Any chance of a Tom Spanbauer class? Chuck Palahniuk mentioned that Tom was working on a book about writing years ago, but I guess that fell through. So a class would be great.
Class Director
Rob
from New York City is reading at a fast enough pace it would be cumbersome to update thisJune 18, 2013 - 8:49am
That's an interesting suggestion. I love Spanbauer's books. I'll poke around on that one...
Kris Turner
June 19, 2013 - 6:55am
Thanks, I'd appreciate that.
Chuck mentions Tom in so many of his lectures. I've been desperately hoping for a book on writing from Tom for years, but it's never come. A class would be even better. I'd sign up in a second if you could make it happen.
Class Director
Rob
from New York City is reading at a fast enough pace it would be cumbersome to update thisJune 21, 2013 - 9:20am
Steve Weddle, editor of NEEDLE: A Magazine of Noir, is teaching a two-week course of submitting stories.
Samuel Sattin, author of LEAGUE OF SOMEBODES, is teaching a two-week course on laying the building blocks for a novel.
And Kat Howard is back with her sci-fi/fantasy class.
Also, hopefully next week I'll be putting up a two-week class led by John Skipp on editing. That's scheduled to start on July 25.
And other than that, I hope to bring in at least one more class for August.
Cheers!
SamaLamaWama
from Dallas is reading Something Wicked This Way Comes June 21, 2013 - 9:29am
I'm super excited for another Skipp class!
Class Director
Rob
from New York City is reading at a fast enough pace it would be cumbersome to update thisJuly 3, 2013 - 9:08am
Ladies and gents: John Skipp is back.
His new class is about editing—the students in his last class were not only incredibly enthusiastic of John's teaching ability, but praised his editorial style. So this seemed like a natural fit.
Rob
from New York City is reading at a fast enough pace it would be cumbersome to update thisJuly 3, 2013 - 12:14pm
Oh, hey, also, Patrick Wensink is back!
This time he's teaching you how to bring your natural sense of humor out in your writing. So, writing stuff that's funny. Which is harder than you'd think. He has some good ideas. It's all about structure.
Sound
from Azusa, CA is reading Greener Pastures by Michael WehuntJuly 3, 2013 - 9:45pm
Jumped into my first online class—eBook formatting starting Monday. Can't wait!
Matt A.
July 4, 2013 - 12:03am
Rob, how about Spanbauer's "Dangerous Writing?" If not Tom, maybe someone else teaching a similar personal essay/non-fiction class.
Class Director
Rob
from New York City is reading at a fast enough pace it would be cumbersome to update thisJuly 4, 2013 - 7:12am
Doug--tracking down Tom is on my to-do list.
Cross your fingers.
Jack Campbell Jr.
from Lawrence, KS is reading American Rust by Phillipp MeyerJuly 17, 2013 - 7:40am
Just lamenting the fact that Jack Ketchum is teaching another class, but it is probably a bad idea for me to enroll since I have two graduate literary criticism classes at the same time. Sigh...woe is me. Hopefully, he keeps teaching them. This is the second I have missed for one reason or another.
Dave
from a city near you is reading constantlyJuly 19, 2013 - 1:50pm
@Jack, yes, I've considered selling a gun to take JK's course. Mind you, I'm a Texan, and by proxy love my guns almost, or in some cases, as much, as my children.
And selling children is illegal. That, too.
Jack Campbell Jr.
from Lawrence, KS is reading American Rust by Phillipp MeyerJuly 19, 2013 - 2:19pm
Well, I don't know that I would sell a gun...although the gun prices are trending up at the moment. If you are going to sell, sell high.
Dwayne
from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updatedJuly 19, 2013 - 7:57pm
Way ammo is going just sell a box, and you'd be good.
Jack Campbell Jr.
from Lawrence, KS is reading American Rust by Phillipp MeyerJuly 20, 2013 - 6:44am
No doubt. If you have 1000 rounds of .223 sitting around, you have the cost of the class easily.
Dwayne
from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updatedJuly 20, 2013 - 12:16pm
Prices must be lower there, you could do most the classes with a box of 250 .223 rounds go for around here.
Richard
from St. Louis is reading various anthologiesJuly 21, 2013 - 2:13pm
i took a class with Jack at The Cult and it was one of the best classes I've taken to date. if you're familiar with my work, it yielded "Seeing Red" (Crime Factory), "Ten Steps" (ChiZine), "Tinkering With the Moon" (Gargoyle), "Twenty Reasons to Stay and One to Leave" (Metazen, nominated for a Pushcart) and "Rudy Jenkins Buries His Fears" (Slices of Flesh anthology, Dark Moon Books, which strangely enough, after 50 rejections, was published alongside...Jack Ketchum). if you write dark fiction, find a way to take this class. seriously.
Jack Campbell Jr.
from Lawrence, KS is reading American Rust by Phillipp MeyerJuly 22, 2013 - 5:38pm
I saw a deal the other day for a box of 1000 rounds for 400 dollars, but I can't vouch for the quality.
Dwayne
from Cincinnati, Ohio (suburbs) is reading books that rotate to often to keep this updatedJuly 22, 2013 - 9:50pm
Even with bulk that is WAY cheaper then anything I've seen locally. But honestly I'm not really looking. Is there someplace to check stuff like that for writers? Prices in general, not just ammo.
L.W. Flouisa
from Tennessee is reading More MurakamiAugust 11, 2013 - 12:07am
I wit is, i4s a bit like characatures floating head syndrome.uldnt mind classes on visualizing setting in prose, getting through the middle (this is why word count is such an issue), and developing sympathetic characters. So often mine feel like plot devices.D:
As It, it just seems like caracatures talking head syndrome.
Covewriter
from Nashville, Tennessee is reading & SonsAugust 21, 2013 - 7:07pm
Craig's class looks great. The video is making me want to sign up, but I'm broke. My refrigerator isn't cooling. New one coming tomorrow morning, thank goodness. Why are those damn things so expensive? I want to take the writing class but I need cold milk and eggs.
Richard
from St. Louis is reading various anthologiesAugust 22, 2013 - 7:35am
craig is a genius. if you can find a way to take a class of his, do it. i've taken two different classes taught by him and they were both well worth it.
SRead
from Colorado is reading StoriesAugust 22, 2013 - 10:16am
It's funny you should mention selling ammo to take Jack's class, because that's exactly what I did. Except I'm a knitter, so when I say "ammo" I mean "wool". It worked, though. :)
Covewriter
from Nashville, Tennessee is reading & SonsAugust 22, 2013 - 8:52pm
I am seriously thinking about taking it, especially given the recommendations. Is there a coupon code of you are a Litreactor member?
Raelyn
from California is reading The Liars' ClubAugust 23, 2013 - 11:18am
I'm 100% going to sign up for the Intro to Writing Comic Books and Graphic Novels, but I can't pay for it until next week. Is there any way to reserve a space?
Richard
from St. Louis is reading various anthologiesSeptember 11, 2013 - 12:10pm
:-)
Jack Campbell Jr.
from Lawrence, KS is reading American Rust by Phillipp MeyerSeptember 10, 2013 - 2:40pm
Damien is great. I like her writing.
big_old_dave
from Watford, about 20 miles outside London, Uk
September 11, 2013 - 5:43am
Anyone know the final date for booking Craig's class is? Might be cutting it a little fine sorting the funding out.
voodoo_em
from England is reading All the books by Ira LevinSeptember 11, 2013 - 6:03am
I think you can book pretty much up to the day before a class, unless it sells out. (but I could be wrong)
Class Director
Rob
from New York City is reading at a fast enough pace it would be cumbersome to update thisSeptember 11, 2013 - 7:06am
Dave--I sent you a PM.
Covewriter
from Nashville, Tennessee is reading & SonsSeptember 16, 2013 - 6:33pm
Is there a coupon code if you are a Litreactor member? Wanting to do Craig's. Weighing the money situation.
Class Director
Rob
from New York City is reading at a fast enough pace it would be cumbersome to update thisSeptember 17, 2013 - 8:17am
I'm sorry, there's no coupon code available for that class.
big_old_dave
from Watford, about 20 miles outside London, Uk
September 26, 2013 - 3:59am
Thanks again Rob,
I've just booked the course.
Max
from Texas is reading goosebumpsSeptember 28, 2013 - 10:42pm
I've booked Craig's class too and I can't wait for it. I have a friend who is also considering taking it, but still hasn't made up his mind. Is there a way to check to see how many spots are available on a class? He's worried it'll sell out before he can decide.
simon.dewar83
from Canberra, Australia is reading The Twelve by Justin CroninNovember 3, 2013 - 10:42pm
Consider a Shane McKenzie bizarro/extreme horror writing course? >_>
Richard
from St. Louis is reading various anthologiesNovember 15, 2013 - 1:01pm
If you've got one week and $70, I'm teaching a Short Story Mechanics class here at LitReactor in January. We're trying to offer some shorter classes at lower prices so more people can get involved. Check it out, I hope to see you there!
Natso
from Mongolia is reading Moby DickDecember 5, 2013 - 9:56pm
Hi Mr. Richard Thomas. I've signed up for your class. Having read some of your articles and short stories, I'm really looking forward to this. See you there. P.S: I'm also a big Stephen King fan.
Covewriter
from Nashville, Tennessee is reading & SonsDecember 5, 2013 - 10:47pm
Natso you will love Richards class. I'm glad you signed up.
Richard
from St. Louis is reading various anthologiesDecember 6, 2013 - 12:01pm
thanks, natso! stoked to have you. thanks, cove. this class is filling up fast, LR peeps. hope to see you all there!
Gio Clairval
from Europe is reading Whispers Underground by Ben AaronovitchDecember 7, 2013 - 9:21am
I've taken several classes elsewhere (with established writers), and I received personalized responses/comments on my emails every other day (the instructor's responses are tailored to the writer's ability to post more or less often), plus original method handouts, for up to 60 bucks.
So, when I signed up for a class here (for the first time), given the cost, I expected more. I got four lectures (good summaries, but nothing that can't be found in books), four discussions about classics (nothing that can't be found on students' websites offering short-story analysis), and five/six usable critiques of two stories of mine, including two posted by the instructor.
It's probably my fault as I picked a class that didn't match my needs. But if I'd known that I would get only two personalized responses on my writing from the instructor (in *four weeks*), I wouldn't have signed up.
Matt A.
December 7, 2013 - 1:19pm
"It's probably my fault as I picked a class that didn't match my needs."
Michael J. Riser
from CA, TX, Japan, back to CA is reading The Tyrant - Michael Cisco, The Devil Takes You Home - Gabino IglesiasDecember 7, 2013 - 2:37pm
I'm not sure that's entirely true. I was lucky and got extra critiques from my instructor for the one class I took, and I'm not sure I'd have been quite as satisfied for the price were that not the case. It can be a little bit of a crapshoot depending on how people participate (in the case of my class, most of the people in my peer review group bailed, and it was a blessing that my other classmates were so kind in giving me feedback ... I could have gotten almost none). I think I'd be happier too with a higher rate of instructor feedback—but then, wouldn't we all? I have no idea whether it would be realistic to daydream about that, but it might feel more in line with the price. At the very least, it could be said up front maybe how much personal feedback they're able to give? I don't think they do now.
Craig's insights via the lessons were valuable and really good stuff, above and beyond just the feedback, but that's only part of it. As Gio said, a lot of this stuff is available—or at least potentially available, depending on what insights your instructor has—in books. Interaction is IMO the more weighty/unique/valuable part of the class.
David Ireland
from London is reading Confessions of an English Opium-EaterDecember 12, 2013 - 1:57pm
Hey, I've flitted in and out of this site, done a couple of classes (which were great) and really enjoy the vibe.
I just signed up for Richard's short story course, anyone else joining? His articles are great, and he's clearly got a great track record, so I'm looking forward to a week of hard work and writing.
I've just finished a screenplay with a writing partner of mine, and am 25k words into a novel that's frying my brain, so taking a step into short form feels like a good change of pace. I've also got a couple of killer ideas for things to write :-)
Hope to see some of you in class!
Richard
from St. Louis is reading various anthologiesDecember 13, 2013 - 4:44pm
thanks, david! i appreciate the kind words. also, it's NOW SOLD OUT. sweet!
L.W. Flouisa
from Tennessee is reading More MurakamiJanuary 1, 2014 - 9:58am
Are there any classes at the moment that help with character development? Though I would say length is my weakness, character development are comments I often get.
So there might be something to it.
mattmyth
from Rotorua, New Zealand is reading Cousins by Patricia graceJanuary 2, 2014 - 4:12am
I would really appreciate Richard Thomas doing the mechanics of short story writing class again soon.
Class Director
Rob
from New York City is reading at a fast enough pace it would be cumbersome to update thisJanuary 3, 2014 - 10:55am
Sarah--I'm working on the slate for the coming months, and character development is one of my priorities. Hopefully I'll have something to announce soon.
Matt--Keep your eyes peeled. This is a bit of an experiment, but if the first round goes well for all involved, then I wouldn't be surprised if you see it again...
Renfield
from Hell is reading 20th Century GhostsJanuary 13, 2014 - 11:04am
Who's taking the Nick Mamatas workshop? I need all the gossip as to how cool it is.
Mess_Jess
from Sydney, Australia, living in Toronto, Canada is reading Perfect by Rachael JoyceJanuary 13, 2014 - 1:23pm
Too poverty stricken this month for classes, sadly, and there are several I would have liked to have participated in this month.
Alan H Jordan
from Reno, Nevada is reading Devotion by Dani Shaprio nd Now I Know Why the Caged Bird SingsFebruary 1, 2014 - 12:42am
If students would answer these two questions, I'd be most appreciative:
What class did you take?
Did you manage to build a continuing reationship with other students and/or the teacher? If so, how?"
Any chance of a Tom Spanbauer class? Chuck Palahniuk mentioned that Tom was working on a book about writing years ago, but I guess that fell through. So a class would be great.
That's an interesting suggestion. I love Spanbauer's books. I'll poke around on that one...
Thanks, I'd appreciate that.
Chuck mentions Tom in so many of his lectures. I've been desperately hoping for a book on writing from Tom for years, but it's never come. A class would be even better. I'd sign up in a second if you could make it happen.
Hey folks--we've got a couple of new classes up, which I'm pretty excited about: http://litreactor.com/classes/upcoming
Steve Weddle, editor of NEEDLE: A Magazine of Noir, is teaching a two-week course of submitting stories.
Samuel Sattin, author of LEAGUE OF SOMEBODES, is teaching a two-week course on laying the building blocks for a novel.
And Kat Howard is back with her sci-fi/fantasy class.
Also, hopefully next week I'll be putting up a two-week class led by John Skipp on editing. That's scheduled to start on July 25.
And other than that, I hope to bring in at least one more class for August.
Cheers!
I'm super excited for another Skipp class!
Ladies and gents: John Skipp is back.
His new class is about editing—the students in his last class were not only incredibly enthusiastic of John's teaching ability, but praised his editorial style. So this seemed like a natural fit.
Check it out.
Oh, hey, also, Patrick Wensink is back!
This time he's teaching you how to bring your natural sense of humor out in your writing. So, writing stuff that's funny. Which is harder than you'd think. He has some good ideas. It's all about structure.
Check out the class page.
Jumped into my first online class—eBook formatting starting Monday. Can't wait!
Rob, how about Spanbauer's "Dangerous Writing?" If not Tom, maybe someone else teaching a similar personal essay/non-fiction class.
Doug--tracking down Tom is on my to-do list.
Cross your fingers.
Just lamenting the fact that Jack Ketchum is teaching another class, but it is probably a bad idea for me to enroll since I have two graduate literary criticism classes at the same time. Sigh...woe is me. Hopefully, he keeps teaching them. This is the second I have missed for one reason or another.
@Jack, yes, I've considered selling a gun to take JK's course. Mind you, I'm a Texan, and by proxy love my guns almost, or in some cases, as much, as my children.
And selling children is illegal. That, too.
Well, I don't know that I would sell a gun...although the gun prices are trending up at the moment. If you are going to sell, sell high.
Way ammo is going just sell a box, and you'd be good.
No doubt. If you have 1000 rounds of .223 sitting around, you have the cost of the class easily.
Prices must be lower there, you could do most the classes with a box of 250 .223 rounds go for around here.
i took a class with Jack at The Cult and it was one of the best classes I've taken to date. if you're familiar with my work, it yielded "Seeing Red" (Crime Factory), "Ten Steps" (ChiZine), "Tinkering With the Moon" (Gargoyle), "Twenty Reasons to Stay and One to Leave" (Metazen, nominated for a Pushcart) and "Rudy Jenkins Buries His Fears" (Slices of Flesh anthology, Dark Moon Books, which strangely enough, after 50 rejections, was published alongside...Jack Ketchum). if you write dark fiction, find a way to take this class. seriously.
I saw a deal the other day for a box of 1000 rounds for 400 dollars, but I can't vouch for the quality.
Even with bulk that is WAY cheaper then anything I've seen locally. But honestly I'm not really looking. Is there someplace to check stuff like that for writers? Prices in general, not just ammo.
I wit is, i4s a bit like characatures floating head syndrome.uldnt mind classes on visualizing setting in prose, getting through the middle (this is why word count is such an issue), and developing sympathetic characters. So often mine feel like plot devices.D:
As It, it just seems like caracatures talking head syndrome.
Craig's class looks great. The video is making me want to sign up, but I'm broke. My refrigerator isn't cooling. New one coming tomorrow morning, thank goodness. Why are those damn things so expensive? I want to take the writing class but I need cold milk and eggs.
craig is a genius. if you can find a way to take a class of his, do it. i've taken two different classes taught by him and they were both well worth it.
It's funny you should mention selling ammo to take Jack's class, because that's exactly what I did. Except I'm a knitter, so when I say "ammo" I mean "wool". It worked, though. :)
I am seriously thinking about taking it, especially given the recommendations. Is there a coupon code of you are a Litreactor member?
I'm 100% going to sign up for the Intro to Writing Comic Books and Graphic Novels, but I can't pay for it until next week. Is there any way to reserve a space?
:-)
Damien is great. I like her writing.
Anyone know the final date for booking Craig's class is? Might be cutting it a little fine sorting the funding out.
I think you can book pretty much up to the day before a class, unless it sells out. (but I could be wrong)
Dave--I sent you a PM.
Is there a coupon code if you are a Litreactor member? Wanting to do Craig's. Weighing the money situation.
I'm sorry, there's no coupon code available for that class.
Thanks again Rob,
I've just booked the course.
I've booked Craig's class too and I can't wait for it. I have a friend who is also considering taking it, but still hasn't made up his mind. Is there a way to check to see how many spots are available on a class? He's worried it'll sell out before he can decide.
Consider a Shane McKenzie bizarro/extreme horror writing course? >_>
essay by shane: http://bizarrocentral.com/2013/03/04/blood-pus-cum-dead-babies-tips-for-...
If you've got one week and $70, I'm teaching a Short Story Mechanics class here at LitReactor in January. We're trying to offer some shorter classes at lower prices so more people can get involved. Check it out, I hope to see you there!
http://litreactor.com/classes/short-story-mechanics-with-richard-thomas
Hi Mr. Richard Thomas. I've signed up for your class. Having read some of your articles and short stories, I'm really looking forward to this. See you there. P.S: I'm also a big Stephen King fan.
Natso you will love Richards class. I'm glad you signed up.
thanks, natso! stoked to have you. thanks, cove. this class is filling up fast, LR peeps. hope to see you all there!
I've taken several classes elsewhere (with established writers), and I received personalized responses/comments on my emails every other day (the instructor's responses are tailored to the writer's ability to post more or less often), plus original method handouts, for up to 60 bucks.
So, when I signed up for a class here (for the first time), given the cost, I expected more. I got four lectures (good summaries, but nothing that can't be found in books), four discussions about classics (nothing that can't be found on students' websites offering short-story analysis), and five/six usable critiques of two stories of mine, including two posted by the instructor.
It's probably my fault as I picked a class that didn't match my needs. But if I'd known that I would get only two personalized responses on my writing from the instructor (in *four weeks*), I wouldn't have signed up.
"It's probably my fault as I picked a class that didn't match my needs."
I'm not sure that's entirely true. I was lucky and got extra critiques from my instructor for the one class I took, and I'm not sure I'd have been quite as satisfied for the price were that not the case. It can be a little bit of a crapshoot depending on how people participate (in the case of my class, most of the people in my peer review group bailed, and it was a blessing that my other classmates were so kind in giving me feedback ... I could have gotten almost none). I think I'd be happier too with a higher rate of instructor feedback—but then, wouldn't we all? I have no idea whether it would be realistic to daydream about that, but it might feel more in line with the price. At the very least, it could be said up front maybe how much personal feedback they're able to give? I don't think they do now.
Craig's insights via the lessons were valuable and really good stuff, above and beyond just the feedback, but that's only part of it. As Gio said, a lot of this stuff is available—or at least potentially available, depending on what insights your instructor has—in books. Interaction is IMO the more weighty/unique/valuable part of the class.
Hey, I've flitted in and out of this site, done a couple of classes (which were great) and really enjoy the vibe.
I just signed up for Richard's short story course, anyone else joining? His articles are great, and he's clearly got a great track record, so I'm looking forward to a week of hard work and writing.
I've just finished a screenplay with a writing partner of mine, and am 25k words into a novel that's frying my brain, so taking a step into short form feels like a good change of pace. I've also got a couple of killer ideas for things to write :-)
Hope to see some of you in class!
thanks, david! i appreciate the kind words. also, it's NOW SOLD OUT. sweet!
Are there any classes at the moment that help with character development? Though I would say length is my weakness, character development are comments I often get.
So there might be something to it.
I would really appreciate Richard Thomas doing the mechanics of short story writing class again soon.
Sarah--I'm working on the slate for the coming months, and character development is one of my priorities. Hopefully I'll have something to announce soon.
Matt--Keep your eyes peeled. This is a bit of an experiment, but if the first round goes well for all involved, then I wouldn't be surprised if you see it again...
Who's taking the Nick Mamatas workshop? I need all the gossip as to how cool it is.
Too poverty stricken this month for classes, sadly, and there are several I would have liked to have participated in this month.
If students would answer these two questions, I'd be most appreciative:
Thanks in advance,
Alan