BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Outreach International Writers, inc. - ECPv6.16.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Outreach International Writers, inc. X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://oiwi.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Outreach International Writers, inc. REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20220313T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20221106T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20230312T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20231105T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240617T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240628T170000 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20240502T194013Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240502T194013Z UID:10000004-1718611200-1719594000@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Ripping Hearts and Engaging Minds: Writing Angst Effectively - Tere Michaels DESCRIPTION:Ripping Hearts and Engaging Minds: Writing Angst Effectively \nSome people are angst junkies. They like their stories chock full of heart-ripping drama and trauma. Others like their angst just a delicate sprinkling on their story\, nothing too intense. What do these two extremes have in common? Angst (at whatever level) only works when it fits your characters\, and your story\, and the resolution rewards your reader for their journey to the end! \nIn this workshop\, we’ll talk about internal and external trauma\, how much is enough/too much\, what tone you’re going for and how to use angst effectively\, and most importantly\, how to write a satisfying ending. \nInstructor Bio: \nTere Michaels writes happily ever afters in the big city – with heaps of snark\, angst and humor. Her focus is on characters and all the ridiculous ways they trip through life and love. She has written fifteen books including her popular Faith\, Love & Devotion series\, and the superhero saga\, The Vigilante. \nShe has been presenting workshops on the writing process for over ten years. \n  URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/ripping-hearts-and-engaging-minds-writing-angst-effectively-tere-michaels/ CATEGORIES:Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Depositphotos_222261536_L.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240603T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240628T170000 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20240502T192730Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240502T192730Z UID:10000003-1717401600-1719594000@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Making Memes Using Stencil\, Book Brush\, & Canva - Melba Moon DESCRIPTION:Have you ever wanted to learn to make memes\, use templates\, or create videos to promote your books? Want to make your own covers? \nOIWI is excited to share a new workshop using Stencil\, Bookbrush\, and Canva. This month-long workshop will be interactive with one weekly Zoom and a groups io classroom for instruction and questions. \nEach week we will have four people (first come first serve) send a book cover to oiwi1965@gmail.com which will be used to make memes live. \nThose memes will be sent back to the owners! \nThe week for book covers and videos we will randomly select one person to be featured. \nAll three programs used in this workshop have free editions\, which won’t be quite as great as the paid versions\, but should be enough to get you started. \nThis workshop will be recorded and the link will be available to attendees. \nBio: \nFor the last few years Melba Moon has created all the promotional memes\, mockups\, and videos for OIWI. You may have seen some of her renderings on OIWI’s Facebook page. \nShe writes historical romantic suspense and contemporary romance. She lives in Georgia with her husband on one spoiled demanding little Pomeranian named Rowdy. She is active on both Kindle Vella and Kindle Unlimited. Her latest releases are The Highwayman’s Lady\, an historical romantic suspense and Remember Laura\, a contemporary romance with time travel\, ghostly interference\, star-crossed lovers and the enemies to lovers trope. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/making-memes-using-stencil-book-brush-canva-melba-moon/ CATEGORIES:Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Depositphotos_105629380_L.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240520T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240531T170000 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20240302T230517Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240513T155816Z UID:10000009-1716192000-1717174800@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Gut Punch: Using Emotional Conflict as Plot Intensive 2-week Workshop - Tere Michaels DESCRIPTION:Gut Punch: Using Emotional Conflict as Plot \nWhen we start writing\, we have an idea of how our readers will react to our stories. Do we want them to laugh? Cry? Gasp? Compose angry letters in their heads because how dare we? And what is the key to making that happen in the story? We create our characters and their internal journeys with this in mind\, then we place them in a plot that we hope will get the point across. (And get everyone – them and the readers – to the satisfying end of the book.)\n\nYour plot is the vehicle your characters use to experience and move through their Arcs. The plot is about how they learn and grow (fall then rise) or lose their way (rise then fall). Even if your book is about People Feeling Things\, there has to be some plot that ignites the change they go through.\n\nThis workshop will discuss the ways to use Emotional Conflict – your characters’ inner life – to plot your story. How do we select the right vehicle for these characters? How do we use their internal conflicts to reflect an exterior plot to get them where they need to be? We’ll examine the difference between internal conflict and external trauma and how they can bring a reader closer to the character – or drive them away. The end goal as always is – to gather the tools you need to write your best book! \nInstructor Bio: \nTere Michaels writes happily ever afters in the big city – with heaps of snark\, angst and humor. Her focus is on characters and all the ridiculous ways they trip through life and love. She has written fifteen books including her popular Faith\, Love & Devotion series\, and the superhero saga\, The Vigilante. \nShe has been presenting workshops on the writing process for over ten years. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/gut-punch-using-emotional-conflict-as-plot-intensive-2-week-workshop-tere-michaels/ CATEGORIES:Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Depositphotos_77079065_L.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240505T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240506T170000 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20240506T013338Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240506T013338Z UID:10000070-1714896000-1715014800@oiwi.org SUMMARY:The Board is Trying to Figure Out What is Wrong DESCRIPTION:Currently\, the website is not working correctly and no tickets are available for workshops. \nIf you are interested in a workshop\, please email Karen at karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com and I will invoice you for the workshop. \nThe board is currently trying to fix the website problem. We appreciate your understanding and patience. \n  URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/the-board-is-trying-to-figure-out-what-is-wrong/ CATEGORIES:Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Depositphotos_222261536_L.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240415T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240426T170000 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20240329T182944Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240505T181511Z UID:10000010-1713168000-1714150800@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Make Your Suspense Keep Readers on the Edge of Their Chairs 2-week Intensive workshop- Mary Marvella DESCRIPTION:Writing Suspense to Keep Your Readers on the Edge of Their Seats. \n(This applies to everything we write.) \nHave you ever picked up a book\, planning to read a chapter? Could you stop at one chapter? I have stayed up all night more than once because the writers had me in their clutches! \nWe writers often tell way too much when we write\, so we interrupt the action and allow readers to walk away for a while. Let’s look at editing away the stuff that doesn’t involve our readers to create that final draft readers can’t put down! \nInstructor Bio: \nMary Marvella has been a storyteller for as long as she can remember. The arrival of the book mobile was as exciting as hearing the music of the ice cream truck. As a child of the South\, she inherited the storytelling gene from her parents and her grandmamas. \nRetired from teaching classic works of the masters\, Mary plays let’s pretend with her characters. She has published 10 novels\, 1 book on editing\, and a collection of Christmas stories. \nMary tutors\, and coaches writers when she isn’t working on projects as a freelance editor.  She has always been a grammar geek who loved soaking up new knowledge and reading everything\, including labels on cereal boxes. \nGeorgia-raised\, she writes stories with a Southern flair. \nMary has taught workshops for Georgia Romance Writers\, Northeast Metro Atlanta Christian Writers\, Savvy Authors\, Hearts through History (RWA) and FF&P (RWA)\, and The Southern Pen Indie Conference. Mary loves teaching so much she published a book called Weeding of Your Manuscript: What Editors Wish You Knew URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/make-your-suspense-keep-readers-on-the-edge-of-their-chairs/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Copywriting-Suspense.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240415T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240426T170000 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20240206T020458Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240502T190927Z UID:10000006-1713168000-1714150800@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Plotting the Screenplay Way Intensive 2-week Workshop - Susan Palmquist DESCRIPTION:Plotting The Screenplay Way \nIn this two-week class we’ll use a simple screenplay method to plan out your book. You’ll learn to use an outline\, and work through a series of three acts. You’ll follow a set of guided questions and at the end you’ll have a blueprint and be ready to start writing your story. \n  \nInstructor Bio \nSusan Palmquist writes under her own name and also her pen name Vanessa Devereaux. She’s the author of 100 plus books\, including writing how tos\, mysteries and romances and a bestselling author of erotic romances and erotica. She pens three ongoing series called Perfect Pairing\, Big Sky County and the bestselling Kalispell Shifters. Her books have been bestsellers on all the major book sites\, including Amazon\, Bookstrand\, All Romance E Books(TOP 50 Author)\, Fictionwise\, and Kobo. She’s also a recipient of Evernight’s Reader’s Choice Award. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/plotting-the-screenplay-way-susan-palmquist/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Depositphotos_225197696_L.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240401 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240413 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20230524T175353Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240512T165433Z UID:10000050-1711929600-1712966399@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Character Building Part of 2 - Core Wounds 2-Week\, Sept 4th - Sept 15th DESCRIPTION:Workshop Description: \nCore Wounds: Core Wounds sit in the heart of every person – both real and fictional. An understanding of these deep-seated\, harmful “truths” we believe can lead to the creation of three-dimensional characters and emotionally impactful narratives readers will never forget. \nJoin us next month\, Part 3 in September for\, Using Emotional Conflicts for Plot \nInstructor Bio: \nTere Michaels writes happily ever afters in the big city – with heaps of snark\, angst and humor. Her focus is on characters and all the ridiculous ways they trip through life and love. She has written fifteen books including her popular Faith\, Love & Devotion series\, and the superhero saga\, The Vigilante. \nShe has been presenting workshops on the writing process for over ten years. Send her a message through her website (www.teremichaels.com) or connect with her on Facebook and Instagram. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/character-building-part-of-2-core-wounds-2-week-sept-4th-sept-15th/2024-04-01/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/New-Project-2022-11-17T150923.484.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240318T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240329T170000 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20231212T233356Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240502T190658Z UID:10000066-1710748800-1711731600@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Writing the Series Book Intensive 2-week Workshop - Susan Palmquist DESCRIPTION:Writing the Series Book\nEveryone loves a great series and in this two-week class\, you’ll be creating just that. We’ll work on your series bible\, creating characters your readers will love\, plots that keep them coming back for more and how to use cliffhangers to get your readers engaged in your series. \nInstructor Bio \nSusan Palmquist writes under her own name and also her pen name Vanessa Devereaux. She’s the author of 100 plus books\, including writing how tos\, mysteries and romances and a bestselling author of erotic romances and erotica. She pens many ongoing series. Her books have been bestsellers on all the major book sites\, including Amazon\, Bookstrand\, All Romance E Books(TOP 50 Author)\, Fictionwise\, and Kobo. She’s also a recipient of Evernight’s Reader’s Choice Award. For the last six years\, Susan has also been self-publishing her books. \nShe’s been teaching workshops for various RWA chapters for the last ten years and has been a writing tutor for eleven years for an online writing school. \nPrior to her writing career\, Susan worked in public relations and spent three years as a book publicist. \nSusan’s contact e-mail is susanpalm2010@gmail.com URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/writing-the-series-book-susan-palmquist/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Depositphotos_11964657_L.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240304 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240316 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20230524T175353Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240512T165433Z UID:10000049-1709510400-1710547199@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Character Building Part of 2 - Core Wounds 2-Week\, Sept 4th - Sept 15th DESCRIPTION:Workshop Description: \nCore Wounds: Core Wounds sit in the heart of every person – both real and fictional. An understanding of these deep-seated\, harmful “truths” we believe can lead to the creation of three-dimensional characters and emotionally impactful narratives readers will never forget. \nJoin us next month\, Part 3 in September for\, Using Emotional Conflicts for Plot \nInstructor Bio: \nTere Michaels writes happily ever afters in the big city – with heaps of snark\, angst and humor. Her focus is on characters and all the ridiculous ways they trip through life and love. She has written fifteen books including her popular Faith\, Love & Devotion series\, and the superhero saga\, The Vigilante. \nShe has been presenting workshops on the writing process for over ten years. Send her a message through her website (www.teremichaels.com) or connect with her on Facebook and Instagram. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/character-building-part-of-2-core-wounds-2-week-sept-4th-sept-15th/2024-03-04/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/New-Project-2022-11-17T150923.484.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240219T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240301T170000 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20231212T230024Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240502T190453Z UID:10000063-1708329600-1709312400@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Promoting You & Your Brand - Susan Palmquist DESCRIPTION:Promoting You and Your Brand –  \nIn this two-week class\, we’ll look at ways to promote yourself\, your books\, and your overall brand. We’ll be focusing more on organic ways to promote rather than rely on social media. We’ll also look at building your website and using it to sell your work. \nInstructor Bio \nSusan Palmquist writes under her own name and also her pen name Vanessa Devereaux. She’s the author of 100 plus books\, including writing how tos\, mysteries and romances and a bestselling author of erotic romances and erotica. She pens many ongoing series. Her books have been bestsellers on all the major book sites\, including Amazon\, Bookstrand\, All Romance E Books(TOP 50 Author)\, Fictionwise\, and Kobo. She’s also a recipient of Evernight’s Reader’s Choice Award. For the last six years\, Susan has also been self-publishing her books. \nShe’s been teaching workshops for various RWA chapters for the last ten years and has been a writing tutor for eleven years for an online writing school. \nPrior to her writing career\, Susan worked in public relations and spent three years as a book publicist. \nSusan’s contact e-mail is susanpalm2010@gmail.com URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/promoting-you-your-brand-susan-palmquist/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Depositphotos_42115647_L.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240205T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240301T170000 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20231212T224836Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240502T190317Z UID:10000062-1707120000-1709312400@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Why Don't I Get 5-Star Reviews? - Beth Henderson DESCRIPTION:WHY DON’T I GET 5* REVIEWS?!!! \nLooking in Depth at Upping Your Review Rung \nPresenter: Beth Daniels\, aka Beth Henderson\, J.B. Dane\, Nied Darnell \n4-week Workshop \nNot long ago at the meeting of my local critique group\, one of the members whined about yet another 3* review. We all sympathized with her\, then she looked across the table at me and moaned\, “Yeah\, but you get 5* reviews!” \nEver feel that way yourself? Then this workshop is for YOU! \nI don’t\, by the way\, always get 5* reviews. You can’t please everyone. But those same titles do snag far more 5* reviews than the irritating 3* or even 1*. Actually\, I don’t understand why anyone even bothers to write a review if they rated the story as so bad it merited a 1*.  \nWhat we’ll do in this workshop is look at what reviewers note in those 5*\, 4*\, 3*\, 2*\, and 1* reviews. When it’s something bad or sad\, we’ll figure out how in the next book you write\, you’ll keep that in mind and up your own ante in the review market. \nWe’ll be tearing a lot of books apart. Those from writers who get those glowing reviews and our own stories as well. \nAlong the way\, you’ll begin telling much better stories (I hope!)\, the kind that so sweep readers away that they award a 5* review. It won’t be an easy climb\, but it’s a doable one! \nJoin me for a new look at your own work! \n  \nPresenter’s BIO: Beth Daniels’s career as a published author tallies up 34 years in 2024. She has written in many genre niches and under many different names. Currently she’s down to using just four: one her real name for nonfiction\, her ex-married name for contemporary and historical romantic mystery\, adventure\, and comedy\, and two entirely made-up names for urban fantasy mystery comedy and alternative 19th century historical action adventure with a touch of mystery and romance. \nBefore there were review rating systems\, Amazon\, Goodreads\, Bookbub\, and the various options on the web\, she landed praise from Kirkus Reviews\, Publishers Weekly\, and the now kaput Romantic Times. She’s sweep up “award winning” kudos under both Beth Henderson and J.B. Dane. Does that mean she’s totally awesome? Not quite\, though she had a couple titles land within the top ten best sellers for a week each on a now defunct bookseller’s list. Right now\, she’s happy with the collection of 5*s. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/why-dont-i-get-5-star-reviews-beth-henderson/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Depositphotos_146937057_L.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240205T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240216T170000 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20231212T223543Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231212T223543Z UID:10000065-1707120000-1708102800@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Turning Short Stories (and Novellas) Into Cash - Susan Palmquist - DESCRIPTION:Turning Short Stories (and Novellas) into Cash \nIn this two-week class we’ll focus on writing short stores and novellas that can earn you extra income when you’re between writing longer novels. Short stories are also perfect for keeping your writing skills sharp and also introducing you and your work to potential readers. We’ll look at how these stories differ from their longer counterparts and also types of markets for shorter pieces\, including anthologies. \n  \nInstructor Bio \nSusan Palmquist writes under her own name and also her pen name Vanessa Devereaux. She’s the author of 100 plus books\, including writing how tos\, mysteries and romances and a bestselling author of erotic romances and erotica. She pens many ongoing series. Her books have been bestsellers on all the major book sites\, including Amazon\, Bookstrand\, All Romance E Books(TOP 50 Author)\, Fictionwise\, and Kobo. She’s also a recipient of Evernight’s Reader’s Choice Award. For the last six years\, Susan has also been self-publishing her books. \nShe’s been teaching workshops for various RWA chapters for the last ten years and has been a writing tutor for eleven years for an online writing school. \nPrior to her writing career\, Susan worked in public relations and spent three years as a book publicist. \nSusan’s contact e-mail is susanpalm2010@gmail.com URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/turning-short-stories-and-novellas-into-cash-susan-palmquist/ CATEGORIES:Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Depositphotos_4082619_L.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240205 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240217 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20230524T175353Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240512T165433Z UID:10000048-1707091200-1708127999@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Character Building Part of 2 - Core Wounds 2-Week\, Sept 4th - Sept 15th DESCRIPTION:Workshop Description: \nCore Wounds: Core Wounds sit in the heart of every person – both real and fictional. An understanding of these deep-seated\, harmful “truths” we believe can lead to the creation of three-dimensional characters and emotionally impactful narratives readers will never forget. \nJoin us next month\, Part 3 in September for\, Using Emotional Conflicts for Plot \nInstructor Bio: \nTere Michaels writes happily ever afters in the big city – with heaps of snark\, angst and humor. Her focus is on characters and all the ridiculous ways they trip through life and love. She has written fifteen books including her popular Faith\, Love & Devotion series\, and the superhero saga\, The Vigilante. \nShe has been presenting workshops on the writing process for over ten years. Send her a message through her website (www.teremichaels.com) or connect with her on Facebook and Instagram. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/character-building-part-of-2-core-wounds-2-week-sept-4th-sept-15th/2024-02-05/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/New-Project-2022-11-17T150923.484.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240108T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240202T170000 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20231115T022709Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231119T050742Z UID:10000058-1704700800-1706893200@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Imagination in Overdrive: Save the Plot Challenge! - Beth Henderson DESCRIPTION:Have you ever completed a story or been partway through writing one when you realized “This just isn’t working as it should”? I’ve been there and I’ve finagled my way out. Sometimes not as quickly as I’d like\, but that’s why I realized my imagination was coasting\, not actually pulling its weight. \nIt needed a challenge! One that would SAVE THE PLOT! SAVE THE CHARACTERS because they were sorta ho-hum and dragging the story down. \nThat’s what the aim is in this four-week workshop: to Stop Writing Tales that Rate a “Meh”! \nWe’ll look at the genre niche requirements and also at what other writers have done to up their ante in one you’ve chosen. \nWe’ll put the characters under a microscope (sorta) to sort out why they aren’t jumping off the page and into OUR hearts\, because if they aren’t\, why would a reader want to hang out with them? If you don’t love everything about them\, there’s a problem. And this isn’t just the characters with the stars on their dressing room doors\, it’s the entire cast! \nThe Plot itself won’t get overlooked either. We’ll move from first thoughts about it to finding solutions\, and then we’ll see if it needs an adrenaline boost and what would create that boost. \nThis has a lot to do with building in twists\, withholding data from backstory to a point where it makes a reader’s mouth drop open in shock\, but also the action (whether is in a love scene or fight scene). \nBut even more\, in dreaming up surprises that no one sees coming. That’s what gets a story talked about as a “you’ve got to read this” book! \nJoin me for four weeks of putting your imagination in over-drive! \nPresenter’s BIO: Beth Daniels has been turning out novels—published novels—for three decades and counting. She’s done so in various genre niches and under a variety of pseudonyms for a varied audience of age group (YA to adult) and reading preference: historical romantic adventure\, historical romantic mystery\, romantic comedy\, romantic suspense\, urban fantasy PI mystery comedy\, alternative history (Steampunk\, 1920s Dieselpunk\, 1880s London Gaslamp fantasy)\, and cozy mystery. She’s traditionally published but also does Independent Publishing releases. In fact\, if you actually hung out with her\, you’d find she has but one passion: writing genre fiction. She has a BA in History\, an MA in English Composition and creative writing\, has taught at the college level but prefers the virtual classrooms of Online Workshops\, which she’s been presenting since 2010.  URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/imagination-in-overdrive-save-the-plot-challenge-beth-henderson/ CATEGORIES:Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/fan.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240101 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240113 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20230524T175353Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240512T165433Z UID:10000047-1704067200-1705103999@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Character Building Part of 2 - Core Wounds 2-Week\, Sept 4th - Sept 15th DESCRIPTION:Workshop Description: \nCore Wounds: Core Wounds sit in the heart of every person – both real and fictional. An understanding of these deep-seated\, harmful “truths” we believe can lead to the creation of three-dimensional characters and emotionally impactful narratives readers will never forget. \nJoin us next month\, Part 3 in September for\, Using Emotional Conflicts for Plot \nInstructor Bio: \nTere Michaels writes happily ever afters in the big city – with heaps of snark\, angst and humor. Her focus is on characters and all the ridiculous ways they trip through life and love. She has written fifteen books including her popular Faith\, Love & Devotion series\, and the superhero saga\, The Vigilante. \nShe has been presenting workshops on the writing process for over ten years. Send her a message through her website (www.teremichaels.com) or connect with her on Facebook and Instagram. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/character-building-part-of-2-core-wounds-2-week-sept-4th-sept-15th/2024-01-01/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/New-Project-2022-11-17T150923.484.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231204 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231216 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20230524T175353Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240512T165433Z UID:10000046-1701648000-1702684799@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Character Building Part of 2 - Core Wounds 2-Week\, Sept 4th - Sept 15th DESCRIPTION:Workshop Description: \nCore Wounds: Core Wounds sit in the heart of every person – both real and fictional. An understanding of these deep-seated\, harmful “truths” we believe can lead to the creation of three-dimensional characters and emotionally impactful narratives readers will never forget. \nJoin us next month\, Part 3 in September for\, Using Emotional Conflicts for Plot \nInstructor Bio: \nTere Michaels writes happily ever afters in the big city – with heaps of snark\, angst and humor. Her focus is on characters and all the ridiculous ways they trip through life and love. She has written fifteen books including her popular Faith\, Love & Devotion series\, and the superhero saga\, The Vigilante. \nShe has been presenting workshops on the writing process for over ten years. Send her a message through her website (www.teremichaels.com) or connect with her on Facebook and Instagram. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/character-building-part-of-2-core-wounds-2-week-sept-4th-sept-15th/2023-12-04/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/New-Project-2022-11-17T150923.484.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231202T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231202T120000 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20231112T042411Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231119T044105Z UID:10000057-1701504000-1701518400@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Generative AI - Getting some AI help with that first draft - Patrick Haggerty - 1-Day Zoom Masterclass - Free for Members Only! December 2\, 2023\, 8 am to 12 pm EST DESCRIPTION:Generative AI – Getting some AI help with that first draft – Patrick Haggerty \nFree workshop for members only! \nGenerative AI technologies like Chat GPT and Bard seem to be all over the news these days. Some articles have them disrupting the world as we know it\, while others seem to make GenAI sound like a worthless toy. The reality is that Generative AI technologies like Chat GPT and Bard can help writers in several useful ways. Join OIWI’s own\, Patrick Haggerty\, as he discusses the uses and challenges of working with GenAI. Topics will include:\n\n\nGenAI options: Duet for Google Docs\, CoPilot or Word\, ChatGPT\, and Bard\nIdeation: getting ideas when you need them\nOutlining: if you believe in that sort of thing\nSummarization\nResearch\nPossible concerns and limitations\n\nInstructor Bio: \nAfter four years in the USMC\, Pat Haggerty studied Actuarial Science and Computers at Georgia State University. He has spent the past 16+ years developing and delivering technical training courses for Learning Tree International and runs a successful consulting practice doing web application development for clients ranging from the United State Marines to Delta Airlines. Seven years ago\, stuck reading a mediocre book in yet another hotel\, Pat decided to try his hand at fiction. He may not be published\, but these days you are much more likely to find him spending his evenings writing romance than code. Patrick is an active member of RWA\, RWAustralia\, RWNew Zealand\, and is President for GCRWA\, and former president of OIRWA. Patrick is OIWi’s tech wizard/website guru as well as serving on the OIWi Board as Member-at-Large. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/mystery-workshop-free-for-members/ CATEGORIES:Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ai-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231106 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231118 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20230524T175353Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240512T165433Z UID:10000045-1699228800-1700265599@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Character Building Part of 2 - Core Wounds 2-Week\, Sept 4th - Sept 15th DESCRIPTION:Workshop Description: \nCore Wounds: Core Wounds sit in the heart of every person – both real and fictional. An understanding of these deep-seated\, harmful “truths” we believe can lead to the creation of three-dimensional characters and emotionally impactful narratives readers will never forget. \nJoin us next month\, Part 3 in September for\, Using Emotional Conflicts for Plot \nInstructor Bio: \nTere Michaels writes happily ever afters in the big city – with heaps of snark\, angst and humor. Her focus is on characters and all the ridiculous ways they trip through life and love. She has written fifteen books including her popular Faith\, Love & Devotion series\, and the superhero saga\, The Vigilante. \nShe has been presenting workshops on the writing process for over ten years. Send her a message through her website (www.teremichaels.com) or connect with her on Facebook and Instagram. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/character-building-part-of-2-core-wounds-2-week-sept-4th-sept-15th/2023-11-06/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/New-Project-2022-11-17T150923.484.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231002 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231028 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20230625T205931Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231105T225523Z UID:10000061-1696204800-1698451199@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Ready\, Set\, Go DESCRIPTION:Workshop Description: \nHave you tried to write a novel in 30 days? Failed every time at NaNoWriMo? Not this year because this October you’ll be transformed into a marathon writer in training. We’ll start with some warm up writing exercises and prompts and then move onto problems you’ve encountered in the past. The final two weeks will focus on the story you hope to write in 30 days.  \nInstructor Bio: \nSusan writes under her own name and her pen name Vanessa Devereaux. She’s the author of 80 plus books\, including writing how tos\, mysteries and romances and a bestselling author of erotic romances and erotica. She pens three ongoing series called Perfect Pairing\, Big Sky County and the bestselling Kalispell Shifters. \nShe’s been teaching workshops for the last five years and is also a tutor for Writing Magazine Writing Courses. \nYou can visit her website at www.thiswriterslife.com. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/ready-set-go/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/images.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231002 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231028 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20230625T204424Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231105T225549Z UID:10000060-1696204800-1698451199@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Writing Suspense to Keeping Readers on the Edge of their Seats DESCRIPTION:Workshop Description: \nWriting Suspense to Keep Your Readers on the Edge of Their Seats. \n(This applies to everything we write.) \nHave you ever picked up a book\, planning to read a chapter? Could you stop at one chapter? I have stayed up all night more than once because the writers had me in their clutches! \nWe writers often tell way too much when we write\, so we interrupt the action and allow readers to walk away for a while. Let’s look at editing away the stuff that doesn’t involve our readers to create that final draft readers can’t put down! \nInstructor Bio: \nMary Marvella has been a storyteller for as long as she can remember. The arrival of the book mobile was as exciting as hearing the music of the ice cream truck. As a child of the South\, she inherited the storytelling gene from her parents and her grandmamas. \nRetired from teaching classic works of the masters\, Mary plays let’s pretend with her characters. She has published 10 novels\, 1 book on editing\, and a collection of Christmas stories. \nMary tutors\, and coaches writers when she isn’t working on projects as a freelance editor.  She has always been a grammar geek who loved soaking up new knowledge and reading everything\, including labels on cereal boxes. \nGeorgia-raised\, she writes stories with a Southern flair. \nMary has taught workshops for Georgia Romance Writers\, Northeast Metro Atlanta Christian Writers\, Savvy Authors\, Hearts through History (RWA) and FF&P (RWA)\, and The Southern Pen Indie Conference. Mary loves teaching so much she published a book called Weeding of Your Manuscript: What Editors Wish You Knew URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/writing-suspense-to-keeping-readers-on-the-edge-of-their-seats/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Copywriting-Suspense.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231002 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231028 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20230602T040030Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231105T225616Z UID:10000055-1696204800-1698451199@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Writing Paranormal Romance DESCRIPTION:Workshop Description: \nIt’s hard enough for boy to meet girl\, girl to meet boy\, or even boy to meet boy or girl to meet girl\, as the case may be\, and then fall in love. \nWe have Romeo and Juliette and the Hatfields and McCoys as examples of lovers from warring families falling in love. It definitely didn’t work out well for Shakespeare’s young lovers. I’m not sure where it was for the lovers in the 19th century family wars along the West Virginia-Kentucky border as two McCoy women wed Hatfield men and four McCoy men wed Hatfield women. But even when the in-laws want to kill each other\, it isn’t as tricky as being a shapeshifter or magic user who finds true love in the opposite camp. \nThat’s what this 4-week workshop concentrates on: love between the…er…species. Humans can fall in love with werebeings\, with vampires\, elves\, a member of the Fae\, or…well\, even one of the old gods! Percy Jackson’s parents were certainly from different camps. \nWe’ll talk about what sort of shapeshifter hero or heroine to use\, what you want to keep or change in the legend (after all\, it’s werewolves that belong to the old European peasant legends\, not werebears\, weretigers\, etc.)\, and whether to have them get involved with a full human or with another type of shifter\, or an alchemist\, or a wizard\, or something else entirely! \nThese folks have got more problems to overcome than your average romantic couple. And they usually are falling in love or dealing with the relationship while other story elements are causing them headaches. These aren’t just love stories\, they tend to be action-adventure and even mystery/suspense tales. \nJoin me for a write on the really wild side where we play matchmaker to things that don’t really exist. \nOr do they? \nInstructor Bio: \nBeth Daniels never intended to write stories with either shapeshifters or magic users. She was writing romantic suspense\, romantic comedy\, and historical romance as Beth Henderson and doing very well at it as the 20th century closed down. But in the 21st century the market took some real twists. The first time she picked up an urban fantasy story to read it was supposed to be as a palate cleanser. Instead\, it turned into a new market for her as J.B. Dane where she spins The Raven Tales. When looking for someplace interested in Old West stories when that historical market fell from favor\, she became Nied Darnell to write Steampunk and then Dieselpunk and Gaslamp Fantasy. In the closing months of 2021\, she mixed romance and cozy mystery with a downsized paranormal element under her Beth Henderson pseudonym for a short series\, Whichur-Wolfe Detection. If nothing else\, she can definitely say she is currently in love with paranormal characters—particularly those that are born from her pen. Visit her at www.4TaleTellers.com under all her names. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/writing-paranormal-romance/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/art-blondes-fantasy-ghost-wallpaper-preview.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231002 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231014 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20230625T202232Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231105T225640Z UID:10000059-1696204800-1697241599@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Character Building Part of 3 - Using Emotional Conflicts as Plot 2-Weeks\, Oct 2th - Sept 13th DESCRIPTION:Workshop Description: \nUsing Emotional Conflicts as Plot: Finally\, we’ll talk about plot. How we construct a narrative to explore a character’s Core Wounds and serve as the right vehicle for their Emotional Arc is a vital part of harnessing this intense emotional connection. It can make the difference between a memorable story and one that falls flat. We’ll explore how plots can best serve your characters (and vice versa!) and how internal tension can be even more impactful than a truckload of external events! \nLast but not lease look for the 1-Day Master Class review in Nov. Exact date TBD (either the 5th or 12th) \nInstructor Bio: \nTere Michaels writes happily ever afters in the big city – with heaps of snark\, angst and humor. Her focus is on characters and all the ridiculous ways they trip through life and love. She has written fifteen books including her popular Faith\, Love & Devotion series\, and the superhero saga\, The Vigilante. \nShe has been presenting workshops on the writing process for over ten years. Send her a message through her website (www.teremichaels.com) or connect with her on Facebook and Instagram. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/character-building-part-of-3-using-emotional-conflicts-as-plot-2-week-oct-2th-sept-13th/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/emotions.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20231002 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20231014 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20230524T175353Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240512T165433Z UID:10000044-1696204800-1697241599@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Character Building Part of 2 - Core Wounds 2-Week\, Sept 4th - Sept 15th DESCRIPTION:Workshop Description: \nCore Wounds: Core Wounds sit in the heart of every person – both real and fictional. An understanding of these deep-seated\, harmful “truths” we believe can lead to the creation of three-dimensional characters and emotionally impactful narratives readers will never forget. \nJoin us next month\, Part 3 in September for\, Using Emotional Conflicts for Plot \nInstructor Bio: \nTere Michaels writes happily ever afters in the big city – with heaps of snark\, angst and humor. Her focus is on characters and all the ridiculous ways they trip through life and love. She has written fifteen books including her popular Faith\, Love & Devotion series\, and the superhero saga\, The Vigilante. \nShe has been presenting workshops on the writing process for over ten years. Send her a message through her website (www.teremichaels.com) or connect with her on Facebook and Instagram. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/character-building-part-of-2-core-wounds-2-week-sept-4th-sept-15th/2023-10-02/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/New-Project-2022-11-17T150923.484.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230918 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230930 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20230816T020918Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231105T225735Z UID:10000036-1694995200-1696031999@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Geeks & Fandom A 2-week Workshop DESCRIPTION:Workshop Description: \nWhat’s the deal with fan fiction? What about cosplay and comic book conventions? When did being geeks and nerdy become cool? What’s the story behind cosplay and Fandom? How you can create a geek character for your book? \nVal will answer all these questions when you join her on a 2-week quest to learn about all things fandom and she bets you’ll discover you have a bit of a fandom geek and you may not even know it! Val will take you on a journey so you learn what the buzz is about cosplay. Learn descriptions of what a typical convention is like\, and how to discover your inner geek for your character creations. \nInstructor Bio: \nVal has a Bachelor of Arts with Honors from Wichita State University\, focusing on ancient and medieval history. She has one year of Master’s study under her belt as well and finishing it is on the bucket list. Her undergraduate honors thesis was on the Macedonian and Ptolemaic attempts at divine ascendance through their own hubris and later adoption of Egyptian culture.

She has a deep-seated interest in Alexander the Great and Macedonian studies. She also focuses on ancient Egypt\, Greece\, Roman Britain\, Medieval Britain\, and Renaissance Italy. She fervently reads anything she can find on the Tudor dynasty.

She is a former historical reenactor with two museums\, Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita\, KS\, and Pawnee Bill Museum and Buffalo Ranch in Pawnee\, OK. Her family has been re-enactors since she was a small child\, focusing on the fur trade era of American history. She is also known to haunt Renaissance Faires and has served in a couple of courts.

History is more than a passion with Val. It’s a way of life. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/geeks-fandom-a-special-2-week-workshop/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BookBrushImage-2023-8-24-8-5286006.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230904 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230930 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20230524T220410Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231105T225757Z UID:10000054-1693785600-1696031999@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Blurb and Synopsis Writing DESCRIPTION:Workshop Description: \nWriting a marketing blurb can be difficult—you want to put so much into it\, but the point is to intrigue the reader. It needs to be short\, interesting\, and set the tone for the reader. On the other hand\, a synopsis needs to cover the entire story—the point of a synopsis is to let an agent or editor know you have a complete story with a beginning\, middle\, and end. All the major plot points should be included\, but it’s got to be short enough not to bore a reader. \nThis workshop will cover: \n– What Needs to be in a Synopsis \n– Theme\, Protagonist/Antagonist\, Character Goals\, Motivations\, \nAnd the Ending! \n– Hooking the Reader with Sizzle—the Blurb \n– Opening lines\, Opening Paragraphs \n– Tone and Tension in the Burb and the Synopsis \n– Use of Sub Plots and Other Characters \n– Going Past Clichés \n– Tired Phrases and Fresh Modifiers \n– Polish\, Polish\, Polish \n– Tense\, Editing\, Format \n– A Short Checklist \nBy doing the writing exercises\, you’ll come out of this with a marketing blurb and a short one to two page synopsis. \nInstructor Bio: \nShannon Donnelly’s writing has won numerous awards\, including the Indie BRAG Gold Medallion\, a nomination for Romance Writer’s of America’s RITA award\, the Grand Prize in the “Minute Maid Sensational Romance Writer” contest\, judged by Nora Roberts\, and others. Her writing has repeatedly earned 4½ Star Top Pick reviews from Romantic Times magazine\, as well as praise from Booklist and other reviewers\, who note: “simply superb”…”wonderfully uplifting”….and “beautifully written.” Her Regency romance\, Lady Chance\, and her Regency romance novella\, Davinia’s Duke\, were each awarded the Indie BRAG Gold Medallion. Davinia’s Duke also won the Bookseller’s Best award for best novella\, judged by readers and booksellers. \nIn addition to her Regency romances\, she is the author of the Mackenzie Solomon\, Demon/Warders Urban Fantasy series\, Burn Baby Burn and Riding in on a Burning Tire\, and the SF/Paranormal\, Edge Walkers. Her work has been on the top seller list of Amazon.com and includes the Historical romances\, The Cardros Ruby and Paths of Desire. \nShe lives in New Mexico where she is a licensed EMT-I and a volunteer Firefighter in what is one of the few “frontier” areas left in the US (yes\, New Mexico is a state)\, with room for horses\, dogs\, chickens and sustainable building. Shannon can be found online at shannondonnelly.com. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/blurb-and-synopsis-writing/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/www.learntyping.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230904 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230930 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20230524T184255Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231105T225854Z UID:10000037-1693785600-1696031999@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Time\, Place & Beyond - Bring your Setting to Life DESCRIPTION:Workshop Description: \nIn Time\, Place and Beyond: Bring Your Setting To Life\, will examine various methods for plunging your reader into your setting and making it real. \nWe will cover: \n\nThe Basics—Time\, place and mood.\nWorld Buildings—Researching your setting.\nMake Your Setting a Character—Give your setting a unique personality.\nStoryboarding—It’s not just for plotting anymore!\nThose Who Forget the Past—The history of your setting.\nGeography 101—You setting’s geography.\nMoody Blues—Creating your setting’s mood.\nIt’s Tradition!—How tradition and folklore can reveal your setting.\n\nIncluded in the workshop is a workbook with assignments\, worksheets\, and more. \nInstructor Bio: \nI believe I was destined to be interested in history. One of my distant ancestors\, Thomas Aubert\, reportedly sailed up the St. Lawrence River to discover Canada some 26 years before Jacques Cartier’s 1534 voyage. Another relative was a 17thCentury “King’s Girl\,” one of a group of young unmarried girls sent to New France (now the province of  Quebec) as brides for the habitants (settlers) there. \n  \nMy passion for reading made me long to write books like the ones I enjoyed\, and I tried penning sequels to my favorite Nancy Drew mysteries. Later\, fancying myself a female version of Andrew Lloyd Weber\, I drafted a musical set in Paris during WWII. \n  \nA former journalist and lifelong Celtophile\, I enjoyed a previous career as a reporter/editor for a small chain of community newspapers before returning to my first love\, romantic fiction. My stories usually include an Irish setting\, hero or heroine\, and sometimes all three. \n  \nI’m the author of The Claddagh Series\, historical romances set in Ireland and beyond\, and The Wild Geese Series\, in which five Irish heroes return from the American Civil War to find love and adventure. \nI’m a member of the Romance Writers of America\, Hearts Through History Romance Writers\, and the Quebec Writers Federation. A lifelong resident of Montreal\, Canada\, I still live there with my own Celtic hero. I have two adult children. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/time-place-beyond-bring-your-setting-to-life/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/s-l500.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230904 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230930 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20230524T182328Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231105T230000Z UID:10000053-1693785600-1696031999@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Writing the Historical Mystery DESCRIPTION:Workshop Description: \nIn WRITING THE HISTORICAL MYSTERY\, we’ll follow British policing from the Charleys (who replaced the Watch during the Restoration) to the Bow Street Runners\, to Peel’s innovations and expansion of the police\, which later introduced Special Branch and the detectives as separate departments. However\, as the Sûreté came into being during Napoleon’s era and created a network of former criminals now working undercover for Eugene Vidocq\, and the study of physiology expanded\, more and more ways to track miscreants and prove their guilt evolved quickly. By the close of the 19th century fingerprints and mug shots had been incorporated. We won’t just consider things from just the 1660s to the turn of the 19th into the 20th century though for our time machine will also consider what sleuths in earlier time periods might do for crime-solving techniques. \nInstructor Bio: \nBeth Daniels has been a workshop presenter in the virtual world nearly since they were invented! She writes mystery in more than one genre niche and under more than a single name and bounces from historical time periods to the contemporary one as though she was using a pogo stick. Currently\, a lot of her time is taken up hanging out with Bram Farrell\, the PI magic tosser in her Raven Tales comedic urban fantasy series\, written as J.B. Dane. She isn’t new to writing mysteries. Her first romantic suspense got the official thumbs up from Mystery Writers of America as qualifying as a mystery back in 1990. Since then\, she’s penned numerous novels\, novellas\, and short stories. In 2022\, her 37rd novel was released by The Wild Rose Press\, a romantic suspense\, and there is a new historical romantic mystery on the drawing board currently. Visit her at www.4TaleTellers.com. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/writing-the-historical-mystery/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/iStock_14825929_LARGE-magnifying-glass-Medium-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230904 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230930 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20230524T181240Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231105T230027Z UID:10000052-1693785600-1696031999@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Rejection Guaranteed DESCRIPTION:Workshop Description: \nDoes your story keep getting rejected but you’ve no idea why? You’d be surprised how many aspiring authors make similar mistakes. Ones that stand out to an editor and shout\, beginning writer here. After you take this four-week workshop\, that won’t be you. We’ll go through these deadly sins and focus on ways you can easily fix them. \nInstructor Bio: \nSusan writes under her own name and her pen name\, Vanessa Devereaux. She’s the author of 80 plus books\, including writing how-tos\, mysteries\, and romances\, and a bestselling author of erotic romances and erotica. She pens three ongoing series called Perfect Pairing\, Big Sky County\, and the bestselling Kalispell Shifters. \nShe’s been teaching workshops for the last five years and is also a tutor for Writing Magazine Writing Courses. \nYou can visit her website at www.thiswriterslife.com. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/rejection-guaranteed/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Deal-with-Rejection.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230904 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230916 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20230524T175353Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240512T165433Z UID:10000043-1693785600-1694822399@oiwi.org SUMMARY:Character Building Part of 2 - Core Wounds 2-Week\, Sept 4th - Sept 15th DESCRIPTION:Workshop Description: \nCore Wounds: Core Wounds sit in the heart of every person – both real and fictional. An understanding of these deep-seated\, harmful “truths” we believe can lead to the creation of three-dimensional characters and emotionally impactful narratives readers will never forget. \nJoin us next month\, Part 3 in September for\, Using Emotional Conflicts for Plot \nInstructor Bio: \nTere Michaels writes happily ever afters in the big city – with heaps of snark\, angst and humor. Her focus is on characters and all the ridiculous ways they trip through life and love. She has written fifteen books including her popular Faith\, Love & Devotion series\, and the superhero saga\, The Vigilante. \nShe has been presenting workshops on the writing process for over ten years. Send her a message through her website (www.teremichaels.com) or connect with her on Facebook and Instagram. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/character-building-part-of-2-core-wounds-2-week-sept-4th-sept-15th/2023-09-04/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/New-Project-2022-11-17T150923.484.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230724 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230729 DTSTAMP:20260514T070247 CREATED:20230308T024413Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230816T021903Z UID:10000040-1690156800-1690588799@oiwi.org SUMMARY:1-Week Intensive Writing a Multi Author Connected Series DESCRIPTION:Workshop Description: \nConnected series with shared locations and characters are hot! And multi-author connected series offer advantages over single-author series\, including increased promotion and the possibility of more frequent releases. But how do you put a multi-author connected series together? Join USA Today/Amazon bestselling author Melinda Curtis for the nuts and bolts of creating\, promoting\, and managing a multi-author connected series. Melinda has been in several such series\, both indie and hybrid\, both short and long-running. \nInstructor Bio: \nMelinda Curtis is the USA Today bestselling author of light‐hearted contemporary romance. In addition to her Sunshine Valley series from Forever\, she’s published independently and with Harlequin Heartwarming\, including her book Dandelion Wishes\, which was made into a TV movie – Love in Harmony Valley\, starring Amber Marshall. She lives in Oregon’s lush Willamette Valley with her husband – her basketball-playing college sweetheart. While raising three kids\, the couple did the soccer thing\, the karate thing\, the dance thing\, the Little League thing and\, of course\, the basketball thing. Now when Melinda isn’t writing and Mr. Curtis isn’t watching college basketball\, they do the DIY thing. URL:https://oiwi.org/workshop/1-week-intensive-writing-a-multi-author-connected-series/ CATEGORIES:Past Workshops ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oiwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/OIP-3.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Director of Education & Campus Services":MAILTO:karenmcatlinoiwi@gmail.com END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR