Those Who Forget the Past: Using Backstory to Enhance Your Novel
January 18, 2023 by marianne h donley in category Ages 2 Perfection Online Class, Events, Online Classes tagged as Aged to Perfection Online Class, Cynthia Owens, Online Class, Writing Backstory
Presented by: Cynthia Owens
Date: February 1 – 28, 2023 (one month)
Registration Closes: February 15, 2023
Pricing: A2P Member fee: $20
Non-A2P Member fee: $30
About the Workshop:
In Those Who Forget History: Using Backstory to Enhance Your Novel, students will examine how to use backstory effectively to enhance their stories using elements of a character’s past.
We will cover:
• What is Backstory?
• Flashbacks and How to Use Them,
• The Five Ws of Backstory—Who, What, Where, When and Why—of a character’s past.
• Prologues—how to use a prologue to provide backstory.
• Dialogue—how to manipulate your readers by using a character’s dialogue to hint at backstory.
• Weaving—how to weave backstory into your story.
• Inner Thought—revealing your character’s backstory through inner thought.
• What Do They Want?—how your character’s backstory can affect his goals.
• The New Way to Plot: Using backstory to plot your novel
Included in the workshop is a workbook with assignments, checklists, and more.
About the Presenter:
I 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.
My 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.
A 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.
0 1 Read moreSecond Chance Romances
October 20, 2022 by marianne h donley in category Ages 2 Perfection Online Class, Online Classes tagged as Aged to Perfection Online Class, Deborah A Bailey, Seasoned Romance
Presented by: Deborah A. Bailey
Date: November 7 – 18, 2022 (two week)
Pricing: A2P Member fee: $10
Non-A2P Member fee: $25
About the Workshop:
Second chance romance is a popular trope that covers a lot of situations. A chance to make up after a split. A second chance at love for “older” heroines. Another chance for love after heartbreak or trauma. Second chances come in many forms and readers love to experience them. Learn how to build your character’s backstory and make their second chance extra satisfying for your readers.
- What kind of second chance does your character desire?
- Determining the risks and rewards for your characters.
- Healing from trauma and loss—identifying the obstacles to love
- Building a backstory—why is your character in this situation?
- Make the reader care—how they can become invested in your character’s journey
About the Presenter:
Deborah A Bailey has presented various writing workshops for SavvyAuthors.com and the Sayreville Public Library, including topics such as Writing Your Book in First Person POV, Creating Intimate Scenes Without Going All the Way and Introduction to Self-Publishing.
Her science fiction and paranormal romance novels include suspense, a bit of mystery and a lot of romantic heat. Her short stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference and have been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun and are included in, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales.
Website: https://dbaileycoach.com/brightbooks
0 0 Read moreGetting Around The Writer’s Block, Moving Forward No Matter How Stuck You Are
October 19, 2022 by marianne h donley in category Ages 2 Perfection Online Class, Online Classes tagged as Aged to Perfection Online Class, Sara Benedict, writers block
Presented by: Sylvia Hubbard
Date: November 5, 2022
9AM PT/10AM MT/11AM CT/12 Noon ET
Pricing: A2P Member fee: FREE
Non-A2P Member fee: $10
About the Workshop:
This is a three part workshop that will show you how to:
– Start When You Can’t
– Keep going when you don’t feel like it
– Finish when it feels like nothing is left
Participants will receive a digital outline and resource link.
About the Presenter:
Award-winning Detroit Author & Founder of Motown Writers, Sylvia Hubbard has independently published over 50 romance suspense books in the over 20 years she’s been in the literary business. As an avid blogger, podcaster, social media manager & digital strategist, Sylvia has received literary recognition for her literacy work, plus has had eight #1 Bestsellers. She is also a speaker, literary encouragement doula & busy “mompreneur” expert.
0 0 Read morePreparing for NanoWrimo
September 18, 2022 by marianne h donley in category Ages 2 Perfection Online Class, Apples & Oranges by Marianne H. Donley, Online Classes tagged as Aged to Perfection Online Class, NaNoWriMo, Terri Main
Presented by: Terri Main
Date: October 18 -31, 2022 (two week)
Pricing: A2P Member fee: $10
Non-A2P Member fee: $25
About the Workshop:
They call it a month of literary abandon. It’s kind of like a marathon with words. I’ve done both kinds of marathons. This one is definitely less painful. However, like the physical kind, the marathon called NaNoWriMo is a wonderful mix of professionals getting a head start on their next novel, new authors testing the waters of fiction, and some people just having fun. Everyone is a good reason to participate. But a bit of preparation makes participating easier. This course shows you how to prepare.
About the Presenter:
Terri Main sold her first piece of writing when she was just 18 years old. Since then, she has written hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles, thousands of pieces of marketing materials, more than sixty books, seven novels, video documentaries, and radio drama.
In addition to being an accomplished writer, she is also an experienced online educator. She helped pioneer online learning in the late 1990s and early 2000s. She has taught thousands of students both oral and written communication skills. Many of whom now have careers in the media and freelance writing.
As one student put it, “If you want to get published, you have to take a course from Terri Main.”
0 0 Read moreWebsite Tips & Tricks: 15 Lessons to Supercharge Your Author Website
July 20, 2022 by marianne h donley in category Ages 2 Perfection Online Class, Online Classes tagged as Aged to Perfection Online Class, Author Websites, Barb Drozdowich
Presented by: Barb Drozdowich
Date: August 1 – 31, 2022
Pricing: A2P Member fee: $15
Non-A2P Member fee: $30
About the Workshop:
What if I told you that managing your website—and having it work for you —is a task you can understand? In “Website Tips & Tricks” we are going to cover some straightforward topics that will make a difference in how your website works for you. Information will be handed out in straightforward lessons throughout May. Unlimited questions encouraged.
About the Presenter:
Author trainer, Barb Drozdowich started teaching in 1986. Early in her career she used her degrees in Science and Education to teach sciences & applied sciences in colleges & universities. She then took her technical training skills to the banking industry to serve as a corporate trainer. Since 2010 Barb has brought her technical experience & decades of teaching to the author & blogging world to help authors develop the skills they need to succeed in today’s fast evolving publishing world. She delights in taking technical subjects and making them understandable by the average person. She owns Bakerview Consulting & The Book Blogger List and manages popular blogs where she gets to chat about technology, romance novels and gluten-free cooking.
She is the author of 27 books, over 60 YouTube videos, & several online courses, all focused at helping authors & bloggers. Barb’s books aim to teach a subject, not convince you that your books will make you a millionaire. Barb lives in the mountains of British Columbia where her primary duties are serving as a taxi driver for kids and a treat master for the puppy princess. Her household runs on coffee!
Author Website: http://barbdrozdowich.com
Business Blog: http://bakerviewconsulting.com
Courses website: http://authorstechschool.com
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/BarbDrozdowichAuthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sugarbeatbc
0 0 Read moreFeatured Books
A LITTLE CHRISTMAS MAGIC
Christmas in Marietta, with all the trimmings, may be just the ticket.
More info →
MIDNIGHT MADNESS
As if Olivia Merriman doesn’t have enough to do in her beloved town of New Moon Beach, now her grouchy great-grandmother has recruited her to head up their coven of witches; her sisters are miffed, the coven is pushing her to accept the job, and to top it all off an evil wizard is messing with her love life.
More info → 
