BLACK DIAMONDS RWA

Welcome! Why BDRWA Can Benefit You

Our "small but mighty" chapter meets the first Saturday of every month.  We host a once-a-month "WIP" (Writer Inspiration Party) at a local eatery, are planning a Spring 2009 retreat in Lake Shasta, CA, and will be running a Diamond In The Rough Contest.  We stay progressive by bringing you video-chat presentations, online courses, and monthly mentorship pairings!   Please explore our website and email us with any questions!

Meeting Change: August Meeting With Author Josie Brown; Author Tawny Weber to speak in September!

Please join us on August 1 for a wonderful workshop by author Josie Brown!!  Tawny Weber, Blaze author, will be speaking on Emotions in September!  For more info, click on the Meetings link.

Through the Eyes of Guys: How to Write Realistic ManSpeak for Your Heros

What it covers:

- What Motivates a Man, And Why

- Six Great Traits of Every Hero

- Alphas and Other Boys Behaving Badly

- Betas: Bromance vs. Romance

- 10 Things No Real Guy Would Ever Say
- Man Up: A One-Line Practice Session

Josie Brown is the author of two very girly novels, TRUE HOLLYWOOD LIES (Avon, 2005), and IMPOSSIBLY TONGUE-TIED (Avon 2006), both of which had strong, arrogant heroes with hard shells but sweet soft centers (yummmm!). The hero of Josie's next book, The DILF (Pocket, Summer 2009) features a hot shot Master of the Universe who falls for the girl next door, even while getting his comeuppance from the neighborhood's mean mommies. 

Why does Josie know men so well? Besides being married for a quarter-century (surely a child bride!), she is a feature writer with over 100 articles under her belt that focus on relationships, included those at SingleMindedWomen.com where she serves as the Relationship Channel Editor. She is also the editor of John Gray's Mars Venus Advice column (distributed by Creators Syndicate) and co-executive editor at MarsVenusLiving.com. Her own book, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Finding Mr. Right [Penguin/Alpha] is in bookstores September 2009. 

Summer in Black Diamond Country

Due to June's chapter retreat in Lake Shasta, and the 4th of July holiday, the Black Diamonds won't host a regular meeting until August. Join us August 1 for Tawny Weber's workshop on Character Emotions. It's guaranteed to sizzle!

How to Get a Second Date with Your Reader Audience

Here's what you may have missed at the May meeting...

Author and marketing guru Jeannie Ruesch led a lively, interactive discussion on voice and branding. We learned how to identify our unique brand (it's the promise we deliver to our readers), and make it grow. 

Jeannie has worked with some of our industry's brightest stars, including Brenda Novak, Bella Andre, and our very own Virna De Paul. To see how she can help you, visit Will Design for Chocolate.

Come to Our April Meeting!

April 4, 2009

Celebrate Couple Appreciation Month

Three-page read

You are cordially invited to attend our April meeting to help us celebrate Couple Appreciation Month! Bring up to three pages of your current work in progress for gentle critique and feedback. Any scene that celebrates your heroic couple (or any relationship, if you don't write romance) is welcome: how they meet, first kiss, an example of sexual tension, an important turning point in their relationship arc, sex, the black moment, etc. Give us insight into their special relationship.

For more information on additional meetings, please click here..

Overcoming Writer's Block & Procrastination

Here's what you may have missed at the March meeting...

Certified creativity coach Beth Barany inspired us all with her workshop Procrastination is the Mother of All Evils: Why You're Blocked and What to Do About It. We learned to individually identify how and why we procrastinate, and how to move past our common roadblocks. Beth led us on timed writing sessions, from sixty second bursts to twenty minute explorations, to help us realize our strengths and passions. 

Beth graciously gave us permission to share her workshop handouts. Download them here Download Procrastination-handout-BARANY. Be sure to visit Beth's sites Writer's Fun Zone and her website for more information.

We also welcomed two new members at March's meeting: Sharon Hamilton and Kay Tindel. Welcome, ladies!

Creating the Memorable Genre Character

Here's what you may have missed at the February 2009 meeting...

Sophie Littlefield and Julie Goodson-Lawes (also here) gave an inspiring and informative presentation on Creating the Memorable Genre Character. We deconstructed several plots and learned how balancing backstory, internal conflict, and aggravating circumstances creates compelling fiction. 

Attendees also received "What Happens After the Sale?" by Misa Ramirez.

Our New Website Is Live/Online Classes Now Available

We've redesigned our website and are now offering online classes. First up this year is the wonderful Susan Meier who will teach about Story, Theme, & Idea.  Susan has never given this class online before, so we're truly lucky to have her.  Click the link above or on "Online Classes" in the "Navigate" menu to the right.  Hope to see you there or at one of our future meetings! 

What You Missed At The January 2009 Meeting

We had a great meeting on PLOTTING by Jennifer Skully.  Jennifer showed us why concentrating on your characters will show you how to move your plot forward. In addition, in honor of International Get Organized Month, we provided our members with their own binders chock full of great info on local writing organization meetings, online classes, and a goal setting manual written by Tawny Weber.  

Introducing Tiffany Emerson

Welcome, I am Tiffany Lyn Emerson.   I was born in the San Francisco Bay Area and I have lived there my whole life.  I am at a place in my life were I have decided to make the time to pursue my life long dream of writing a romance novel.  Of course that means squeezing it in between work, my two wonderful children and an awesome husband, but so far I am making it all work. 

I have a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems which has nothing to do with writing.  I currently work in an IT environment and it is a very fast paced stressful job.  Writing has been a great stress release and it allows me to be creative.  I have been writing stories in my head since I was a kid and I am excited about taking pen to paper or actually fingers to keyboard. 

I love spending time in the great outdoors.  Some of my favorite places to visit with my family are Half Moon Bay, Northern California Redwoods, Yosemite, Oregon and Hawaii. I am enjoying my journey so far into the writing world and I look forward to learning more about the art of writing and sharing my journey with others.

Visit Tiffany's website

Introducing Julie Leyva