What’s on the iPod: The Rifle’s Spiral by The Shins
Yesterday was unexpectedly, blessedly slower. The pace up to this point has been break-neck speed with no pit stops. I was glad for a small reprieve. I wrote a radio script, pitched another magazine query, researched two current article projects, and wrote a few blog posts for two of my websites. A good day.
I had something that I hadn’t had in nearly a month, too — time. I was able to cruise blogs and websites I’ve been missing for some time. It was a great time to slow down and actually read something instead of seeing the feed and thinking “I hope I have five minutes later to comment.”
I’ve decided to start something here once a week or so — links to resources where writers can get a bit more training. It’s one thing to read a blog post — it’s entirely another to plunk down money and get firsthand exposure to techniques, new ideas, or enhancements to one’s current way of doing things.
So if you know of a session, course, workshop, or webinar that others need to know about, drop me a note. I’ll do what I can to get them all posted each week.
Here are this week’s notables:
Series Bible: Creation & Maintenance –Part of Devon Ellington’s FAST & FUN series, this one-day, online seminar (this Saturday) gives you a mix of lectures, one-on-one commentary, brainstorming, and examples relating to character development. Plus you get a resource guide. Spend your 1pm-4pm ET this weekend learning how to maintain character traits in your fiction.
Trade Magazine Writing (redux) — Anne Wayman and I presented this one back in March/April, and it’s back by popular demand. We’ll show you how to locate and approach trade markets, how to build your credibility, and how to develop a specialty, if you so choose. Two sessions — Tuesday, July 24th and Thursday, July 26th. Both at 12 pm Eastern/9 am Pacific.
Essentials of Travel Writing — A Writer’s Digest University course, this one is six weeks in duration and literally walks you through writing your travel article. Starts tomorrow and runs through August 23rd.
Environmental Reporting — Freebie from Poynter Institute that introduces you to environmental reporting, interviewing, and translating complex environmental studies into readable content. This is teaching good skills that will transfer to other writing areas, in my opinion. For $14.95 you can get personal support from the instructor.Self-guided course, no set course date.
What courses have you taken or are interested in taking?
Thanks for the link love — this should be a fun one!
The Environmental Reporting one sounds great, too, since I have a client for whom I'm writing about marine life. I'll have to check that out, too.
I'm taking 3 classes at the Cape Cod Writer's Conference in August — one on suspense, one on historical research, and one on expanding the audience.
I'm teaching a three month tarot for writers intensive starting in September. That should be cool, too.
Definitely either send me the links or post them here, Devon. Would love to see what's going on in your area, plus what else you're up to!
I completed a 120-hour advanced TEFL course online over the winter.
No new gigs because of it yet, but I figured it would go well with my TOEFL/TOEIC experience.
I'd like to do some training on writing about natural health supplements and relevant FDA rules. I do see a few posts out there looking for this, and have some experience writing sales copy for these types of products.
It's hard to take the time to do these types of things when you have a full schedule, but probably definitely worth it!
Krista, congrats! That's a great accomplishment! Your experience is a great example of making additional training a primary business goal. Love it!
Is it bad that I don't know what TEFL, TOEFL/TOEIC mean?
My best guess on the first would be teaching English as a foreign language. Not sure what the "O" would stand for, but the "IC" could mean "in conversation."
Am I close?