There are as many reasons for writing a journal as there are people in the world: to express, to heal and clarify, to create, learn and influence, to record, to celebrate, to share with friends or the world even…and everything in-between. The journal is a way to connect—to yourself and to others—with gentleness, compassion and deeper understanding. It’s a “safe home” where your deepest thoughts can reside without fear of judgment, blame or need for justification. A place where you can be just you.

From the private locked notebook to digital files to global blogs and Facebook, writers today have so many choices for expression. We are all writers and there is something out there for you.

This guidebook will help you make the right choices. I go over the tools you need to consider before you get started. I also show you the steps on how to get started and—just as important—how to keep going. I cover how to get the most out of your journal writing experience and discuss safety issues. To help, I provide you with examples and practical exercises. References appear at the end of each chapter. There’s also a bibliography at the back in case you want to read more and an index to find things in here.Enjoy, learn and, above all, have fun!

The Alien’s Guidebook Series is dedicated to helping and empowering men and women through writing andthe creative process. Whether you’re writing fiction or expressing yourself through “life” or “wellness” writing, my hope is that The Journal Writer—like its predecessor The Fiction Writer: Get Published,Write Now!—will help you and others achieve your goal.

If you think The Journal Writer can give you and others important life skills, please tell others about it! You can provide a review on Amazon or email me (nina.sfgirl@gmail.com) with a testimonial that I can use to help promote this book on helping others journal and write expressively.
The Journal Writer was commissioned by Romanian publisher Calin Vlasie ofEditura Paralela 45, who had already translated and published The Fiction Writer in 2011 (Manual de Scriere Creativa. Scriitorul de fictiune).  I attended the launch of The Fiction Writer in Bucharest in November 2011 and drank copious amounts of Romania’s national drink Tuica (plum liquor that packs a punch!) with my publisher.
Scriitorul de Jurnal: Descoperirea vocii interioare (The Journal Writer: Finding Your Voice) was published by Editura Paralela 45 and launched at the Gaudeamus Book Fair in Bucharest in November 2012.
Romanians can buy Scriitorul de Jurnal:Descoperirea vocii interioare (The Journal Writer: Finding Your Voice) on the Editura Paralela 45 site and various other online bookstores.

About Editura Paralela 45:
Editura Paralela 45 Publishing House was founded in November 1994 by Calin
Vlasie. Over the years, the company specialized in the production of books, magazines, newspapers and copybooks. Their main branch offices in Romania include Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca.
They originally focused on educational books and contemporary Romanian literature. Since 2000, editorial production diversified; they currently publish Romanian and foreign literature, social and human sciences, philosophy, history, religion, law, economics, science books, art books, practical books, literature for children and teenagers, university textbooks, didactical methods books, handbooks and auxiliary books.
Currently, Editura Paralela 45 Publishing House develops three series and 54 collections, covering over 90 editorial areas including: biography, business, children, Christian, college, fiction, computer, cookbooks, criticism, cultural studies, diet, drama, education, enternainment, erotica, essays, family, fitness, food, foreign languages, health, history, how to, language, law, lifestyle, literature, mathematics, medical, memoir, parenting, philosophy, poetry, psychiatry, reference, relationship, religion, school, science, self help, software, spirituality, sports, teaching, technology.. Most of these collections are registered with the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks (OSIM). From 1994 to 2011, they have published over 3200 titles in over 13 million copies.
The publishing house participates in key book fairs in Europe (Paris, London, Frankfurt, Bologna, Geneva, Tel Aviv, etc.) and has won numerous awards, both for editorial work and its published books. Awards include: International Book Fair “Gaudeamus” (“Excellence Award” in 2001 and 2008), the Writers Union of Romania, Association of Professional Writers in Romania, Romanian Academy, the Writers’ Union of Moldova, Romanian Publishers Association, magazines “Cuvantul” “Romania literara”, etc., the “Francophonie Award”, the Prix Saint-Exupery / ValeursJeunesse (2006).
Editura Paralela 45 has translated and published numerous foreign books (from English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Swedish and so on). Foreign publishers that they worked with include: Harper Collins, Ebury Press, A. M. Heath & Co, Hay House, MacMillan, Simon & Schuster, Transworld (from UK), Curtis Brown, Facts On File, Grand Central Publishing, Hyperion, Knopf Doubleday Group, Pearson Technology Group, Penguin Group (USA), Albin Michel, Actes Sud, Calmann-Levy, Bayard, Robert Laffont, Tallandier (France), Bertelsmann, Ullstein, Eichborn, Rowohlt (Germany). And now Starfire World Syndicate (USA)!

Book Event at Wunderland Cafe in Beaches Toronto

“The Last Summoner is a hard book to put down. For me, it was a fast read, because I wanted to turn the page to see what came next. I admit I stayed up later than I should have. Eh, work is such a four letter word anyway.

“Nina’s characters are getting stronger and more fully-fleshed as were writing grows. She has the gift of learning and developing knowledge. I feel as if I’ve been there, geographically.”

Noah Chinn on the ferry to Sechelt, BC

People from all over the world are evolving with Darwin’s Paradox…. Artists, construction workers, teachers, students, healers, entrepreneurs, councillors, and shop-keepers … all journeying together toward the singularity. Look who’s here today:

Noah Chinn is a writer, cartoonist and traveller, having lived and worked in Japan and England, and biked through a dozen countries worldwide.  His paranormal romantic comedy “Bleeding Heart Yard” and unique take on an apocalyptic novel Trooper #4 are both currently in print from Mundania Press, and his first murder mystery (without the murder!) “Getting Rid of Gary” will be released before Spring of 2013.  In addition, he has collections of short stories available for e-readers on Amazon.   

You can visit Noah and find more about his work (and play) on his website, Creativity, Comedy and Chaos Combined.

Participate in Look Who’s Reading Darwin:

If you are a Darwin reader and wish to share your favorite place to read Darwin, email me your shot of you reading the book and I’ll feature you. Include a little about you and what you’d like to promote (yourself, a group, an event or place, world peace…) and a link. Email me at: nina.sfgirl@gmail.com (message line: Look who’s reading Darwin).

New Writing Tip Series by Nina Munteanu

There’s an interesting phenomenon going on out there right now. Maybe you noticed it. Economists are all abuzz with it. Social scientists and psychologists are gossiping to each other about it:  the exponential growth curve—or “S” curve—that we are currently in the middle of is fuelling our food shortages, oil shortages, inflation, economic collapses, tensions between countries, population rise, and everything else to do with humanity on this planet.

Ecologists have long been studying this biological—and sociological—phenomenon in nature. The typical “S” curve has three parts to it: 1) the beginning, where it lags and shows a slow rate of rise; 2) then the steep rise of exponential growth; and 3) the eventual leveling off when the supposed carrying capacity is reached. There is another kind of curve, the “boom and bust” curve that instead of plateauing at the end toward sustainability, plummets just as steeply back to or below levels in the first step (that’s a whole other topic and blog post).

Why am I talking to you about this? Because it has everything to do with your writing. The publishing industry is currently experiencing its own version of the “S” curve and the “boom and bust” curve (for traditional publishing houses, I’m afraid). We are currently witnessing a growing influx and legitimization of self-publishing and Indie publishing. Thanks to a few crazy success stories and the new affordable paradigm of POD digital publishing, publishing hasn’t been easier. This new model heralds an unprecedented renaissance of self-expression and creativity, shared worldwide.

Consider these statistics:  in 2009, Publishers Weekly reported over 750,000 self-published/micro publisher titles, over twice the number of traditionally published titles that same year. The figures (I couldn’t find more recent ones—let me know when you do) are assuredly much higher today. From 8,000 to 11,000 new publishers currently enter the field every year and most of them are self-publishers or small indie publishers. Seventy-eight percent of titles brought out come from a small press or self-publisher. Fifty-two percent of books sold are not sold in bookstores; they are merchandised through mail order, online, in discount or warehouse stores, through book clubs, and nontraditional retail outlets.

As a function of this renaissance of self-expression, the number of books hitting the market is rising at an exponential rate. There’s that “S” curve again. Check out Amazon: they have over seven million books on their virtual shelves. And now, thanks to their new policies, it’s growing exponentially. What does this mean for you?

It used to be that the screening for excellence in books occurred behind the closed doors of prestigious publishing houses; if a book wasn’t deemed worthy of the standards or didn’t fit the style of that publishing house (with its own reputation), it was not accepted and didn’t see the light of day. The rejected and dejected author often went back to the drawing board to improve their artistic work before resubmitting. That was then. Now, works are published without prejudice in the open for the world to see.  It used to be that writers complained of their writing being “sterilized” by the editor of the publishing house, which was only conforming to the house style and their vision of what is salable. Now authors wishing for creative control simply self-publish.

Self-publishing has created a kind of anarchy in publishing; anything can be published (so long as you have the money). And while this is incredibly liberating for authors around the world, it is also incredibly dangerous. Here’s why: once you publish your material, it will be out there for the world to see forever. That means FOREVER. It becomes a permanent record of your standards of excellence and taste; essentially a statement of who and what you are. You had better be proud of it then and for a very long time. It is no longer the responsibility of the publisher to determine publishing worthiness; the onus is on YOU, the writer. What will you do to ensure the best possible work for your readers?

Competition will become ever more fierce AFTER you’ve invested and AFTER you’ve published; your book will then compete with a world of self-published authors in addition to those published by traditional publishing houses. In order for your book to rise above the massive competition, it’s more important than ever to produce a concise, clean, clear, polished-to-perfection manuscript that you are proud of. With an awesome cover (see my post on book jacket covers).

Self-published author Dave Bricker shares that, “Poor editing is the number one complaint heard from critics of the independent publishing industry. Though the standards of mainstream publishing houses are overrated, I’ve read many indie books where spotty spelling and lack of polished prose present barriers to enjoyable reading. Unedited authors sully the publishing waters for the rest of us.” He’s talking about poor packaging. Poor manuscript presentation can seriously undermine an author’s chances of being taken seriously. A good reputation is earned slowly and tenuously; a poor reputation, like the plummeting “boom and bust” curve can end a writer’s career.

“Why not produce a pressure-tested product that has already withstood the scrutiny of a professional critic whose standards are much higher than those of the average reader?” says Bricker. “As with your typesetting and cover design, the best route to success is to engage a professional.” He is right. If you want to be treated as a professional (by readers) then be professional and engage professionals.

Nina, the Writing Coach

What do professional editors do?

Editors aren’t proofreaders, although this might be one task in several they can provide. Most editors are what are variously called structural or story editors; someone capable of commenting on the work objectively and with competence. Is the story believable? Are there unexpected temporal jumps or unexplained threads in the narrative? Are the article’s assertions properly supported? As with affairs of the heart, it’s easy to understand the problems of others and difficult to acknowledge what we’re too close to see—and if you think writing isn’t an affair of the heart, you haven’t started your book yet. Get that third-party perspective.

No one likes to be edited. Of course you feel protective of your material; that is natural. You’ve put so much into it; how could a stranger possibly understand and treat it with the respect it deserves?

Professional editors are accustomed to interacting with authors in a mutually respectful relationship. Editors have to make a living, and they would quickly find themselves unable to if they treated their clients in any way other than professionally and respectfully. A professional editor is more likely to serve your true interests in getting published than a friend or relative who likely knows little of “storytelling”, plot and character; and may side-wind you with inappropriate advice or platitudes. In fact, showing your work to a friend or relative may be the reason why you have decided that you “don’t like to be edited.” Before I was published, I once showed my work in progress to my husband, who was too close to the subject and its writer; he made very unprofessional remarks that were more damaging than helpful. If you go with a professional you will not have this problem.

Throughout history, authors have relied on their editors to be their sounding boards, to represent the eye and ear of the reader, and to help bring a viewpoint that can’t arise spontaneously in the author’s head. In the past, the traditional publishing house has typically provided this service. Many publishing houses now expect the writer to provide a manuscript that has already been edited. Indie and self-publishing scenarios leave the onus on the writer.

Two of the most common excuses that authors find for not engaging a professional editor include cost and venue.

I can’t afford an Editor: can you afford to put out a book for the world to see that is full of mistakes? If you aren’t serious enough about writing and publishing to invest in your career with good guidebooks, courses & workshops and coaching and editing, then perhaps you should rethink your career. No one would think twice about training and getting professional help to become a successful nurse or pilot. Writing is the same. For it to be successful, it requires investment. Especially if you are considering self-publishing.

Self-published author Dick Margulis reminds us that “Self-publishing is a business – the publishing business – and if you hope to succeed in it, you have to manage it like a business. You have to look at your skill set and decide which of the many tasks associated with publishing you are suited to doing yourself and which can be done more effectively and more economically by others. Your time has value, and you have to decide how it is best spent.”

It’s Just an E-Book: a common mistake, particularly with digitally published books, is the notion that because you haven’t invested in typesetting or printing you can fix the mistakes later. That is a poor notion. And a risky approach that smacks of laziness. Letting your readers find your mistakes for you is a poor show and will hurt your reputation as a writer (no matter who publishes you). With books, no matter what format, the first impression is critical. For some readers that may be the first and last time they meet you and your work. Make sure it counts. Word gets around pretty fast on the Internet. Ensure that it’s a good word.

You can peruse Nina’s writing services and fees on the appropriate pages tabbed above. Services include:

• individual coaching on manuscripts for publication
• manuscript evaluation
• editing and proofing
• group courses and individual instruction and consultation
• help with submission packages (queries, covers and synopses)
• formatting interiors for e-book and print book submissions
• advice and consultation on self-publishing models
• creation of promotional packages (book jacket blurbs, promotional summaries, tag lines, tweets, etc.)
• writing Press Releases

COMING SOON!  Nina Munteanu’s new series of Writing Guide e-books for only $0.99 each on Amazon Kindle, like the one shown above on editing and revising your work. Each is packed with informative and useful articles for the writer.

GET Nina Munteanu’s writing guide THE FICTION WRITER: GET PUBLISHED, WRITE NOW! on Amazon. Now available on Kindle!

Well, you’re reading this blog post … That means you’re sitting down and taking a minute to relax and regroup. That’s good. Remember to breathe… while I tell you a story…

I’d just finished a three-day drive through snow and rain storms from Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, to Toronto, Ontario, where I’m staying for two days before catching a flight to Vancouver to spend Christmas with my son and good friends on the west coast. Talk about fast living.

I move around a lot these days. It helps me to appreciate some of the most simple things in life and reminds me of what I love most about Christmas: how it focuses my heart and reconnects me. I don’t mean just with relatives and friends either, although the season certainly does that. I’m talking about my soul and the universe itself.  Before I became an itinerant, Christmas bustled with my responsibilities as primary caregiver, social coordinator and hostess of major parties. After I’d said goodbye to our visiting friends and done the dishes and tidied the house, after my husband and son had gone to bed, I sat in the dark living room lit only with the Christmas Tree lights and the flickering  candle, and listened to soft Christmas music. My male cat found his rightful place on my lap and settled there, pinning me down with love. And there, as I breathed in the scent of wax and fir, I found myself again.

Sammy in his element

Most of us think of Christmas as a busy time, of getting together (often dutifully) with family and friends, exchanging presents and feasting. Christmas is certainly this, but that is only a shallow view of a far deeper event; and I don’t mean only for Christians.

Whether celebrating the holy light of Hannukah or the birth of Jesus, or the winter solstice, this season provides us with the opportunity to meditate on far more than the surficial nature of the symbols we have come to associate with the season: the Christmas tree, presents, turkey dinner, Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas—most of which originate from pagan tradition, by the way.

Says Lama Christie McNally (author of The Tibetan Book of Meditation), “once you dive below the surface, you will discover a beautiful clear place—like a diamond hidden beneath the rubble. It is your own mind, uncovered … Tibetans say we have only just begun the process of awakening—that we still have quite a way to go in our evolutionary process. And it has nothing to do with building spaceships or computers. The next step in our evolution takes place within.”

Christmas is, more than anything, a time of embracing paradox. It is an opportunity to still oneself amid the bustle;  to find joy in duty; to give of one’s precious time when others have none, to embrace selflessness when surrounded by promoted selfishness, and to be genuine in a commercial and dishonest world. If one were to look beyond the rhetoric and imposed tradition, the Christmas season represents a time of focus, a time to reflect on one’s genuine nature and altruistic destiny. A time to reconnect with the harmony and balance in our lives. A time to sit with our cat, pinned with love, and write our next novel.

Full cover art of "Inner Diverse"

Book Two of Nina Munteanu’s Splintered Universe Trilogy, “Inner Diverse” was released today by Starfire World Syndicate with cover art done by Costi Gurgu.

In Book Two of this metaphysical space thriller trilogy, detective Rhea Hawke continues her quest for truth and justice in a world that is not what it seems. Rhea’s relentless search takes her to the far reaches of the known universe from the treacherous Boiling Seas of the Weeping Mountains of Horus to the blistering deserts of Upsilon 3. Amidst the turmoil of an imminent extra-galactic war, Rhea holds the key even as those she trusts betray her. No one is what they seem in this fast paced second of three books.

“Nina Munteanu is not only a master of metaphor, she is a creator of fantastic worlds and cultures. She combines her biological background with the infinite possibilities of the cosmos and turns an adventure story into a wonderland of alien rabbit holes. When the action starts it goes into hyper-drive, and her protagonist, Rhea Hawke, is a fresh and multi-faceted heroine.   A fascinating and enthralling read.”—   Craig H. Bowlsby, author of Horth in Killing Reach and creator of Commander’s Log

“Hawke is a maverick in the Wild West tradition, up against the world; and a genetic mystery with lethal powers. As always, Munteanu sticks to science in her storytelling, and clips along a brisk pace.”—Lynda Williams, author of the Okal Rel series.

“Am supposed to be recording some pick ups today and working on some accents for three of the audiobooks I’m finishing up but instead I get myself sucked into book two of Nina Munteanu‘s Splintered Universe trilogy!”—Dawn Harvey, voice artist.

cover art for Outer Diverse

For more on Costi Gurgu, the impeccable artist of the Splintered Universe Trilogy, see my interview with him on The Alien Next Door.

Here is an excerpt about the cover design for Outer Diverse:

SFgirl: You came up with a “Triptych” design for the Splintered Universe Trilogy. What inspired you to come up with it and what do you like about it?

Costi: “There is the danger of spoilers in this answer. The fact is that your main character, Rhea, undergoes a certain evolution from a regular human being to… let’s just say something else. And that evolution has three parts, one for each book of the trilogy and it also has a touch of divine. So, the triptych design, so often used for religious paintings, fits like a glove on the entire concept.”
Costi was a finalist for the Aurora Prix Award, Canada’s top award for works in the genre of the fantastic, in the category of Best Artist for his work on Book 1 of the trilogy, Outer Diverse.

Nina Munteanu at Gaudeamus Book Fair, Bucharest

Some time ago, PhD student at the University of Bucharest in Romania and member of the Central European Association for Canadian Studies, Marilena Dracea-Chelsoi, contacted me with an interest in Romanian diaspora artists in Canada. We struck up a friendship through our collaboration and I met Marilena later at the Gaudeamus Book Fair in Bucharest where I celebrated the launch of my book there in late 2011. But I’m getting ahead of myself—as usual.

Here’s the spring 2011 interview with Marilena:

MDC: When I first came across your name on the Internet, I realized immediately that you have a certain Romanian descent. Could you speak a little bit about your roots?

NM: My father is Romanian; he grew up in Kovin and Beograd, Serbia. My mother is German, from Malente. After marrying in Paris, they immigrated to Québec, Canada. I was born in a small town in the Eastern Townships, the youngest of three siblings and with a propensity to read like my mother and tell stories like my father. My father was a poet, a historian and worldwide traveler, who never lost his passion for literature and writing.

MDC:  You collaborated with Romanian magazines (Imagikon, for example). How did you become acquainted with them?

NM: They found me! Editor in Chief, Mircea Pricajan, contacted me and invited me to be part of their excellent magazine. And next thing I knew, I was helping them with their English and writing a weekly movie/book review. Imagikon was, at the time, Romania’s  only all-English speculative magazine and I was proud to be part of that very cool endeavor.

MDC: Why did you choose the SF genre as the main way of expressing yourself? I read your book The Fiction Writer. Get Published, Write Now! It is a short course for those who want to write. However, I noticed that it was included in The Alien’s Guidebook Series, which is again sort of connected to the SF realm. Yet the book has many chapters that can very usefully be applied to other genres, as well, and the guide can be used by teachers during class writing lessons. So, why do you focus mainly on SF?

NM: I was always fascinated with science and eventually got my degree in ecology and limnology. In high school, my professor of English inspired me to investigate our humanity in literature through symbols, metaphor and imagery. Science fiction is an excellent genre for this exploration through the introduction of “the other/the unknown”. My ecological training also helped me as a world-builder. So, writing science fiction came naturally to me.

MDC: Was the guide inspired by your own career as a SF writer?

NM: Definitely. I brought much of my personal experience as a professional author to this guide in addition to using over a dozen other expert writers and editors, from science fiction and other genres of writing. I even used my own rejection letters in the guide!

MDC: I noticed that in Darwin’s Paradox you chose a Canadian setting – more specifically the Toronto of the future. This surprised me because I expected, in the future, to see less clear borders between towns, between countries…What’s your own opinion about globalization and the future of humankind?

NM: The huge city of Icaria-5, while set in former Toronto, Canada, lies in the jurisdiction of North-Am (which encompasses all of North America). In this world, cities—because they are so huge with nothing but wilderness between them—behave and operate somewhat like autonomous fiefdoms, with their mayors acting as “barons” who, in turn—if chosen—may sit on a government panel, the Circle. The governing body of the entire continent is actually not known by the public and I don’t reveal much of it in Darwin’s Paradox. Some of this is revealed in the prequel Angel of Chaos. I modeled the political structure loosely on the technocratic model, where scientists and technologists run the government. Regarding globalization, I think there are many practical challenges to a global government; based on our relationship with the environment and climate and reflected in our culture. People operate at the individual, family and community level and less so globally; this is why governments logically operate at these levels, too. Of course, if you remove these factors—many of which were removed through enclosed cities like the Icarias—then it is more possible to create a global identity removed from the distinctive characteristics of a locale.

MDC: At the end of the novel Darwin’s Paradox, Julie and Daniel have to leave Icaria and return to the heath in order to protect their unborn child. Was this a message to the people of today that no matter how much society technologically evolves, pure nature unspoiled by any human action is the best place for safety and happiness? The name Icaria clearly comes from Icarus whose attempt to fly succeeded only for a while and then failed because the wax on his wings melted. So, I thought that somehow any attempt to change the natural state of human beings doesn’t lead to a perfect…improvement, let’s say. Am I right?

NM: Yes, you are, and then some! I was definitely evoking the Greek myth of Icarus in naming the enclosed cities of North-Am and using this myth as a metaphor for our relationship with and use of technology. Icaria is also the name French philosopher and utopian sociologist Etienne Cabet gave to a fictional communist utopian community in 1843—a communal society based on liberty, equality and fraternity. So, Icaria is both of these and the book reflects the paradox and irony of an imperfect humanity “realizing” a utopian model.

MDC: What can you tell us about Angel of Chaos, the prequel to Darwin’s Paradox, a book that came out at the end of 2010? (Just a few hints about the actions and the main characters)

NM: Well, of course Julie Crane and in-her-head AI, SAM, figure prominently in the prequel, which plays out in a fast-paced medical mystery-thriller in the enclosed city of Icaria-5. Readers learn about humanity’s relationship with technology and machine through Julie’s interaction with the AI inside her mind. We also find out more about Julie’s past as an orphan in the slums of Icaria, how she met Daniel, the future father of her daughter Angel, and other characters like the mysterious Gaia and Frank, Julie’s lascivious boyfriend. Julie’s relentless search for a cure to Darwin’s Disease leads her to a horrifying discovery that incriminates her in a heinous conspiracy to recast humankind. And, of course, we find out why Julie must flee Icaria at the end of the book.

MDC: You are involved in writing projects, in teaching courses in science and environmental education, you travel a lot and you have a blog THE ALIEN NEXT DOOR on which you discuss with your readers. What other projects do you have in mind for the near future?

NM: I am working with editors on revising two books for publication next year. One is a historical fantasy that spans from medieval times in Poland to near future Paris. I also have a space adventure trilogy coming out about a bad-attitude galactic cop trying to solve the mystery of a slaughter of a religious sect. A book of my short stories is also due next year. Of course, I continue to travel; I hope to get to Romania. A publisher in Romania is considering my fiction writing guidebook and I’m excited about touring the country with it. I am also actively teaching my online courses, doing workshops, and personal manuscript consultations and personal coaching.

The Spring 2011 interview was recently published on Academia.edu. You can go to this link to read the full interview, which appeared in Issue 6 on January 2012.

******

P.S.  This interview was conducted in Spring 2011, so I’d like to give you a publication update on it—mainly, because so much has happened since then!

The historical fantasy that starts in medieval Poland The Last Summoner was released in July 2012 and has been an amazon.ca bestseller in historical fantasy for several months. The space trilogy I was referring to is The Splintered Universe Trilogy. The first book, Outer Diverse, was released in October 2011. Book two, Inner Diverse, will be released December 2012 and the final book in the trilogy, Metaverse, is scheduled for release sometime in 2013. Natural Selection, my collection of short stories, is scheduled for release in spring of 2013.

In addition, I am happy to report that my writing guidebook The Fiction Writer: Get Published, Write Now! was accepted by Editura Paralela 45, who translated it into Romanian and published it in June 2011. I attended its launch at the international Gaudeamus Book Fair in Bucharest and finally met with Marilena!

Editura Paralela 45 has picked up another of my guidebooks and has translated it and released it in Romania in November 2012. The guidebook is called The Journal Writer: Finding Your Voice and offers advice and information for journal keepers and anyone wishing to write expressively. The English version will be released by Starfire in Spring 2013 and you can read excerpts here in future posts.

If you haven’t yet attended a writer’s conference or convention, it’s high time you did. Because, not only are you missing out on an education, you are missing out on a sub-culture that may change your life as a writer, help feed the hungry and align the universe.

The last World Fantasy Convention I attended was several years ago in 2008. It was held in Calgary, Alberta, when I still lived in Vancouver, British Columbia. The ten-hour drive through some of the most glorious Canadian wilderness and mountains was bracing and we were lucky that the weather played fair. It was an auspicious start to a wonderful journey of self-discovery.

Hosted by toastmaster Tad Williams, this world-class convention featured guests of honor, David Morrell, Barbara Hambly, Tom Doherty and Todd Lockwood. The World Fantasy Convention promised great things and delivered them. And I’m not just talking about that white chocolate cranberry-date-nut dip that had me loitering at the hospitality suite. Or all those midnight parties that served savory wine with salted almonds, sharp cheese and colorful conversation with the likes of David Hartwell, Tor editor and impeccable dresser (gotta love those ties!). I’m not even talking about the hot tub that sprung a leak on the 18^th floor at 1 am or the entertaining panels and readings, which rocked for both writer and reader.

What made the con great for me was seeing my writing community (both writing colleagues and readers who followed my writing) and meeting new people, all lovers of books.

I was rudely eyeballing someone’s nametag on his chest, when I collided with the Prince George crowd that included authors, Lynda Williams (herself responsible for some pretty nasty intergalactic wars), Nathalie Mallet (who cages princes) and publisher Virginia O’Dine of Bundoran Press (rumored to have been somehow responsible for the hot tub fiasco). I also chummed with Jennifer Rahn, author of The Longevity Thesis, who was charmed by my sly cat (she’s a softy at heart). Toulouse just kept charming his way through the crowd right to the book fair. We wandered to the back where Anita Hades of Edge Books gave Toulouse her usual greeting (a feline move that was a cross between Sophie Marceau and Brigitte Helm; both she and Toulouse have French blood coursing through their veins, after all—c’est vrai!).

I’d come a long way from the first writer’s conference I went to as a budding writer of a few short stories and non-fiction articles…

Here’s what author Susan Denney says about her first writer’s conference: “Going to my first writers’ conference was an act of faith. I was just starting to make some freelance sales when the members of my writers’ group encouraged me to join them at a conference a few hundred miles away. The expense didn’t seem justified to me. The cost was far more than I had earned through writing that year. But they convinced me at last and it proved to be a great investment. The benefits of a writers’ conference are there for anyone who has a desire to be a better writer.”

Here are some reasons why you can’t afford NOT to go to a conference or convention:

Contacts: you will make contacts with people working in the industry, an extremely valuable asset; this industry is a social one, based on trust, respect and joyfulness. While there’s no guarantee that you will meet anyone famous or influential, you will definitely meet people who know more about writing than you do. Just hanging out with professional writers, editors and agents is educational. If nothing else, you will gain some confidence and ease with industry people, who are real people too. Some may become friends; some may become colleagues; some will become both.

Appointments: through agent/editor/author appointments, you will have a chance to have a quality private conversation with a professional on all aspects of writing and publishing. This is your chance to pitch your novel or ask that one burning question. You know you’ll get a candid and professional answer. That in itself is invaluable and may be enough reason to attend the con. Appointments are also your best chance of getting your manuscript read. This is because it bypasses the slush-pile and months of waiting for a response. More and more editors and agents look to conferences to meet potential authors. For them, meeting an author in person is a bonus to their gauging potential success in a relationship with them.

Education on Craft & Marketing: you will learn something about craft and marketing, no matter what stage you are in your writing career. Depending on the conference or convention, aside from good information from panels, you may also get personal mentoring, 1-page critiques, or attend small themed workshops. Feedback from an experienced writer can save you months of frustration and grief. Just hearing about what is currently going on in the industry is also valuable and conferences are a good way to get the skinny on what the current issues in the writing and publishing industry are. Getting it from those who are working inside avoids the idle and potentially harmful gossip.

Community: you will be exposed to a community of writers, hundreds of creative people in various stages of their careers. By interacting with both those you can help and those who can help you, you will gain a measure of both humility and confidence and satisfaction. We learn so much by helping others. Simply being with other writers can help hone your people-skills, the same ones you will need when approaching agents, editors, publishers and research sources during your career as a professional. Remember, if you aren’t having fun, you are missing one of the most important aspects of attending a writer’s conference, and you will lose your own effectiveness.

Energy: there is nothing more energizing than a common sharing among those of like-minded thought and vision. Writing is primarily an individual pursuit, often thought to belong to the introvert; but, to succeed in the writing/publishing industry a writer must display staying power, persistence, confidence and enduring energy. There is nothing quite as inspirational as hearing an accomplished writer provide their story of victory against odds. I will never forget the moving words of Ray Bradbury at a conference in Palm Springs years ago. I have repeated those words many times since. If you come to a conference with the right mind-set, I guarantee that you will leave with more energy than you came and with a burning need to write.

Exposure: depending on the kind of conference or convention you attend, you will have the opportunity to expose yourself to something different (e.g., different fiction genres and associated communities; fiction vs. non-fiction; different media; etc.). I attended a romance writers conference a few years back (I write mostly science fiction and fantasy—but often with romance elements in them) and found it bracingly educational.

New Markets & Ideas: conferences attract writers of all kinds. Conferences provide fertile ground for cross-pollination of ideas, markets and marketing ploys. Writers, like you, are generally a nice crowd; most are willing and eager to share their successes and failures. And contacts. Sharing is one of the great things that happens at conferences. There may be a common pin board set up for people to share. Most conferences are Twitter and Facebook enabled for quick and easy viral sharing. If you don’t come away from a conference with at least one new idea, contact or market, you haven’t done your job: talk to people.

Here are a few do’s and don’ts for when you go conferencing:

• Wear comfortable but not sloppy clothing and shoes (it’s likely that you will be doing a fair bit of standing and walking); you want to make a good impression. Be yourself and dress accordingly.
• Bring promotional material with you (e.g., business cards, flyers on your book, stories, etc.). Have something to share and exchange with other writers and professionals. Most conferences also have tables devoted to shareware. This is your chance to introduce you and your writing to others.
• Take something to write with (e.g., notebook and pen or iPad, etc.).
• Talk to people. Chances are that everyone there is interesting.
• Respect the time, particularly other people’s time, and keep your appointments and meetings.
• Don’t bring your heavy manuscript with you to the conference. Agents and editors don’t have the time or inclination or space in their suitcase for it. Use the conference to make an impression and get an invitation for something later in writing.
• Keep all of your interactions verbal and face-to-face. Don’t rely on memorized speeches or a folded up written pitch in your pocket. Keep it casually professional. Make eye contact and speak from the heart. Show your passion.
• Have fun. And don’t be afraid to show it; there’s nothing more infectious and attractive than someone having fun.

Dawn Harvey

When Iambik picked up the contract to do an audiobook of Outer Diverse (Book 1 of The Splintered Universe Trilogy by Starfire), I was already excited. I had no idea how fun and fulfilling the experience was going to be.

Iambik provided me with a few voice artists to narrate Outer Diverse. Something about Dawn’s voice—how she spoke as Rhea Hawke—resonated with me. I was vindicated a thousand fold in selecting her to be the “voice” for Outer Diverse. Working with Dawn was a pleasure. Dawn is a dedicated professional; she created unique and consistent voices for the book’s thirty-odd mostly alien characters. She ensured that each character had the appropriate vernacular, tone, accent and cadence. Then she did proofs and confirmed them with me. She also tackled the “alien” vocabulary; Rhea’s universe is full of strange and foreign terms. Dawn sent me a list to make sure she was pronouncing everything correctly—mostly made-up words. This lady is dedicated to her craft and her art!

I recently invited her to my sentient ship for a pockta nectar and a chat about her world. Here’s a snippet of the interview (she’s also a lawyer so I had to condense the 30-odd pages into these; I’m sure you appreciate that. For a small fee I will send you a full version of the interview.)

SF Girl: Outer Diverse is the first book in The Splintered Universe Trilogy. What was the first thing you thought of when you read Outer Diverse? What do you think of Rhea Hawke? She’s had quite a ride already in Book 1. Will she make it to Book 3? (cheeky grin)

Dawn: Outer Diverse is the first full-length novel I have ever voiced. When I auditioned for it, I had only a page or two of the book to review so imagine my shock and surprise upon reading the book and realizing that I was going to be voicing over 30 different characters from over 20 different species! So, my first thought upon completing my first read was, OMG—what have I gotten myself into!?! I love Rhea. She is so strong yet also so fragile; like many of us. She is also headstrong, determined and fearless. I guess I can relate to her as I am also all of those things. People don’t usually see the fragile in either of us but it is certainly there. And yes, she will make it to Book 3. At least she’d better!

SF Girl: How do you prepare yourself for a reading? Do you have a protocol that you follow?

Dawn: Most of my training has been with Pat Fraley and Vanessa Hart but I have also trained with Scott Brick, Jeffrey Kafer, Kathy Garver and many others. In the end, you have to come up with the process that works best for you. I’m a real spreadsheet girl. The first thing I do is read the book, cover to cover, to get a feel for the characters and the story. I then go through the book again and start making my spreadsheets which set out information about the characters including any personal characteristics described in the book by the narrator, the character himself and anyone else in the book that interacts with or talks about the character. When I have all of that information gathered, I then complete a matrix on each character that addresses voice characteristics for each. From those characteristics, I come up with each character’s voice. Then, I’m ready to begin actually recording

SF Girl: How long can you read for any stretch? What are the best things about readings? What are the worst things?

Dawn: When I was a kid, all of my report cards said “Dawn is a good student but she talks too much” so I guess I’ve always been in training. So far, I haven’t hit the limit of how long I can read. I take my laptop down into my booth and start working…I get totally lost in the reading. I’ve always loved reading out loud. I have absolutely no idea why it took me so long to figure out I could do this for a living as I’ve been listening to audiobooks for years. They’re great for long car trips with kids.

SF Girl: What equipment do you use for narration?

Dawn: My recording software is Twisted Wave and I record on an Apple lap top. My audio interface is an Apogee One and my mic an MXL-990. Been thinking about upgrading that lately. I read the text using my iPad. I edit on a desktop Mac using Rokit 5 speakers. Yes, I have drunk all of the Apple kool-aid. It is better than a PC for doing audio and video work and so it has taken over my world.

SF Girl: You did at least twenty distinctive voices in Outer Diverse. Voices ranged from a New Jersey-like accent for a Xhix to a multi-timbral resonance for a Venik trader. How did you decide on which one to use and how do you keep it all consistent in your head?

Dawn: I take my character clues from the script. I felt the need to run my final decision for the characters by the author; as this is part of a three book series, and I didn’t know what was coming in books 2 and 3, I felt it was very important to do this. I’d hate to get to book three and then find out that character XYZ was supposed to have a lisp! In the case of this book, I grouped the characters by species. I felt it was important to have a “sameness” to the voices of the species and then could vary each character within the confines of their particular species. The easiest way for me to keep consistency for each character is to give each a “representational” character. So, for example, the voice of Rhea’s boss, is my version of Lou Grant from the old Mary Tyler Moore series. He may not sound like Lou Grant to anybody else, and it’s probably better if he doesn’t, but when I do MY impersonation of Lou Grant, the voice comes out the same every time. So, that really works for me. The hard part is coming up with the representational character to go with the description I have of the character. So, sometimes, I have to modify it somehow like maybe a character would be Lou Grant if he talked out of the right side of his mouth or in a higher pitch, for example. Every time you add a little twist like that, you get a new character voice. I had a multi-tabbed spreadsheet to help me as well. One tab listed all of the characters and the chapters they were in with color-coding to remind me of what species they were. Another tab had each character’s voice description and representational character. So, when I went into the studio with a plan of which chapters I would be reading, I could quickly see which characters were in those chapters and then familiarize myself with their voices before I started. If one had spoken several chapters ago, I could also go back to that earlier chapter and just refresh my memory of that voice. Don’t let anyone tell you this isn’t a lot of work!

SF Girl: What was the most challenging voice in Outer Diverse and why?

Dawn: The most challenging voice for me was Shlsh Shle She. He was described as having a squealing, slobbery, mushy voice like he had a mouth full of wet food. His speaking apparatus was made up of a number of wet folds resembling female genitalia. It was a real challenge to honour his physical characteristics while still being understood. Not much point in speaking if the listener can’t understand what I’m saying. I cringed when I did my character analysis and realized how many lines he had! Apparently it all worked out ok in the end but that was scary!

Sf Girl: What is your favorite voice in Outer Diverse and why?

Dawn: My favorite voice is Benny, Rhea’s ship. He’s my version of C3PO from Star Wars. I just love his character and he has the same name as my youngest son who, though named Benjamin, decided he was to be called Benny when he was 5 years old. At 15, he’s still Benny! I just loved the coincidence.

SF Girl: Tell us a little about the process with Iambik from receiving the book in your hands to the final proofs and edits.

Dawn: Iambik sends me the book, we agree on a delivery deadline and sign a contract. Iambik loads the book up into a shared Dropbox folder and I download it and start my review. After I have recorded and edited a chapter, I upload it to the same Dropbox folder. A proof listener reviews the file and sends me any corrections required. I do the corrections and upload it again. They check it again. This continues until all is well and is repeated for each chapter. We work from a shared spreadsheet (see, spreadsheets are my life) so we can keep track of where we are with each chapter. Once all of the chapters are complete, Iambik compiles them into one document to be ready for download and releases then to the public.

SF Girl: Have you ever turned down a narration job and why?

Dawn: Yes, but so far only because I didn’t have time to fit it into my schedule.

SF Girl: Tell us about Poker Girls…

Dawn: Poker Girls is a 1/2 hour crime drama whose central character is Summer, an undercover cop, who uses the game of poker to catch unsuspecting criminals. I play Theresa, an alcoholic judge who was just recently kicked off of the bench by her boss, Sophia, played by Judy Norton (Mary Ellen from the Waltons). Poker Girls began as a film making apprenticeship assignment and morphed into a webseries and now a TV series. The creator, writer and executive producer, Jewelle Colwell, who also plays the lead role of Summer, has put her heart, soul and a lot of money into making this happen billion! You can find us on Facebook if you’d like to make contact with Jewelle (Poker Girls, TV Series).

SF Girl: Dawn, you are BOSS! Are there any awards or accolades out there for voice artist? If so, can you name them so I can vote you in. Also, how can we help promote Dawn Harvey? How can people show their appreciation for your fantastic voice and dedicated artistry?

Dawn: There are awards. Those I know of are the Audies (the academy awards of Audiobooks), the Audiophile Earphone awards and you can become a Golden Voice. I think the latter requires a few more books in the “amazing” category than I have so far – LOL. Someday. I looked in Wikipedia and it lists five awards, the Audies, Galaxy National Book Awards, Odyssey Award, Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album, and TDK Australian Audio Book Awards. I don’t know about all of the other awards but I do know that for the Audies, the 2012 deadline for books released by the end of July is Aug 31 but the submission has to be made by the publisher. That’s about all I know.

As far as helping me, the best you can do is download the book, listen to it, love it, tell all of your friends about it. You can contribute reviews to the Iambik site and you can contribute reviews there as well. You could also put comments on my website, DawnofVoice.com.

SF Girl: Thanks so much for joining me here on my ship and answering all my annoying questions.

Dawn: Thanks for giving me this opportunity to spew forth ad nauseum.

SF Girl: No problem. I’ve been having some issues with parking my ship lately—orbit taxes and such—so, I might be coming to you for advice…

Dawn: Sure. I’d be happy to help.

***********

You can read the interview in its entirety on The Alien Next Door (all 60 pages–I told you she was a lawyer!–just joking.)

You can hear a sample of Dawn’s work on “Outer Diverse”: Chapter 17, where Rhea meets up with Zec, her old partner in crime, is showcased at the end of my interview on Vancouver COOP Radio. You can also listen to the Prologue, on my Tumblr site, SF Girl.

To get your copy of the audiobook go to the Iambik Audiobook site. Purchase your copy for $6.99 and enjoy some pure entertainment. Thanks, Dawn.

The writers discussed the changing face of publishing, what readers like, the emerging popularity of audiobooks, Nina’s new audiobook with Iambik Audiobooks of Outer Diverse (first book of the Splintered Universe Trilogy)  and Nina’s latest historical time travel fantasy The Last Summoner, currently a Canadian bestseller on Amazon.ca in Historical Fantasy.

Nina says, “Thanks for a lovely interview, Lucia, Jason and Israel!”

Listen to an excerpt of Dawn Harvey’s stellar narration of Chapter 17 of Outer Diverse, when hero Rhea Hawke travels to Ogium 9 to meet her old partner in crime Zek Zeballion…and sparks fly (not the kind you might think either…)

“Is that a Q-gun in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?” says Rhea…

You can purchase Nina’s Historical Time Travel Fantasy at Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, The Book Depository (UK), Barnes & Noble and Chapters and other quality bookstores near you.

Every Choice Has Its Price…

On June 14th, 1410 in Grunwald, Prussia, one of medieval history’s most decisive battles is about to destroy the powerful Teutonic Order, slaughtering virtually all its monk knights. How would history have changed if this arrogant order had not underestimated its enemy and had instead won to continue sweeping through north-east Europe in its ambitious crusade for Christendom?

As a result of an impetuous choice, young 14-year old Vivianne Schoen, Baroness von Grunwald, makes the startling discovery that she can alter history—but not before she’s branded a witch and must flee through a time-space tear into an alternate present-day France ruled by fascists. There, she will learn that every choice has its price.

Nina Munteanu is ”…A master of metaphor.”— Craig Bowlsby, author of Commander’s Log

“I have also ordered this for my teenage cousins in the United Kingdom. Knights, female protagonist and time travel: the perfect recipe with the richness and textures of a fine wine.”— Vanessa Rottner, Amazon reader

“The story line is totally fascinating and riveting!! If this is like her other books you will no doubt gobble it down in one sitting!!!” — Suz Kaye

cover art by Tomislav  Tikulin

Every Choice Has Its Price…

It’s June 14th, 1410 in Grunwald, Prussia, and one of medieval history’s most decisive battles is about to destroy the powerful Teutonic Order, slaughtering virtually all its monk knights. How would history have changed if this arrogant order had not underestimated its enemy and had instead won to sweep through north-east Europe in its ambitious crusade for Christendom?

As a result of an impetuous choice, young 14-year old Vivianne Schoen, Baroness von Grunwald makes the startling discovery that she can alter history—but not before she’s branded a witch and must flee through a time-space tear into an alternate present-day France ruled by fascists. There, she will learn that every choice has its price.

Nina Munteanu is ”…A master of metaphor.”— Craig Bowlsby

Costi was recently honoured by the Auroras for his imaginative and elegant cover art that resonates impeccably with the story inside.

I recently interviewed Costi about his art and particularly what he created for  Outer Diverse . Costi used a triptych approach for the three covers of the trilogy to reflect the evolution of the entire trilogy and the fractal relationship of the worlds represented.

Costi came up with the triptych approach to the three covers after a discussion about the story arc of the protagonist Rhea Hawke (a determined but troubled Galactic Guardian tasked with solving the mysterious massacre of an entire spiritual sect). Rhea Hawke is a complex character. Her journey of self-discovery and her three-stage evolution is reflected eloquently in Costi’s  cover art and design of the trilogy. What more could a writer ask for? I am honoured by his work.

Look for more of Costi’s work in Books 2 and 3 of The Splintered Universe Trilogy . They are scheduled for release by Starfire in fall/winter of 2012 ( Inner Diverse ) and spring 2013 (Metaverse ).

Nina Munteanu’s space thriller Outer Diverse is now a scintillating audiobook by Iambik Audiobooks narrated exquisitely by Dawn Harvey. Harvey breathes incredible life into this fast paced metaphysical thriller about a female detective who must solve the mystery of a spiritual sect massacre. Rhea comes alive alongside a gaggle of sordid and macabre characters in Harvey’s rich narrative. A rollercoaster ride guaranteed to entertain.

WHO NEEDS COFFEE WHEN YOU HAVE DAWN HARVEY!

Outer Diverse is the first book of the Splintered Universe Trilogy, set in and around the Milky Way Galaxy. The first book begins as Galactic Guardian Rhea Hawke intestigates the massacre of an entire religious sect, catapulting her into a treacherous storm of politics, conspiracy and self-discovery. Her quest for justice leads her into the heart of a universal struggle and toward an unbearable truth she’s hidden from herself since she murdered an innocent man.

What people are saying about Outer Diverse:

“A master of metaphor, Munteanu turns an adventure story into a wonderland of alien rabbit holes… a fascinating and enthralling read.” -Craig Bowlsby, author of Commander’s Log - Read More

“A rollicking science fiction plot with all the trappings…Hawke is a maverick in the wild west tradition…a genetic mystery with lethal powers.” –Lynda Williams, author of Okal Rel series - Read More

About Dawn Harvey:

• “I just finished and thoroughly enjoyed “Outer Diverse”. A metaphysical, Sci Fi, Thriller with rich characters. Dawn Harvey told the story brilliantly and played the characters wonderfully. Definitely worth listening to.” –Dan Wallace, narrator, Lions Den Productions.
• “I am absolutely thrilled to recommend Nina Munteanu’s audio book. Awesome, Dawn. Dawn has transported me into a new world of imagination. Dawn is absolutely magic in her skill of character building, her voices are amazing. To me nothing is finer than Nina the writer and Dawn doing the voice overs in the audio book. I can’t wait until read and hear more in the future.” –Vanessa Rottner, reader
• “I bought a copy too and listened to Dawn Harvey’s rendition of Rhea Hawke and her diverse entourage of aliens as I drove across the States back to Toronto…I was entertained in high fashion! Who needs coffee when you have Dawn Harvey!” –Nina Munteanu, SF writer

The audiobook goes for $6.99. For a limited time if you type in the code “diverse-launch” you get 10% off.

Nina Munteanu’s The Fiction Writer packs twenty-six chapters of relevant, well-researched and easy to read instruction that encompasses virtually all the topics you need to consider, such as: beginnings and endings; characterization; dialogue; exposition; setting; plot; scene; metaphor & language; grammar; voice and point of view; research; query letters; rejection letters; synopses and outlines; showing vs. telling; writer’s block; attitude, inspiration and passion in writing.

“The Fiction Writer” will help you learn the basic, tried and true lessons of a professional writer, including: 1) how to craft a compelling story; 2) how to give editors, agents and readers what they want; and 3) how to maintain a winning attitude.

Internationally published author of several award-winning novels and short stories, Nina teaches a curriculum on “writing to be published” based on The Fiction Writer. Several creative instructors are using it in their classes at schools and universities throughout USA and Canada. The Fiction Writer was recently translated and published in Romania and will be used in universities there.

Beginning and professional authors as well as instructors and students of creative writing all enjoy its entertaining and easy-to-read instruction. Praise has been generous:

“The Fiction Writer is at the top of the required reading list for my Writer’s Workshop students…the quintessential guidebook for the soon-to-be-published.”—Susan H. McLemore, M.Ed., Glynn Academy Language Arts Department

“If you are serious about your writing, The Fiction Writer: Get Published, Write Now! is as important a tool as your laptop or your pen. Do yourself a favor, and just buy it. Better still, buy the book and get yourself to one of Nina’s workshops. Whether you are learning from her in person, or from her book, Nina’s teaching style is straight-up, fact-filled, enriching, joyful and thorough. She is honest, she is human and she wants you to succeed.” — Cathi Urbonas, writer, Halifax, NS

“Nina Munteanu’s The Fiction Writer is the book I wish I had 15 years ago. Writers young and old can find ways to improve their work, with the book’s fun, easy to read format.”— Theresa Vinson, Book Seller, Hattie’s Books

“Nina’s writing style is engaging, enlightening, and enjoyable. And like the good Doctor’s Tardis, the book is larger than it appears – Get Get Published, Write Now! right now.”—David Merchant, English Instructor, Louisiana Tech University

“I’m very impressed…Nina shares the hard-won knowledge she’s accumulated…I’m thoroughly enjoying the book!… this really is a first-rate book. Nina did a wonderful job!”—Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of Wake

“The Fiction Writer “has become my writing bible.” — Carina Burns, author of The Syrian Jewelry Box

“We use this book weekly in my Writer’s Workshop class, and it gives us all the right tips to write like a professional author. The chapters are brief and concise, and really help us write both fiction and nonfiction. I would highly recommend this book for anyone hoping to enhance their writing.”—Mark J. Bujold, high school writing student, Saint Simon’s Island, GA

“High energy writer and teacher of writing Nina Munteanu is an upbeat coach for new and published writers seeking to refresh their art.”—Lynda Williams, author of Okal Rel Series

“This book is infused with Nina’s energy and brings lots of wisdom, ideas, tricks and tips in a fun and informative way. Good for both published and unpublished writers, I highly recommend this book for any writer wishing to get published or push their stuff to the next level.” — Marie Bilodeau, professional storyteller and acclaimed author of Destiny’s Blood, Ottawa, ON

“I felt as though she really wanted me to succeed as a writer, and was a mentor sent to provide guidance and inspiration.”— Zoe M. Hicks, author of The Women’s Estate Planning Guide and Dream Catcher, the Power of Faith

You can buy this acclaimed guidebook at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Chapters.

Four Spring Semester Courses are Available: 1. Hero’s Journey; 2. Get Published, Write Now; 3. Self-Editing and Polishing Techniques; and 4. Writing the Memoir.

Some courses are offered on several dates. All courses are a 2-day course on a weekend (Saturday and Sunday) at 2-4 pm EST from March through to May.

Register for your course through the Paypal button below and please indicate for which date (if the course is offered on several dates) you are registering. Upon payment and registration, you will receive instructions on how to access the live-stream webinar.

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1.  Hero’s Journey: Plotting Your Way to Publishing Success:  2-day weekend course

This course explores the concept of the Hero’s Journey and how it integrates theme, character, setting and plot into a coherent story that resonates and compels. This includes knowledge of story structure and story promise, which incorporates premise with theme as related to the Hero’s Journey. Archetypes and their roles in characters or other aspects of story are explored within the story-arc and the hero’s journey and quest; how they shape and challenge the hero’s quest and transformation are also explored. Weekend 2-day course of 2-hours each day includes handouts and Homework assignments. Students are encouraged to bring their own works for study.

Date and Time: The Hero’s Journey Course is available on April 21, 22 and May 12, 13 from 2-4 pm EST.

 Register now to guarantee a spot in this highly popular course. Limited to 10 people.

“It was far more than I could dream of or expect … Nina has an astonishing gift of nourishing your intellect … She listens with her soul ... Nina has taken me into a new threshold of learning. The workshop has given me a new world of confidence.” — Vanessa Rottner, Toronto

“Nina inspires me to keep trying my best … She is a very thorough instructor and very nurturing and knowledgeable about her students work.” — Jana Hanna, Texas

Cost: $100 (payable on registration below)

For more details on the course go to The Hero’s Journey Page.

Registration:

Register Here

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~2. Get Published, Write Now:  2-day weekend courseThis 2-day course of 3-hour lecture and workshop focuses on the important creative process in an author’s writing-publishing career: revision, marketing and promotion. Nina Munteanu (internationally published writer of short stories and six novels) provides essential instruction on how to write successful pitches, queries and synopses (all necessary for novelists wishing to publish), how to interpret and handle rejection letters and more. Nina shares current markets for writing of all kinds from memoirs and non-fiction to short stories and novels (genre to literary fiction) and poetry. Students are encouraged to bring examples of their works and be prepared to discuss them. Students will be expected to write and share their writing. Date and Time: this course is offered April 28, 29 from 2-4 pm EST. Register now to guarantee a spot in this limited seating course. Limited to 5 people.

“It was nice to have so much attention on my work–very inspiring and helpful.”–Angie MacKay, Halifax

“Terrific class!.. Excellent examples, notes, presentations and discussions.”–Keith McPhail, Nova Scotia

Cost: $100 (payable on registration below)

For more details on the course go to the Get Published, Write Now Page.

Registration:

Register Here

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3. Self-Editing and Polishing Techniques:  2-day weekend course

This 3-hour 2-day lecture and workshop course focuses on the important creative process in an author’s writing-publishing career: revision. Every finished work must first pass through the scrutiny of revision and editing before it is ready to market. Nina Munteanu (internationally published writer of short stories and five novels) provides you with the basic essentials of revision and editing, addressing the question of how much is enough and when to stop.  Students are encouraged to bring examples of their works and be prepared to discuss them. Students will be expected to write and share their writing.

Date and Time: this course is offered March 31, April 1 and May26, 27 from 2-4 pm EST. 

Register now to guarantee a spot in this highly popular and limited seating course. Limited to 5 people.

“What you’ve done for me, Nina, is you’ve just opened up a whole new world. You’ve shown me how to put soul into my books … You’ve transformed me from what I considered an oddball to somebody special and for that it’s worth a fortune.”–Hectorine Roy, Nova Scotia

 ”Nina was engaging and inspiring in a low-key way, no hype, practical, good humour. This was a really pleasant and helpful experience. I was able to use specifics that were discussed to immediately improve my writing.”—Susie Buck, LaHave

Cost: $100 (payable on registration below)

For more details on the course go to the Self-Editing and Polishing Techniques Page.

Registration:

Register here

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4. Writing the Memoir: 2-day weekend course

Have you been writing your memoir for years, waiting to finish it and hoping to publish? You may be looking for direction on how and where to start and proceed and where to finish. Memoirs, like all good creative non-fiction, tell a story. Internationally published novelist and writing coach Nina Munteanu shares details of how you can outline, storyboard and complete your memoir and make it marketable to your target audience. 

Date and Time: course offered March 17, 18 from 2-4 pm EST.

Register now to guarantee a spot in this course. Limited to 10 people.

“Nina is not just savvy in the editorial/literary field, but extremely personable—someone you definitely wish to have on your side. She has a multitude of strengths; however, her personal trait won me over…leading me to discover and hence to appreciate her extensive knowledge. Nina, without a doubt, is able to help you achieve your passion.” — Carina Burns, California

Cost: $100 (payable on registration below)

For more details on the course go to the Writing the Memoir Page.

Registration:

Register here

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For his impeccable work on the cover of my latest book Outer Diverse (the first book of the Splintered Universe Trilogy), Costi Gurgu is eligible for a Prix Aurora Award and a Hugo Award. I recently interviewed Costi on my private ship:

When I first met Costi and Vali Gurgu at the World Fantasy Convention in Montreal several years ago, I had no idea that Costi would end up creating the stunning book covers for my latest trilogy Splintered Universe or that his gorgeous wife, Vali, would serve as the model for the hero of my story, the relentless and steely detective, RHEA HAWKE.  You can find his cover art and other artworks on Costi’s illustration site.

I recently had a chance to invite Costi aboard my intelligent ship, Benny, orbiting the Earth. After settling in the aft lounge with some pockta juice, we began the interview:

Nina:     Hi, Costi. Thanks so much for agreeing to do this interview.

Costi:     Hi, Nina. The pleasure is mine.

Nina:     You came up with a “Triptych” design for the Splintered Universe Trilogy. What inspired you to come up with it and what do you like about it?

Costi:     There is the danger of spoilers in this answer. The fact is that your main character, Rhea, undergoes a certain evolution from a regular human being to… let’s just say something else. And that evolution has three parts, one for each book of the trilogy and it also has a touch of divine. So, the triptych design, so often used for religious paintings, fits like a glove on the entire concept.

Nina:     Ooh! Neat! Where can I get a copy? … (grin) … Your design for Outer Diverse (and designs for the other two covers) carries a powerful image that conjures a portal or gateway into another world (which is what the trilogy is about). The reader is drawn into an infinite landscape, looking in, and Rhea is looking out. Can you tell us a little about how you conceived this compelling design. Is there a meaning behind the symbols and colours you used?

Costi:     To be honest, the initial idea was for the red ring to be a sort of mapping device and a radar combined into one, since Rhea travels great distances in her quest. Then I realized it might as well be a portal device on top of everything else and serve all her travelling needs.

There were two options —either we would look with her outside, to whatever target she had, or look towards her. I thought that it would be more powerful if we could look towards her and see her determined face, see the unflinching resolution in her eyes, while she’s pondering her next move and readying herself to use the device once again. But to look towards her and see her in a confining room of a space ship, or such, would have defeated the purpose. So I needed to have her against the infinite landscape as the backdrop. She is in a continuous journey to discover herself and this journey takes her literally through the infinite spaces of not just one universe.

Nina:     Yes, I love the metaphoric elements you’ve woven into the design. The image speaks to us on many levels. Do you use music or other devices in your work to evoke your creativity? What other tools did you use to create the stunning cover of Outer Diverse (e.g., animation software, etc.)?

Costi:     I’m always listening to music while working. The kind of music varies depending on what I’m working on. If I’m writing for instance, I need instrumental music, without words to influence my own ones. Also, it depends on the kind of feeling and mood I try to generate through my writing or my illustration. Music helps me channel those feelings into the right words or imagery.

Technically speaking, I always start with sketches on paper, which I later scan. I mainly use Adobe Photoshop, but for this illustration I had to use Adobe Illustrator as well. Obviously, the layout and the typography were done in Adobe InDesign.

Nina:     Your wife, Vali, was the model for Rhea Hawke. I understand you had a great time doing the photo-shoot (p.s., some of the additional shoots can be seen in the Youtube book trailer).  I’ve attended several launches and events  lately (e.g., Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Bucharest) and both cover and model have been extolled. One reader compared Vali to actress Catherine Zeta Jones.  How does Vali feel about being somewhat of a celebrity?

Costi:     I’m so happy to hear that. You know, I had to decide how to treat her image. I could have gone towards a more glamorous, shiny look, like in a fashion image, or I could just simply keep it more realistic. Despite Vali’s protests, I chose to keep it that way, because I wanted to offer a realistic image of an ex-police officer: a woman who was used to fighting and chasing criminals, rather than taking care of her appearances. Now, to hear that her rougher and tougher image created that kind of reaction gives me a sort of peace and satisfaction.

As for the celebrity thing, so far we only heard that from you. Not that we don’t believe you! We’ll see when it really happens in her presence. It’s always a good feeling to taste a little bit of celebrity now and then. It certainly gives one purpose and perspective. Not to mention hope.

Nina:     You and Vali have had rich and varied careers in commercial art, law and writing. You’ve served, for instance, as art director for several high-end magazines including Playboy, and you taught graphic design at the college level. Can you tell me a little about your journey from Romania to England and finally to Toronto, Canada. Did the law degree help you in your entrepreneurial pursuits?

Costi:     Well, yes, ironically the law degree took us places. We both loved studying law. It had a unique way of opening our eyes to culture, civilization and the importance of continuously learning. Yet, while we loved studying law, we hated practicing it. After our first year of articling in Bucharest’ Law Bar Association, we didn’t like what we were doing, but more importantly, we didn’t like the people we were turning into.

Therefore, we decided to change tracks and try something a bit different. We left for England, hoping we’d get into some Master degree in Maritime Law. So, here we are, at “Open Day” at Westminster College in London. We’d enrolled for some English classes and saw a crowd at one of the Graphic Design Program tables. Some Photoshop wizard was doing a demonstration. For our untrained eye it was absolutely wonderful! We started asking questions and the “wizard” encouraged us to take his class. I don’t remember what it was called, “Digital Manipulation” or something. We replied that we’re there for Law studies, so he said—well, why don’t you take my class just for fun? So, we did and by the end of the semester we enrolled for the Graphic Design Certificate and forgot everything about Maritime Law or any other kind of Law. We’d just discovered the wonderful world of design, illustration, art direction and photography!

Nina:     That’s COOL! Did you pursue illustration and design in England?

Costi:     Well, three years later saw us going back to Romania; our families expected us to go back to the Bar Association and behave responsibly. But after showing my portfolio around I got a designer job at Playboy Magazine! The Art Director and I launched its first Romanian edition issue a few months later. Three years later I became the Creative Director of MediaPro Group, the largest publishing company in Romania and Vali took on the position of Art Director of Playboy Magazine.

Two years later we came to Canada to pursue a dream. So, yes, I could say that my law degree created the perfect opportunity for me to discover my passions for visual arts. It took me to England and eventually to Canada. Life is funny that way.

Nina:     Does Vali help you with your work and do you help her with hers?

Costi:     We help each other a lot in our work. Because we worked together in our first legal job and after that in our first design job, we have become a team. We have different approaches to the art process and we have different styles. I went deeper into illustration to complement my design skills, while she chose photography to do that.

Even now, for the most important projects we have for our different employers we involve each other not only for need of feedback, but also for need of different ideas and fresh approaches. We basically complement each other.

Not to mention that she’s always my first reader for any piece of fiction I write. She’s the toughest reader I have but in the same time I know she’s also the most sincere one.

Nina:     Name some artists and their cover designs that you like and why. How would you describe your own artwork (e.g., magazine and book covers)? Who are your influences?

Costi:     Where should I begin? I always loved the paintings of Rene Magritte and Giorgio de Chirico. I also have to mention Dali and H.R. Giger. They’re just incredibly good and inspirational.

I can’t miss Neville Brody, one of the most famous and brilliant designers of all time. Not too many book covers, but you have to look for his music album covers and typography compositions, and magazine covers. He’s done a lot of covers for the legendary The Face Magazine. You have to see the book The Graphic Language of Neville Brody. Absolutely beautiful.

Special mention goes to Edward Gorey. His art is amazing.

From the usual suspects of SF&F artists, I like Michael Whelan, especially his horror covers. See for instance Lovecraft’s Nightmare, both parts, or some of his personal studies. I like Frank Frazetta and Rodney Matthews. And there are others, many others, the list would be just too long for the purpose of this interview.

Nina:     Costi, your artwork on Outer Diverse is eligible in the Art Category for an Aurora Prix and the Hugo, the Canadian and American prizes for work in the science fiction and fantasy fields, respectively.  How does that make you feel?

Costi:     I try not to get my hopes too high. It’s a long way from eligibility to winning. But just to be in the game really feels good. From another perspective, it’s part of my dream coming true. It’s part of my journey and the reason I’m here. It’s so good to be noticed and to exist outside your family’s and friends’ awareness.

Nina:     Speaking of…when I was in Bucharest recently to launch my fiction writing textbook at the Gaudeamus Book Fair, I heard a lot about this guy Costi Gurgu, a rather well known and accomplished writer in Romania. You’ve sold five books and over forty short stories in Romania and won over twenty awards. Tell me about this guy, Costi the writer. What have you written and where can we find it?

Costi:     In truth, half of my reason for coming to Canada is related to my writing.

I made my debut in Romania, in 1993 and since then I published constantly in magazines and anthologies. I edited three anthologies. I won each and every award there was in Romania, several times. Among those, I won the prestigious Vladimir Colin Award twice (for my first story collection and for my first novel), and the Writers Union Award (a literary award) for the debut for my first book, a story collection entitled The Glass Plague.

My stories have been published in Romania, Hungary, Poland, Denmark, England, Canada and USA.

My latest sales have been to the Danish anthology Creatures of Glass and Light, the Daw Books anthology Ages of Wonder, Wildside Press anthology The Science Fiction Megapack, Millennium Books steampunk anthology The Second Revolution, and the anthology Voices—New Writers from Toronto, published by Co-op Writers and Toronto Public Library.

Nina:     What are you working on now—besides more covers for my Splintered Universe Trilogy, that is?

Costi:     A few months ago I just launched my latest book in Romania, another story collection, entitled Chronicles from the End of the Earth. I’m working on the English version of some of the stories in that collection.

Right now I’m writing a horror story for an anthology from Romania. I’m also in the middle of my new novel, for which I don’t even have a working title. All I know for now is that it has magic and it has science and some bits of dark happenings, so it will probably be a cross-genre. It is also supposed to be the first book of my first trilogy.

I’m thinking of a comedy movie script for next year. I’ve never tried a movie script, but I’d really like to write one.

Nina:     Sounds like fun, Costi! With your sense of humor, it should be a great success. Thanks so much for joining us here on Benny. I wish you the best of luck in the Auroras and the Hugos and in all your writing and illustration projects. It’s been an honor to work with you.

Costi:     Again, my pleasure, Nina.  And thanks for the Plockta nectar. It was … eh … interesting.

…See? He’s so polite!

If you love art and agree with me that Costi’s stunning artwork on Outer Diverse merits recognition, please share this post with your friends on Facebook, Twitter,  Linked-In and elsewhere.

Better yet, NOMINATE Costi for the PRIX AURORA in the “Best Artist” category (if you’re a Canadian). You have until March 31^st to nominate.

Just as good, RECOMMEND his exemplary cover art for a HUGO AWARD in the category of “Best Professional Artist”. Third Party Sites where you can recommend Costi’s cover art include:  Live Journal Community; NESFA, and SF Awards Watch.

If you’re already a member of the World Science Fiction Convention, you can NOMINATE Costi for a HUGO. You have until March 11 to nominate.

Outer Diverse is for sale at Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Barnes & Noble as well as other quality bookstores near you. It is also eligible for an Aurora. The Splintered Universe Trilogy follows the turbulent career of galactic guardian Rhea Hawke, whose unswerving passion for justice — though faulty vision of the world – collide as she searches for answers to a spiritual massacre. Visit the Alien Next Door for more details about the story.

NOW CLOSED –Thanks for A Great Class!

“It was far more than I could dream of or expect … Nina has an astonishing gift of nourishing your intellect … She listens with her soul ... Nina has taken me into a new threshold of learning. The workshop has given me a new world of confidence.” — Vanessa Rottner, Toronto

“Nina inspires me to keep trying my best … She is a very thorough instructor and very nurturing and knowledgable about her students work.” — Jana Hanna, Texas

Date and Time: 4 Saturdays from January 28th through February 18th from 2-3 pm EST.

Cost: $100 (payable on registration below)

Course Description:
According to Christopher Vogler (author of The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers) “all stories consist of a few common structural elements found universally in myths, fairy tales, dreams, and movies. They are known collectively as The Hero’s Journey.”

The Hero’s Journey is essentially the three-act structure of the ancient Greek play, handed down to us thousands of years ago. Drawn from the depth psychology of Swiss psychologist Carl Jung and the scholar and mythologist Joseph Campbell, author of The Hero with a Thousand Faces, it duplicates the steps of the “Rite of Passage” and is a process of self-discovery and self-integration. To be a “hero” is to be on a journey “home”. The hero’s journey is the soul’s search for home, a journey of transformation we all take, in some form.

A truly compelling story resonates with the universal truths of metaphor within the consciousness of humanity. According to Joseph Campbell this involves an open mind and a certain amount of humility; and giving oneself to the story…not unlike the hero who gives her life to something larger than herself: “Anyone writing a creative work knows that you open, you yield yourself, and the book talks to you and builds itself….you become the carrier of something that is given to you from … the Muses—or … God. This is no fancy, it is a fact. Since the inspiration comes from the unconscious, and since the unconscious minds of the people of any single small society have much in common, what the shaman or seer [or artist] brings forth is something that is waiting to be brought forth in everyone.”

For more details on the course go to the The Hero’s Journey page.

Registration:

Register Here

Rhea Hawke discovers there is far more to the massacre of a spiritual sect, mysteriously linked to Dust, the contraband drug “of the gods” and a devastating prophesy of a catastrophic End of Age, triggered by the joining of twin souls. She unravels secrets of fractal geometry, deja vu, dreams and clairvoyance, multiple universes and space-time … and ultimately the greatest secret: herself …

“… a master of metaphor, Munteanu turns an adventure story into a wonderland of alien rabbit holes … a fascinating and enthralling read.”–Craig H. Bowlsby, author of Commander’s Log

You can pick up Outer Diverse at Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Barnes & Noble, Borders and other quality bookstores near you. For those of you in Toronto, Bakka Phoenix Books is carrying Outer Diverse as well as Nina’s “Darwin’s Paradox” duology (set in Toronto) and her guidebook “The Fiction Writer: Get Published, Write Now!”

Nina Munteanu

I am holding several workshops in the Halifax region and South Shore this fall and winter.

Here are some of my workshops for October and November 2011:

Workshops at the Writer’s Federation of Nova Scotia in Halifax and the South Shore:

1. Get Published, Write Now: 1-day 6-hr course — October 9th (Sunday) 10 am to 4 pm at WFNS, 1113 Marginal Road, Halifax REGISTRATION CLOSED

2. Master Class in SF Writing: 2-day 6-hr course October 22 & 23 (Saturday & Sunday) at WFNS, 1113 Marginal Road, Halifax REGISTRATION CLOSED

3. How to Use Blogs and Social Networking to Promote Yourself: 1-day 3-hr course — October 29 (Saturday) 1 pm to 4 pm at Golden Key BB, 964 Main St., Mahone Bay REGISTRATION CLOSED

4. Writing to Wellness: 1-day 4-hr course — November 6th (Sunday) 1 pm to 5 pm at WFNS, 1113 Marginal Road, Halifax REGISTRATION CLOSED

5. Writing To Wellness: 1-day 3-hour course — November 9th (Wednesday) 2-5 pm at The Biscuit Easter, Mahone Bay REGISTRATION CLOSED

Here are the Details:

1. Get Published, Write Now — CLOSED –Thanks for a great class!

“It was nice to have so much attention on my work–very inspiring and helpful.”–Angie MacKay

“Terrific class!.. Excellent examples, notes, presentations and discussions.”–Keith McPhail

This lecture and workshop course focuses on the important creative process in an author’s writing-publishing career: revision, marketing and promotion. Every finished work must first pass through the scrutiny of revision and editing before it is ready to market. Nina Munteanu (internationally published writer of short stories and five novels) provides you with the basic essentials of revision and editing, addressing the question of how much is enough and when to stop. She provides essential instruction on how to write successful pitches, queries and synopses (all necessary for novelists wishing to publish), how to interpret and handle rejection letters and more. Nina shares current markets for writing of all kinds from memoirs and non-fiction to short stories and novels (genre to literary fiction) and poetry. Students are encouraged to bring examples of their works and be prepared to discuss them. Students will be expected to write and share their writing.

Handouts and the booklet “What Writers Need to Know About Book Contracts” by Nina Munteanu are included.

Cost is $65.00

Register and Pay for the Sunday course located at WFNS office at 1113 Marginal Road, Halifax below:

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2. Master Class on How to Write and Publish Science Fiction — CLOSED
Saturday and Sunday, October 22 & 23 from 10 am to 4 pm (with short lunch break) at WFNS, Halifax This 2-day class is for serious writers who have finished or are near finished their WIPs and wish to publish them. The course consists of lecture and hands-on workshop focused on polishing craft and self-editing using your own work. You will be expected to submit and share a portion of your work and will receive critical feedback.

Lectures will cover essential tools of world building, research, plot integration and character development.

Lectures and workshops will provide direction on self-editing that includes evaluating story promise, conveying premise and theme into a compelling story with fulfilling end, critical aspects of draft rewrites, self-editing, and tools to polish your WIP into a publishable original work. Key elements of marketing (such as queries, pitching, blurbs, and synopses) will be covered as well.

Handouts and the textbook “The Fiction Writer: Get Published, Write Now!” (Starfire World Syndicate) by Nina Munteanu are included. Location: the WFNS office on 1113 Marginal Road, Halifax. Cost is $125.00. Attendance limited to 10 people. Register and pay for the Saturday and Sunday course located at WFNS office at 1113 Marginal Road, Halifax below:

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3. How to Use Blogs and Social Networking to Promote Yourself — CLOSED

Saturday October 29th from 1pm to 5 pm at the Golden Key BB, Mahone Bay

Most promotion by authors is currently done online. The many opportunities boggle the mind, however, particularly for those of us who aren’t terribly proficient with internet social media.  Both published and soon-to-be published authors are using Blogs, Facebook, YouTube, Websites with podcasts and other social networks to great success. Learn how to command this incredibly inexpensive and highly potent and efficient medium to promote you and your work.
 
Internationally published author and essayist Nina Munteanu is an active blogger and proficient social networker of many years. She publishes several blogs and participates in many social networks on the internet. Nina will share her knowledge and experience in this interactive discussion and multi-media lecture. Nina will go over steps on how to build a blog, and cover topics like how to get traffic to your site, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), what makes a good blog, how to write copy, the pros and cons of social networking, and other topics related to internet promotion and marketing. Bring your imagination. Location: Golden Key BB, 946 Main St., Mahone Bay, NS. Cost: $60/student; price includes worksheets, example blog articles. Attendance limited to 7 people.

Register and pay for the Saturday course at the Golden Key BB in Mahone Bay below:

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4. Writing to Wellness — CLOSED … Thanks for a wonderful session!
Sunday, November 6th (Sunday) from 1 pm to 5 pm at the WFNS, Halifax $50.00

Wednesday, November 9th from 2 pm to 5 pm at The Biscuit Eater, Mahone Bay $40.00 

“Beautiful energy … well organized and interesting … It touched me more deeply spiritually and emotionally than I expected. It has motivated me to create the time and space to write again…” students of the class

Did you know that by simply keeping a journal, blogging or writing long letters, memoirs or fiction you are improving your health? The immediate and long-term beneficial effects of expressive writing have been clinically proven. Some of these include improved blood pressure, immune system functioning, lung and liver function, memory, social and linguistic behavior, and psychological well-being.

Join internationally published novelist, essayist and blogger NINA MUNTEANU for a candid discussion and exploration on wellness writing. Nina shares how she became a professional writer and how it helped her through various periods in her life. She discusses various forms of expressive writing (e.g., free writing, journaling, blogging, letter-writing, memoir and fiction); and through exercises, programs and other tools she shows you how you can enjoy a life of improved well-being through writing that is suited to your lifestyle. The workshop consists of lecture, discussion and hands-on exercises. Participants should bring a notebook and pen and be prepared to share.

Handouts provided.Recommended texts: Cameron, Julia. 1992 The Artist’s Way. Penguin Putnam Inc., New York, NY. 222pp.; Munteanu, Nina. 2009. The Fiction Writer: Get Published, Write Now! Starfire World Syndicate. Louisville, KY. 266pp.; Munteanu, Nina. 2010. The Writer’s Toolkit. DVD. Starfire World Syndicate. Louisville, KY. Location: the WFNS office on 1113 Marginal Road, Halifax. Cost is $50.00 at WFNS. Register below.

Register at the Biscuit Eater or pay at the door for the Wednesday course at the Biscuit Eater.

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If you missed a workshop that you hope Nina will give online or in your area let us know at nina.sfgirl@gmail.com [message line: Book a Workshop] Look for more online courses starting January 2012

The 3-wk course runs for 1-hour each Tuesday for three weeks (August 2, 9, and 16). Cost is $50.oo payable via Paypal to nina.sfgirl@gmail.com. Once you pay, you will receive instructions on how to access the teleseminar and live-stream lecture/workshop. Class is limited so join now.

Writing the Memoir: from Idea to Research to Storytelling.  

Have you been writing your memoir for years, waiting to finish it and hoping to publish? You may be looking for direction on how and where to start and proceed and where to finish. Memoirs, like all good creative non-fiction, tell a story. Internationally published novelist and writing coach Nina Munteanu shares details of how you can outline, storyboard and complete your memoir and make it marketable to your target audience. 

The 3-weeks of 1-hour Lecture & Workshop, will cover the following:

• Writing for your intended audience
• Formulating the core idea into theme
• Why and how to outline
• Why, how, where and when to do research
• Courage and privacy issues: what and how to reveal
• General discussion of how to incorporate plot with theme in storytelling.
• How to create a good story from truth
• Mechanics of good storytelling (show don’t tell, language, POV, setting, etc.)

Contact nina.sfgirl@gmail.com [subject: Memoir Writing] for information and to register for the course.

Nina Munteanu, Prospect Point

As a result of continued pressure by new students, Nina has opened a second Master Writing Class.

It runs every Wednesday at 5 pm EST. Join this Exclusive Club of writing enthusiasts for $49/month.

Sign up for Nina’s ongoing Master Writing Class on the Master Class Page.

For $49/month, this is what you get:

• four weekly one-hour interactive teleseminars accompanied by live webinar (computer streaming: NEW!) Nina lectures on popular writing and publishing topics, based on your submitted works, common issues, and questions from previous sessions. Topics covered and discussed are directly applicable to your personal writing challenges and interests.
• teleseminar sessions include a twenty minute telephone lecture, followed by interactive computer streaming discussion of specific topics and works directly applicable to your ongoing work. Nina “shows” and “tells”.
• facilitated discussions on the 10 most common issues faced by novice and professional writers: getting started; dealing with time management & writer’s block; getting those ideas down and making a story out of them; focusing and maintaining the staying power to finish; incorporating all the elements of good storytelling like plot, character, theme and setting into a seamless, page-turning story; making your writing compelling, clear and exciting; doing research and editing; marketing, synopses & outlines, query letters; handling rejection and fear of rejection; and overcoming fear (of failure, of success, of everything).

Eligibility Criteria & Requirements:

The Master Class is tailored for writers serious about getting published and with works in progress (e.g., first draft finished, mostly completed, firm premise and storyboard with portion written). If you do not fit these criteria, you may find that one of Nina’s other online courses or her manuscript evaluation and personal coaching is more suited to your needs.

To be eligible for the Master Class, you must submit an example of your work and agree that you are willing to persist with efforts toward publication, including the willingness to be critiqued, pursue ongoing revisions, and discussions.

The course requires that you have a computer with internet, a secure phone line, have submitted some of your work, have subscribed below, and have acquired the codes to access both conference call and live computer streaming. 

Unless you have been specifically INVITED, contact Nina BEFORE you subscribe:

BEFORE you sign up, contact Nina for eligability and availability at nina.sfgirl@gmail.com [subject: Master Class]. In order to address each of you personally, Nina limits her class sizes. Our first class is still running at maximum. This is why Nina has opened up a new class.

The Master Class that is currently open, runs every Wednesday at 5 pm EST. There are limited spaces for Master Classes so availability will be on a first come basis. Once you successfully register and subscribe for a place in this exclusive club, you will get an email with information on how to get in on the next call. See you there!

Almost every aspiring (and successful!) writer has a few volumes of writing advice that he or she feels are indispensable–books we return to, re-read, and use as guideposts on our writing journey. Munteanu’s wonderful book might find that kind of home on your own bookshelf.

Beginning writers especially will find The Fiction Writer a resource for every step on the road to writing–from defining genre to writing a great beginning; from outlining and plotting to preparing the perfect submission package. It really is an A-to-Z of fiction writing, starting with the chapter “Alien Architecture: Building from Scenes to Worlds” and hitting every letter of the alphabet right through to “The Zen of Passionate Writing.” Munteanu includes examples and lessons from her own writing career, which serve to emphasize the practical value of her advice.

Although the book covers a lot of ground, there’s no “scattershot” feel to the advice. It’s practical and grounded, and liberally seasoned with constructive exercises and helpful lists and tables, such as “The Hero’s Journey Map” (complete with an explanation of three-act structure), “Ten Ways To Revise Your Story,” common sentence structure and grammar errors.

Despite the fact that readers may know Nina Munteanu as a speculative fiction writer (Darwin’s Paradox, Angel of Chaos), the vast majority of the advice and information in The Fiction Writer applies equally to writers in any fiction genres. Good writing is good writing, and Munteanu has worked hard to provide a guidebook that shows exactly how to achieve that result. Highly recommended!

reviewed by Sherry

Sherry Ramsey is the editor & publisher of The Scriptorium Webzine for Writers, a great resource for writers. Ramsey has also published a writing guide, The New Writer’s Guide to Just About Everything.