September 28, 2007 | Online Classes, Linkage, Uncategorized

Okay - this is it. The last day to sign up for my online class. Go here for more info and a way to get in on the action.

Also, is everyone getting involved with the whole Giving thing? I admire Clinton so much for what he’s doing to make a difference in the world. I’ve volunteered (using commitments.org) to help me find a perfect match for my time and my skills. I’m going to be working on editing and composing letters for 2nd Chance 4 Pets, an organization dedicated to making sure our pets are taken care of in case something happens to us.

There are literally thousands of opportunities for giving, hundreds you can do from home. Did you know people who volunteer live longer?

And speaking of making a difference - this year, Dotes and I are participating in Heifer International - making one big donation that will be our Christmas/Hanukkah gift to everyone we love. Honestly, all our friends pretty much have everything they need, and what better way to celebrate the season than to transform a family’s life. If you haven’t heard of Heifer’s International, go check it out.

There’s still time to sign up for ForensicU - an all forensic weekend sponsored by Sister’s in Crime. It’s running from Nov 1 - 4 in St. Louis, and I’m so excited about it! Here’s the info: ForensicU

September 22, 2007 | Online Classes

Course No.: 103

Workshop Description: Here’s what I believe: Novels that involve the reader are about characters. Special characters. Characters who, through the course of the novel, go through a transformation. In romance novels, the characters transform because of their involvement with the other primary character (as opposed to, say, finding Moby Dick). I also believe that the only reason for plot is to force our characters into situations that make them have to chose. To transform.

The Core Decision is all about creating characters. It’s about using your own life, the joys, the tragedies, the love, the desperation that made us who we are. It’s about breathing life into your hero and heroine and your villain so that each of them leap off the page and into the reader’s heart. In this workshop, we will cover:

The Core Decision

* The Child’s Interpretation
* The Decision
* The Fallout
* Reinforcements
* Recognition
* The New Decision
* Actions = Transformations

The Process of Discovery

* Remembering
* Writing it out
* Shame
* Pain

The Fatal Flaw

* Character Arc and Emotions
* Transference — how plot reveals character
* Multiple Levels of Interaction — All the Yous of You

About the Instructor: Jolie Kramer, who writes romance under the name Jo Leigh, is a two-time RITA finalist and bestselling author of over 45 novels. She began her career in film, where she studied with Robert McKee, Syd Field and other brilliant teachers. Her TV series Mystagogue was optioned by Cinemax, and her screenplay Geezer’s Run was optioned by Northern Lights Productions. She also ghost-authored Great Big Beautiful Doll- The Anna Nicole Smith Story. Jolie has taught story structure and writing classes in workshops all over the country. To get her complete bibliography and learn more about her, go to www.joleigh.com.

Deadline to Register: September 28th.

September 9, 2007 | Online Classes

Sorry I didn’t post this last night. The winner of the free online class is…

Jessica Tudor!

Jessica, I’ll be sending you the information you need via email. Congratulations!

September 5, 2007 | Online Classes

Alison Kent is sponsoring a contest today to win a free pass to my Oct online class: The Core Decision: Finding the Key to Character Transformation Using Your Own Life. For more info about the class, go here. To enter for a free tuition, go here.

And wow, check out what PBW has to say! :

Kidnapped! is Jo Leigh’s latest release, and I loved it for a number of reasons. It’s so audacious, emotionally-charged and unpredictable that it leaves you breathless. You never know what’s going to happen next in this novel. Technically speaking, the plotting in this one is insane; it demanded precise balancing in order for it to work, and she pulled it off without a single hitch. By the end I wasn’t quite sure how she’d done it. I got so caught up in the story that I stopped paying attention to the mechanics.

She’s giving away a copy of Kidnapped!, so don’t forget to visit.

August 30, 2007 | Online Classes, Writing

I’m going to be giving an online class in October. I’ve never taught an online class, although I’ve done oodles in person, so this should be interesting.

Course No.: 103

Here’s what I believe: Novels that involve the reader are about characters. Special characters. Characters who, through the course of the novel, go through a transformation. In romance novels, the characters transform because of their involvement with the other primary character (as opposed to, say, finding Moby Dick). I also believe that the only reason for plot is to force our characters into situations that make them have to chose. To transform.

The Core Decision is all about creating characters. It’s about using your own life, the joys, the tragedies, the love, the desperation that made us who we are. It’s about breathing life into your hero and heroine and your villain so that each of them leap off the page and into the reader’s heart. In this workshop, we will cover:

The Core Decision

* The Child’s Interpretation
* The Decision
* The Fallout
* Reinforcements
* Recognition
* The New Decision
* Actions = Transformations

The Process of Discovery

* Remembering
* Writing it out
* Shame
* Pain

The Fatal Flaw

* Character Arc and Emotions
* Transference — how plot reveals character
* Multiple Levels of Interaction — All the Yous of You

About the Instructor: Jolie Kramer, who writes romance under the name Jo Leigh, is a two-time RITA finalist and bestselling author of over 45 novels. She began her career in film, where she studied with Robert McKee, Syd Field and other brilliant teachers. Her TV series Mystagogue was optioned by Cinemax, and her screenplay Geezer’s Run was optioned by Northern Lights Productions. She also ghost-authored Great Big Beautiful Doll- The Anna Nicole Smith Story. Jolie has taught story structure and writing classes in workshops all over the country. To get her complete bibliography and learn more about her, go to www.joleigh.com/bio

Deadline to Register: September 28th.

Here’s where to register

This is hideously immodest, I know, but oh, well - the thing is, this class normally costs a whole heck of a lot more than $25. Seriously. So if it’s something you’re interested in, I’d go for it because I doubt very much that I’ll be offering it again at $25.

Be sure and let me know if you’re going to come play!

Also, I’m at Romancing the Blog today with serious questions about stuff. :)