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Get Fiction in Your Mailbox Each Month
Want two installments of serial novella BABY DRIVER, available only through subscription, in your mail each month, along with access to a lively community of writers and readers, free classes, co-working sessions, random pictures and MORE for as little as $2? Check out Cat’s Patreon campaign.
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Video: Twitter Basics for Creatives
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What’s Coming Up In Early March, 2021
Here’s what classes are coming up for the Rambo Academy in the next couple of weeks.
- Systems of Magic: How to Use Your Magic to Enrich Your Worldbuilding with Cat Rambo, Saturday, February 27, 2021, 9:30-11:30 AM Pacific Time.
- Witches Are People Too: Writing Well-Rounded Pagans and Spellcrafters with Evan J. Peterson, Saturday, February 27, 2021, 1:00-3:00 PM Pacific Time.
- A Mixed Bag: Combining and Manipulating Genre Conventions with Tracy Townsend, Sunday, February 28, 2021, 9:30-11;30 AM Pacific Time.
- Writing Masculinity with Sam J. Miller, Sunday, February 28, 2021, 1:00-3:00 PM Pacific Time. Class is full; waitlist only.
- The Freelancer’s Toolkit: Turning Writing Into a Business with James L. Sutter Session I, Saturday, March 6, 2021, 9:30-11:30 AM Pacific Time.
- Flash Fiction Workshop with Evan J. Peterson, Saturday, March 6, 2021, 1:00-3:00 PM Pacific Time.
- Project Management for Writers with Jennifer Brozek, Sunday, March 7, 2021, 9:30-11:30 AM Pacific Time.
- Book Promotion on a Budget with Catherine Lundoff, Sunday, March 7, 2021, 1:00-3:00 PM Pacific Time.
- The Freelancer’s Toolkit: Turning Writing Into a Business with James L. Sutter Session II, Saturday, March 13, 2021, 9:30-11:30 AM Pacific Time.
- Tarot for Writers Workshop with Monica Valentinelli, Saturday, March 13, 2021, 1:00-3:00 PM Pacific Time.
Live classes are taught online, are limited to 15 participants, and require a reliable Internet connection, although in the past participants have logged on from coffee shops, cafes, and even an airplane. A webcam is suggested but not required.
Opinion: On Baen Books, Moderating Discussion Boards, & Political Expression
A few days ago writer Jason Sanford published an investigative report into what was happening on the discussion boards known as “Baen’s Bar,” run by the fantasy and science fiction publisher Baen Books, specifically in its Politics group, where people were posting in support of the Jan 6 coup attempt and suggesting ways it could be better organized and executed. Baen, as well as some authors, replied. Others replied to them. Now I’m weighing in too.
What’s Coming Up: Valentine Day Events
Class: Different Kinds of Love: Writing Relationships that Aren’t Romantic
Next class date: Saturday, February 13, 2021, 9:30-11:30 AM Pacific Time.
Instructor: Cat Rambo
There are plenty of loves that aren’t romantic in nature, ties of friendship or family. What sorts of speculative stories come from those alliances, and how does a writer convey the relationship in a way that makes the reader feel its strength? In this class, we’ll talk about how to write about non-romantic relationships as well as performing writing exercises designed to fine-tune your ability to convey these nuances.
Class: Where Babies Come From: Speculative Reproduction
Next class date: Saturday, February 13, 2021, 1:00-3:00 PM Pacific Time.
Instructor: Evan J. Peterson
How do magic and technology change the possibilities of reproduction? Whether on Earth or in alien lands, through futuristic science, historical alchemy, or outright sorcery, this class examines ways to reinvent the process of reproduction in your fiction.
Class: Consent is Sexy: Writing Consensual Scenes
Instructor: Sarah Buhrman
Next class date: Sunday, February 14, 2021, 9:30-11:30 AM Pacific Time.
Consent is sexy. But how do you include consent without throwing ice water on the seduction? Keep those steamy scenes hot while making sure all parties, even the fictional ones, are respected and respect boundaries. Specific examples may include references to actions and kinks, however, content will be kept at PG-13 levels.
Class: In Flagrante Delicto: Writing Effective Sex Scenes
Instructor: Catherine Lundoff
The next class date is Sunday, February 14, 2021, 1:00-3:00 PM Pacific Time.
Live classes are taught online, are limited to 15 participants, and require reliable Internet connection, although in the past participants have logged on from coffee shops, cafes, and even an airplane. A webcam is strongly suggested but not required.
See http://www.kittywumpus.net/blog/upcoming-online-classes/ for the full list of upcoming online classes.
Tired of fading to black every time your characters get intimate? Not quite sure what to do once they’re in the clinch? Want characters whose romantic moments have some spark, sizzle, and steam to them? Learn some of the building blocks for writing about sex and writing it well.
Rambo Academy Campus Calendar for February 2021
Zoom links will be available on Patreon, pinned in #localannouncements on the Discord server, and available via the !calendar command on Discord.
How do you get access to these events? Details are here, but basically you can subscribe through Patreon or Paypal. There are free scholarships.
Event explanations:
- Unmoderated co-working. Log on and work with other Chez Rambo peeps. Does not have to be writing. Structure is up to the participants.
- Moderated co-working. Cat or designated other will lead three thirty minute sprints, with check-ins to say how we’re doing in between. Does not have to be writing.
- Chillax and chat:. Hang out and craft or clean your virtual or real workspace while we talk about stuff.
- Story discussion group. Story changes every two weeks; titles and links will be posted on Discord and Patreon. Additional resources will be in #thepanel channel on Discord.
- Writing Games. Bring a prompt if you like. We all write for 10 minutes to the same prompt, then people who want to share theirs. Then we do that a couple more times. Great jolt of creativity
All days
12-3 AM Midnight co-working (unmoderated)
8:30-10:30 AM Morning co-working (unmoderated)
1-3 PM Afternoon co-working (moderated, weekdays only)
Weekly Events:
Tuesdays/Thursdays:
6:30-830 PM Evening co-working (unmoderated)
Wednesday:
11-12 PM Story discussion or writing games morning session
4-5 PM Story discussion or writing games evening session
Friday:
10-11 AM Chill and chat
Upcoming Classes
- Dunking Your Reader in the Details: Toolsets for Creating Immersive Worlds with Cat Rambo, Saturday, February 6, 2021, 9:30-11:30 AM Pacific Time.
- Pitches and Synopses Workshop with Jennifer Brozek, Sunday, February 7, 2021, 9:30-11:30 AM Pacific Time.
- Different Kinds of Love: Writing Relationships that Aren’t Romantic with Cat Rambo, Saturday, February 13, 2021, 9:30-11:30 AM Pacific Time.
-
Where Babies Come From: Speculative Reproduction with Evan J. Peterson, Saturday, February 13, 2021, 1:00-3:00 PM Pacific Time.
- Consent is Sexy: Writing Consensual Scenes with Sarah Buhrman, Sunday, February 14, 2021, 9:30-11:30 AM Pacific Time.
- In Flagrante Delicto: Writing Effective Sex Scenes with Catherine Lundoff, Sunday, February 14, 2021, 1:00-3:00 PM Pacific Time.
- Mapping the Labyrinth: Plotting Your Novel with Kay Kenyon, Saturday, February 20, 2021, 9:30-11:30 AM Pacific Time.
- Make Yourself More Discoverable Online: SEO Basics for Creative People with Cat Rambo, Saturday, February 20, 2021, 1:00-3:00 PM Pacific Time.
- Writing Fight Scenes with Marie Brennan, Sunday, February 21, 2021, 1:00-3:00 PM Pacific Time.
- Systems of Magic: How to Use Your Magic to Enrich Your Worldbuilding with Cat Rambo, Saturday, February 27, 2021, 9:30-11:30 AM Pacific Time.
- Witches Are People Too: Writing Well-Rounded Pagans and Spellcrafters with Evan J. Peterson, Saturday, February 27, 2021, 1:00-3:00 PM Pacific Time.
- A Mixed Bag: Combining and Manipulating Genre Conventions with Tracy Townsend, Sunday, February 28, 2021, 9:30-11;30 AM Pacific Time.
- Writing Masculinity with Sam J. Miller, Sunday, February 28, 2021, 1:00-3:00 PM Pacific Time.
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Fiction Reading: Acquainted with the Night
Trigger warning: child murder, violence
This is an early superhero fiction story of mine that originally appeared in Corrupts Absolutely?, edited by Lincoln Crisler.
Guest Post: PJ Manney on GameStop and the Power of Populism
I have many thoughts on the GameStop stock/stonk play. Big movements in complex systems are difficult to write about, because many things that seem paradoxical can be correct at the same time. At different scales or frames, differing takes have validity. So forgive what may seem contradictory. For those not familiar with the topic, let’s start with this @Vox article as the baseline.
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What’s Coming Up This Week
Here’s what’s coming up next for the Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers. For the full list of online writing classes aimed at fantasy and science fiction writers, see http://www.kittywumpus.net/blog/upcoming-online-classes/
Writing Your Way Into Your Novel with Cat Rambo, Saturday, January 30, 2021, 9:30-11:30 AM Pacific Time.
Beginnings & Endings with Cat Rambo, Saturday, January 30, 2021, 1:00-3:00 PM Pacific Time.
Principles for Pantsers with Cat Rambo, Sunday, January 31, 2021, 9:30-11:30 AM Pacific Time.
Highspeed Worldbuilding for Fiction and Games with James L. Sutter Session II, Sunday, January 31, 2021, 1:00-3:00 PM Pacific Time.
Dunking Your Reader in the Details: Toolsets for Creating Immersive Worlds with Cat Rambo, Saturday, February 6, 2021, 9:30-11:30 AM Pacific Time.
Pitches and Synopses Workshop with Jennifer Brozek, Sunday, February 7, 2021, 9:30-11:30 AM Pacific Time.
What’s Coming Up for the Rambo Academy Next Weekend
Here’s what’s coming up next for the Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers. For the full list of online writing classes aimed at fantasy and science fiction writers, see http://www.kittywumpus.net/blog/upcom…
The Ins and Outs of Urban Fantasy with L.L. McKinney, Saturday, January 23, 2021 from 9:30-11:00 AM Pacific Time. http://www.kittywumpus.net/blog/class…
The 4th Language of Genre Fiction with M Todd Gallowglass, Saturday, January 23, 2021, 1:00-3:00 PM Pacific Time. http://www.kittywumpus.net/blog/class…
Power World Real Name: Upping your Game with Names and Titles with Cat Rambo, Sunday, January 24, 2021, 9:30-11:30 AM Pacific Time. http://www.kittywumpus.net/blog/class…
Highspeed Worldbuilding for Fiction and Games with James L. Sutter Session I, Sunday, January 24, 2021, 1:00-3:00 PM Pacific Time. http://www.kittywumpus.net/blog/high-…
Enrollments are limited to 15 students per workshop and include three needs-based scholarships, called the Plunkett scholarships. Writers of color, QUILTBAG, and neurodiverse writers are particularly invited to apply.
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Tagged james l. sutter, l.l. mckinney, m. todd gallowglass, names, titles
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