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Thursday, March 27, 2008

Online Writing Workshops

Okay, if the thought of spending all that time, energy and money to go to a workshop or conference makes you make a face like my dog, there is an alternative. Online workshops. There's even an online conference: The Muse Online Writers Conference.

So, here are my favorites, with a little about each:

Margie Lawson gives a series of excellent online workshops. For example, Defeating Self-Defeating Behaviors teaches the writer how to be more effective, focused and creative.

Coffin of Felony and Intrigue 2008 is the Romance Writers of America's Mystery and Suspense Kiss of Death Chapter's online workshop page. You don't have to be a member of Writers of America to take these superb classes--many of which are more about writing craft than the specifics of mystery and suspense.

And Writer U provides a variety of classes on a wide range of subjects.

All these online classes are inexpensive. No travel. And you can turn in your assignment at 2 a.m. while in your pajamas!

8 comments:

The Muse said...

I love your dog! These do sound like great options. Thanks for the information.

Take care!

Swubird said...

Conda:

Great idea for a post - online workshops. I'll check them out. I'm always open to new things. Plus, what a fabulous picture of the dog to illustrate your point of a sad face LOL.

Take care.

Conda Douglas said...

Thanks Muse and Swubird! And what my dog is really saying is: "Don't use the flash! Ugh!"

Kathy McIntosh said...

I've taken Margie's and other online classes and learned a lot. Not the same as live but cheaper and easier.
And you need not read every comment from every participant, something I found intimidating until I realized you can just read the posts from the moderator.

Conda Douglas said...

Good point, Kathy. And you can "scan read" the comments for what is specifically interesting to you.

Dave King said...

An extremely useful post. Okay, doing it on line is not the same as doing it for real. Whenever is it, anyway? But for some it is better than nothing. Incidentally, there is a great (monthly) workshop at Guardian Workshop

Conda Douglas said...

Thanks for the link, Dave. The internet is amazing for the wealth of services it provides.

I did a correspondence course (too) many years ago--the old fashioned version using snail mail. Useful, but it was far more expensive, time consuming and of course I couldn't receive responses to my questions in moments with no postage!

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