 1. Deadline to register for this awesome course is TODAY.

Is your novel peopled with living, breathing characters in interesting situations that are played out on a bare stage? Learn the finesse of adding setting details that are not overwhelming, but enhance the story almost like another character. We'll deal with what kind of details to add and how and where to add them so they don't slow down the book, but give it more layers of texture.

Instructor: Lena Nelson Dooley

Course Dates: March 1, 2010 - March 26, 2010 (4 weeks)

Cost: $100

Deadline to register is TODAY, Friday. Register here.

Check out our latest schedule for all of the WIES Workshops.

Are Your Characters Flat, Dull, Lifeless, or Clueless? Here's Help!

The next WIES Workshop begins Monday, February 15th.

From Flat to Full: Characterization in Fiction

Are you challenged with how to breathe life into flat characters? In this six-week course we'll explore several characterization techniques, highlighting the use of dialogue, point of view, and description. With weekly assignments, the course is suitable for beginners as well as experienced writers.

Week 1: We'll do an overview of fiction writing 'rules' esp. showing vs. telling and writing in active voice.

Homework: Examine pre-written pieces, making them stronger by using active voice and showing more than telling.

Week 2: We'll create detailed character sketches.

Homework: Create detailed character sketches of major players (antagonist, protagonist, etc.)

Week 3: We'll explore how different points of view, the use of internal thought, and emotions can help flesh out characters.

Homework: Write a scene from two different points of view, using inner thoughts only and emotions.

Week 4: We'll add more depth with dialogue.

Homework: Write a scene between two opposing characters, using internal thought, dialogue, and minimal action. Additional exercise may be to have the student visit a public place to study real dialogue.

Week 5: We'll add to our dialogue skills by exploring how action, reaction, and interaction can make characters more 3-D.

Homework: Strengthen a previously written short piece by using the techniques from the week's lesson. May lengthen the piece to up to 12 pages.

Week 6: We'll add more depth and personality by using description and particularization

Homework: Use the previously written piece. Add more layers, may lengthen the piece by up to 10 additional pages.

Instructor: Linda Leigh Hargrove
Course Dates: February 15, 2010 - March 26, 2010 (6 weeks)
Cost: $125

To register for the course, visit WIES Workshops.

View the full WIES Workshops schedule.

Two Ways to Improve Your Writing

There's no better time to improve your writing than the first of the new year. Online writing courses are a great way to achieve that goal.

Registration is now open for our next two WIES Workshops. Both courses start this Monday, January 18th, so reserve your spot now.

The incredible Ramona Richards will be teaching how to write romantic suspense. If you've been wanting to try your hand at this genre, now's the time to delve in. She's a master, and will teach from her experiences as an editor and as a writer.

Jeanette Hanscome will be teaching the course on writing devotionals. Jeanette publishes regularly in a wide variety of markets - you could probably pick up any Christian magazine and spot her somewhere inside, so she knows the business, and she knows how to help you tap into this market. In her last class, one student had been too intimidated to submit her work, but Jeanette worked with her to craft a query, and before the class ended, the student had received a request for her manuscript!

For more information or to register, just visit:

Writing Romantic Suspense

Writing Devotionals


For a list of the entire WIES Workshop schedule, visit www.WIESworkshops. com.

You can read Student Testimonials.

Please feel free to pass this information to any of your friends or family who might be interested.

Register now for Kathy Ide's online course

Our own Kathy Ide will be teaching an online course starting Monday, November 16.

During this four-week "Building Your Publishing Credits" course, you'll explore writing opportunities such as articles, play scripts, short stories, devotionals, and Sunday school curriculum, to hone your skills and develop a writing resume. This course is suitable for beginning writers.

Register for the course here.

New Course Helps Writers Tackle Point of View

As an editor, one of the most common problems I see in manuscripts is point-of-view. Do you struggle with it, too?

Monday, November 9th, editor and author extraordinaire Ramona Richards will begin teaching "Head Games: Exploring Point of View" in an online class offered by WIES Workshops.

This four-week writing class on point of view takes a close look at first person, omniscient third person, and limited third person (aka “deep”) points of view and what genres are best suited for each. Brief exercises and discussions will help also help participants decide which POV best suits their writing voice.

Ramona Richards, an award-winning editor, author, and speaker, has worked on more than 350 publications, including novels, short stories, and non-fiction. She’s been nominated for both Best Editor of the Year and Best Fiction Editor by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and frequently speaks on a variety of topics to writers and women’s groups. Her recent Steeple Hill novels, A Murder Among Friends, The Face of Deceit, and The Taking of Carly Bradford, each received 4 ½ stars from Romantic Times magazine. Her next novel, Field of Danger, will be released in December.



Register for the course today!

Learn How to Write Devotions for Publication

Devotions are a great way to break into print, and they are a great way to serve the Lord, and to spread His Word. But they can be difficult to write, until you learn how.

Writing Devotionals is a four-week online course that starts October 27. Here's the course description:

Do you have a desire to share what God has taught you through the ups and downs of everyday life? Writing devotions can allow you to do that. Devotions are the perfect genre for writers who want to communicate their experiences in light of biblical truth in a way that encourages and inspired fellow Christians. Best of all, devotions are a great way to break into the market.

Devotional Writing will cover:

· The value of devotions
· The elements and format of a typical devotion
· How to communicate truth without preaching
· How to write with focus, passion, and vulnerability
· Choosing scriptures, opening illustrations, and closing prayers
· Finding homes for your work

About the instructor:

Jeanette Hanscome has written over 300 articles, devotions and stories for magazines aimed at both teens and adults. She is a regular contributor to Standard Publishing’s Encounter—the Magazine and Walk Thru the Bible’s Tapestry. Her work has also appeared in Brio, The Upper Room, Discipleship Journal and other publications. Jeanette thoroughly enjoys teaching and encouraging writers, whether it’s in her community, at writer’s conferences or online.

Register for the course here .

News, Invitation, Contest, Courses

We interrupt your normal Wednesday routine with some fun news and announcements!

No, I haven't lost my mind, but after reading this post, some people may wonder...

I just signed up for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). It will be my first time, although I've wanted to do it in previous years and just never had the courage. This year, I'm gonna do it!

I invite all of you to join me! It will be fun! It doesn't cost anything, unless you choose to donate something to the NaNoWriMo organization, and the comraderie of thousands working so diligently to write 50,000 words in 30 days is tremendous.

If you decide to participate, let us know in the comments. I may write a follow-up post with all the Pixels participating! Your prayers for all participants (and their families) are greatly appreciated.


Now for some other quickie news - we're having a contest over at my Examiner page this week in recognition of Great Books Week. Just answer the question posted each day (5 questions, 5 days), and you'll be entered to win a prize pack of five great books. (List of books tbd.)

Oh - and while you're reading - two more bits of news. WIES Workshops is offering a writing course especially for young authors ages 10-15. Reach for the Stars! starts Monday, October 12th, so if you know of any youngsters who might be interested, there's still time to register!

Then, the following Monday, a course for writing devotionals begins. This awesome course is taught by prolific writer Jeanette Hanscome. Registration for this course is also open now.

Is Writing Dialogue Difficult for You?

Do you struggle with dialogue in your manuscript? Is it boring, dull, lifeless, or senseless? Do you know how to use dialogue to progress your story?

Eva Marie Everson's online writing course Dynamics of Dialogue will help make your dialogue sing!

What are today's readers (and editors!) looking for when they thumb through you book? White space. Simply put, white space is dialogue. Formatted properly, it shows the reader with one glance that this will be a quick, easy, entertaining read. And this is exactly what they are looking for. But dialogue is an area of writing both fiction and nonfiction that screams, "Amateur!" faster than anything else. Editors today are amazed at how little potential writers know about writing dialogue properly and in such a way as to pull a reader into a scene rather than making him want to scream as he runs away!

In this four-week course, allow Eva Marie Everson to show you the dynamics of writing dialogue. From tag lines to staggering tags, from adding action and voice inflection, you will learn it all in a fun, hands-on workshop. By the end of four weeks, writing dialogue will come to you as naturally as ... well ... speaking!

Eva Marie Everson is the award-winning author of The Potluck Club series, The Potluck Catering Club series (both Revell), The Shadow Series (Barbour), and a new line of Southern Fiction beginning with Things Left Unspoken (2009). She will see two novels published in 2009, two in 2010, and is already contracted out for the next three years with Southern Fiction for Revell.

Dynamics of Dialogue starts Monday, August 17, so reserve your spot now. The cost of the course is $100. Class size is small - usually 5-10 students - so instruction is personalized and one-on-one to help you grow as a writer.




Schedule of other online courses offered by WIES Workshops.

Class starts TODAY!

Are you interested in writing historical romances? Kathleen Fuller's course Writing the Historical Romance may be just the "umph" you need to get that book written.

Students will get an overview of the most common time periods and settings selling in the CBA. A variety of research techniques, scene setting, use of historical details and figures within stories will also be discussed. Students will do a market analysis and prepare a proposal for submission, along with developing a resource file.

Kathleen Fuller is a novelist and freelance writer, and is the author of thirteen books set in a variety of time periods, including the 1850s American west, Victorian Ireland and Scotland, and Regency England. She has four books releasing in 2009—A Daring Escape (Regency England, Avalon Books), A Man of His Word (Amish fiction, Thomas Nelson) and two Amish anthologies with Beth Wiseman and Barbara Cameron (An Amish Christmas, An Amish Gathering, Thomas Nelson). She has appeared on the radio programs Janet Parshalls’ America and Water Through The Word. A former special education teacher, Kathleen lives in Geneva, OH with her husband, three children, and a variety of pets and farm animals.

Visit Kathleen's Web site.

The class starts TODAY, Monday, August 3rd, but there's still time to enroll. Register now!

Plotting Your Novel Course Starts Monday

Last chance to register for this extensive course that starts Monday, June 1st.

Plot Shots: Plotting Your Novel in 12 Easy Snapshots is an online course taught by multi-published author Janice Thompson. The online course lasts eight weeks, is taught by weekly e-mail lessons.

Every story needs a beginning, middle, and an end. Careful plotting will lead the reader on a satisfactory, realistic journey through each of those stages, creatively weaving in and out, up and down.

But how do we begin to plot our stories? Is there a magic formula?

There are many ways to “start plotting.” How you begin will depend on your personal preference/style. Some work off an outline. Others use Randy Ingermanson’s “Snowflake Method.” Others use the storyboard method.

In this exciting course by multi-published author Janice Thompson, you will learn to use a 12-step plotter, which focuses on plotting your novel in 12 easy "snapshots."

Instructor: Janice Thompson
Course Dates: June 1, 2009 - July 24, 2009
Cost: $150

A wide variety of courses (4-, 6-, and 8-week) are offered year-round through WIES Workshops. We've recently added a course for Writing Women's Fiction, taught by Deborah Raney, and a writing course specifically for young authors, taught by Susan Marlow.

Check the schedule regularly for course descriptions, instructor bios, and updates.

Need Help Plotting Your Novel?

Sign up for June's WIES Workshop!

PLOT SHOTS: Plotting Your Novel in 12 Easy Snapshots begins June 1st.

Every story needs a beginning, middle, and an end. Careful plotting will lead the reader on a satisfactory, realistic journey through each of those stages, creatively weaving in and out, up and down.

But how do we begin to plot our stories? Is there a magic formula?

There are many ways to “start plotting.” How you begin will depend on your personal preference/style. Some work off an outline. Others use Randy Ingermanson’s “Snowflake Method.” Others use the storyboard method.

In this exciting course by multi-published author Janice Thompson, you will learn to use a 12-step plotter, which focuses on plotting your novel in 12 easy "snapshots."

Janice Thompson (who also writes as Janice Hanna) is the author of over fifty novels and non-fiction books for the Christian market. She loves to work with other writers, sharing from both her journey and her experience. She is particularly enthused about the Plot Shots course because it gives non-plotters an opportunity to lay out their stories in a simple yet creative way.

Visit Janice's Web site.

Courses are taught online, through e-mail. Students learn at their own pace, from the comfort of their own home or office. Classes are small and provide a great opportunity for one-on-one learning, and networking with the instructor and other students.

Instructor: Janice Thompson

Course Dates: June 1, 2009 - July 24, 2009

Cost: $150

Send Tracy an e-mail to register.

You Could Win a $100 Amazon Gift Card!

Happy Friday, Pixels! It's time for another fun, huge contest!!

Here are the rules: Read the information below, and then help spread the word. For every blog post, every Twitter feed, every Facebook note, and mentions on Shoutlife, MySpace, LinkedIn, your Website, flyers to your writers group, wherever you can think of - the more creative the better - just NO SPAMMING - you'll need to come back here, and leave a link or a description of your efforts in the comments. Every comment on this post that includes a link to a post or a detailed description of how you helped spread the word about WIES WORKSHOPS will receive an entry into the drawing for a $100 Amazon Gift Card. And if you sign up for one or more of the courses, be sure to mention that in the comments, too, (or send Tracy an e-mail if you prefer) and you'll get another entry! I do reserve the right to disqualify any entry based on content or spamming practices.

Links can be posted here between now and Friday, June 19th. The WIES Workshop schedule is updated frequently, so check the schedule for new ideas to post. I'll announce the winner of the $100 Amazon Gift Card on Monday, June 22nd.

Now - here's the big announcement - something I'm very excited about and hope you'll help get the word out. This is the press release I'm sending out to various places - feel free to copy and paste it yourself:

Write Integrity Editorial Services is pleased to announce the formation of WIES Workshops, online writing courses for writers in the Christian market.

“Our goal is to help Christian writers gain and practice the skills they need to succeed in the Christian market,” says Write Integrity owner and Workshop Coordinator Tracy Ruckman. “Our instructors include some of the best and most respected authors in their field. Many of the instructors are bestsellers and award winners and all of them are multi-published.”

Registration is now underway for the first course, which begins June 1st.

Plot Shots: Plotting Your Novel in 12 Easy Snapshots, is an eight-week course taught by Janice Thompson (who also writes as Janice Hanna.) She is the author of over fifty novels and non-fiction books for the Christian market. She loves to work with other writers, sharing from both her journey and her experience. Plot Shots gives non-plotters an opportunity to lay out their stories in a simple yet creative way.

Other courses already on the schedule include:

Introduction to Writing Christian Novels by Virginia Smith

The Passion of Self-Publishing by Kathy Ide

Writing the Historical by Kathleen Fuller

Dialogue by Eva Marie Everson

Writing Magazine Articles by Jeanette Hanscome

Fiction Book Proposals by Virginia Smith

Building Your Publishing Credits by Kathy Ide

Writing for the Middle Grades by Susan Marlow

Writing Devotionals by Jeanette Hanscome

Writing for the YA Market by Jeanette Hanscome

Courses already assigned but still in the planning stages will be added to the calendar as soon as possible. These courses include:

Writing Devotions for Kids or Tweens
Writing for Children
Setting as Character
Career Building
Characterization
Writing How-To Books
Writing for Tweens and Teens

We also have several other courses in the early planning stages that will be added as the information becomes available.

Each course is taught through an online group, and lasts from four to ten weeks, depending on the course. Fees range from $100-$150 per course. "This is a good alternative to writer's conferences if you can't afford to go, or can't take the time away from family, work, or other obligations. Our courses provide quality instruction, some offer handouts, some multi-media presentations, and of course, all courses offer invaluable networking with other students and the instructor," says Ruckman.

Registration is now open for some of the classes. Check the Write Integrity Web site regularly for course descriptions, dates, and fees.

For more information, e-mail Tracy Ruckman.