HALLIE EPHRON: Last week I shared my delight at being invited to teach mystery writing this spring in Paris for WICE (Where Internationals Connect In English) -- an English-speaking community based in Paris that provides all kinds of classes and volunteer opportunities.
I had my fingers crossed that that my class would get enough registrants to be viable, and it has! There are still a few more spots... and the offerings include writing master classes in novel, short fiction, creative nonfiction, memoir, and screenwriting.
For folks who are tethered
more to home base, I'll be teaching a virtual class on mystery writing at Writers Digest's Mystery and Thriller Virtual Conference (March 20-22.)
DRUM ROLL: So will Hank! Making it a Jungle Red twofer!
Also featured are friends of
Jungle Red agent/author Paula Munier, author Sharon Short, and one of my favorite literary agents, Michelle Richter of FUSE Literary.
I'll be teaching:
Crafting a page turner: hooking readers and keeping them reading
- How to structure a plot and build a character web that gives a story forward momentum
- Finding “Page One” and "5 tent poles" of plot
- Opening with a question, building suspense to strategic turning points, writing action, and pausing with a hook. Crafting a climactic ending.
- Building a head of steam: attending to turning points, secrets, stakes, and time pressure
Hank will
be teaching: The Secrets of the Three-Act Structure:
Nailing the Beginning, the Middle, and the End. Something at which she
excels.
The only downside of this is that we can't meet you in the bar, always
my favorite part of a writing conference.
The upside: it's very
affordable, and you can show up in your PJs and no one will be the wiser.
If you're tempted by a 3-day VIRTUAL class in mystery writing, Here's the link for registration:
https://writersdigestuniversity.mykajabi.com/offers/ZmSUHKx7/checkout
Wow! How exciting . . . .
ReplyDeleteLucky, lucky students . . . they're getting the best of the best!
We all love doing it - that helps a lot.
DeleteWow, that sounds amazing. It is a great opportunity to learn a lot right in your own home. Unfortunately, I could never do that in my home, I would need to "get a room." LOL
ReplyDeleteSeriously, if I had any idea at all about a book I wanted to write, I would take the virtual class, Hallie! That sounds like a perfect way to start.
I hope that you have built some tourist time into your trip to Paris. It will be so amazing to do that conference but then linger a while.
I have packed in extra time in Paris... even more than I need to recover from the time change and stay sane.
DeleteWhat a deal! I admit, I'm tempted. And congratulations on filling the Paris gig, Hallie. Lucky students!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Edith! However, this is SO not something you need. You should be *teaching*...
DeleteThank you, but I can always learn!
DeleteIt sounds exciting and wonderful. I'm swamped with Portuguese lessons or I'd be tempted. (Going for a certificate, which helps my residency renewal.) I have your book, Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel, which I refer to often.
ReplyDeletePortuguese!! I speak a little Spanish so I can sort of read (sort of kind of) Portuguese but the SOUND of it is so alien. Hats off to you, Elizabeth.
DeleteWhat a great opportunity! In another life, I would be writing and I would jump on this opportunity. That's not the life I have right now. The life I have now is pretty jammed up, especially on the weekends. Someday?! Or maybe I'll just continue enjoying all the JRW books.
ReplyDeleteWe love Love LOVE readers, Gillian.
DeleteCongrats on filling the Paris class, Hallie. Online has me tempted. I'll have to check my calendar.
ReplyDeleteWould love to "see" you there, though at this point in your career you could be teaching it.
DeleteI love that we have these opportunities to learn from some of the best writers in mystery/thrillers. And from two of the best people--who really care about their students! But my question is: how on earth do either of you find the time to add an online class to your writing lives?!
ReplyDeleteAnd Hallie, take a stroll down the Left Bank for me!
I've taught the content so many times it's like muscle memory for me. And of course I have my how-to book to fall back on. (And we do get paid... which is a major incentive!)
DeleteOh dear, oh dear, oh dear. I so want to do this. Anybody know start and ending time of day? I don’t find it on WD website but I’ve missed the obvious before. Oh! Tax refund.
ReplyDeleteMarch 20-22 for the virtual class
DeleteThis link should work: https://writersdigestuniversity.mykajabi.com/offers/ZmSUHKx7/checkout
DeleteTried to register for your virtual writing conference. Website says Page Not found.
ReplyDeleteSORRY! Just updated the link in the text above... it's https://writersdigestuniversity.mykajabi.com/offers/ZmSUHKx7/checkout
DeleteThank you. The link worked! Yay!!!
DeleteDOUBLE YAY!!
DeleteCongrats Hallie, what fun! I'm not a writer, but I'd love to take the Paris writing class just for the knowledge and experience. But alas, no Paris this summer.
ReplyDeleteAlas, indeed...
DeleteSpeaking of conferences, will there be a guest post about the Left Coast Crime conference?
ReplyDeleteGood question... I know some of us were there.
DeleteHallie, before I shell out $$ for the virtual conference, will it be possible to get captions? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteDiana, I'll try to find out for you...
DeleteQuestion for authors here: how much research for a historical mystery is too much research?
ReplyDeleteThank you.
GREAT question... hoping Rhys will chime in. She's the expert. But imhop it's a question that applies across the genre. EVERY novel I've written has required research (setting, context, how to transport a brain, what professional organizers do, ...) and it's so much more fun to just keep researching rather than getting down to the harder work of writing. WHEN do you shift? Maybe one of the REDS has advice on this.
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