28 April 2011

Online Chick Lit Novel Writing Course with Kristin Harmel (Media Bistro)

Post date: 28 April 2011
Dates: 20 - 27 June 2011

Draft your book while you learn how to get an agent, sell it, and market it.

Chick lit is one of the hottest genres in modern fiction, and it's gaining even more momentum with the films In Her Shoes, The Devil Wears Prada and Shopaholic (all from chick lit books) hitting the big screen. At the same time, authors such as Jodi Picoult and Anita Shreve are still dominating the bestseller charts with soul-searching fiction about everyday women. Maybe you've read books in this genre and thought, "I can write this!"

Well, guess what? You can. And in this class, you'll learn how. You'll learn what chick lit is and why it's different from romance and other genres. You'll learn where women's fiction is going, how it's expanding, and how the field is a lot broader than you think. And best of all, you'll learn how to actually be a chick lit or women's fiction author AND how to get your book published.

In this class, you will learn:

* How to draw on both your experience and your imagination to write a great story
* The elements of a marketable chick lit or women's fiction novel
* How to come up with a great title and plot
* How to create compelling, likeable, realistic characters
* How to write great dialogue
* How to begin and end chapters with a bang
* How to create and resolve conflict
* How to revise, cut, and tighten your manuscript
* How to find an agent and create a pitch package
* How to market your book after it's sold

By the end of class, you will:

Be well on your way to completing the first draft of a chick lit or women's fiction novel. You'll also know how to sell it to agents and how to edit your own novel.

Admission Requirements

Please submit a letter of interest (including a brief work history) and a writing sample (less than 1,000 words).

The online classroom has several interactive components:

* Instructors post lectures once a week. You can read them online, print them, or download them at your convenience.
* Students post completed assignments for feedback and discussion by the instructor and class.
* Weekly chats allow your class to get together via instant message. Transcripts are available for review if you can't attend.
* Technical support is available from mediabistro staff.

Course Syllabus

Novel Writing: Chick Lit (PDF)

Instructor Bio

Kristin Harmel is the author of Italian for Beginners, The Art of French Kissing, The Blonde Theory and How to Sleep with a Movie Star, all from Warner Books/5 Spot/Hachette Book Group. She is also the author of the young adult novels When You Wish and After, both from Random House. Her novels have been translated into numerous languages and are sold all over the world. She's also ghostwriting the autobiography of rock'n'roll legend Chubby Checker. Kristin is also a reporter for People magazine and a freelance writer for Glamour, American Baby, Woman's Day, and Health.

Chats: Mondays, 9-10 pm ET

WHERE: Online.

LEVEL: Intermediate

PRICE: $499 (or $475 for AvantGuild members)

Click here to apply >>

Contact Information:

For inquiries: click here

Website: http://www.mediabistro.com
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