If attending writing conferences and workshops is difficult for you, check out the vast resources available on the Internet.  

Crawford Kilian offers an online writing course where you can download pertinent topics from the World Wide Web and study them at your leisure. Topics include: Elements of a Successful Story; Manuscript Format; and Ten Points on Plotting.

Gotham Writers' Workshop offers online workshops in Fiction Writing, Screenwriting, Playwriting, Nonfiction Writing, Poetry Writing, Comedy Writing, and Sitcom Writing.

Novel Advice offers classes in writing mysteries and science fiction, plotting techniques, and more--at reasonable prices.

The Novel Workshop-- free discussion and critique group, free monthly newsletter, and a new group called "Newbie Novelists" to teach beginning novelists essential skills.

Novel Writing Course scheduled for summer of 1999. For more information, visit this website.

Painted Rock Writers and Readers Colony

Paradigm is an interactive online writer's guide and handbook that is distributed freely over the WWW. Topics include revising, editing, and thesis/support essays. Tests are available to track your progress.  

Scribe & Quill's Professional Writing Workshops taught by Bev-Walton Porter, in conjunction with JER Group Online Courses. Bev is *excellent* -- this freelance writing course is highly recommended!

Sublime Words - The TTA Press Writing Centre -- Get a free assessment of your writing at Sublime Words - The TTA Press Writing Centre! Plus hire your own Personal Writing Consultant or take a high-quality, low-cost writing course!

Spectrum Virtual University is a free college on the Internet that offers a course called Write On! New Adventures in Creative Writing. The course is sent via email, and participants complete assignments and return them for a grade.

Word Spinners' Ink is a free workshop for writers of novels and short stories where writers can share ideas and critiques. The workshop is conducted through two mailing lists, a file transfer area, and a private chat room.

Writers on the Net offers classes, tutoring, and mentoring from a group of published writers who are also experienced teachers. Classes include Screenplay Structure; Getting your Book Published; Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense Writing; and How to Write and Sell a Contemporary Romance Novel. Most of the courses are eight weeks long and cost $190.  

Write to Publish offers a 12-week online course in writing, as well as 19 booklets on writing commercial fiction, non-fiction, and freelance submissions.

Book in a Week Challenge is sponsored by Painted Rock. The first full week of each month, writers are asked to write as much as they can of a rough draft of a novel, non-fiction book, article or short story WITHOUT polishing or even reading back over their work. The idea is to turn off your internal editor for one week and open up your creativity.

Robin Nobles is a freelance writer who can be reached at robinnobles@robinsnest.com.

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