CREATING PSYCHIC CHARACTERS
INSTRUCTOR: Mary O’Gara

WHEN: June 2 to June 29, 2008 (12 lessons posted over 4 weeks)

WORKSHOP
How do you create psychic characters for your stories—paranormal or not—and what do you do with them once you’ve created them? In this workshop, Mary discusses creating characters—and the worlds they live in—who have psychic gifts and live in your stories as heroes, heroines, villains, minor characters, or even backstory characters. Mary analyzes types of psychic gifts and the abilities that come with them, discusses the tools, methods and probable knowledge for varying kinds of gifts. She also discusses different levels of giftedness and the role of practice and discipline.

As always, Mary’s workshops are full of written and internet references to allow you to pursue the information long after the workshop ends.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Mary O’Gara was born with psychic gifts and grew up learning to use them. Her father was a small-town lawyer who used his own gifts as part of his practice and taught her to do the same.

Mary developed her skills on the job and within her family. In 1976 Mary moved to Santa Fe and began an apprenticeship in astrology that led to three decades of work as a professional psychic.

She developed her financial and business astrology specialty through special training and through her own real estate interests. As part of that ongoing training, Mary studied, practiced and taught astrology, numerology, tarot, I Ching, tarot, and pendulum work. She is a Silva graduate and a certified Neuro Linguistic Programming practitioner. Mary is a Reiki master and also does both crystal and color healing.

Visit her on the web at http://www.iowapoet.com/

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Cost for each workshop is $15 for NEORWA members, $20 for all others. You do not have to be an RWA member to take our workshops!

Please email rhonda.stapleton@sbcglobal.net or rhonda@rhondastapleton.com with any questions and list the title of the workshop in the subject line.

Visit http://www.neorwa.com/workshops.htm for more information.

FTHRW June Online Workshop
http://fthrw. com/workshops/

The Great Agent Search
Dates: June 2nd-29th, 2008
Instructor: Jenna Petersen (aka Jess Michaels)
Cost: FREE to FTHRW members; $20.00 for all others
Registration Deadline: May 28th, 2008
http://fthrw.com/workshops/
Course Description:
Whether they have finished their first manuscript or their tenth, many
authors are overwhelmed by the daunting task of searching for an agent.
This workshop breaks the agent search down and discusses common
issues.

Part One: Who Needs An Agent?
Part Two: How Do I Find An Agent?
Part Three: How Do I Attract the Attention of a Good Agent?
Part Four: What Do I Do Now That I Have An Agent Interested In Me?
Part Five : What Do I Do Now That I’ve Hired An Agent?
Part Six: What If I Want to Fire My Agent?
Part Seven: But What If I Don t WANT An Agent?
Register at: http://fthrw.com/workshops/
About the Instructor:
Jenna Petersen started writing full-time in 1999 when her husband said,
“You’re only happy when you’re writing, why don’t you do that?” In
2004, her dream came true when her literary agent called to say she’d just
sold two books to Avon.

Her releases include: Scandalous (October 2005), From London With Love
(August 2006) and Desire Never Dies (January 2007), Seduction is
Forever (October 2007) and the upcomingLessons from a Courtesan (August
2008). She also writes erotic romance as Jess Michaels, and helped launch
the Avon Red line with her novella in Parlor Games. Her next Jess
Michaels release is Something Reckless (May 2008). She’s been a Bookscan and
Waldenbooks Mass Market bestseller.
In addition, she has run The Passionate Pen since 1999. This popular
site for aspiring authors gets nearly 200,000 hits per month and contains
information on literary agents, publishing houses, articles about
writing and the industry, links and Jenna’s Diary toward and beyond
publication. You can find her at http://www.passionatepen.com and at
http://www.jennapetersen.com.
For more information, email workshops @ fthrw.com
Best Regards,
Barb Webb
President of FTHRW, RWA Chapter 177

I am a Grey’s fan.  I am a Derek and Meredith fan.

I know many people don’t like Meredith, but I get her.  I understand what it’s like to be broken and make bad choices and not know how to take care of yourself effectively or correctly.  I get what it’s like to be hurt and screaming on the inside.  I know this and therefore, I get Meredith Grey.  I sympathize and empathize and understand her.

So, I am thrilled with tonights finale.  I am excited for next season (I didn’t feel that way at the end of last season).  It ended on a high for everyone, great expectations for all involved.  Everyone has healed, everyone has grown, and everyone is going for what is true in their hearts.  Well, except Lexie, but she’ll get hers next season, and I can’t wait, cause Izzie and George is not a good thing.

I laughed, I cried and I clapped.  But mostly, I’m left with a warm hopeful feeling.  That’s never a bad thing.

My son turned 7 today, and he said, “I had a great birthday, Mom.  Thank you.”  Gosh, I love this kid. 

It was his day, so he got to do whatever he wanted at home.  He wanted to go to the library with big sister, first time without me.  They walked there, then right before I started to worry (LOL), I heard them walking back, giggling.  He wanted grilled hot dogs, hamburgers and potato chips for dinner.  I added homemade cole slaw.  He wanted vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting–in three sizes.  Jumbo, regular and mini.  He played outside with his friends, had dinner and “cake” with me, big sis and daddy, then played outside some more.  Now, he and big sis are sitting on the front steps, in the dark.  They love being out in the dark.  And instead of getting the usual 5 minutes, he asked for 10.  I’m giving him 30.  Then tomorrow his birthday gift arrives.  PS2 with three games.  Yeah, I won’t see him tomorrow.  LOL

Last night, (new topic) I had a meltdown with Crystal.  She listened while I freaked out.  It was writing related and no need to get into the gory (what the hell am I doing?) details, especially since I feel a tad better today.  Just a tad.  The thing is, all the questions, doubts, fears and what ifs don’t matter.  Well they matter, but they don’t change anything.  And I still have to live with my doubts, fear and what ifs.  So, even though I took today off, completely away from writing (well I thought about it a little, I couldn’t not), tomorrow I will get back to writing this WIP–even if it kills me.

It’s been 2 months since I started this new blog, and 2 months since I’ve been steadily blogging.  Every day since March 19th–and I just wrote since 3, now 4, times.

This is a major accomplishment for me.  There was a time when I didn’t blog for months.  Now if I could only comment on MySpace half as much.

The problem is coming up with topics.  Obviously, as you can see, I struggled today. LOL  But how many times can I discuss the physical act of writing, or outlining or brainstorming.  I’m boring myself here.

Oh, I can say that I outline my current WIP last night.  I’m 97% done.  ALL in one night.  I am so stoked, and it was a lot of fun.  I didn’t go into detail.  I map out how many chapters there will be, then add anywhere from 3-4 scenes per chapter and figure out what should go where.  I know how it ends, know what needs to be uncovered, so then it’s a matter of filling in where and when.  Sometimes it’s easy, like last night, and other times it so frickin hard.

I normally plan 3 scenes per chapter, but this one is a bit different.  There are times when there’s only one too.  I always plan 24 chapters, 6 in the first and third acts and 12 in the second.  It’s like a jigsaw.  I like to work with parts of Vogler’s Writer’s Journey, so I know the beginning will show the Ordinary World (usually), and the end of Act One will contain the crossover (sometimes).  My current WIP’s crossover occurs in chapter 3, midway in Act One.

Well, that’s part of it anyway.  I’ll break it down another day.  I’m fighting germs or something.  My head and sinuses are hurting (I also need to get glasses), and I can’t afford to get sick.  Tomorrow’s my son’s birthday.

Well, we discovered our family will not be able to come up for my son’s 7th birthday on Wednesday.  I’m a little disappointed because he was really wanting a party.  He didn’t get one last year for the same reasons.  So, I plan to make it National Baby Boy Day! Although I’m not exactly sure how. LOL  We have no money, so we’re not going anywhere, but I asked him what game he wants to play and what he wants for dinner.

We’re playing Monopoly (the long way) and having grilled hot dogs and hamburgers.  He also wants vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting (which means I’m making frosting from scratch).  I plan to go down tomorrow night and hang balloons, so he’ll wake to them Wed. morning.  I can’t wait to see his precious little toothless face.  Gosh, I love this kid so much (both my kids).

They truly are so sweet and kind, aren’t aggressive or bullies.  They are polite and have great hearts.  So sensitive and caring.  I have been so blessed.

Unfortunately, his gifts aren’t coming until Thursday, lol poor baby.  So I suspect he’ll be glued to the television all Thurs. when PS2 gets here. :D  Have I mentioned how much I love my kids?

So, this morning I finally finished reading all 23 pages of RD’s Mythology Workshop. There is tons of information there, and I couldn’t possibly list it all here. I also know very little about mythology going in, so I can’t comment on specific themes and books discussed. What I personally took away involved worldbuilding and plotting.

My worldbuilding skills are sorely lacking. I tend to be way too literal and rely on reality too much. The conversations helped me to see that nothing is written in stone, especially not something like myth, and there is no tradition or rules to follow–I need to create my own. Of course I knew this, but it really clicked during the workshop. I was also sparked by some talk of fairytales and inner demons. More fodder for the idea file.

Robin Owens talked about Chris Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey, which I love, love, love. She helped me to see that the steps aren’t set in stone. (I never considered myself a rule follower, huh.) Most writers I brainstorm with do not know or follow Vogler. It makes it difficult to explain the reasoning behind my choices when it comes to plot, so at times, I’ve abandoned the choices. It’s not as cut and dry as that, so it’s not as simple, but I’m learning to grow as a writer and to believe and trust myself.

Don’t worry about labels or the way the genre says something should go. Just do what is write for that story. Don’t try to fit into a particular genre. There doesn’t need to be a ready-made Jennifer. How boring i that? Yet, while I completely agree with all of this, it is also exactly what I’ve been doing for the past 3 years. Maybe it was necessary in order for me to figure out who I was as a writer. If that’s the case, then hot diggity dog!

It’s all such a huge learning process for me, but not just as a writer. Everything I’ve been taught has affected my life in general and guided me as a human being too.