PRUNE YOUR PROSE: THIS MEANS YOU!

Please welcome guest blogger Linnea Sinclair

It's almost providential that I'm teaching this workshop just before swimsuit season. I mean, this is the time of year many of us think about paring down. Redesigning. Revamping. But instead of wondering what we'll look like in a bikini, I want you to consider what you'll look like between the front cover and the back blurb. Um, your manuscript, that is.

“Prune Your Prose” is a workshop I've taught for the past two years exclusively at writing conferences and in person. It's generally a minimum of four hours long, which is why I'm tickled peachy that I get to do this in an on-line format this time. For one thing, it's a very intense workshop. We cover a lot of ground, a lot of writing issues that plague the beginning writer and the jaded, experienced author. Doing that in four hours—standing for four hours or, in my case, leaning on a podium for four hours—is quite a challenge. (And yes, I know, those of you who've seen me at RT and RWA conferences know Linnea has no problems leaning on a bar for four hours...it's that danged podium. It's libation-less.)

We're going to have a month, O Wonderful Writerly-Types.

And we don't have to be libation-free.

This is still going to be an intense workshop and, for those of you who care to participate and not just lurk along the edges, it will be very much a hands-on workshop. We're going to do writing and rewriting. You're going to learn to spot problems that make copy editors howl in pain, and you're going to learn ways to make your revisions painless. Okay, revisions are never painless. How 'bout we aim for less-painful?

We also going to take a long hard look at whether or not you're actually saying what you mean to say. Words are your tools. Are you properly flogging your vocabulary? Or are you—shudder—a word wimp? Do you eschew erudition?

Forget thin thighs! We will tighten your abs-tract concepts and firm your flabby ass-pirations to be a better writer. All while sitting poolside—as I am now, and yes, I really am—at the Home for the Perpetually Perplexed. Sipping the latest cross-genre cocktail. (Actually, I'm drinking ice water because it's freaking hot here in Florida today.)

So sign up for the workshop now. Bring a friend! Did I mention the free (virtual) massages by Matheus, our Brazilian poolboy after every class? (The guys get Astrud, our Brazilian poolgirl...).

Sharpen those keyboards. The class will be much better than this blog.

Namaste, ~Linnea

Winner of the prestigious national book award, the RITA®, science fiction romance author Linnea Sinclair has become a name synonymous for high-action, emotionally intense, character-driven novels. Reviewers note that Sinclair’s novels “have the wow-factor in spades,” earning her accolades from both the science fiction and romance communities. Starlog magazine calls Sinclair “one of the reigning queens of science fiction romance.” Sinclair’s releases include Gabriel's Ghost (RITA® winner), Games of Command ( Pearl Award winner and RITA® finalist), The Down Home Zombie Blues ( Pearl Award Honorable Mention), Shades of Dark ( Pearl and Prism Awards winner), and Hope's Folly (Romantic Times Book Reviews Top Pick.)

A former news reporter and retired private detective, Sinclair resides in Naples, Florida (winters) and Columbus, Ohio (summers) along with her husband, Robert Bernadino, and their thoroughly spoiled cats. Readers can find her perched on the third barstool from the left at her Intergalactic Bar and Grille .


Rebels and Lovers

BOOK FOUR IN THE DOCK FIVE UNIVERSE...

For these two renegades, falling in love is the ultimate rebellion…

It’s been two years since Devin Guthrie last saw Captain Makaiden Griggs. But time has done little to dampen his ardor for the beautiful take-charge shuttle pilot who used to fly yachts for his wealthy family. While his soul still burns for her, Kaidee isn’t the kind of woman a Guthrie is allowed to marry—especially in this time of intergalactic upheaval, with the family’s political position made precarious by Devin’s brother Philip, now in open revolt against the Empire. And when Devin’s nineteen-year-old nephew Trip goes inexplicably missing, his bodyguard murdered, this most dutiful of Guthrie sons finds every ounce of family loyalty put to the test. Only by joining forces with Kaidee can Devin complete the mission to bring Trip back alive. Only by breaking every rule can these two renegades redeem the promise of a passion they were never permitted to explore.  At risk? A political empire, a personal fortune and both their hearts and lives...


Prune Your Prose runs May 3, 2010 through May 30,2010