A really cool course on how to write fiction

April 14th, 2007 , 11:28 pm

By Randy Ingermanson… I know, it’s a mouthful, but I’m subscribed to his eZine and just found out about a great course that he has available on his website. The courses he offers tells you EVERYTHING you need to know about advancing to each stage in his four-stage path to publication (aka “Graduation”. the four stages are called Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior.) Here’s a blurb from his site about the courses:

In the last couple of years, I’ve taught a course called Fiction 101 at a number of writing conferences across the country. What I’ve found is that I can teach the fundamentals of writing fiction in 6 or 7 hours. That’s all! That won’t turn a beginner into a best-selling novelist. Don’t believe anyone who tells you there’s one magic secret that morphs you into a great writer overnight.

But there are magic secrets. Not just one easy secret. Dozens of subtle secrets. Each one of them makes you a slightly better writer. All of them taken together plus a lot of hard work will make you into a great writer. Or if not great, then the best writer your talent will let you be. Talent counts. Hard work counts more. Training counts most of all.

I’ve learned these magic secrets the hard way. Some of them I’ve taught myself. Some I snagged by reading other writers. Some I culled from books on the art of writing fiction.

I wish I’d gotten all my secrets out of books. I’d have learned them a hundred times quicker. I know, because I can teach those magic secrets a thousand times quicker than I learned them. I’ve taught hundreds of students now, and I can’t tell you how exciting it is for me when they get it.

Writing fiction is kind of like those illusions that professional magicians perform. What they do looks like magic. But it’s not. It’s all pretty simple. Once they explain how it’s done, you whack yourself on the head and wonder why you never saw it before.

But if nobody explains how it’s done, you could spend hundreds of hours trying to figure it out. Maybe thousands of hours.

To read it all, CLICK HERE.

Basically, I can’t think of a better person to be teaching this course, and I read A LOT. Trust me, this guy knows what he’s talking about.  In the meantime, til we meet again! :)

PLEASE CLICK THIS LINK TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT RANDY’S COURSES.

My church

April 2nd, 2007 , 8:49 pm

Well, we had a very interesting meeting on Friday night about what we want to do… where we want to go with our church. I think I’ll post a copy of the doc online and you can read it if you’re interested [i wrote out the notes for the pastor].

Anyhoo, I thought it was high-time I posted something about our wonderful congregation and pastor. then I realized that it would take far too long and who wants to read my verbose-iness when there is a website that has all kinds of nifty info already on it?? Really, I think it would benefit all who are curious about going to a VERY nice, welcoming church — especially if you’re looking for one in Plant City, FL. It’s so good, my husband and I commute. 30 minutes one-way, baby! Trinity United Methodist Church’s url is:

http://www.WinEstablishEquip.org

(Our church’s main mission is to win, establish, and equip disciples in the way that leads to life eternal!) :)

Or you can just click here: Ya’ll go check it out some time, ya hear?

Beth Carter Photography

April 1st, 2007 , 5:50 am

(www.memoriesbykristin.com)

I am working with a local portrait & landscape photographer that is very talented. (I call her website the source of my photo-crack addiction… she’s just that good!) She’s got an amazing website and a blog as well. I have a track-back here of one of her more recent blog entries.

Beth Carter’s website is www.bethcarterphotography.com and the post is here. Just thought I’d share some joy with the world.