Fodder for Thought Friday: What Would YOU Like to Learn?
Happy Friday Chicks readers! Recently, I had the pleasure of a quick lunch with Liquid Silver’s very own executive editor, Tina Burns.
She is fabulous and we’re planning (along with other some other local writers and industry folks) a meetup/workshop sometime close to the end of this year. We’ve been kicking around a few ideas for speakers and breakout sessions.
If you would be so kind as to answer the following questions, it would really help us out!
As a romance writer (new or established), what subjects would interest you in a class or workshop?
What questions would you have for a published writer?
We’d like to possibly start with a meet and greet over coffee and breakfasty type things and moving into a two-classroom event, approx. 2-3 hours long. Within thise 2-3 hours, we’re open to suggestion. Any and all ideas of what you’d like to see at an industry meet-up are welcome. What have you seen/been to at other events?
Bonus! One commenter will win a copy of BOTH recent “Dirty Laundry” series books – my newest Carina Press release, Coin Operated as well as an ARC of Talk Dirty To Me, co-written with Inez Kelley!
Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck in Erotic Romances. Hell, I’ll even teach the class. Hehhehehe
This probably should have been tweeted etc. to writers attention. As it is being tweeted now a lot of readers and reviewers would be checking the post but not qualified. Will adjust any retweets I do. Thanks.
As a romance writer (new or established), what subjects would interest you in a class or workshop?
-small grammar, etc lessons (ie: basically, the stuff editors wish their writers knew how to take care of)
-plotting methods (I’m always open to hearing more about plotting)
What questions would you have for a published writer?
-could you share your path to publication?
-what’s something you wish you would’ve known about the industry before you started writing?
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As a newbie writer I’d like to see more on plotting and how to keep the pace up in the middle of the book.
Have seen “blind” critiques read aloud by editors/agents with comments – think this wld be very helpful!
I love workshops!
Suggestions:
-Self Editing (I’d kidnap a legion of puppies for this one)
-Character Arcs (I know that it should be the MC’s story, but the other half should also have some growth, otherwise it’s kinda card-boardy)
-Pacing Techniques (stories that slog vs ones that never let you catch your breath, and how to achieve the Happy Medium between the two)
-Building a Series (I love reading them, and would love to write one, but the logistics boggle the mind)
-Brainstorming Techniques (Either my ideas come to me nearly full formed or they don’t get written. I know there’s a better way to handle that)
-Promo/Networking/Social Media Uses (Nuff said)
-Editor Expectations (I’m unpublished and while I know that Editors are people too, it all still seems very shadowy and secret to me)
Questions for Authors:
-First Sale Story
-Writing Process
-How is the reality different than what you initially thought?
-Career Plan or Goal Setting
-Writer’s POV of the Editing Process
Workshops I’ve been to (all tracts on writing):
-Deep POV
-BDSM
-Sci Fi / Fantasy/ Paranormal Elements
-Worldbuilding
-Conflict and Description
-GLBT and/or Menage
-Interracial or Multiracial
-Showcase for Particular Publisher (i.e. Publisher A pubs X and they are currently looking for Y)
-Submittal Process/What Editors Want
-Career Planning
as a new writer, i’d like to have an idea exactly what i’m expected to know and what i can expect to have help with after a sub is accepted for publication. i’d ask questions about the actual process and how things are different through an agent and doing things on my own.
as for craft workshops, i think that just about anything can be imformative. no single method is the ‘right’ way, so exposure to as many styles as possible to pick out the stuff that’s relative to ME is helpful.
Can I simply say, “yeah, what the others have said.”? All good ideas.
I like trying to get inside the editor’s head, so any type of “Let me tell you what I’d REALLY like to see from new writers…” comments from editors is always helpful.
Plus, the “How I got published stories…” from the authors are helpful.
Best of luck, Inez!
Kimberley
I think Sasha was in my head when she wrote her post. Except for the legion of puppies. Seriously, PM me. I have some great notes….
I’d like to parrot the “editing” and “plot line” comments, plus maybe an overview of the biggest mistakes new writers tend to make. Also, I’ve noticed there is an entirely new learning curve for me regarding “writer lingo” out there-and still am learning, such as “Elevator speech”, HEA, etc.
Pfft. Sasha, never mind.
Wanted to pop in and say thank you for the responses! Winner will be announced tonight!