Rob's picture
Class Director
Rob from New York City is reading at a fast enough pace it would be cumbersome to update this March 11, 2014 - 9:37am

I got to do a lot of cool stuff at AWP in Seattle. One of those things was sitting with Chuck Palahniuk to show him how our online classes worked. He had expressed interest in teaching one, and of course, if he's interested, we're interested.

He was a little hesitant about jumping right into a class on his own, so we came up with a compromise: He would join Suzy Vitello's SEDUCTIVE BEGINNINGS workshop as a guest instructor.

Suzy is the den mother of his workshop in Portland, and also a seasoned LitReactor instructor. So pairing them up means Chuck would get hands-on guidance through the process.

We've been working on the details since, and they've finally been hammered out:

  • Chuck will join Suzy's class as a guest instructor for the second week
  • He'll contribute to that week's lecture
  • Everyone will submit one page (300 words max) with the beginning of a book or story, and everyone gets a critique, from Chuck and Suzy
  • Everyone will be welcomed to submit one question on the craft of writing, which he'll answer and share before the class ends.

Here's the link to sign up: http://litreactor.com/classes/seductive-beginnings-with-suzy-vitello.

You'll notice, it's not on the 'upcoming classes' page. The page is "hidden" from the general public, and I've set aside 10 seats. It'll go on sale to the general public once those 10 seats are gone, or tomorrow morning. Whichever comes first. The final enrollment will be 20 students.

I wanted to make sure that you, the LitReactor faithful, got first crack at this thing. 

And once they're gone, they're gone. We'll have a wait list in case people drop out, but we're not releasing any seats above 20.

Questions? Let 'er rip.

Gordon Highland's picture
Gordon Highland from Kansas City is reading Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore March 11, 2014 - 10:04am

Very cool to offer that up, Rob. And it was neato that he came to our LitReactor/Booked/Writer.ly party. Great to meet you, too, of course, and the other staffers!

ReneeAPickup's picture
Class Facilitator
ReneeAPickup from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck Wendig March 11, 2014 - 10:05am

Sweet. Just paid up. Who'll be hanging out with me in there?

Rob's picture
Class Director
Rob from New York City is reading at a fast enough pace it would be cumbersome to update this March 11, 2014 - 10:06am

For sure, it was great to meet you, too. Sorry it was so quick. AWP kicked my ass.

SRead's picture
SRead from Colorado is reading Stories March 11, 2014 - 10:18am

Oh, hell, yes. I'm in!

Angel Colón's picture
Angel Colón from The Bronx now living in New Jersey is reading A Big Ol' Pile of Books March 11, 2014 - 10:19am

Done and done. You guys got some more of my monies. Looking forward to this one!

ReneeAPickup's picture
Class Facilitator
ReneeAPickup from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck Wendig March 11, 2014 - 10:31am

SRead -- we've done a course together here, haven't we? Was it Tough Dames with Christa Faust?

SRead's picture
SRead from Colorado is reading Stories March 11, 2014 - 10:37am

I don't believe we have, Renee! But I'm very much looking forward to it. :) I WISH I had been in Tough Dames, but it came at a bad time for me.

voodoo_em's picture
voodoo_em from England is reading All the books by Ira Levin March 11, 2014 - 10:42am

Awww I can't afford this right now. Wahhhh! :(

Hopefully it's not going to be a one time thing...

ReneeAPickup's picture
Class Facilitator
ReneeAPickup from Southern California is reading Wanderers by Chuck Wendig March 11, 2014 - 10:47am

That is so weird -- I went back and looked at the lists for the other two classes I've done, and you're right, we haven't. I could have sworn we had! Anyway, NOW we will have a class together!!

Aw, damn Em - this happened to come at the perfect time for me. I hate missing out on classes because of cash flow :(

Rob's picture
Class Director
Rob from New York City is reading at a fast enough pace it would be cumbersome to update this March 11, 2014 - 11:04am

Four seats left, if anyone was wondering...

voodoo_em's picture
voodoo_em from England is reading All the books by Ira Levin March 11, 2014 - 11:05am

I signed up!

I'm paying the bank of mom off for the next few months, but hey it was too awesome an opportunity to miss :)

TheScrivener's picture
TheScrivener from Seattle is reading short stories March 11, 2014 - 11:06am

I was going to ask the forum where the class went---this answers that!  I have a feeling there will be no seats left within the hour...

And Sarah---we meet again in a class! 

SRead's picture
SRead from Colorado is reading Stories March 11, 2014 - 11:08am

Renee-- I'm glad we're fixing this terrible oversight. :)

Em-- Oh, yay! Thanks, Em's mom!

Rob's picture
Class Director
Rob from New York City is reading at a fast enough pace it would be cumbersome to update this March 11, 2014 - 11:11am

I'm going to be in a meeting for the next few hours, and I imagine the last four seats might go before I'm back at my desk. Once they're gone, the class will say "sold out."

But I'll be adding seats when I take it to the general public, just in case anyone gets here late and still wants a chance to sign up. 

Rob's picture
Class Director
Rob from New York City is reading at a fast enough pace it would be cumbersome to update this March 11, 2014 - 5:37pm

Two seats left. 

Figure it'll go live to everyone around 10 AM EST tomorrow. 

Angel Colón's picture
Angel Colón from The Bronx now living in New Jersey is reading A Big Ol' Pile of Books March 11, 2014 - 6:11pm

Excellent, this should be exactly what I need to kick my ass into revision mode on my manuscripts. They're just kinda sitting there and mocking me.

Nathan Scalia's picture
Nathan Scalia from Kansas is reading so many things March 11, 2014 - 8:49pm

I'm hopefully finding a way to pull up the money for this by tomorrow...

Dino Parenti's picture
Dino Parenti from Los Angeles is reading Everything He Gets His Hands On March 11, 2014 - 9:54pm

Man, I wish I could afford this! I'd be so in!

kward's picture
kward from Alberta is reading Off To Be the Wizard March 12, 2014 - 2:53am

Dang y'all. I'd just emptied my wallet on some lovely books about writing and THIS happens. Shucks. Well, maybe next time. Rob, congratulations to you on all of this - very exciting news indeed, kudos. I love what you're doing with the classes. You really care about bringing the best quality instructors in and it shows; your optimistic support and enthusiasm is palpable. Congrats as well to my LR friends taking this class, you guys are gonna have a blast. I will live vicariously through you. Cheers!

Suzy Vitello's picture
Suzy Vitello March 12, 2014 - 7:38am

Looks like we're filling fast. And with such an enthusiastic bunch! This will be INTENSE! And fun. Can't wait!

Nathan Scalia's picture
Nathan Scalia from Kansas is reading so many things March 12, 2014 - 8:50am

I'm in.

Rob's picture
Class Director
Rob from New York City is reading at a fast enough pace it would be cumbersome to update this March 12, 2014 - 9:44am

Thanks for the kind words, kward. I love our instructors, and I hope getting Chuck involved will trickle down and give them all a boost. 

Dino Parenti's picture
Dino Parenti from Los Angeles is reading Everything He Gets His Hands On March 12, 2014 - 10:46am

Good luck all!

Rob's picture
Class Director
Rob from New York City is reading at a fast enough pace it would be cumbersome to update this March 12, 2014 - 10:59am

And this thing is sold out! 

File that under "News That Surprises Nobody."

DrM's picture
DrM from London, England is reading A Farewell To Arms by Ernest Hemingway March 12, 2014 - 5:25pm

Got a ticket, not one I can afford mind you, but hell, I'll just cut back on showering, shaving, general personal hygiene, good thing it's an online class.