Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Another Experiment

I'm trying yet another experiment. I've privately tutored and taught kids writing in the past and decided to compile a SHORT and SIMPLE guide FOR kids about writing and am offering it on Amazon for Kindle.

It's not about grammar or the things usually taught in English classes but rather what makes a particular essay or report or story or speech effective.

It's about how to THINK about what someone is planning to write.

My hope is that it will make writing easier and less scary for kids.

Here's the cover and a link to order it on Amazon:




WRITING TIPS FOR KIDS on Amazon for Kindle

Thursday, October 13, 2011

An Experiment

I'm going to try an experiment. People are asking about the next Book in a Week class and I'm looking at the calendar and trying to figure out how to make it work given Thanksgiving and the Christmas holidays. So....

I'm going to try an experiment. This BIAW is going to run 6 weeks with 2 weeks to write. That way if people know they are going to be busy over Thanksgiving they will still have time to write. So....here goes:

NEXT BOOK IN A WEEK ONLINE CLASS

Note: You can sign up to be notified when I am offering this or any other class by using this link: Kihlstrom online classes

Book in a Week Online Writing Class

Cost: $85 ($45 if you have taken it before) (Note: I understand the economy is bad and if you have a hardship situation, please let me know. I do offer discounts in hardship cases.)
Dates: October 30, 2011 to December 9, 2011
Deadline to sign up: by October 28, 2011 (though I do sometimes take people at the last minute if there is still room in the class)
Lessons: Everything is handled via email so that you can do the work at your convenience.
Class size is limited.

Class Description:

This class will take you through every step of the writing process—from beginning to brainstorm all the way through sending material out to be published. And it will help you discover who YOU are as a writer. You can participate as much or as little as you like in email discussions.

Weeks 1-3:This is when you do the prep work with lessons that are designed to get you thinking in new ways about your project. Among other things, I'll cover characters and book structure, imagery and use of names, POV and how to make sentence and paragraph structure work for you. If you choose, you can post answers and get help brainstorming ideas for your book but NO ONE is required to do so!

Weeks 4 and 5: Intensive Writing Weeks (November 19, 2011 through December 4, 2011)This is your chance to write better and faster than you ever have before, to discover what YOUR natural first draft will look like and ways to fit writing into your life that you may never have thought of before.

Week 6:Here's your chance to look at the experience of weeks 4 and 5 and use it to create a writing method that works for YOU and is tailored to your most natural writing style. We'll also look at how to revise your work in the fastest, most effective way possible and I'll be sharing some of my thoughts on query letters, synopses, etc.

Does BIAW work? Well, a number of people who have taken this class are now published or under contract with material they worked on during my classes!

Bio: April Kihlstrom is an award winning author of 31 published romance novels. She offers coaching to fellow writers as well as classes and workshops on writing and has spoken at many conferences including: the Romance Writers of America national conference (romance) and the East of Eden conference (non-romance).

Testimonials from students who have taken the Book in a Week class:

Flo Fitzpatrick wrote: "I hope you get a ton of students, April! ONE OF THE BEST WORKSHOPS I EVER TOOK!!!! ( It enabled me to write Hot Stuff in a week - and that book received four and half stars - Gold on RT Reviews and is under option for film.) TAKE THIS CLASS, PEOPLE!!!!"

“I have taken several online classes, none of them writing related. Still, none of them have been as well planned, documented and executed as BIAW.”

“Wow...Let me begin by saying Thank you Thank you Thank you! What an amazing process and generous amount of information given in a relatively short amount of time!”

“This course was certainly value for the money. A price can't be placed on the invaluable information and experience you imparted during this course.”

“I'm a better writer. I'm a faster writer. I'm a more confident writer.”

Payment for the class may be made by check or by Paypal.

To sign up send an email to aprilkihlstrom@yahoo.com with the title of the class you wish to take in the header and in the body of the email please put: your name and whether you prefer to pay by check or Paypal. Also, please let me know if you have taken the class before. Note: If cost is an issue, please let me know and on a case by case basis we may be able to work something out.

Note: If you do not get a response back from me, please try emailing me at april.kihlstrom@gmail.com. Unfortunately email does sometimes simply disappear into cyberspace.