Laurie and I just started a new round of both our Novelist's Toolbox and Learning the Layers of Revision courses. The first chat isn't until next Wednesday, March 21st, at 8:30 p.m. Which means there's still time to sign up!

[I'd like to note that we're now offering flexible schedules for the courses - meaning you can work at your own pace. We can tell you more about this if you have specific questions/concerns.]

For more information on the courses, visit our web site at http://l2literary.googlepages.com/home. Please note that we'll be offering a new course, Marketing on Every Budget, starting this May. And if you know anyone in the New England area, Laurie and I will be offering an overview of this course LIVE at the 2007 NESCBWI conference in Nashua, NH.

If you'd like to sign up for a spring course, please let me know ASAP! Plus, if you refer a friend, have them mention your name and you can receive a $25 credit on your tuition to be used now or at a later date.

Thanks!

Award-winning young adult authors Laurie Stolarz (Blue is for Nightmares series, BLEED) and Lara M. Zeises (CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE, ANYONE BUT YOU) will be running a new session of their craft-based online writing course, THE NOVELIST'S TOOLBOX: AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH, starting October 11. The class runs for six weeks, and this is the last time it will be offered this year. A number of spaces have already been filled, so anyone who's interested should e-mail one of the authors ASAP! (See below ...)

"I learned more practical information that I can actually use in my YA writing in this six-week course than I did in my master’s in writing program. ... As successful, published authors, you know what editors are looking for. You also know the challenges and struggles aspiring writers face and, as a result I believe, provided feedback in a way that was both honest and forthright (being told it’s all good doesn’t help), yet sensitive and helpful. I would highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to improve their writing skills. I’m looking forward to the revision class." - Jane Jeffries

The course – THE NOVELIST'S TOOLBOX: AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH

Who should take it? – The course is appropriate for writers of any level of experience. Beginners will be able to get a solid start on a project and intermediates will be able to hone their skills while getting valuable feedback on their manuscript.

What to expect – Each week will have a themed lesson plan and choice of exercises to be critiqued by the instructors. There will also be a weekly online chat – hosted by Lara and Laurie – for students to interact, ask questions, get feedback, and share ideas. The capstone of the course will be an in-depth critique of the first ten pages of your novel and working synopsis. (NOTE: you will not be asked to critique other students' work.)

Topics covered – Alternative approaches to the writing process (i.e., stuff you won’t get from a book or a web page), focusing specifically on the following: writing from the five senses, deepening your characters, raising the stakes of your plot, writing authentic dialogue, choosing point-of-view with purpose, nailing voice, and tackling the publishing game (i.e. submissions, query letters, and all that jazz).

When does it start? – The online course will begin Wednesday, October 11, 2006 (with the first online chat taking place on October 18th), and will run for six weeks.

How to sign up – Great! Tuition is $300 (payable by personal check or through PayPal. E-mail Lara at zeisgeist(at)aol(dot)com for a Student Enrollment Form.

Added incentive – Sign up for a second course, APPROACHES TO REVISION (which will begin in November, though the lessons will be spaced out to accommodate the holidays), and receive a $50 discount.

More testimonials are available by request!

As you may recall, I announced at the end of May that my great friend Laurie Faria Stolarz and I have decided to team-teach an online writing class. We're calling it THE YA NOVELIST'S TOOLBOX: AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH, but really, the topics we're covering make it appropriate for any type of novelist - even ones who write for adults. Anyway, I'm pasting some more information below, but feel free to e-mail me directly if you have questions. HURRY - YOU MUST ENROLL PRIOR TO JULY 5th AND SPACES ARE LIMITED!


The course – THE YA NOVELIST'S TOOLBOX: AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH

Who should take it? – The course is appropriate for writers of any level of experience. Beginners will be able to get a solid start on a project and intermediates will be able to hone their skills while getting valuable feedback on their manuscript.

What to expect – Each week will have a themed lesson plan and choice of exercises to be critiqued by the instructors. There will also be a weekly online chat – hosted by Lara and Laurie – for students to interact, ask questions, get feedback, and share ideas. The capstone of the course will be an in-depth critique of the first ten pages of your novel and working synopsis.

Topics covered – Alternative approaches to the writing process (i.e., stuff you won’t get from a book or a web page), focusing specifically on the following: writing from the five senses, creating unique yet relatable characters with depth, writing authentic dialogue, choosing point-of-view with purpose, nailing voice, and tackling the publishing game (i.e. submissions, query letters, and all that jazz).

When does it start? – The online course will begin Wednesday, July 5, 2006 (with the first online chat taking place on July 12th), and will run for six fun-filled weeks.

Sign me up! – Great! The fee is a meager $300 (can you smell a bargain or what?). Registration will begin after the 1st of June through PayPal. (Further information of the technical kind will be provided when you’re ready to sign!)

Any incentives? – Aside from the fact that you’ll be able to work with two very cool authors, a team of interested and engaging peers, and, at the same time, begin or strengthen an exciting young adult project? Yes! Sign up for our second course, APPROACHES TO REVISION, beginning August 23, 2006, and receive a $50 discount. Or, sign up for both courses before July 1st and save a total of $100! (cha-ching)

Instructor Bios:

Laurie Faria Stolarz is the author of Blue is for Nightmares, White is for Magic, Silver is for Secrets, and Red is for Remembrance. The first two books in her series were nominated as Top Ten Teen Picks through the American Library Association (ALA) for 2004; Blue is for Nightmares was named a Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers in 2005. In addition, White is for Magic was finalist for a COVR award for 2005, Silver is for Secrets was a nominee for a Quill Award in 2005, and Red is for Remembrance was a semi-finalist for an IPPY award for 2006. Laurie has another young adult novel, Bleed, coming out this fall with Hyperion and she’s currently working on its companion book. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in Young Adult Literature from Emerson College in Boston. Laurie’s Blue is for Nightmares series has sold well over 200,000 copies worldwide.

Lara M. Zeises is the author of three novels for young adults. Her first, Bringing Up the Bones (2002), was named an honor book for the 2001 Delacorte Press Prize Competition. Her second, Contents Under Pressure (2004), began as her thesis project at Emerson College, where in 2001 she earned her MFA in creative writing. It has been named to the 2006 International Reading Association’s Young Adult Choices list (among others) and was voted the 2006 Delaware Blue Hen Teen Book Award winner. Lara’s third novel, Anyone But You (2005), was a Teen People Top 10 Pick.

In addition to writing, Lara teaches part-time at the University of Delaware, where she received her BA in English-Journalism. She also facilitates creative writing workshops for both teens and adults.

Laurie and Lara met at Emerson College, in a young adult novel workshop taught by Lisa Jahn-Clough. They later formed a critique group with Tea Benduhn (Gravel Queen); Steven Goldman; and Kim Ablon Whitney (The Perfect Distance). Of the five, four sold their first books within a year of each other.

Both Laurie and Lara have coached manuscripts from aspiring writers who’ve gone on to win prizes and earn representation and publishing contracts. Testimonials may be provided on request.