On Saturday, October 27th, I’ll be at the Cheyenne Barnes & Noble with some of my favorite published authors for “Novel Writing Boot Camp.” I hope you’ll attend! Be sure to bring a pen and paper for notes, since there will be lots of information to absorb.
Workshops run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a break from 11:45-12:30 for lunch on your own. We’ve built in time for
questions from attendees, so wear your writing hats and bring your burning questions.
Speakers are Mary Gillgannon and Cindy Keen Reynders on “What’s Selling,” Liz Roadifer and Mary Gillgannon on “Is Indie Publishing for You?,” and Amanda Cabot and myself on “Is Your Writing Process Helping or Hindering You?”
I’m uniquely qualified to speak on this topic because I’ve been both helped and hindered by pretty much every writing process there is! As a cancer survivor, I’ve experienced the wonders of “chemo-brain,” and the cognitive changes that changed the way I write. While that wasn’t a fun experience, it gave me insight into the way the brain works. How we’re wired determines how we write, so if you’re frustrated with your novel, a different approach might help you break through any blocks.
Meanwhile, Amanda is one of the best writing instructors I know, with a wealth of knowledge from her long fiction writing career. She puts together lovely plots that are just perfectly constructed, so you’ll be learning from a real master of the craft. I recently read the second book in her Cimmaron Creek trilogy, A Borrowed Dream, and absolutely loved it.
Amanda and I have fun presenting together because we take very different approaches to writing the novel. There’s no “right” way, so you’ll be able to pick and choose from a number of methods.
You might know Mary Gillgannon from the library, where she’s a fiction buyer. She’s also a multi-published author who has experience in both traditional and indie publishing. Her latest book is Lady of Steel, a medieval romance with a strong heroine that’s steeped in authentic history.
Cindy Keen Reynders is also a talented writer. She wrote The Saucy Lucy Murders, which I absolutely loved, and has continued to delight readers with many more stories featuring twisty plots and characters that feel incredibly real.
I’ve known Liz Roadifer for a long time, and learned a lot from her. She has mastered the art of writing suspense, which makes me very jealous; I love reading suspense but can’t write it. Her first novel, This Time Justice, is a good place to start, but I have to warn you: it will
keep you reading long into the night.
All these writers are excellent speakers/teachers with their own unique approaches to writing and publishing. I love presenting workshops like this not only because I enjoy teaching and spending time with my writing friends, but because I love what I do and enjoy imparting my own enthusiasm for the magical process of creating a fictional world.
So come early and stay late! You’ll definitely learn something new that will make a difference to your writing, and I can guarantee you’ll leave with a new passion for writing.