Tuesday, June 3, 2014

6/26: Write a Novel in a Month Class

© craigslist - Map data © OpenStreetMap
311 S. Monmouth St.
A summertime tradition! Write Your Novel in a Month class!

* Do you have an idea for a novel?
* Do you want to participate in Camp NaNoWriMo, but want to do it with the support of a (for-credit) class?

Then the Novel in a Month Class is the class for you!

The class will be held at the old Independence Library at the following times:

Thursdays 7:00 to 8:30 pm
June 26 through August 7

Registration Fee: $75 (includes required text)

If you are interested in this class, please go to http://www.ashcreekarts.org/#!classes/csc0

Class size is limited to 20. Early registration is recommended!

* Do you have a great idea for a book, but haven't gotten around to writing it?
* Perhaps you have no idea, but do possess a deep, burning desire to write.
* Maybe you are convinced you don't have time to write a novel.

Really, who has time?

Lots of people! Every November, hundreds of thousands of people participate in National Novel Writing Month by pledging to write 50,000 words of a novel in thirty days.

In fact, our instructor, Maren Bradley Anderson, has "won" NaNo for many years by writing over 50,000 words in thirty days.

Write Your First Novel In Thirty Days is a 7-week class aimed at people who want to write a novel by participating in the deadline-driven, community-supportive atmosphere. The class will focus on:

* preparation for writing a book-length first draft (including idea generation),
* completion of the book-in-a-month challenge,
* and end with a workshop on what to do with a freshly written novel.

The emphasis of this class is not quality, but quantity. Without a completed first draft, the writer cannot revise a better second or third draft. In this class you will get that elusive first draft.

You can write the first draft of a novel in just thirty days!

I hope to see you this summer, fellow writers.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Willamette Writers' Workshop featuring Maren and Kate

Kate Ristau and I are giving a workshop on painless grammar for writers. See you there!


Grammar for Writers Workshop
Presented by  Kate Ristau and Maren Bradley Anderson 

Saturday, May 31, 2014, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
At the Salem Public Library (the Plaza Room)

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

I believe in lollipops and she believes in the apocalypse.
What’s wrong with the previous sentence (besides my misplaced love of lollipops)? Don’t know? Then this workshop is for you.
We’ll work with your writing to help you understand some of your basic error patterns, and then we’ll show you how to fix them.
Don’t worry; this is not your average grammar class! We will make it fun, informative, and well worth your time. We look forward to seeing you there!
Participants will need to bring:

  • Pen and notebook
  • Mug for coffee or tea
  • Homework (see link below)

COST TO ATTEND


Willamette Writers members (fees subject to change):
  • Early Bird*: $25
  • Regular Enrollment: $30
  • At the Door: $35
Non members pay an additional $10 
*Early bird ends May 15
http://willamettewriters.com/salem/workshops/

Monday, April 7, 2014

I'm related to that...

http://writerthereseoneill.com/2014/04/03/playing-underpants-chicken-losing/


Here is a link to my funny friend, Therese's, blog and her description of her trip to the seaside with our children in tow.

I'll let you guess which kid I know best.

m

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Learn to Edit Your Novel in a Month 5/1/14

It's time for the Learn to Edit your Novel in a Month class.

This May, let's get your manuscript ready to send out to someone who might make it into a book. 

Learn some basic novel structuring, some painless grammar, and a whole bunch of style no-no's to avoid.

It's time to finish your book and polish that gem!

★7:00-8:30 PM , Thursday nights
★May 1-June 5, 2014
★$75 (includes textbooks)
★Ash Creek Arts Council at the Independence, OR, Old Library

For more information, visit: http://marens.com/MarensWorld/Classes.html


Saturday, March 1, 2014

Launch parties 3/2 in Tigard, 3/3 in Monmouth!


Sunday 3/2/14 
5:00-6:30
Max's Brew Pub
12562 SW Main St, Portland, Oregon 97223

Monday 3/3/14
4-5:30
Hammersly Library
WOU
Monmouth 97361
***FREE Parking in Lots "I" and "M" from 3:00-6:30! 

Buy it now
Available on 3/1/14 on:

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Comma Book Launch Events! 3/2 Tigard, 3/3 WOU

In celebration of National Grammar Day, Maren Anderson and Kate Ristau will be releasing their book, Commas: An Irreverent Primer.
Come celebrate with us for short workshops and book signings.
Don’t worry! It won’t be boring. There will be unicorns. And cookies.

March 2, 20145-6:30 PM
Max’s Brew Pub
12562 SW Main StDowntown Tigard

March 3, 2014
4-5:30 PM
Hamerlsy Library Room 107
Western Oregon University
Monmouth


Saturday, February 15, 2014

Pre-Order Commas: An Irreverent Primer

My friend Kate Ristau and I have written a book about commas.

I know, sounds "thrilling."

But, you don't know Kate. And, you don't know what happens when Kate and I get together. Utter madness ensues. I mean, utter madness. 

If you ever wondered what a grammar dragon is or what happens to unicorns when you misuse FANBOYS, this irreverent guide for using our most common punctuation mark will explain.
This primer doesn’t cover every single use of commas–it’s only sixty pages, for heaven’s sake! But it does explain the comma errors English professors most often marked wrong on their students’ papers. All that red ink stung. Hence, this book.
Preorders are available now for $5.99 (regularly $7.99). Go to the Comma book page and download the pre-order form. 
Or click here for the PDF or here for the RTF versions of the form. You can email me the RTF form. 

Or please go to the book's FaceBook page and "like" it.