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Workshop Lounge 2
The Muse Online Writers Conference

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In order to link to our chat areas, you will need to download Java found on homepage.
 
Workshops to be hosted in this area are found near the bottom of this page.
 
 
THE CLOCK IS SET AT EASTERN TIME.

MONDAY - OCTOBER 8, 2007

 

WORKSHOP LOUNGE 2

8PM EST - MARILYN PEAKE

-  "Keys for Adding Depth to Fiction: Visualization, Symbolism and Intensive Research"

MODERATED BY JOYCE A. ANTHONY

 

Fiction becomes more profound and more attractive to

publishers when it resonates within the reader.  Visualization, symbolism and authentic details arising from intensive research allow you to create such depth.

 

****

 

TUESDAY - OCTOBER 9, 2007

 

Workshop Lounge 2

2PM EST - MARGOT FINKE

HOW TO SELF-EDIT YOUR MG NOVEL

MODERATED BY

 

Margot Finke's workshop is titled Self-editing Your Mid Grade Novel.

 

This includes observations about self-editing secrets, voice, unnoticed boo-boo's, character development, side tracks,

tight writing,  powerful verbs, and much more. 

 

Margot also offers her ideas on the importance of critique groups for encouragement, feedback, and support. Bring pencil and paper,  imagination + your love of writing for children.

 

****

Workshop Lounge 2

4PM EST - PATRICIA HARRINGTON

MODERATED BY KATIE HINES

SEEK YOUR BLISS

WRITE YOUR HEART

 

Most stories include the "hero's (or heroine) journey" as described by mythologist Joseph Campbell.  

 

Writing can be part of any one's journey to bliss.  Everybody has at least one or more stories in them, whether autobiographical or pure fiction. 

 

How to write to tell these stories in writing so that they create passion and compassion that resonates with readers, will be the subject of this chat. 

 

How to write them without being trite, maudlin or boring--is the craft that we'll be discussing. 

****

 

WEDNESDAY - OCTOBER 10,2007

 

Workshop Lounge 2

2PM EST - LILLIAN CAULDWELL

INTERNET TALK RADIO 

MODERATED BY KARINA L. FABIAN

 

Teaching authors how to handle television, radio, and internet talk radio interview while promoting and marketing their books to the media and potential listeners.

****

Workshop Lounge 2

4PM EST - BARRI BUMGARNER

Making Crime Pay

MODERATED BY LISA JACKSON

 

Are you interested in true-crime or creative non-fiction? Do stories about serial killers pique your interest? Are you obsessed with shows like Forensic Files, American Justice, Criminal Minds, and Cold Case? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this workshop is for you. We will discuss what makes true-crime and creative non-fiction read like fiction and how to prepare for the actual writing. I'll provide hand-outs with tips on writing and marketing creative non-fiction!

****

Workshop Lounge 2

5PM EST - PATRIKA VAUGHN:

MODERATED BY KATIE HINES

Writing Blunders & How to Avoid Them

 

We'll examine the seven common problems that keep

manuscrpts from being published,

and examine the ways to cure them. 

Lots of Before and After examples.

 

****

 Workshop Lounge 2

7PM EST (4PM PST) - LYNN CRAIN:

How to Put Sizzle in Your Love Scenes

MODERATED BY AYN HUNT

 

Erotic romance author Lynn Crain will go over the basics on how to put that special pizzazz in your love scenes. She’ll go over the basic construction of love scenes, when less is more and when you need to go all out.

 

Lynn will cover research techniques as well as discuss why some love scenes are great and some fall flat.

 

*****

 

Workshop Lounge 2

9PM EST - HOPE CLARK

FundsforWriters - 

MODERATED BY LEA SCHIZAS

 

The myths and the truths.

Where money is and where it isn't.

Learn what grants are, and how to put them in your short-term

and long-term writing goals.

****

THURSDAY - OCTOBER 11, 2007

 

12 PM  EST - MARY E. TYLER

Improve Your Web Site Performance with Google Analytics:

It's Easy as  1, 2, 3...

 

Google Analytics is all about counting. Who is coming to

your web site? Where are they coming from? What do they

look at while they are there? Do they buy anything, join

your mailing list, contact you about assignments, read your

blog? But Google Analytics gives you metric that no other

free package--that's right, it's FREE--can touch. GA can tell

you how many times a person visits before they buy, or what

your return on investment for that banner ad you bought. It

can integrate all your advertising--and even free promotional

campaigns--so you can see where your time and money is

best spent.

And it's easy.

 

 

Workshop Lounge 2

7PM EST (4PM PST) - LYNN CRAIN

ePublishing: Finding the right ePublisher for You

****

 

9PM – EST - T. C. MCMULLEN

MODERATED BY Sharon Schafer

Novel Writing

 

The workshop will offer tips and guidance on setting up a

baseboard for a novel that won't fizzle in the middle and

never finish. I will help participators find the right paths

they wish for their novels to take and find out where to

begin while keeping their eye on things like voice, story

purpose and marketing after the book is finished.

 

 

FRIDAY - OCTOBER 12, 2007

 

Workshop Lounge 2

8PM EST - MARILYN PEAKE

"Chat with Author Marilyn Peake: Wearing All of Her Hats, Juggling Neon Green Aliens!"

 MODERATED BY DARLENE COLE

 

Anything's possible in a virtual chat room, right?  At The 2006 Muse Online Writers Conference, over 40 people attended this lively, interactive chat and had a fantastic time!  Best-selling eBook author, Marilyn Peake, chats with attendees about any and all book-related subjects.  Wearing many hats, Marilyn’s accomplished the following:

 

** Author of a trilogy of children's fantasy adventure novels, published by Double Dragon Publishing in both eBook and paperback.  All three books–“The Fisherman’s Son”, “The City of the Golden Sun”, and “Return of the Golden Age”–have received fantastic reviews.

 

** Piers Anthony, best-selling science fiction and fantasy author, read “The Fisherman’s Son” and sent Marilyn a wonderful review quote for it.

 

** “The Fisherman’s Son” was produced in audio book format by a professional audio production company, arranged by Marilyn’s publisher and read by the voice actor, Andrew Dollar.

 

** “The Fisherman’s Son” audio book was named a Finalist in the 2006 ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards.

 

** Marilyn’s work has placed five times as TOP TEN Finishers in the 2005 and 2006 Preditors & Editors Readers Poll.

 

** Columnist for Michael Geffner's Writing Newsletter.

 

** Publisher of a free online newsletter, “The Golden Goblet”.  This newsletter has included so many wonderful articles by published authors and Hollywood experts that Marilyn has received a publishing contract from Double Dragon Publishing for a series of annual books featuring the articles.

 

** The first newsletter book, now published in both eBook and paperback, is entitled “From Hollywood Experts and Published Authors: Words of Wisdom for Starving Artists”.  This book is described by the Midwest Book Review as “Useful, practical, and an easy read” and as “strongly recommended for anyone aspiring to a career as a professional writer regardless of genre or media.”

 

** Marilyn’s short stories have been published in the following Double Dragon Publishing anthologies: “Illuminated Manuscripts”, “Twisted Tails: An Anthology to Surprise and Delight”, “Twisted Tails II–Volume 1: Time on our Hands” and “Twisted Tails II–Volume 2: Out of Time”.

 

** “Twisted Tails: An Anthology to Surprise and Delight”, “Twisted Tails II–Volume 1: Time on our Hands”, “Twisted Tails II–Volume 2: Out of Time”, and “From Hollywood Experts and Published Authors: Words of Wisdom for Starving Artists” all made eBookstore best-seller lists within days of publication.

 

** Two of Marilyn’s short stories, “Coyote Crossing” and “Cannon Fodder: Operation Horse Whisperer”, are published by Double Dragon Publishing with their own book covers.  Both are listed as official “Fictionwise Recommendations” at Fictionwise.com.  “Coyote Crossing” was a TOP TEN Finisher in the 2006 Preditors & Editors Readers Poll.

 

Now, Marilyn would love to talk with you about the publishing world while juggling neon green aliens (or not, depending on group consensus … and, of course, the availability of neon green aliens).

 

Marilyn Peake’s website:

http://www.marilynpeake.com

"The Golden Goblet",

Marilyn Peake's FREE online newsletter:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/marilynpeake/?yguid=145479362

Marilyn Peake’s YouTube Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=marilynpeake

****

 

 Workshop Lounge 2

10 PM EST - KARINA L. FABIAN

MODERATED BY DONNA AMATO

 

Virtual Book Tour:

 

Your book is published! 

 

You've sent out the media releases and the review requests.  Now what? 

 

You want to get the word out, but you don't have the money or the time to take it on the road.

 

Time to get on the Information Highway with a virtual book tour. 

 

Karina Fabian (www.fabianspace.com) will teach you the basics of setting up and conducting a book tour on the Internet. 

 

We'll cover:

 

            *Finding websites that target your audience

            *The many ways of getting your book

mentioned on-line from comments on a blog to interviews,

chats, podcasts and more.

            *Presenting yourself effectively on-line.

            *Following up.

 

Karina has had wonderful success with her two virtual book tours to promote her catholic SF anthology, Infinite Space, Infinite God. 

http://isigsf.tripod.com

 

****

SATURDAY - OCTOBER 13, 2007

 

 Workshop Lounge 2

2PM - EST - MARGOT FINKE

HOW TO SELF-EDIT YOUR MG NOVEL

 

Margot Finke's workshop is titled Self-editing Your Mid Grade Novel.

 

This includes observations about self-editing secrets, voice, unnoticed boo-boo's, character development, side tracks,

tight writing,  powerful verbs, and much more. 

 

Margot also offers her ideas on the importance of critique groups for encouragement, feedback, and support.

Bring pencil and paper,  imagination + your love of writing for children.

 

****

SUNDAY - OCTOBER 14,2007

Workshop Lounge 2

4PM EST - DEVON ELLINGTON

Dialogue Workshop

 

Learn how to craft character-cohesive, interesting dialogue that moves along a story, whether it's a stage play or a piece of prose. Explore methods of cutting, crafting, and creating conversation that sparkles on the page and in the ear.

 

Techniques to brighten dialogue and use it to drive the story will be explored in detail. Examples from established writers will be used, and the students own work will be created and honed.

****

 

 Workshop Lounge 2

8PM EST - JANET ELAINE SMITH

THE LIFE OF THE PARTY: YOUR CHARACTERS.

 MODERATED BY DARLENE COLE

 

  How to build endearing characters that everybody wants to have as their best friends or that they swear they have met--someplace--they just can't remember where.

 

How to "use" your secondary characters and where they can lead you.

 

Building a series on your characters.

 

Janet Elaine Smith's characters are so "real" to her fans that some of them have accumulated more free AOL and Earthlink hours than Janet has, have gotten free pantyhose in the mail, have been granted honorary degrees, and had their student loans forgiven. Several of them even have their own website and one of them is about to go into a trial that is scheduled for the summer that might well draw more attention than OJ's did.

Also, how to benefit your favorite charitable causes by using your characters' voices.

 

****

 

In order to keep next year's conference free once again and bigger and better for you we are asking for donations. Any amount would be more than welcome. We are not picky eaters. You will find our donation box via Paypal on homepage.

Affiliated with the MuseItUp Club, The Muse On Writing Book, Carolyn Howard-Johnson's "Frugal Book Promoter", and Apollo's Lyre