Join Flo Fitzpatrick for a fun workshop that will rev up your writing
by emphasizing action, body language and dialogue as techniques for portraying
your characters’ thoughts and feelings.

$20.00 (limit 25 participants)
To register or find out more about Athena Critique Services go to the register/questions page or
e-mail info @ athenacrits.com (no spaces)

Long time English teacher Paula Reed will be sharing her knowledge and helping with those pesky problems that plague most writers. Lie or Lay? Which or That? Comma or Dash?

Do I really have to keep all my prepositions from dangling? When can I bend the rules my high school English teacher marked off for?

Paula is my go-to person when I have a grammar question. Her advice is always sound and easy to understand and apply. Watch for Paula’s new book, Hester, coming in early 2010 from St. Martin’s Press.

“Lie” or “lay”? “Which” or “that”? Comma or dash?

These days, selling a manuscript is hard enough. Why not give yourself an edge by sending out the cleanest draft possible? Once you’ve sold your manuscript, be prepared to defend yourself against an over-eager copy editor.

Multi-published author and twenty-year English teacher Paula Reed will help you master the most common grammar and punctuation problems, such as correct word usage, putting modifiers in their place, and finally grasping the fine art of the comma.

Cost: $20.00
To register or find out more visit http://www.athenacrits.com or e-mail info @ athenacrits.com (no spaces)

Please forward this message to any writers or organizations who may be interested.
Thank you.

I’ll be adding more articles for writers in the future, so continue to check back.

Teresa

Athena Workshops presents
Creating the Yummy Hero
With multi-published author, Teresa Bodwell

February 2-13, 2009

Great heroes are like chocolate–luscious, good for nibbling and available in a variety of fillings. Using examples from books and movies, the workshop starts with the basic testosterone driven male in search of the hero within. Whether he’s a bad boy or smooth-talking charmer, a reluctant hero or a take-charge warrior every hero must have strength, compassion, determination, courage and the flaws that make him human. The author can mix, blend and measure these traits to make her hero unique.

This workshop looks beyond the Alpha/Beta debate and focuses on the techniques writers must use to portray a hero who is satisfying to his heroine and, in turn, to the reader.

Participants will have the opportunity to submit assignments for critique in each of four areas: physical description, mannerisms, dialogue and love scenes

Cost: $20.00
To register or find out more about Athena Critique Services, visit: http;//athenacrits.com or e-mail: info@athenacrits.com

Class size is limited! Please register soon.

Feel free to forward this announcement to any writers or groups who may be interested.

Thanks!

January 19-30: “Show – Don’t Tell” with multi-published author Flo Fitzpatrick
Are your characters spending too much time explaining, telling, thinking,
feeling, musing, wondering or debating? Let’s turn those “tell” sentences into
“showstoppers!”

Join Flo Fitzpatrick for a fun workshop that will rev up your writing
by emphasizing action, body language and dialogue as techniques for portraying
your characters’ thoughts and feelings.

$20.00 (limit 25 participants)
To register or find out more about Athena Critique Services visit
http://www.athenacrits.com or e-mail info @ athenacrits.com (no spaces)

Workshop with multi-published author, Teresa Bodwell
January 5-16
Every action scene needs to be Deep, Descriptive and Dynamic. Layers of emotion give the scene depth. The action must be clear and definite to carry the readers along for the ride. Finally, the scene must be energetic and forceful. Dynamic scenes create a reality that keeps the reader turning pages.

$20.00 (includes comments on action scenes from your WIP)

To register or find out more fill in our contact form.

October 20-31
Instructors: Sophia Johnson, Flo Fitzpatrick and Teresa Bodwell

Most readers (including agents and editors) make their buying decision in the first few pages. Using examples from first sales and bestsellers, participants will learn what makes a great opening hook and ending hook. Writing assignments include the opening paragraph, first page, five pages and the first chapter.

Register now by filling out our contact form.
Class size is limited.

Cost: $30 (for comments from 3 instructors)

Legal Issues For Writers Nov 3-14

3-D Action Scenes Jan 5-16

Show–Don’t Tell Jan 19-30

Creating the Yummy Hero Feb 2-13

Dialogue: Feb 16-27

April 20-May 1 “Batter Up!” Pitching Your Work on Paper and in Person

Every writer knows that having the right name for your characters is crucial. But how do you find that name? Sometimes a name just comes to me. It sounds right. It fits the character. But often I have to search.

I’ve used various baby books with some success. These can help you decide if the meaning of the name works and they often give you some idea of ethnicity. I finally found the The Writer’s Digest Character Naming Sourceook by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I love the book. It is sorted by ethnic origin and very detailed in its definitions. But it is a book and searching is somewhat limited. I wanted a searchable database.

Enter Muse Names from Muse Creations Software. I’ve been using this software for several months now and I love it. You can enter a name and find the meaning, ethnic origin, numerology and “soul urge.” You can also look up a name by meaning. Want a male name that means powerful? Enter “powerful” in the meaning blank, click mail and “Go!”. You’ve hit 146 names. You can limit these to the 17 that contain the letter “k” or th 14 that begin with the letter “m”. Or you can find the 2 Danish or 9 Teutpnic names that mean “powerful.” You get the idea. It’s a database, so there are lots of ways to search.

Often when I’m searching for just the right name, I find other names I like that don’t fit the character I have in mind. The software allows you to create a “Favorites” list. I use this list to store those names I think I may want to use in the future.

Download a free trial of Muse Names at: http://www.musecreations.com/software.html