We’re ready to go—my two newest courses are now posted at
http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm
In case you didn’t get the memo, I’m offering two new online courses: One for authors who want to learn more about self-editing and who want to save money on their final editing bill. And one for folks who want to write their memoirs whether this is for publication or just for posterity.
Here is the course description for the Self-Editing course:
“Learn self-editing techniques. This is an intensive, hands-on course for authors who want to publish their best efforts, which should be the goal of every serious author. Patricia gives you the instructions and tools needed to perform specific editorial processes during each of the four (or five) weeks and works alongside you to help you perfect your book manuscript.
Yes, students will have the opportunity to work with an experienced editor on their manuscripts as they learn the process of self-editing. Think about it, you are no longer struggling on your own trying to make your story sing or your nonfiction text work.
Through this course, you will learn how to:
• detect and correct the most common editorial errors.
• identify inconsistencies in your manuscript.
• write with a more active (thus more interesting/powerful) voice.
• use transitions more effectively.
• write with more clarity (eliminate muddy writing).
• recognize and correct run-on sentences for much greater readability.
• catch those sneaky hidden mistakes.
• exchange tired clichés for fresh writing.
• tighten your writing by omitting filler words and qualifiers.
• use “person” and “tense” appropriately.
• and more!
If you feel you’ve gone just about as far as you can with your manuscript, stop the merry-go-round and get off. Let Patricia help you to turn your mediocre manuscript into one that shines.”
Catscapades Update
Oh my, are we busy in the Matilija Press offices as we delve headlong into the promotion for Catscapades, True Cat Tales. The thing is, people will not have the opportunity to read this delightful book if they don’t know about it. So, this week, I’ve researched cat sites and cat newsletters/magazines, and I’ve already sent out half dozen review copies with another half dozen or so ready to go out to reviewers on Monday.
I’m keeping my Catscapades blog updated—hey did you read the story from the book, which I posted yesterday? It’s my story of “Gus the Babysitting Cat.” True story—as they all are. And there is no “cat talk.” Some reviewers are specifying that they do not want to see a book where the cats speak. Interesting.
Through the stories and commentary, I do attempt to share, teach and even educate readers. One of my daughters told me, after reading the book, “I learned a lot about you and about cats.”
Order your copy here: http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades.html or through amazon.com. Visit the Catscapades blog here: http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades