PASIC - Published Authors' Special Interest Chapter #143 of the Romance Writers of America

Terri Brisbin
E-mail address: terri@terribrisbin.com
Website Address: www.terribrisbin.com
Location: New Jersey

Hooks and How to Use Them -- From First to Last Word!
Craft.
Length of workshop: 45-50 minutes
A writer must grab the reader's attention and keep it from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph, page to page and chapter to chapter. And if that reader is an editor, hooking them from beginning to end is critical. Terri reviews the elements and importance of the first page and the first chapter and how effective hooks can be used in strengthening the pacing and structure throughout your book to the last word. (For beginning and experienced writers)

Real History – When to Use it and When to Ignore it!
Research, craft.
Length of workshop: 45-50 minutes
So, are you a romance writer who includes or sets their story in historical periods or a historian who writes romance? Is this important? This underlying perspective will color everything you write and understanding it at the beginning (or wherever you are right now in your writing career!) can save you lots of lost time, angst, and maybe even a rejection or two. Terri will discuss two different approaches to using real history, people, characters or settings in your work and incorporates the use of research for contemporary novels into the discussion. (For writers at all levels)

Motivation for Writers – Getting in Gear for Writing!
Writing life.
Length of workshop: 45-50 minutes
Motivation is what gets us going. It increases our momentum from a static position towards something we want. It is personal. Discovering it is wonderful -- not recognizing it can be devastating. Terri conducts an interactive workshop to help writers discover their writing style and to organize their strategies to achieve their writing or life goals. (For writers at all levels)

Pretzels at 2am – Dealing with Life as a Glamorous Romance Author
Writing life.
Length of workshop: 45-50 minutes
Nothing is certain in life but change so moving from one place on the writing/publishing continuum to the next can be exciting, stressful and challenging. Join Terri in an interactive discussion about those changes, expectations and challenges so that you’ll be forewarned and forearmed when your moving walkway begins shifting under your feet. Whether about-to-be-published, an author with a bunch of releases under their belt or a bestselling author, attendees will learn what to expect and how to deal with life as a glamorous (or not!) romance author. (For writers at all levels, but also of interest to published authors)

Getting the Call and Hitting the Ground Running!
Industry.
Length of workshop: 45-50 minutes
This workshop is a discussion about the process that begins when a writer receives ‘The Call’ and continues through the book reaching the shelf. The transition period, which can last from several months to years, is filled with unanticipated demands and can be very traumatic for the unprepared. Designed for those writers have manuscripts under consideration or authors who have just sold their first book, this discussion should make the process less mystifying and provide resources and contacts to help the author make some important decisions. (For proficient writers – PRO – and those close to being published)

If This is Tuesday, It Must a be Time Travel –
Craft.
Length of workshop: 45-50 minutes
Time travel romances combine the best of locations and time periods and romance sub-genres to provide readers with an entertaining look at romance through the ages. Whether set in the past, present and/or future and whether predominantly a contemporary or a historical romance, time travel romances ask the reader to suspend their disbelief and come along for a wild ride in a search for love.
Planning and writing a time travel romance is much like planning a vacation--research, itineraries, travel accommodations, luggage and modes of transportation are needed for both. And, in both, it’s the unexpected occurrences that can make or break the trip! Terri will take you through the steps of writing a time travel romance. Bring your sense of adventure and romance with you, but no passport needed. (For beginning/moderate level writers)

Who is Roberts and Why Do We Care About His Rules?
A Guide to Effective Meetings for the Eager, the Innocent and the Doomed
Length of workshop: 45-50 minutes
Do your eyes glaze over at the mere mention of Roberts’ Rules of Order? Do you wonder who was Roberts and why did he make up these rules? (Didn’t he have a real life?) Are they important to us now? Does even the thought of planning or running a meeting make your stomach quake and your hands twitch? Then this workshop is for you! The workshop will introduce (or remind!) attendees about the basics of effective meeting planning and execution. Additionally, this workshop should prove helpful to anyone who has to guide a group of people to a decision of any kind.

Terri Brisbin, a multi-published author who has served as a RWA chapter officer as well as on many boards in different organizations, will lend her expertise and experience in parliamentary procedures and meeting facilitation to those interested in planning or conducting business meetings.

Revising: Tips for Improving Your Writing
Craft.
Length of workshop: 45-60 minutes
Because I have written three romances, 9 children's books, and dozens of published articles and stories, I have taught adult school classes and given workshops on many topics. I most often speak about "Revising Your Work: The Two Step Process" and "Tips and Tricks for Improving Your Writing."

The Novel as a Love Poem: Using techniques of poetry to strengthen prose.
Craft.
Length of workshop: 1 hour
Modern poetry and prose are not so far apart in their requirements from the writer. After studying under award-winning poets in Princeton University’s Creative Writing Program, Nancy Herkness has been able to effectively translate the techniques she learned in writing and editing poetry to prose writing. Topics covered include: word choice, the “telling detail”, controlling imagery, structuring sentences to control pacing, and editing for the reader.

Titles of workshops: The Numbers Game; Ten Tips for Writing Stories that Sell; The Book That Writes Itself (craft: conflict); Surviving Almost There; The Mistakes I'm Glad I Made
Type: (respectively) Business of Writing; Craft; Inspirational/Craft; Inspirational/keynote
Length: About 40-50 minutes, but flexible on all; Conflict workshop can be from 45 minutes to 2 hours (with hands on in latter case)
NYTImes bestselling and RITA winning author Madeline Hunter is a regular keynote/invited speaker at RWA conferences and workshops. With twenty years as a college professor, she has a dynamic, professional speaking style. Her books regularly appear on national bestseller lists.

Close, Closer, Called
Business
Length: 1 hour
Learn what the pre-published and newly published author need to know about preparing for the call and responding to the call. When you get the call, life changes in an instant. There’s so much to do, and to learn in this exciting and scary time. This workshop will provide tips on: career planning, preparing for publication, agents, branding, the publishing process, promotion before and after the call, and reviews. It will also address those burning questions, when can you quit the day job? and is life easier after you sell?

Critique Groups: Blessing or Curse?
Craft
Length: 1 hour
Learn how to decide whether a critique group will assist you, and how to set one up. Everyone has an opinion on critique groups, ranging from “they’re essential” to “stay away.” Find out the pros and cons for writers at various stages of their careers. Learn how to set up a successful critique group. This workshop will also discuss critiquing in person, electronically, and over the phone.

Freeing Up Your WildMind
Craft
Length: 1 hour; or 2 hours if writing exercises are included
Discover and develop your themes, rhythm and voice - and keep your passion for writing alive - by tapping into your “wild mind” and freeing your creativity. Writing Wild Mind is an approach - a discipline - developed by writer and writing teacher, Natalie Goldberg. It’s all about freeing up your creativity and finding and developing your own themes, rhythm and voice. It will help you write more effectively and passionately - and keep your passion for writing alive as your career develops. This workshop provides tips on writing wild mind, and participants will do a short timed writing and discuss the results.

Look Who’s Talking: Mastering Point of View and Tense
Craft
Length: 1-2 hours, depending
Should your story be written in first or third person, or even omniscient point of view? How many characters should have a POV? When, if ever, should you change POV in the middle of a scene, or head hop back and forth? Do you always have to write in third person, or is first person sometimes appropriate? Learn how to use the most effective tense and point(s) of view for each novel, novella and short story.

TRAUMA 101: incorporating medicine into your writing
Research.
Length of workshop: 1 hour (does require use of a slide projector)
Your character has been shot, stabbed, beat up--what happens now? How to make it real and yet keep the story moving along? Let award winning medical suspense author CJ Lyons be your guide. As a pediatric emergency medicine physician and author of the soon to be released medical thriller, BLINK OF AN EYE, CJ has seen it all and will share her expertise with you.

CHASING THE MUSE: finding your voice and using it!
Craft.
Length of workshop: 1-2 hours (flexible)
What is this thing called voice that editors keep asking for? Wondering how to find yours? Join award winning author CJ Lyons in her CHASING THE MUSE workshop, a survival guide from the blank page to the finished work of fiction. CJ will discuss how to find your own unique style and individual voice. She'll share with you the four secrets of success that she has learned as well as tips from many outstanding authors and screenwriters.

How to Have Thin Thighs and a Great Body.... Or, At Least, How to Write a Terrific Book
Craft
Length: one hour (or longer, if I include some helpful, and fun, short writing exercises)
What makes for a saleable and memorable romance novel? An exciting Alpha hero. A heroine who can stand up to him. Dialogue that moves the story forward. Fast pacing. Meaningful conflict. Hot love scenes. And, always, emotion, emotion, emotion. Sandra Marton, a top author for Harlequin Presents, is a four time RITA finalist and a six time winner of RT's Best Presents of the Year award. Join her as she talks about some of the things she's learned while writing 65 plus worldwide bestsellers!

Length of workshop: This is a 1 week long, online workshop that can be tailored to fit a 1 or 2 hour live presentation.

Most manuscripts get rejected by agents and editors for one or more of 10 basic reasons. Writers have control over some of these reasons but not all of them. Award-winning author and agency associate Lois Winston will discuss these 10 reasons and how writers can control more of their destiny by not falling prey to them.

THE CONTEST DIVA'S GUIDE TO THE INS AND OUTS AND UPS AND DOWNS OF WRITING CONTESTS

Length of workshop: This is a 1-2 weeks online workshop that can be tailored to fit a 1 or 2 hour live presentation.

Drawing from her experiences as a multi-contest winner, contest judge, contest coordinator, and someone who sold as a result of a contest, award-winning author Lois will cover the pros and cons of entering contests, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages for the beginning writer, the intermediate writer, and those writers on the verge of publication. Lois will discuss the various types of writing contests and how to determine which contests are best to enter, based on the writer's goals and expectations. She will cover everything from the financial to the emotional. From the need for a dynamic opening sentence to the chapter ending hook. From scores and feedback (or lack of it) to staying organized. From contest complaints to contest etiquette.

Even though there are people who will tell you there are no "rules" to writing romance, the truth is, there are rules. Not the kind of rules that say a hero and heroine must meet by a certain page but rules to good writing. In this workshop award-winning author Lois Winston will cover these rules, touching on all the basics. The workshop gives a broad overview of everything from how to format a manuscript to self-editing tips. From understanding passive voice vs. passive verbs to showing vs. telling. From hooks to synopsis. From point of view to common grammar and punctuation errors. Knowing, understanding, and using these rules can work to a writer's advantage.

Length of workshop: 1 or 2 hours (with hands-on participation) live workshop or 1-2 weeks online workshop

What do you do when your muse takes off for parts unknown and leaves you staring at a blank computer screen? In this hands-on workshop award-winning author Lois Winston offers some unorthodox tips for recapturing that AWOL muse, banishing writer’s block and stimulating creativity.

Length of workshop: 1 or 2 hours live workshop or online for 2 weeks if lectures are given every day, one month if given every other day with alternate days open for Q and A Some optional homework

Award-winning author Lois Winston, a multi-contest winner and former contest coordinator, has presented judge training workshops to both local and online chapters who run writing contests. The Judge Training is designed to:

Length of workshop: 1 or 2 hours (with hands-on participation) live workshop or 1 week online workshop

A query letter is your foot in the editor's or agent's door. A good query letter will open that door wide for you. A bad query letter will slam that door in your face. Learn what to include in a query letter as well as what not to include to optimize your chances of getting your manuscript requested.

SPEAKER CONNECTION: REGION ONE (Northeast Canada and USA)