Monday Variety: Mentoring Sale, Crowdfunding Q, Camp...

[dancinghorse]

Signal boosts for any or all of this would be much, much appreciated.

The Writing Mentor Has a Sale

Thanks to very helpful friends, we are working on a brand! new! updated! Mentoring and Camp page (and eventually website). I'm adding some services and updating some details. But because you are all awesome and because I have $700 worth of hay and shoer bills that really have got to get paid, I'm having a pre-update sale. Mention this entry and it's yours. Previous and current mentees can play. Details of the old/current services are here. The sale is: Book a four-hour package and get a fifth hour FREE. That's $160.00 for five hours of whatever you need: plot help, R&D, editorial services of all kinds from line edits to general critique.

AND, if what you need doesn't require five hours' worth of work, I've got a new service on offer: Spot-checking and fact-checking. For $50 I will check specific portions of your project, up to 30 pages'/one hour's worth. Additional hours can be negotiated on an individual basis. Areas of expertise include include horses and equestrian subjects in general, historical periods (especially ancient Greece/Rome, Egypt, and Western Middle Ages), American Southwest, New England, Latin (Classical and Medieval). Got something else you might like a look at? Email and see if I can help.

And if that's too big but you'd like your Latin checked, I'll do that on a custom basis; email for rates and estimates. I might even take payment in chocolate. Do ask. :)

Interested? My email is at gmail and my username is capriole.

Camp Lipizzan Is Booking For 2010/11

We're ending this season with two Camps in the next month, but bookings for October through April are fairly open. We have one in early January and one in late April so far. Interested in a 3-5-day writing retreat with horses? Not afraid of discovering that if you do it once, you're 90% likely to book another either before you leave or soon thereafter? Email and let me know when you'd like to come. First person to book a date gets dibs. One or two additional persons may join us for those dates. For a sampling of what we do, here's one Camper's photoblog. That was her second Camp. She's since booked a third. :)

Rates start at $350 for 3 days/2 nights, and include food, board, and hot and cold running Lipizzans. And lots and lots of lovely, peaceful writing time in a farmhouse in rural Arizona.

Sneak Preview of Other New Stuff

I'm also pondering and putting together some online units/classes in various aspects of writing, for individuals (customized to fit) and groups. Subjects would include Horses for Writers, Inhabiting the Character's Skin, Finding the Exact Right Word, Research Skills (Mad and Otherwise), and Plotting Evilly for Fun and Profit. I'm thinking a format of a "lecture" article that you read and ask questions on, and a set of short exercises that you do and I review. Pricing in the region of $50 per unit, with discounts for multiple units. Another possibility would be an online class for 3-10 students, with "lecture" and exercises and discussion to be held over the course of a week (so that everyone can get in and participate), with an lj-style posting and comment structure plus a short, private critique for each student. Still working out logistics there. If you have requests or suggestions, do let me know. Especially if you'd like to beta-test a unit for a reduced price.

Question for the Crowdfunders Among Us

I know some of my flist have done crowdfunded projects with good success. I have a novel--space opera, Attack Novel, compulsively readable and I cannot stop writing it, either--that I would like to try on this model. But I'm not sure where to start or how to present it. I see some of you use lj and a Donate button. Does this get you into trouble with lj's TOS? How do you promote your project and get it out there where people can find it? Any details you can share would be much appreciated.

And Let Us Not Forget...

Today's my day at Book View Cafe. New chapter of Ars Magica (previous chapters are up as well, if you want to read from the beginning; if you want the whole thing Right Now, it's available as an ebook in multiple formats). Aaaaand, a new Horseblog, in which we talk about the War Mare side of the Force.

Comments

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

We promoted to our emailing list, talked about it on our blogs -- nowadays I guess it'd go to FB and Twitter, too. We sent a press release to SFSite, which ran it; (and another to Locus Online, which didn't). Best promotion, as always, was word of mouth.

We published both of our novels to the korval.com domain, which we own, to avoid any Unpleasant Discussions with LJ. We did, however, start an LJ community specifically for readers to talk about the story and speculate on what was going to happen next, the characters' motivations, &c.

We found that announcing a Definite Time for the weekly/biweekly/triweekly update and sticking to it was Key. Also, we set up another LJ community specifically for teasers. Any time from the night before to an hour before the update, we'd let loose a short, provocative snippet to remind people that the update was coming and to whet their appetite -- that's something that might also usefully be done as a tweet.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much. This is just what I was looking for. I supposedly have a domain, so if I can access that, and link through the various social media, that seems like the most practicable solution.

Did you get data on what day or time would work best for the update? I hear Monday is a big Internet day, but does that risk everything happening at once on that day?

[marthawells.livejournal.com]

My stats seem to say that Tuesday morning is also a good time to post things.

[ceffyl.livejournal.com]

oOooOo!! Must do budget and find out if Horse Camp is an option. :) If not, maybe some mentoring or other related work.

Would you be open for translating classical Latin inscriptions?

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Horse Camp! Horse Camp! Horse Camp! lure lure lure tempt tempt tempt

I could have a look at the Latin, yes.

And thanks so much for the twitterboost!

[ceffyl.livejournal.com]

My Mom and I have been talking about horse camp for over a year. Talk about a dream to get out there, play with Lipps, and meet you!

You are most welcome for the boost! I've been talking to anyone who reads SF/fantasy about your books and sending them to BVC to get hooked. :) How could anyone resist? (Any new book from you means I don't sleep until I've finished reading it. Even on re-reads.)

[ceffyl.livejournal.com]

Oh! I'd also be interested in online classes. I've lead a lot of online classes on other topics but would love to take something on writing. It would be good motivation.

[galeni.livejournal.com]

Very interested in "Finding the Exact Word" and other such exercises, classes, etc.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Want to help beta-test?

[galeni.livejournal.com]

(This is part of The Conspiracy to get me back writing, isn't it?!)

I would be pleased to help. I've taken an online course through UCLA Extension on writing SF, so I am familiar with online learning, if that's useful.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Very useful, thank you. Email and we'll talk. :)

[galeni.livejournal.com]

Done.

[miintikwa.livejournal.com]

The Schedule is key with crowdfunded things! Also, there's an LJ community (crowdfunding) that could probably give you more tips. But I found the scedule to be the biggest one.

Weblit resources, getting your name out there, all that happens if they know the story is good and it's going to be there regularly.

PS: add me to the list of REALLY interested in an online class people! I've taken online classes, but it's been a while.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

I did join the community, thank you. Will probably post there with questions, too.

Point definitely taken re. scheduling. I know from BVC that if you undertake to put up content, you'd better stick to it. Luckily, thanks to that, I'm very much in the habit. :)

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

PS Would you like to help beta a class unit?

[miintikwa.livejournal.com]

Definitely! That would be awesome! :)

[coraa.livejournal.com]

Yay! Horse Camp is pretty much the Best Thing Ever, and I'm so excited to be going back. :)

And I'm very interested in the online classes.

[seachanges.livejournal.com]

Signal has been boosted! Good luck with the sale. 8)

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)

[greenbirds.livejournal.com]

Here via another blog (yay signal boost!). RE: horse camp -- how early in January? Horses + writing sounds AWESOME. I'm usually in AZ anyway during that part of the year visiting family, but I'm also a professor and have to be back on the other side of the country to teach my classes by 1/10. :)

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Regular camper has to be back in classes on the other side of the desk (and also the other side of the country) by the 20th, usually. We had it over Twelfth Night last time.

So, early works. Kara, are you around?

[greenbirds.livejournal.com]

That would be brilliant! You're only a couple of hours from my parents' place. I just won't tell a certain Very Jealous Red Mare that what I'm doing over my Winter Break is *riding other horses*. ;) I sent you a PM on LJ with my personal e-mail address.

[porphyrin.livejournal.com]

I would kill to go to horse camp.

But the kids would want to come, especially Rob, and that would be Not-Writing time, instead of writing time...

*sigh*

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Would there be a way to work a compromise? Some Rob, and some mom-to-herself?

[aerinha]

Oh, horse camp... I really want to go. I'm a wishful writer, but could always just fool around with my "notes" and read books; and enjoy not being at home. But I have to admit I'm intimidated because I'm shy with new people, especially new horsepeople!
Still - I will consider, because I would love to come.

As far as the online classes, I would be very interested in the Research Skills and Plotting units if those get off the ground!

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

What about a solo Camp, just us? Would that be a good way to ease into it? We're very laid back; we don't do the show thing, so we're not into ranking or judging. We just like to play with our horses.

I'm taking notes on the classes. Lots of interest in those. Watch this space. :)

[aerinha]

Oh, I would hate to be a prima donna! And I would feel like one, having camp all to myself.
You know, one of the things I'd love to come do, assuming I can scrape the budget together for Horse Camp, is to meet your S. and maybe have a lesson with her; I've been following your work with her as well as reading her blog and it makes good sense to me in so many ways. Especially as I go forward in starting my own youngster with his assortment of body imbalances and issues.

But I am definitely going to look at the long-range plan and see what month an "escape" weekend might be possible, and will let you know.

And yay, online writing class :) I swear one day I WILL write this thing that's in my head.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

We have solo Campers quite often. S lessons are certainly part of the package. And tcastleb is "Camp staff" as well as a boarder, so she'll be here. It's definitely not prima-donna time. ;>

[aerinha]

Whew! OK, then I will simply come up with a weekend or two that seem to work, and let you know. My husband has already said he thinks it's a great idea!

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Yes! And may I say, your husband rocks. 8)

[aerinha]

ok, and reading the two comments below just totally sold me :) I need to get over my fear-of-new-places and just go for it, because it sounds like too much fun. Especially since I'm close enough to think about going on a "regular"/as-money-permits basis!

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Definitely. We are laid back, comfortable, and totally unpretentious.

Also, Lipizzans!

[aerinha]

OK, I think I have a weekend picked out... the weekend-ish time around December 10th? I may have a horsey, non-writer friend interested in coming, too...
is this weekend still open? (heck, is it even a weekend? I obviously left my calendar elsewhere. !)

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

I don't offer Camp in December, but I might be persuaded to make an exception. Send email. I'm capriole and my mail server is gmail.

February and March, so far, are open. No one's booked October yet. September, January, and April are booked. November might have an opening.

[tcastleb.livejournal.com]

He he. And the "camp staffer" will add a bonus photo package of campers and horses, light and schedule permitting to any and all attendees. :>)

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Wow, yes! Can I put this in a new post and on the web page?

[tcastleb.livejournal.com]

Sure. :>)

[klrichardsson.livejournal.com]

I loved Horse Camp so much. Words can't express how much. And being a solo camper definitely rocked. ;) S is a fantastic teacher, and I think my seat definitely improved by Day 3. And it's always nice to geek out with people and not have to worry about how geeky I appear!

Bring on January!

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

The medieval geekery at January Camp is one of its highlights. :)