Events For Authors:
There are some great tips for beginning (and not so beginning) authors at
http://robbgrindstaff.com/resources/articles/10-writing-lessons today. Check it out if you’re an author.
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Dunes & Dreams RWA Chapter 215 (from Eastern Long Island) present a February 2011 Online Workshop.
http://www.dunesanddreams.org/writing-workshops
Cost: $10 D&D members, $25 all others. Payable in US funds only.
FEBRUARY 1ST – 28TH
Where the Streets Have No Name: How Setting Shapes our Characters
with Sherry Peters
WORKSHOP BLURB: This workshop is designed to teach writers to use the physical and cultural environment of a novel, to influence the personality of the characters and add depth to the characters and their conflicts.
The lessons will cover:
- Political culture, using Northern Ireland, U.S. and Canadian political systems as prime examples
- Religious culture, discussing the essential traits of dominant religions and smaller sects and their influences upon a person’s beliefs
- Financial and economic circumstances, both economic status and personal financial beliefs
- Cultural influences of music, sports, and cultural celebrations
INSTRUCTOR BIO: A writer of YA Fantasy and Urban Fantasy, I am a PRO member of the Romance Writers of America as well as a graduate of both the Odyssey Writing Workshop, and the M.A. in Writing Popular Fiction at Seton Hill University.
DATE: February 1 – 28
Registration deadline is January 29th.
PLACE: Dunes & Dreams RWA FORUM (Not a yahoo loop)
Registrants will receive a login password to the workshop forum several days before the workshop begins to allow ample time to become familiar with the forum or to notify the coordinators if you have trouble logging in.
COST: $10 Dunes & Dreams RWA Members/ $25 all others (US funds only – paypal or checks)
CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY: No registration fees will be refunded. All payments for a workshop must be received by the registration cut off date. Payments received after the cut-off date can be applied to a future workshop of the applicant’s choosing.
If a workshop is canceled due to unforeseen circumstances, such as instructor inability to teach class, registration fees will be applied to a future workshop of the applicant’s choosing.
Registration form and more information:
http://www.dunesanddreams.org/writing-workshops or
email the coordinators at workshops.ddrwa@gmail.com
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The Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter of RWA Presents
Snakebite Scenes — Presented by Carrie Lofty
January 17, 2011 – January 30, 2011
http://www.romance-ffp.com/event.cfm?EventID=104
You have the beginning. You know how it should end. But what to do with those hundreds of pages in the middle? Try adding action! Even quieter stories can use moments of movement and excitement, but not every author feels confident when creating those thrilling, high-action scenes.
Carrie Lofty, author of sexy, adventurous historical romances, will demonstrate how action can make your novel more exciting and more emotional. Use her so-called “snakebite scenes” to help characters acknowledge deeper passions and bond over instances of danger or everyday drama. We’ll also analyze classic action films to see how Hollywood tells rip-roaring stories, and learn plotting techniques that create fast, emotional, cinematic romances. For plotters, pantsers, and everyone in between, this course can unblock your inner thrill-seeker and help you power through your draft, adding action and heart to every page.
WHERE: This workshop will be conducted via a Yahoo! email loop. Email invitations will be sent 48 hours prior to the beginning of the workshop.
HOW: Just register for the workshop and complete the payment process via PayPal. The cost is $15.00 for FFnP members and $25.00 for non-FFnP members. If you are a member of FFnP be sure you are logged into the website before you register to get the member price. Payment is due at time of registration.
REGISTRATION: http://www.romance-ffp.com/event.cfm?EventID=104
WHO: Born in California, raised in the Midwest, Carrie Lofty met her husband in England—the best souvenir! Since earning her master’s degree in history, she’s been devoted to raising two precocious daughters and writing romance. Her January release, Scoundrel’s Kiss, featuring a Spanish warrior monk and the troubled woman he’s sworn to protect, was the sequel to her Robin Hood-themed debut, What a Scoundrel Wants. This June, Carrie’s sensual tale of two lovelorn musicians in Napoleonic Austria will help launch Carina Press, Harlequin’s new all-digital venture. With Ann Aguirre, she co-writes hot’n'dirty apocalyptic pararnormal romances as Ellen Connor. Their “Dark Age Dawning” trilogy is coming soon from Penguin. www.carrielofty.com / www.ellenconnor.com
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Passionate Ink’s Sixth Annual Stroke of Midnight Contest Now Open for Entries
Make the first 35 pages of your novel so compelling that an editor has to have more!
Five Sizzling Finalists in Five Categories:
Contemporary – novels with erotic elements that focus on the developing romantic relationship in a contemporary setting. Includes series and single-title length romances. Can also include elements of romantic suspense/intrigue.
Historical – novels with erotic elements that focus on the developing romantic relationship in a historical setting.
Futuristic/Fantasy/Sci-fi – novels with erotic elements that focus on the developing romantic relationship in any setting in the future, an alternate world/reality, or another planet. Includes elements such as elves/faerie, sword & sorcery, aliens, etc.
Paranormal/Time Travel – novels with erotic elements that focus on the developing romantic relationship in any setting that includes elements of time travel, angels, vampires, werewolves or other paranormal themes.
Novellas – novellas of 10,000 to 25,000 words with erotic elements that focus on developing romantic relationship in any setting.
**All categories are open to alternative lifestyle entries and any entry that reflects an erotic romance between two or more people, straight, gay, bi, or any romantic combination.**
All entries must be in RTF format.
All entries must be at least 10,000 words in their completed form.
Judging and Prizes:
First Round: Preliminary-round judging will be completed by three qualified judges – Passionate Ink and other RWA members experienced in critiquing and/or published authors familiar with our genre. All scores will be added and averaged to determine the entrant’s ranking. Every attempt will be made to provide entrants with detailed score sheets and judges’ comments from this preliminary round. Top five entries in each category will move to final round.
Final Round: The top five finalists in each category will be ranked by the following industry professionals:
Contemporary: Angela James, Carina Press
Historical: Treva Harte, Loose ID
Futuristic/Fantasy/Sci-fi: Kelli Collins, Ellora’s Cave
Paranormal/Time Travel: Melissa Jeglinski, The Knight Agency
Novellas: Lindsey Faber, Samhain Publishing
First place winners in each category will receive a free one year membership in Passionate Ink ($25 value), a certificate, and an award graphic for their website. (Writing teams will split the membership.) All other finalists will receive certificates and a finalist graphic for their website. All entries will be returned after finalists are determined and statistical information is complete. Winners will be announced at the Passionate Ink gathering at the Romance Writers’ of America National Conference in New York. Results will be listed on the Passionate Ink website, in the chapter’s newsletter, as well as have their names published in the Romance Writer’s Report.
The decisions of judges are final.
Rules for Entry
Eligibility:
All contest entrants must be 18 years of age by the contest entry deadline date.
Contest is open to all authors with unpublished, uncontracted full-length erotic romance manuscripts of at least 25,000 words (except novellas which must be at least 10,000) in the category they wish to enter.
Entry Deadline & Submission:
All entries must be electronic in RTF format.
All entries and payment must be received completed by January 21, 2011. All materials, including entries and entry fees, must be received by that date.
Submit questions via email to som5@passionateink.org. It is the author’s responsibility to enter the manuscript in the correct category. All clarifications as to category should be made prior to submission.
Entrants may enter as many categories as they wish with DIFFERENT submissions, but cannot enter the same manuscript in two categories. Each entry must be accompanied by the appropriate entry fee either via a mailed check or online PayPal payment.
There is a minimum requirement of 10 entries per category. If a category does not receive a sufficient number of submissions to make the category viable, the category will be canceled. The entrant will be asked to provide a second choice of categories. If the entrant does not wish to place the entry in another category, the entry and associated fees will be returned.
Entry Fees:
Passionate Ink members: $15
Others: $25
Email payments via PayPal to: Treasurer@passionateink.org
or mail payments to:
Stroke of Midnight Contest
c/o Robin L. Rotham
PO Box 2412
Norfold, NE 68701
Make checks payable to: Passionate Ink
Entry fees must be received prior to the entry deadline.
Include your name in the subject line and the titles of your entry(ies) in the comments box, if paying via PayPal. Include the title of your entry in the Memo field if paying via check.
Entry Format:
All entries must be electronic in RTF format.
Send a maximum of the first 35 pages of your manuscript (20 pages for novella entries).
Entries must be in proper manuscript format: One sided, double-spaced with one inch margins all around, size 12 font (like Times New
Roman or Courier) is recommended.
On the first page only, title and category on top left; page number on top right. Subsequent pages should include only title and page number.
Name of author should not appear anywhere on manuscript; the entry will be disqualified if name is on submission.
A synopsis of up to 5 single-spaced pages (which will not be judged) must also be included. No cover page is necessary.
Email questions to Sharon at som5@passionateink.org
