Jane Austen Addict Blog

The Dates of My Next Writing Workshop Have Changed

STORYTELLING TECHNIQUES FOR FICTION WRITERS, which I am teaching at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena, CA, will take place over six Tuesdays, beginning April 14 to May 19th, 6:30 to 8:30 PM.

Ever wondered how to "show, don't tell"? Then this workshop is for you.

For detailed information on what I cover in this class, please visit Vroman's website.

To register, call Vroman's at 626-449-5320.

Hope to see you there!

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict: UK Edition

What an exciting week this is. Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict is just out in the UK, published by Bloomsbury with a gorgeous new cover.

It's hard to tell from the picture, but the gold is shiny, and the title is in raised letters over creamy white. It's as yummy as a box of white chocolates wrapped in gold foil and a shiny red ribbon.

And to make things even sweeter, one of my favorite bloggers, Laurel Ann of Austenprose, wrote a lovely review.

My Workshop: Storytelling Techniques for Fiction Writers

Yes, I'm teaching it again.

For six Tuesdays beginning March 31, I'll be teaching Storytelling Techniques for Fiction Writers at my favorite indie bookstore, Vroman's in Pasadena, CA.

To register, please call Vroman's at 626-449-5320.

Here's a description of the class:

Writing a compelling story is about revealing the world of your protagonist in a way that keeps the reader engaged and eager to know what happens next. In this class, I will explore how to “show, don't tell” and breathe life into the page.

The principles and techniques I will cover include:

*    establishing character goals and desires
*    revealing internal and external conflict (obstacles to achieving those goals)
*    choosing a point of view (first-person, third-person, or omniscient) that best serves your story
*    unfolding events in immediate scene and narrative summary
*    maintaining suspense and tension
*    engaging the senses
*    evoking emotions
*    using metaphors and similes judiciously
*    writing effective and engaging dialogue
*    getting into and out of flashbacks

The class will include explanations and examples of these principles plus in-class writing exercises that put the principles into practice. If time permits, I will read out the exercises students wish to share and offer comments and suggestions. This is a safe and encouraging environment in which there is no peer critiquing or commenting.

Suggested (but not required) text: Stein on Writing by Sol Stein.

The fee for this class is $350 plus tax. To register, please call Vroman's at (626) 449-5320.