In an effort to create more opportunities to work with writers, Swenson Book Development LLC will begin to offer virtual classes, workshop, and retreats in January 2022. All sessions will be held via Zoom and documents will be shared using Google Drive. If you are interested in registering for a class, workshop or retreat, please email Jill at Swenbooks dot com by January 3, 2022. Generative Writing Workshop Saturdays January 8, 15, 22 at 10-11:30 am This creative writing workshop is intended for writers at every level and in every genre. It is intended to get your creative juices flowing. Whether you have never done any creative writing or have something you are currently working on, this is a place to generate new copy. There will be an in-class writing assignment and a weekly writing prompt. The writing exercises offer constraints to help you enter your story through side doors and get to the more profound truths. This is not a workshop for critical feedback, but encouragement to take risks. Limit of 8. $125 Weekend Writing Intensive for Nonfiction and Memoir Friday February 4, 7-9 pm, Saturday February 5, 10 am-noon, 1-5 pm, Sunday February 6, 10 am-noon Do you have a work-in-progress and seek constructive criticism, inspiration and encouragement? This weekend long writing retreat will focus on you and your writing project. It will allow you to gain valuable feedback and advance your writing craft. Participants will each submit 20 pages by January 20 for everyone to read before…

Publishing, overall, is an industry that pivoted fairly quickly and easily to conducting business during a global pandemic. Despite postponing the release of some books and a logjam at printing presses, publishing is doing business much as usual. Acquisition editors are interested in new book projects. Book sales have been brisk, even with bookstores mostly closed. For many writers and editors, working remotely is nothing new. Getting publicity and promotions for a new book release, however, presents new challenges, but also opportunities. For writers on the path toward publication, the surface of the pavement is changing but the path is not. With author events now booked as zoom meetings, you don’t need to leave your reading chair at home to participate. It’s easier than ever to have a direct connection with an author of a book you’re reading. Writing workshops, classes, and conferences have gone online. No need for a big travel budget to attend. Now you have the luxury of attending virtually. Writers tend to work alone. But authors work with others — and that accounts in part for why they get published. Building your literary community before your book is released is incredibly important to its success. There’s no time like the present to expand your network while working from home. I highly recommend the online course offerings by WritingxWriters, The Loft Literary Center, and Gotham Writers Workshop. Depending on what genre you’re writing, there are lots of opportunities to attend conferences or participate in workshops. Likely for your job or school…

Recently I finished teaching a six week workshop where one participant asked a tough question that has haunted me. “What shouldn’t I do as a writer? What mistakes can you help me avoid making?” I stumbled through an answer. I like to focus on the positive things writers can do to improve their writing and yet the question was a legitimate one. And in my line of work I’ve seen a lot of mistakes. So I thought I would share a short list of do’s and don’ts. Know your genre Many writers suffer from genre confusion. Fictional memoir doesn’t exist. Knowing your genre is important because bookstores need to know where to shelve your book. As a writer, it’s even more important because each genre has its own literary conventions. Within the genres of romance, mystery, thriller, suspense, and science fiction there are well-defined subgenres. Know precisely where your book fits because readers bring certain expectations to each. There are lots of love stories, but not all of them belong to the genre of Romance. Know your reader There is no “general reader.” Have you ever gone into a bookstore and library asked for a book that could be for anyone? No, me neither. Write with a specific audience in mind. Read I often hear writers say they don’t want to be influenced by what they read. Do artists avoid museums and galleries? Do musicians surround themselves with silence? Do you know any chefs who ignore their passion for food?…