CLASSES

All my classes are Saturday workshops from 9am to 4pm (see Fall 2008 schedule at bottom of this page). I leave plenty of time for discussion and for getting your questions answered, including those about your own projects. I encourage you to bring along anything about which you have questions or want input.

Please visit Evergreen State College or Pierce College for information on fees, classroom locations, and to register.

I offer the following four classes at both Evergreen and Pierce:

Make Your Living As A Writer. This is for anyone who aspires to a career as a writer - fiction or non-fiction, books or magazine markets. I will explains what is involved in becoming published, beginning with a writer's investments in knowledge, tools of the trade, software, Internet access, a space to write, handling creative blocks, etc. Topics include evaluating writing markets; insights into what editors want; querying and book proposals; pros and cons of working with literary agents; preparing manuscripts for submission; advances, royalties, and getting paid; publishing contracts; copyright laws; plagiarism; publishing rights; flexibility and fluency in writing projects; and working with editors. Also covers research, fact-checking, the writing and editing process, and keeping the process moving so that there is always a work in progress and queries being produced regularly to minimize "sales slumps" and increase the chances of finding a publisher.

Researching and Writing Your Family History or Memoirs. This class begins with researching your ancestry through the use of the Internet as well as by obtaining various kinds of legal and other official documents, personal letters, and old photographs, interviewing family members and friends, and examining your own life. You will learn to work like a detective to address such often confusing and conflicting information as variations in names, birth and death dates, cities and countries of origin, and digging for the truth behind the stories passed down through the generations. The writing portion of the class will include the various ways of assembling all of your research into a meaningful story or stories, handling delicate information, speculative data, and "holes" in stories. Also included are ways to publish your family history and how to handle all of the photos, tree charts, and other documents and incorporate them into that history. Also discussed will be the use of genealogical programs, working with family members in other countries, researching in different languages, and more.

Creating A Web Site for Your Small Business. This is an excellent overview for anyone who wants to create a Web site for their small business. I will explain all the "geek speak" and try to explain things as clearly and simply as possible.This class covers: the use of domain names, finding hosting services, types of Internet access, use of POP E-mail, understanding search engines and searching techniques, Web design programs, doing it yourself versus hiring a Web designer, the importance of writing over design, Web-safe colors, kinds of pages and content to include, writing for search engine optimization, HTML coding, RSS feeds, Web site tools, navigation structures, page layouts, working in tables, managing images, updating and maintaining pages, marketing and promotion, and more.

Self-Publishing Your Book. This class will explain the difference between royalty publishing and self-publishing; the kinds of books that are good candidates for self-publication; the kinds of authors who will make good publishers; and the budgets involved in self-publishing, including editing, book design, printing, bar coding, ISBN numbers, copyrighting, Library of Congress numbers, etc. Also covered will be the steps to self-publishing, including idea inception, researching the markets, writing the book, having it edited, cover and page design options, indexing, the importance of library acceptance, direct marketing to the general public, niche marketing, Internet marketing (including amazon.com, etc.), wholesale distribution, press releases, book reviews, and other forms of promotion.

Fall 2008 Schedule