If you are interested in any of the workshops listed below, please contact me at terry@terryblain.com.

Program for the non-writers:

How I Wrote A Book and Got It Published. The story of the journey to my first sale.

Writer Workshops

Here are some of my workshops available for writers groups.

Another Time, Another Place: Historical romances should transport the reader to another time and another place. This workshop will help you with the tools you need to transport your reader. Workshop will cover a discussion of all elements that make a historical romance historical. Items covered include aspects of research, such as where to look for information, how accurate you should be and keeping records of your research. Also covered is how to integrate your information in to the framework of your story through the craft of writing. Topics covered will be settings and costume, attitudes and social mores, dialog including to use dialect or not and, of course, sex scenes.
1 to 2 hours, includes handouts.

How Not To Look Like A Newbie: Learn the basics necessary to keep you and your work from looking like a newbie. Topics covered will include 1) the mysterious 'word count', what is it and how to figure it; 2) correct way to format your ms., when it counts and when it might not; 3) the query; 4) the synopsis; 5) the proposal, 6) what lines you are (or aren't) writing for; 7) contests, yes or no; 8) how to submit; and 9) the meaning of the rejection letter. Questions and comments from participants encouraged through the workshop.
1 hour, includes handouts.

Confessions of a Contest Judge: Have you ever wondered way a contest judge judges? And what are they looking for anyway? Ever wonder how they judge? What turns a judge on, or how to score big. What turns them off, or errors to avoid. Workshop will also cover 'how to' and 'why' to contest, or choosing your contest wisely. A contest junkie, Terry Irene Blain has been entering and judging contest for over ten years, and has recently finaled in six of eight contests entered.
1 hour.

Setting as Character: Your story has to have a setting. And if you don't use the setting to enhance your story, then you're shooting yourself in the foot. Why ignore one of the tools along with dialog, POV, character and plot that give your story depth? Setting -- use it or loose it.
1 hour.

The Basics of Writing the Romance Novel.

This is a class I've taught on-line and as an extension class at the local community college. As an introductory class, it quickly covers a lot of information. Each lesson can be presented as an individual workshop of approximately 1 hour in length, including handouts. Lessons 5 and 6 utilize an overhead projector if possible.

This class will cover the basics of writing the romance novel for the student is interested in starting a novel or who has started a novel. The class consists of eight lessons which will introduce the writer to the tools needed to become a successful novelist.

Lesson 1: Character, Conflict and Motivation
How to construct your character, the conflict that will drive your story and the motivations of your character.

Lesson 2: Plot
A look at several methods of plotting, their strengths and weakness
Suggestions of films to watch in preparation for Lesson 3

Lesson 3: Plot and Character in Action (prerequisite of several films recommended)
Taking the information from the first two lessons and see how the ideas of character, conflict, motivation and plot are portrayed in the films suggested in Lesson 2.

Lesson 4: Think Guide©
Questions you need to think about and ask yourself before you start your own story. Or, if you've already started, how to check to see if you're on the right path.

Lesson 5: Point of View
What it is and how it's used.

Lesson 6: Hooks
How to open you story, the key to getting an agent or editor's attention. Chapter hooks, how to keep them reading.

Lesson 7: Dialog and Show Don't Tell
Some important tools of the trade

Lesson 8: Synopsis, ms. formatting, word count, query and submissions.
Tools you'll need to sell your ms.

ThinkGuide is © Terry Irene Blain