Thanks a bunch!
Thanks for all the great feedback on Monday's post on cross training for writing. My blogging gang always gets a good conversation going. If you didn't get in on things on Monday, feel free to leave a comment today telling us how you like to stretch your writing muscles.
While we're on the topic of cross training, Coffeehouse for Writers' workshops begin September 6, 2010. Offerings include Blogging for Profit or Pleasure, Creating Character, Writing for Children, Stress Management for Writers, Writing for Magazines, and Historical Fiction. For more details, visit their site.
Oh, and just in case you wanted to know, I'll be teaching a workshop for the Coffeehouse in October. It's called Back to Basics Boot Camp for Writers and will include a refresher on the mechanics of good writing. I'm excited about it; maybe I'll see you there. :)
Special Labor Day Celebration Week
Be sure and stop by next week for a special two part author interview and giveaway!
Have you taken any writing courses or workshops lately? Are there any areas of grammar that you could use a bit of a refresher? What are your plans for the holiday weekend?
Happy Labor Day!
Blessings,
Karen
Image credit: dubock http://www.sxc.hu/photo/960016
Thanks Karen, I have bookmarked the coffeehouse site and will check it out! It sounds great! After this weekend I will be flying back from Holland to California... along trip!
ReplyDeleteHi Karen .. sounds like you're busy. Enjoy your labour day weekend ..
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of cross training .. I'm sure you learn so much .. especially having others' input etc ..
Ah I see .. questions .. no I haven't been on any courses recently, and I know my grammar skills aren't that good!
Go well - Hilary
Is it Labor Day weekend already?? I just took a writing course with Camy Tang and really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteJust checked out Coffeehouse--looks like some great opportunties. Thanks for the heads up! I'll be going to an SCBWI one-day workshop in October. And Labor Day weekend? Family's working on a surprise, I guess, since LD and my birthday fall together this year. Don't know what they're planning yet :-)
ReplyDeleteThe last hurrahs of summer are here. Final beach day and BBQ's all weekend. Have a wonderful weekend! :O)
ReplyDeleteMarja,
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome. The site has a lot to offer. That is a long trip! Have a good flight!
Hillary,
There are all sorts of ways to learn, aren't there? :) Enjoy your weekend as well!
Terri,
Yes, it is Labor Day, wow. Hard to believe. I've heard Camy's classes are good. :)
Kenda,
You are welcome. Hope you enjoy the workshop in October. I imagine they are good. Happy Birthday! :)
Diane,
Yes, it is. The summer flew by, didn't it? Enjoy the bbq!
Blessings fot the weekend,
Karen
You are so generous with your time and talents.
ReplyDeleteI took a fiction editing class and gobbled it. I would like to take your Coffeehouse class. Does it include all the coffee I can hold?
Love
Jen
What a beautiful basket of apples!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info on the Coffeehouse workshops. Just the name alone "perks" my interest!
Stress management for writers - I need that one.
ReplyDeleteHow cool, to be teaching a class at the Coffeehouse. I'm going to have to check out the site. I took a class last winter by Christina Katz. She's good and makes you work up to your potential.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.
Hi Karen -
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new writing gig!
I haven't taken any online courses. Workshops at the Philly conference, reading craft books, and trekking around the Internet are the primary sources of my education. :)
Blessings,
Susan
I'm anxious to load up on some writing courses, but I just feel like polishing my manuscript up as much as possible first.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the links:)
Hi Karen - Good info, as always. I'll check it all out!
ReplyDeleteOoh, you are getting me in the weekend mood. Sigh. Too bad I have a BIG deadline!
ReplyDeleteOh, well. You have fun for me, okay?
Patti
I haven't taken any writing courses since community college many many moons ago. I do read books about writing and blogs about writing. And this weekend we are staying local and going to the beach. That's about it.
ReplyDeleteStephen Tremp
Jeanette,
ReplyDeleteYour fiction class sounds interesting. I'm thinking I need to take one soon. Would love to have you along; that would be fun! :)
Janna,
Thanks, I thought the picture was nice too. LOL, good way to put it! :)
Alex,
Actually I think the Coffeehouse has one of those! I know what you mean; there are days when I need something like that.
Carol,
I've heard Christina's classes are really good. I may need to check them out one of these days:)
Susan,
Thank you! Well, you are constantly learning new things through all those sources. I know you; you've always got your eyes and ears open:)
Tamika,
Good to see you:) Hope you are feeling well. I know what you mean. I want to go in so many directions but need to stay focused and finish some things first.
Lisa,
Thanks so much! Hope it is helpful:)
Patti,
I've a few deadlines and commitments of my own, but I'll see what fun I can muster and toss it your way:)
Stephen,
You're right; reading is helpful for keeping up. So are the many blogs. We're always learning aren't we?
Have a good weekend, all!
Karen
How exciting you are teaching a workshop! I'll try to check it out!
ReplyDeleteI have family in town for the holiday weekend. We plan to spend as much time as possible in the water!
Karen:
ReplyDeleteOur son is going camping at the state park outside of town. Hubby will probably go out some evenings. I'm not sure what I'll be doing. I have some skit scripts to polish and some blog entries to write. Yes, I'll be working on Labor Day.
We're heading to a lake in Eastern Washington - the dry, hot side of the state, for a weekend of water-skiing and family fun. Then we'll return early Monday to prepare ourselves for the school year.
ReplyDeleteAs far as stretching my writing muscles go . . . I haven't taken a class or workshop in a while althought I've been thinking about it, but I have started working my way through A WRITER'S BOOK OF DAYS by Judy Reeves. There are some wonderful writing prompts in there, as well as some thought-provoking tips.
Alisa,
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great time with your family. Hope the weather is nice for you too!
Cecelia,
Will they make s'mores, do you think? :) I'll be working on Labor Day too. Writing of course.
Tyrean,
Sounds like a wonderful weekend! Have a great time! Thanks for the tip about the book:)
Blessings to each of you,
Karen
Excellent link Karen. I wonder about my time, but I would love to take a course. I'm sure it would dramatically improve my writing. *hugs*
ReplyDeleteWill check it out.
Looks like some great topics in the workshops. I've never done anything online like that-- I think I'd prefer an in physical classroom experience. I took a correspondence writing course from Long Ridge Writer's Group several years ago, but I didn't complete it.
ReplyDeleteLee
Tossing It Out
Robyn,
ReplyDeleteThank you:) Yes, I agree, it's not worth it if you don't have the time. But when you do, they can be such a good thing to help us improve. I'm all for that!
Lee,
I think they offer a nice assortment of courses there too. So did you like the LRWG course? I've considered taking one of their courses. Having taken and enjoyed some from their sister school, the Institute for Children's Literature, I thought LR might be good too.
Blessings to each of you,
Karen
Long Ridge seemed to have a pretty good program. I like that you could work at your own pace. Each piece I sent in was carefully gone over by my own personal critiquer who was a published author. The hand written notes she left on my works were very helpful and she would supplement this with occasional letters written directly to me. The curriculum was comprehensive and well structured.
ReplyDeleteSadly my writing discipline was no where as good as it is now and I had a rather time consuming job at the time that didn't allow me to stick with the course like I should have.
I would recommend Long Ridge for a well self-disciplined writer wanting to do a course by mail.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Karen---I love the metaphor of cross-training. I have had success with young writers when they work on multi-genre projects. One subject that they're passionate about, and the genres are unlimited.
ReplyDeletePoessays are also something that often get great results. Writers take a subject they could rant and rave about in a long essay, but they have to boil it down to the length of a free-verse poem.
Another possibility...Type up and cut into strips various lines from poems. Have the writers choose one that speaks to them, and they then use that as a springboard to begin a story.
Like all writers, I am a cunning thief. I am going to steal your "cross training" idea, but I will give you credit when I do...
My daughter is a keen writer, I will get her to take a look!!
ReplyDeleteLee,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping back and sharing that info! Good to know, for as I said, I've thought about taking one of their offerings. You are correct, a measure of self discipline is necessary, glad you have more time to devote to writing now.
Sioux,
Glad you like it! I agree, mixing things up for students makes it fun and interesting, and somehow more do-able for many. I love to use this method to build their confidence. Thank you for allowing me credit; hopefully the idea will inspire teacher and student alike:)
Thanks and blessings to each of you,
Karen