February 20, 2010
10:00 amto5:00 pm

Saturday, February 20, 2010 ~ Berkeley, California

A one-day workshop with Constance Hale, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Are you a writer, editor, or copyeditor interested in being a freelance editor for magazines and nonfiction books? This workshop covers the role of freelance editors in the publishing world. Topics include understanding the mission of the magazine or the program of the publisher; evaluating queries and proposals; tailoring narratives to specific audiences; developing strong story structure; editing for clarity, brevity, and vigor; and working effectively with authors. The class ends with a discussion of how to find freelance work and develop a robust editing business.

Earth Calendar

February 16, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Here’s a list of international holidays, searchable by date, country, religion, and more. The listing doesn’t skimp: for the US, it shows 15 holidays in January, including National Pharmacists’ Day and Elvis’s birthday.

US and UK spellings

February 16, 2010 | Leave a Comment

If you need to write using UK spellings, here’s a good resource.

April 30, 2010toMay 2, 2010

The fifth annual Gold Rush Writers Conference will be held   April 30, May 1 and 2 in picturesque Mokelumne Hill, the Sierra town that time forgot.  The event, which includes your choice of 16 workshops, plus readings, talks, a picnic supper in a Victorian garden, lunch and dinner in a Gold Rush hotel, and a poolside brunch, is priced at just $145 — if you sign up before March 30.

Genres and topics covered include mystery, memoir, historical fiction, mainstream fiction, non fiction, poetry, short story, plus the basic tools of digital research, media marketing, plot, dialogue and point of view.

There’s a Meet-up of the San Francisco Travel Book Club and Lecture Series on Thursday, February 18, at 7:30 p.m. Books, Inc. (2251 Chestnut Street in San Francisco, CA).

Speaker Erin Van Rheenen is the founder of Miss Move Abroad.com (www.missmoveabroad.com), author of Living Abroad in Costa Rica, and has been interviewed on CNN on the subject of moving abroad. If you have ever dreamed of moving to another country for an extended period of time, RSVP above and stop by to meet a woman who has true been-there-done-that savvy!

Costa Rica blog

February 16, 2010 | Leave a Comment

I recently enjoyed spending some time in Costa Rica (and Jim is ready to move there). Thanks to our friend Laurie McManus for sending along this link to an ex-pat’s blog: “She’s a clever, funny writer and shares a lot of random info on what it’s like to be an American ex-pat. Why she would include a photo of herself in a bra, looking like she just rolled out of bed is beyond me…”

I especially like the Feb 7, 2010 post about election day in Costa Rica.

The people in Haiti still need our help, and PayPal has provided a good way to give. Unlike some credit card companies, PayPal covers the processing costs – 100% of your donation goes to the nonprofit of your choice. Here’s a link for using PayPal to donate to the Red Cross, the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, Save the Children, World Vision, or other relief funds.

February 11, 2010toFebruary 12, 2010
March 9, 2010toMarch 10, 2010
March 17, 2010toMarch 18, 2010

Have you heard about Camille Cusumano’s travel writing workshops in Buenos Aires?

“If you can write, there’s a reader waiting to read what you have to say. Why not start publishing your prose? The time has never been more auspicious—and I’ll tell you why. If you are coming to Buenos Aires for your first time, be prepared to find inspiration daily in this lively Latin city and its culture, full of surprises.

February 6, 2010
10:00 amto4:00 pm

Damanhur“Do you love to travel? Keep a travel journal? Why not take the next step and turn your daily scribbles into salable articles? You can do this by learning two things: 1) how to improve your storytelling abilities, and 2) how to market your work. “I’ll lead you through the steps of writing a travel story and then targeting and querying your markets [short story anthologies, newspapers, magazines and ezines],” says instructor Lisa Alpine.