RWAOL Workshops

2021 Workshops

Tell the readers a story! Because without a story, you are merely using words to prove you can string them together in logical sentences.
– Anne McCaffrey

Researching for Authors

Presented by Margaret Bates

Class begins January 4, 2021
Class Length: 4 Weeks
Cost: $15 for non-RWAOL chapter members

There’s always research involved in writing a convincing romance and the pitfalls of deep rabbit holes you might fall into as well. In this workshop, a psychologist and writer will teach you how to use a variety of resources from asking experts for interviews, library tricks and tips, as well as databases and deep journal and article research to create a better book.

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Story Bootcamp

Presented by Peter Andrews

Class begins March 1, 2021
Class Length: 4 Weeks
Cost: $15 for non-RWAOL chapter members

Learn how to rewrite your story, whether fiction or nonfiction, so it entices, captivates, and delights readers.

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Zoom Workshop: Plotting versus Storyboards versus Pantsing

How Your Learning Style Affects Your Writing

Presented by Kerry Blaisdell

March 27, 2021
2:00 pm Eastern/1:00pm Central/12:00pm Mountain/11:00 am Pacific Time
Class Length: 90 minutes
Cost: $5 for non-RWAOL chapter members

Stop trying to force someone else’s creative process onto yours - instead, discover how your brain works, then make it work FOR you! In this one hour live zoom workshop, Kerry will help you figure out your own Learning Style, then give tips for a more effective writing and editing process, based on what works for each of the three main Learner Types (Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic) and various subtypes.

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Irresistible Blurbs

Presented by Siri Caldwell

Class begins May 3, 2021
Class Length: 2 Weeks
Cost: $15 for non-RWAOL chapter members

In this workshop, designed for self-publishing romance writers, you’ll learn to distill your plot into a short, exciting blurb and write an engaging tagline, a compelling opening, and an intriguing ending.

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Let's Dress Up: Rhythm, Rhyme and Adding Pizzazz

Presented by Virginia McCullough

Class begins June 7, 2021
Class Length: 3 Weeks
Cost: $15 for non-RWAOL chapter members

What separates good writing from fine writing? Sometimes it’s a matter of dressing up your writing with a smattering of carefully chosen accessories, from letters, journals, and recipes to alliteration, patterns, and rhythm.

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Characterization: Making Strengths and Weaknesses Work for You

Presented by Linnea Sinclair

Class begins August 2, 2021
Class Length: 4 Weeks
Cost: $15 for non-RWAOL chapter members

Embrace your characters—warts and all—in this lively workshop with Bantam author Linnea Sinclair. Sinclair will help writers dialogue with their characters to bring out information that builds depth and uniqueness. She’ll also discuss the pros and cons of using archetypes, astrology and tarot to build story people.

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Freedom and Framework: Story Planning for Pantsers

Presented by Catherine Chant

Class begins October 4, 2021
Class Length: 3 Weeks
Cost: $15 for non-RWAOL chapter members

Flying by the seat of your pants to write the first draft for your book feels so freeing. But diving into a project as big as a novel without any plan at all often means a lot of extra work after the draft is completed! Build yourself a “framework” for your story that’s open and flexible, with plenty of room for playing, experimenting, and checking out new ideas off the beaten path whenever the inspiration strikes you.

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50 Ways to Leave Your Muse: Creativity Hacks for Writers

Presented by Joy E. Held

Class begins November 29, 2021
Class Length: 4 Weeks
Cost: $15 for non-RWAOL chapter members

This fun course presents 50 ways to maintain your creative edge and keep the artistic juices flowing. And yes, we will analyze Paul Simon’s song “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.”

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About RWAOL Workshops

RWAOL conducts our workshops using the discussion forums located on this website. We do not use email loops. Discussion forums allow you to attend the class on your schedule without flooding your inbox with email. Your workshop can downloaded and saved to your computer for archiving and reference. After your register for a workshop, we'll send you additional information about accessing our discussion forums. It's easy!

Fees and Payments

RWAOL workshops cost only $15 for non-chapter members. All authors are welcome to attend, whether or not you are a member of our chapter or RWA®. RWA® Online members attend all workshops free as part of their chapter membership. PayPal is recommended for payment. Checks and money orders also accepted, but register early and mail your payment promptly. No person will be allowed in unless payment is received. Payment is made through our discussion forums when you create your forums account.

Format

A few days before the workshop begins, we will open a “Pre-Workshop Check-in” topic. When you visit our discussion forums here and log in, you’ll have access to that topic and can introduce yourself and become a little more familiar with our process. When the workshop instructor posts the first lesson, the workshop "classroom" will open. The topic will have the workshop’s name, and you can access it on our site by clicking on the workshop title. Instructors typically post lesson information a few times a week. You can visit the workshop at your convenience to read the lessons and participate in the discussion and homework. Before the workshop closes for workshop participants who are not members of RWAOL (typically one week after the end date), you'll have the opportunity to print or download the class topics for future reference. For members, the workshop is archived in our online library.

Terms and Conditions

Payment must be received not later than 2 days prior to the workshop start date to be guaranteed admittance to the workshop. RWA® Online will work with you in good faith if circumstances prevent your payment from being received in time for the workshop start date, but we are not obligated to grant access to the workshop if payment is not received. RWA® Online is not responsible for technical or personal issues that may prevent your attendance from the workshop. Our workshops have been successfully used by computers operating both Windows and Mac OS and no user who has properly followed all instructions for accessing the website where the workshop is held has ever been unable to participate. When you submit a registration for a workshop, you agree that RWA® Online is not obligated to refund your workshop fee if the money is received too late for the workshop or if you am unable to attend the workshop due to personal or computer-related issues.