Plotting workshop--coming in November!

Plotting--amazing how this one word can strike fear or even hatred in the hearts of writers. Writing is supposed to be creative, right?

Well, the problem is that many writers have no idea how to go about making a novel happen. How do you know your idea is big enough for a full novel? How do you make sure you won't be stuck with a saggy middle? What's a good way to weave subplots appropriately in a story and give them a meaningful connection with the main plot?

I'm offering a month-long workshop designed to teach you how to craft a full plot for a novel, including character depth/development, plot twists, the dark moment/climax, and a satisfactory ending. We'll use Debra Dixon's principles in her book Goal, Motivation, and Conflict as a partial basis for the workshop (it's highly recommended you purchase this book before the workshop--find it HERE), as well as various unique tips and tricks I employ in my own writing.

This intense, hands-on workshop will run from Nov 1 to 24. Here's a tentative syllabus (lessons posted twice a week on Tuesdays/Thursdays, with homework accompanying each lesson):

Week 1: Intro to Rhonda's nerdalicious plotting methodology; creating your own plan of action

Week 2: Employing effective brainstorming techniques; refining your core idea and applying GMC to enrich character development

Week 3: Turning points/building your plot in manageable chunks; tips/tricks for plotting

Week 4: Weaving in subplot; final thoughts on plotting

The course will be held via Yahoo groups. Questions and brainstorming is highly encouraged (a separate brainstorming loop will be set up just for this purpose!). For maximum benefit, it's recommended you bring at least a core of a new story idea to work with, though if you have a work in progress, you can use this workshop to enrich and deepen your current plot.

BIO: I am a multi-published author with Simon and Schuster in teen fiction. I am also an acquisitions/developmental editor with Carina Press, the e-book imprint of Harlequin Publishing. I offer numerous workshops on employing sophisticated style, voice, and practical self-editing tips. I have a Bachelor's degree in English, Creative Writing, and a Master's degree in English Literature. I've also taught college composition.

Cost for this workshop is $20. I accept paypal or check.

The registration deadline is the day before the workshop starts. Once registered, you will be subscribed to the workshop loop prior to and for the duration of the class. The workshop is held on Yahoo groups--you will be sent an invitation to join. It's important you check your spam filter so you don't miss it! No refunds if you fail to enroll yourself once you are offered the invitation.

Questions? Want to sign up? Please email me at rhonda@rhondastapleton.com -- thanks! :D

New release from teen author Danielle Joseph--Pure Red!

My sweetheart of a friend Danielle Joseph has a new release called Pure Red. I wanted to have her on the blog and do a little interview because she's pretty rad, and I'm super excited about this book and can't wait to read it. :D

So, here's the interview!

Danielle, this book is your third, yes? Do you think it was harder or easier to write?

It was easier because it was actually one of the first books that I wrote but I sold it third. After I sold my first two, I did a rewrite and then sold it.

Rock on! It gives us hope that books can still make it out there, even if they don't initially sell. So, if you could take any person to prom, who would it be and why?

I would take you to prom because we would be laughing the entire night! We would probably also rock the dance floor!

Oh, it's ON like diddy kong. I'm totally going to get a dress with a butt bow now. You should know I do a KILLER "sprinkler" move. haha. Okay, a seriously random Q: what's your secret favorite snack that you hide from people and pretend you totally didn't buy so they can't eat it all?

Hot Tamales are one of my favorite snacks. It's kind of silly that I hide them because I don't think anyone in my family would want to eat them.

WOW. I never would have guessed that. I tend to hide anything made of chocolate. Last Q for you: what piece of writing advice has been invaluable to you?

Write from your heart. As corny as it sounds, it works every time!

Thanks so much for being here, Danielle! And for our readers at home, here's a blurb about the book, Pure Red:

Orange is for energy, pink means love, and I, Cassia Bernard, do solemnly swear to find pure red—my passion—this summer. Dad's raison d'être is art. When he's painting, no one can reach him, not even me.

I'm giving basketball a chance. But what I really want to score this summer is the adoration of Graham Hadley—a.k.a. Cutebutt. Then when Dad agrees to mentor Graham with his art project, all of Cutebutt's attention is on Dad—leaving me feeling as colorless as the Miami sky on a rainy day. But I'm not giving up just yet.

Adventures With Pink Eye

My sister had the funniest yet most horrific visit to the doctor today. I wanted to share what she wrote in her Facebook note (and YES, I have her permission) because I'm pretty sure I laughed and laughed and laughed until I tinkled a little. Okay, a lot. Don't judge me.

Here's what she wrote, in all of its epic glory:

"So yesterday, my eye started looking red and angry. I tried allergy medicine and eye drops but by last night it looked like the Wrath of God. This morning I still had concentrated evil coming out of my eye, plus goop, so I went to the Fast Care center at Kroger for a prescription for eye drops.

As soon as I told the lady behind the counter that I thought I had pink eye, she immediately started gearing up for combat. She ran over and got gloves and cleaning cloths and proceded to clean everything I'd already touched and everything near me that I hadn't even come in contact with.

I must have looked a bit confused because she said, "It's okay, this is to protect you and the other patients." I asked her how cleaning something after I'd already touched it would protect me, but she just gave me a look and kept scrubbing. She literally cleaned EVERYTHING I came into contact with, even though she had on gloves. To get the proper visual, picture a panicked-looking young woman wearing bright blue gloves using a cleaning cloth to take my credit card from me so she could bill me.

I get that it needed to be clean, but not right in front of me! She also washed her hands around 7 times while she was taking my vitals. Nothing like feeling like Patient X in the movie Outbreak or something; I was pretty sure that after I left she'd called the CDC and that the military will be waiting at my house with a containment barrier.

So when I finally got in there with the doctor she informed me that I do have pink eye in BOTH EYES (gah!) and would need eye drops. She said that the medicine should be pretty cheap, but that if it wasn't then she'd call in another one. That was fine--I was more worried about whether it would burn. When I asked if it would, she promptly said that it was a cheap med, but if it was too expensive she'd call in another. Huh? So I said again, "Price is fine, I just want to know if it burns." Again, she mentioned the cost. We literally had this conversation 2 more times before she finally said that it may burn because of the irritation.

But the best part was yet to come. Finally she explained how to use the eye drops. Apparently I needed to press my tear duct while my "husband or boyfriend" put the drop in my eyes, then wait 30 seconds and blink 3 times. God help me if I blinked 2 or 4 instead. Seriously. Like, the next steps were to solve the riddle of the Sphinx and bring back a phoenix egg, and only then would I get to fight the dragon and cross the underworld to speak with the wizard who could give me the magic potion to cure my eye.

The next portion of the conversation is too wonderful to paraphrase, so I'll be using quotes...

Me, a little overwhelmed: "How do I apply this myself?"

Dr. Overly Complicated Directions: "What do you mean?"

Me, getting frustrated: "I'll be doing this myself. How do I do it?"

Dr. Starting to Panic: "You don't have a husband or boyfriend"??!!??!!! (be sure to add the proper amount of shock and horror to her voice when you read this)

Me, now confused and irritated: "Uhh, no, I'm single."

Dr. Now Very Worried About My Future: "You live alone???!!!" (pity and horror this time)

Me, thoroughly pissed off: "Yeah, all alone. It's just me and all of my cats."

Dr. Smelly Fart-Face: "Ohh, well I guess you can apply it yourself. Just do 2 drops and try to rush-press your tear ducts to keep the drops from dripping through the bottom of your eye into the back of your nose." (I wish I was making this up)

Sigh, so I don't even like cats, but seriously, within the span of 10 minutes they made me feel like I had the plague and was deliberately spreading Super AIDS to orphans, and that I was a spinster who would die alone to be eventually eaten by my cats because no man will ever love me. Probably because of the pink eye."

Okay, so let's all give my sister a little bit of love--poor thing is likely about to be quarantined in her apartment. I told her I hope she stocked up on ice cream...