RMFW Workshops - May early registration deadline approaching

If you haven't signed up for the May 21st Kirt Hickman workshop in Denver, now is the time to do so. The early registration deadline is the end of the month.

The Grand Junction workshop will be held June 11th (my daddy's birthday, just fyi). The early registration for that workshop is May 20th.

Check-in and breakfast starts at 8am and we'll serve you lunch.

For an added bonus, many of our award-winning Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers authors have donated their books as give-aways.

And one last enticement...both the Renaissance and the Hampton Inn have offered attendees a discounted rate if you decide to stay overnight the night before or the night after the workshop.

For those of you who have never been to one of Kirt's or Charlotte's workshops, you are in for a treat.

Let me know if you need more information.

Vicki
who is making up for a busy week of no blogging
I'll stop now

Lost Poetry Found and other stuff!

What I'm listening to: "Blessed Silence" by An Empty House
Do you ever have one of those days where you find something and go "Cool! This is fun!" Well, I found some of my old poetry. So, tell me what you think... unless it sucks...

Props

Being nice--you know, the sweet,

Quiet wallflower who smiles 

Brightly as You release 

Frustration upon her shoulders.

A five foot, three inch Atlas

Character forced to merely Exist

as a Prop for this Giant Promethian Challenge
                                               Marne Kirstatter
                

Well, that satisfied my need to validate my poetry, which brings me to a subject I've been thinking about today. A fellow writer-friend of mine is on the down side of her writing. We've all experienced it... Or at least those of us who are more human than android have. Sometimes writers need validated, and that is a very difficult thing to get when you are not published or winning contests. We need someone to tell us that our dream is worth while, that our writing is valuable, and that we don't suck Easter eggs.

And sometimes, we don't get that. I hear all the time (and it's true), writing is a solitary occupation. 

BUT there are ways to make it less so:

Join an on-line writers' group

Join a critique group (RMFW has some, RWA has a million...)

Join a writers group (a live one)

Go to conferences (The Colorado Gold is a GREAT One, and I'm going to the Crested Butte Writers' this year, too)

Go to workshops (RMFW is offering some, see Vicki's earlier posts)

Enroll in a Creative Writing class

Okay, that's all I can think of off the top of my head. But the theme here is, GET OUT THERE and SOCIALIZE! if writing is a solitary life, it's because you're allowing it to be.

And I think that's as much for me, as for anyone else. A reminder not to sit in my house and mope, but to get out, get the stink blown off me (as my mother used to say), and get the brain juices flowing...

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' June Workshop in Grand Junction

Come join Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers ( rmfw.org) at a workshop in beautiful Grand Junction, Colorado.

Charlotte Cook presented RMFW's 2010 May Education Event in Denver last year. Her workshop was a big hit, so we asked her back to present at our first Education Event on the Western Slope.

Charlotte Cook, MFA, is the former president and acquisition editor of KOMENAR Publishing. Now a full-time story editor and consultant on all matters regarding pre-agenting, Charlotte is a popular presenter at writers conferences and events (Willamette, Rocky Mountain Writers, California Central Coast, San Francisco Writers Conferences, South Carolina Writers Workshop, California Writers Club, among others), and a successful teacher and workshop facilitator. She has brought to publication far more books, articles and stories than the six award-winning novels she published for KOMENAR. As a result, Writers Digest Magazine interviewed Charlotte about her career and publishing company in February 2008.

Charlotte judged four fiction categories for the 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and will be the head judge of two fiction categories for the 2011 competition and awards.

In the workshop, we will delve into the real differences between developing a manuscript to completion and polishing the manuscript for an audience of agents and publishers. This practical, interactive and entertaining workshop covers drafts, editors and the best advice from the right people at the right time. Topics include:

o What you need to know about your manuscript to bring it to market
o Are you consistent in your choices of Point of View and Point of Narration
o What about Back Story, Chronology and Dialogue
o How do you determine the premise of your book for agents and editors
Charlotte requests that all attendees bring pages from their manuscripts to work on in class. She will use some of them as examples, meaning those volunteers who are chosen will get specific feedback on their work.

In addition to the workshop, three published authors, all long-standing members of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers will be present. Robin Owens ( http://www.robindowens.com ), Mario Acevedo ( http://www.marioacevedo.com/ ) and Christine Goff ( http://christinegoff.com/ ) will meet with attendees in scheduled, 10 minute appointments to answer industry related questions or critique the first two pages of a manuscript.

The workshop will be held at Two Rivers Plaza, Main Street, Grand Junction, on June 11, 2011, from 8am-4pm. RMFW will feed participants a continental breakfast during registration as well as a buffet lunch.

Also, Grand Valley Book Store, an independent bookseller located on Main Street in Grand Junction, will be present to sell Charlotte's, Robin's, Mario's and Christine's books.

Cost for the workshop is $70 if paid online or postmarked by May 20th, $85 for registration after May 20th and $95 at the door. The early registration date has changed in case you've seen previous emails. To register by mail, please send a check with a completed registration form (see attached) to:

Vicki Law
PO Box 452
Montrose, CO 81402

Soon, we will have more information and an online payment option on our website ( rmfw.org ).

Please let me know if you have any questions. And, please forward this on to any and all writers/groups you think might be interested.

Vicki Law
Education Chair
Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers
vruchhoeft@bresnan.net
(970) 497-6452