All Passionate Ink workshops will tentatively be held on a dedicated list-serve.
Passionate Ink Upcoming 2012 Online Workshops
Writing Erotica Steampunk
by Christine D’Abo
February 1-15th, 2012WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Gears, gadgets and sex? The world of steampunk presents authors with a variety of opportunities to create fantastical worlds, while exploring the human condition through technology. Alternative histories, the bending of sexual identities, and the use of future technologies in a historical setting are all arenas authors can explore in the world of steampunk.
This workshop will outline what the basics of steampunk, look at the used of politics, sex and technology, while weaving together a love story.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Multipublished author Christine d’Abo loves exploring the human condition through a romantic lens. She takes her characters on fantastical journeys that change their hearts and expand their minds. A self-professed sci-fi junkie, Christine can often be found chatting about her favorite shows and movies. When she’s not writing, she can be found chasing after her children, dogs or husband.
Christine is published with Carina Press, Ellora’s Cave, Samhain Publishing, Cleis Press and Berkley Heat.
HOW TO REGISTER:
To pay via PayPal, please send payment to workshops@passionateink.org and make the subject line WORKSHOP: EROTIC STEAMPUNK. Please be sure the information field includes the name and email address you will be using for the workshop.
To pay via check, please include WORKSHOP: EROTIC STEAMPUNK in the memo area. Also, please include a note containing the name and email address you will be using for the workshop.
Mail checks to:
Robin L Rotham, Treasurer
P.O. Box 2412
Norfolk, NE 68702***Permission to forward granted and encouraged.***
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Writing Erotic Horror
by J.K. Coi
March 16 – 31st, 2012$15 for Members
$20 for Non-MembersWORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: EC authors know how to make readers tremble…but can they make you Shiver? Learn about one of EC’s newest genres—erotic horror! J.K. Coi is one of the debut authors for this spine-tingling genre and she’ll be sharing her views about what makes the horror genre one of the most famous and intense forms of entertainment.
One of the basic principles of horror is to take something that everyone is familiar with, and twist it until it becomes the very thing they’ve always dreaded…which is a good reason why there has always been sex in horror. This introduction will consist of examples of sex in horror, from film, art and literature. Participants will also enjoy an overview of the expectations and criteria of the horror genre and a brief discussion about the integral association between horror and sex.
Finally, the workshop will touch on craft techniques for the writer, as well as practical in-class exercises and advice. Attendees will be invited and encouraged to discuss and ask questions.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER: J.K. Coi is a multi-published, award winning author of Paranormal Romance, Steampunk, and Horror, and writes Upper YA Fantasy as Chloe Jacobs. She believes that every story should have at least a little darkness to counterbalance the light at the end of the tunnel (and sometimes that darkness completely eclipses the light). When she isn’t writing, she loves to watch (dissect) horror movies and read (devour) horror books. Visit her online at www.jkcoi.com and www.chloejacobs.com
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Writing the Lesbian Hero: Is she any different from a conventional romance hero?
by Len Barot w/a Radclyffe and LL Raand
April 20th through May 1st, 2012WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Whether you’re a plotter or a panster, writing a ménage or an erotic paranormal or a “traditional” romance with an exceptional heat index, you know what every romance writer knows–the characters and their central conflict are what hook the readers. Not that many years ago, the hero and heroine had very recognizable attributes and roles. The hero was a man, the heroine was a woman, and each had fairly predictable emotional, physical, and social characteristics. But what happens if you’re writing a same-sex romance or a ménage with 2 women and a guy and your hero is a lesbian? Do the classic hero/heroine archetypes translate to the lesbian hero or is she a separate archetype? Do the traditional hero/heroine conflict dynamics work the same in f/f romances? What about sex–are there differences in courtships rituals, seduction scenes, and graphic language in f/f love scenes? This workshop takes as a starting point the premise that hero and heroine are gender-neutral terms–that a hero can be and often is female–and looks specifically at the attributes of the lesbian hero. Participants are encouraged but not required to present character profiles of works in progress and excerpts from sex scenes for discussion.
Topics covered by this online class will include:
Fundamentals
1 ) The role of the hero in romance fiction
2 ) Traits of the alpha and beta hero
3 ) “Hero types”
4 ) Traditional hero-heroine matches: enhancing conflict
5 ) Compare and contrast male and female alpha heroesWriting the lesbian hero
6 ) Defining the lesbian hero: physical, emotional, and sexual characteristics
7 ) Butch-femme archetypes: what are they? Archaic or relevant?
8 ) Avoiding stereotypes, internalized homophobia, and character convergence
9 ) Writing lesbian sex: dynamics and language
10) Writing female centric ménage-et-trois
ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Len Barot is the founder and president of Bold Strokes Books, an independent LGBTQ publisher. Under the pseudonym Radclyffe, she has published over thirty-five romance and romantic intrigue novels as well as dozens of short stories, has edited numerous romance and erotica anthologies, and, writing as L.L. Raand, has authored a paranormal romance series, The Midnight Hunters. She is an eight-time Lambda Literary Award finalist in romance, mystery, and erotica–winning in both romance (Distant Shores, Silent Thunder) and erotica (Erotic Interludes 2: Stolen Moments edited with Stacia Seaman, and In Deep Waters 2: Cruising the Strip written with Karin Kallmaker) and a 2010 RWA FF&P Prism award winner for Secrets in the Stone. Two of her titles, Trauma Alert and The Midnight Hunt were 2011 finalists for the RWA Gayle Wilson AoE, Foreword Book of the Year, RWA Colorado Romance Writers AoE and the RWA Passionate Plume, WisRWA, Foreword Book of the Year, and EPIC awards respectively. She is a member of the Saints and Sinners Literary Hall of Fame and an Alice B. Readers’ award recipient for her body of work. Learn more about her at www.radfic.com and www.boldstrokesbooks.com
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Author vs. Editors Ten Things I…About You!
by Robin Matheson
May 1 – 2nd$15 for Members
$20 for Non-MembersWORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: The connection between author and editor remains one of the most unique in business. This workshop will review 10 key factors that can make or break a successful author-editor relationship. Apply the 4 Components of a Business Plan as it relates to authors. Special attention will also be paid to the nitty-gritty behind the 3 levels of the editing process. There will be lots of opportunity for Q&A. Target Audience: Beginner and Intermediate. Length of Workshop: 2 day intensive.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER: An award winning author, Robin Matheson holds an honors specialist degree in Classical Civilization and English and a Master of Education. She’s taught numerous courses at college, overseas and, more recently, online courses on writing. One of Robin’s greatest passions is traveling. In addition to their home base, she and her family have also lived in South East Asia and South Africa. Visit her at www.robiemadison.com
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Beyond the Basic Google Search:
How to Make the Most of Online Research
by Ally Broadfield
May 7 – June 1, 2012$15 for Members
$20 for Non-MembersWORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:
Class Overview: There’s nothing more frustrating than wasting your precious writing time on a futile web search. Whether you are looking for a specific piece of information or need to research an entire time period or subject, this class will help you conduct the best search for your information needs. You will learn how to utilize multiple online search resources, including search engines, web directories, and databases. You will also learn how to refine search terms, narrow or broaden your search, how to use Boolean logic, and many other tips and tricks to make your research more efficient and successful. A list of searchable web directories and websites covering multiple topics based on the needs of workshop attendees will also be provided.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER: A graduate of The George Washington University, Ally Broadfield is a former school librarian whose passion is sharing knowledge. She has participated in several RWA sponsored workshops and has studied every book about writing she’s been able to get her hands on since she decided to stop dabbling and get serious about being published. She is a News Writer for the Best Friends Animal Network and an RWA PRO. Her first manuscript she didn’t consign to the dust bunnies under her bed is currently on submission. She writes historical romance and young adult paranormal/fantasy romance, and is an active member of SCBWI and several RWA chapters, including YARWA, FF&P, HHRW and NTRWA.
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Free Members only: Chat and Q&A
with Vicki Lewis Thompson
June 4 – 8th, 2012~~~
Yes, You Can Use Commas Correctly
presented by MM Pollard, acquisitions editor,
Black Velvet Seductions
June 18 – 29, 2012Has comma chaos taken over your writing? Do you find yourself putting dashes where commas might go, but you’re not sure, so you throw in the dashes? Have you convinced yourself that commas hate you?
If so, fear not. During this workshop, MM Pollard will use her unique way of distilling information so that you will use commas like a pro and editors will notice.
MM throws in a bit of humor to make the lessons much more fun than your jr. high English classes were. Cross her heart!
A few topics she will cover in the workshop are
- comma use in introductory words and phrases, in non-restrictive clauses, in compound and complex sentences,
– comma use in dialogue;
– dashes and parentheses use instead of commas, and
– the comma conventions. No, you don’t have to attend a huge meeting with a bunch of commas.Reward for doing your homework: If you post all of your homework when due, she’ll proofread your 1,000-word submission for grammar, usage, and punctuation errors. Critiquing story elements like point of view and character development she leaves to publishers.
ABOUT MM As an English teacher and acquisitions editor for Black Velvet Seductions, MM Pollard has had the mission to find ungrammatical grammar, misused usage, and problematic punctuation in others’ writing. Mistakes seem to jump off the page for her–yes, she’s that good.
Her goal is to teach writers what they need to know about English grammar, usage, and punctuation so that they won’t need an editing service to correct their mistakes in these areas.
MM has presented or will present workshops for Muse Online Writers Conference, Savvy Authors, Writers Online Classes, Novelists at Work, and Orange County Chapter RWA, in addition to those in her virtual classroom.
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Creating the Perfect Predator by LD Madison
July 7th – 27th, 2012$15 for Members
$20 for Non-MembersWORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Are all killers the same? Are all rapists motivated by the same things? Surprisingly, the answer is a resounding NO. Even though we’d like to think that all criminals are crazy or simply evil, they are complex creatures as varied and three-dimensional as the heroes we love.
Creating the Perfect Predator the perfect place to start your journey into the recesses of your villain’s mind and psyche. Learn how they became the way they are, why they do thing heinous things they do — and what they get out of it.
The four-week workshop is for authors at all levels of writing experience. There are no specific “prerequisites” other than an open-mind, and a desire to create spine-chilling, believable predators. The workshop is meant to be an overview of criminals and predators–not just killers. It will include the psychology of rapists, arsonists, cult leaders and pedophiles–as well as a strategy for the hero/heroine to find and catch the villain.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:
1. Introduction to Creating a Believable Predator
2. Profiling — What to look for
3. Killers — Are they all the same?
4. Arsonists — A Burning Obsession
5. Rapists — Who Rapes and Why They Do It
6. Pedophiles — Are They All the Same?
7. Cult and Satanic Crimes — Fool Me Once
8. How Does Your Hero Catch Them?
9. Conclusion — Wrap Up and Q&AASSIGNMENTS: I will assign homework where the students have to write a short scene – 500 words or less – using information learned in the “lesson”. For example, during the Killers lesson, they have to write a scene using from the killer’s point of view. For the Arsonist lesson, I have them write a scene from the point of view of the arsonist.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER: LD has been writing and researching criminal behavior and subcultures for the past ten years. In addition to publishing erotic romances, LD has a degree in organizational psychology, and is currently working on a graduate degree in criminology.
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12 Beats & Other Instruments to Tell A Story
by a.c. Mason
September 15th – 30th, 2012$15 for Members
$20 for Non-MembersWORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: Plot beats in your story are the timekeepers of its rhythm and anchor your other instruments: characterization (emotions) and writing craft techniques (such as length of scenes, type of scene action/revelatory, dialogue, word usage, description, theme(s), tension (conflict) etc…)
There will be twelve lessons through which the attendees will be encouraged to assemble a five-act story worksheet as we complete the twelve beats to construct a plot, develop characters, and decide on writing craft technique tools to create the full score of the story. Each beat and instrument will be explained, broken down, then an example will be provided with comments as to how it feeds into the whole of the story. An easy-to-use worksheet will be provided at the end as a framework for future stories. These methods can also be used by plotters and pansters (while writing your first draft or during rewrites/revisions). This workshop is aimed to improve: where to start/end, pacing (fast/slow), conflict, saggy middles, tension (conflict), consistency, characterization (emotions), and when to use writing craft techniques: length of scenes, type of scene action/revelatory, short sentences, dialogue, description, etc…
We will cover: plot, characterization (emotions), and writing craft techniques.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Born from the union of her Scottish and Belgian mother and an African American and Cherokee father, a.c. Mason’s youth was filled with dichotomies and moving from place to place. She developed a curiosity to explore through writing the seedy side of our nature and desires. Given her own diverse background, she writes stories that represent the world she grew up in. She is fluent in French and English. For the past eight years of her life, she has worked with one foot in the past spanning such times as the 18th century, the Bering Strait theory to modern day, and now late Victorian. Her stories are the place where darkness meets human desire and fairytales endings are not promised but earned. In 2011 her work was nominated for six 2012 Bookie Awards. If you’d like to learn more about a.c. Mason, go to www.acmason.com.
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BDSM in Romance – Understanding and
Writing the Lifestyle for Romance Writers
by Sascha Illyvich
Nov 4th – Nov 10th, 2012$15 for Members
$20 for Non-MembersWORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:
Class Overview: This workshop is for authors particularly in the romance genre who dabble BDSM in any form, be it writing spanking stories, light bondage, or like myself, heavier darker things. Many folks think that once a book is written the author’s job is done. Not so. As any seasoned author knows, once we finish writing, we have edits, cover art choices, more edits, and of course the hype. Marketing, promotions. PR Hell as it is known in some circles. That’s the toughest part of any author’s job IMO and will make or break any author dumb enough to rely solely on the publisher. Our job as authors is a business and needs to be treated like such, even if we DO get to have a little more fun than any corporate schmo. So, in order of author responsibilities:
1. Establish the Brand (I’m Sascha Illyvich, paranormal erotica/BDSM romance author)
2. Maintain the Brand (Primarily through PR, I write about wolves, fae, vampires, but you’ll never see me write a western!)
3. Grow the Brand (I write paranormal romances, which puts me in with the anime crowd who likes dark fantasy!) This workshop will focus on Number 3: Grow the Brand. What authors often fail to realize is that in including different elements like spanking or light bondage that they are writing for their normal audiences but with a little more effort could target not just the fringe readers; those who are closeted about their darker desires, but those who are a little open with their darker desires.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER: As the Acknowledged Bad Boy of Romance, I have been writing and published in this genre for the last twelve years, worked two large BDSM events in Houston with HPEP, been actively involved on mailing list discussions, read a few books, met and spent time with Jay Wiseman (Author of SM 101: A Realistic Introduction) I occasionally write for Paddedkink.com, a BBW BDSM site. I’ve been on numerous BDSM panels am an active Lifestyle Dominant and have been vetted. Oh, and as I mentioned before, my Mom is a Lifestyle Domme – meaning when she realized that she enjoyed kinky sex, she sought out knowledge and became who she is today, teaching her son proper play. My previous workshop, Writing from the Male POV and creating better heroes was a success both at Coffee Time Romance and at Collette Thomas’s Erotic Workshop yahoo group. I have taught this workshop for HHRW RWA chapter and Savvy Authors.
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How to Design and Teach an Online Workshop by Cathrine Chant
December 3th – 14th, 2012$15 for Members
$20 for Non-MembersWORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: This two-week workshop begins with an overview of why you would want to create and teach an online workshop, and covers these topics:
1. Developing a workshop topic
2. Identifying your audience
3. Designing a lesson plan
4. Interacting with your students
5. Designing exercises for your students
6. Your workshop proposal
7. Technical aspects of online teaching (e.g. Yahoogroups)At the end of this workshop you will have a basic outline of your course and the first draft of a proposal ready to polish and send out to workshop coordinators.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Catherine Chant is a PRO member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA), and a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She served as Workshop chair or co-chair for her chapter, From the Heart Romance Writers (FTHRW) from 2005 to 2009 and has been teaching online workshops since 2006. Her short fiction and non-fiction work has appeared in RWA newsletters, CharacterS, SchoolArts, MetroKids, Twilight Times, Apollos Lyre, and various instructional websites where she writes about computers, gaming and crafts. Her young adult time travel romance WISHING YOU WERE HERE was a finalist in the 2008 Golden Heart awards. She is currently working a new young adult novel.
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Author Marketing and Branding
by Cassandra Carr
Jan 7 – 18, 2013Class description: In this class you will learn what a platform is, why you should blog, what to do before, during and after your book launches, some tips for book signings, and what should be on your website, as well as how to set up a Facebook fan page, a Goodreads author page, and an Amazon author page, plus much more!
Bio: Cassandra Carr is a multi-published erotic romance writer who lives in Western New York with her husband, Inspiration, and her daughter, Too Cute for Words. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out on Twitter. Her debut novel, Talk to Me, was released by Loose Id on March 22, 2011. Head Games, Buffalo Intimidators book 1, released on November 2, 2011 from Siren Bookstrand, Caught will release December 13, 2011 from Loose Id, and Impact is coming in early 2012 from Ellora’s Cave. For more information about Cassandra, check out her website at http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com, “like” her Facebook fan page athttp://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraCarr or follow her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/Cassandra_Carr.