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Cactus Rose happily welcomes Lauri Schnebley Campbell back. She gave a fantasic workshop last year so we just had to have her back. This month, she'll talk about a subject near and dear to my heart - Plotting Via Motivation!

Join this all day brainstorming session to get the kinks out of your romance plot, boost up that sagging middle, and work on that saisfying ending. We'll share plotting techniques, including GMC, storying boarding, Q & A, the mythic journey, et al.

If you want your plot to be part of a session, come prepared to answer these questions:

What does your protagonist want - both tangibly and emotionally?

Why does your protagonist want those things?

What keeps your protagonist from getting it?

This workshop will be coordinated by Tami Cowden, coauthor of The Complete Writers Guide to Heroes and Heroines- she'll help you get to the heart of your character (because, after all - character is plot!)

Linda had been writing for her own pleasure - poems, short stories, family memoirs - all her adult life, but aimed at a professional career when she moved to Houston, Texas in 1995. There she joined a local chapter of Romance Writers of America and attended "so many workshops and seminars, I could have had another Master's degree." Five years later, she received The Call from Harlequin Superromance, and her debut novel, Love, Money and Amanda Shaw, was published in 2001. She's written twelve more books for Harlequin since then.
On a personal note, Linda is married with three grown sons - all hero material like their dad - two great daughters-in-law, and two three adorable, intelligent, loving and delicious grandchildren

Cactus Rose wants 2009 to be the year you finish that first manuscript or polish and sell the one you've already done, and we're planning an all-day event filled with tips on writing craft.

We have a terrific line up of Cactus Rose’s talented authors ready to provide tips and concepts to help you made 2009 the year you finish that book, polish that book, and/or sell that book!

Here’s the schedule:

10:30- 11 – general meeting stuff.

11 – 4 – Conference in a Day!

11 -11:30 – Targeting your market with Lynn Crain.

Lynn will discuss the romance publishers and how to target the proper market for your story.

Lynn is the multi-published (with multiple publishers!) author of erotic romance stories.

11:30-noon- Brainstorming Tips with Erin Sikes-Bruce

Has your well of ideas dried up? Erin will provide some tips for restoring your muse and replenishing that fountain.

Noon – 12:45 – Character GMC with Tami Cowden

Why do your characters take the actions they do? Tami will discuss the important interaction of goal, motivation and conflict for creating believable characters and plots.

12:45 – 1:30 – Lunch – Cactus Rose will provide lunch of sandwiches and salad.

1:30-2 – Using the Five Sense with Rebecca Andrews

Let you readers experience the action with your characters. Rebecca will show how to incorporate the senses of sight, sound, taste, touch and smell into your story.

2 – 2:30 – World Building with Emily Alward

Whether you are creating an entirely new universe, recreating an historical setting, or simply imagining a small town like you own, you must introduce readers to your characters’ worlds. Emily will show you how to make your setting real to readers.

2:30 – 3 – Point of View with Joyce Brennan

Give your readers the proper perspective by letting them see the story unfold through the POV character(s)’s eyes. Joyce will discuss the do’s and don’ts.

Check outhte great review fro Joyce's later novel, Don't Dance on My Heart.

3-4 – Potpourri – Mini tips on the little details that make or break a story and its marketing!

Putting Sizzle in your Love Scenes – Lynn Crain

Getting to know the public – Linda Cutler-Smith

Adverbs Out – Strong Verbs In! – Carol

Writing Books I swear by (or at) – Tami Cowden

Plus, throughout the day, we’ll have drawings for books donated by authors from around the country. And, of course, we’ll have plenty of great prizes to “bid” on, too.

All of this is FREE for paid member of Cactus Rose RWA! For info on joining, click here!

Other writers are very welcome, on a space available basis. However, we do ask those who are not paid CRRWA members to contribute $5 toward the lunch.

Since we are providing lunch, and need to know how much food to bring, we do need an RSVP. Please do not RSVP yes if you will not be able to join us.

And remember – we are back to our usual spot at Enterprise Library!