Video: Twitter Basics for Creatives

Posted on February 24, 2021 by Cat

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What’s Coming Up In Early March, 2021

Posted on February 22, 2021 by Cat

Here’s what classes are coming up for the Rambo Academy in the next couple of weeks.

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.

Find more registration details here.

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Opinion: More Fuel for the Recent Baenfire

Posted on February 20, 2021 by Cat

In the couple of days since I first spoke about the furor evoked by Jason Sanford’s criticism of a specific subforum of Baen’s Bar, the discussion boards sponsored by Baen Books, for encouraging armed insurrection and white supremacy, a good bit has happened*.
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Opinion: On Baen Books, Moderating Discussion Boards, & Political Expression

Posted on February 18, 2021 by Cat

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.

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What’s Coming Up: Valentine Day Events

Posted on February 8, 2021 by Cat

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.

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Rambo Academy Campus Calendar for February 2021

Posted on January 29, 2021 by Casey Blair

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

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Fiction Reading: Acquainted with the Night

Posted on January 29, 2021 by Cat

Trigger warning: child murder, violence
This is an early superhero fiction story of mine that originally appeared in Corrupts Absolutely?, edited by Lincoln Crisler.

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Guest Post: PJ Manney on GameStop and the Power of Populism

Posted on January 27, 2021 by Cat

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.
Continue reading →

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What’s Coming Up This Week

Posted on January 25, 2021 by Cat

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.

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What’s Coming Up for the Rambo Academy Next Weekend

Posted on January 18, 2021 by Cat

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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