Zen Mind Fiction Intensive Returns for Fall Session, Limited Enrollment
Zen Mind Fiction Workshop Returns in September.
If you missed the summer session, this is your last chance
this season to take our fastest on-ramp to craft proficiency.
Urgent Update: SOLD OUT: Congratualtions to those on-board and welcome to the journey ahead. You'll get an orientation e-mail early on Thursday.
Sign Up Here.
Class Dates: September 9th - October 7th
Endorsement:
I took part in the first one and was very happy. The knowledge that Vig imparts is second to none, and he will exceed any expectations you might have.
There is nowhere else in the world where someone with his level of experience will give you one on one feedback for this kind of money.
If you are a person that thinks that you might be a good writer, but are unsure of how to get a story started or finished this is the workshop for you. If you are already an accomplished writer, it is also a great way to refresh some fundamentals and maybe pick up something new.
-Jason C., Conyers, Georgia
Virtual Classroom Modality:
This intensive online class rolls 24 hours per day for a full month. Instead of scheduled chat sessions that imitate a traditional classroom, we take full advantage of our format to accommodate every possible schedule on the globe. We'll have some phone conferencing available to build our sense of conntection, but well over 90 percent of this class will be delivered in an asynchronous and text-driven fashion. You'll get a dedicated private forum where you can log in whenever possible to read the latest updates, post your assignments, and pose questions.
You'll get four distinct lecture/assignment combos that kick off each week, plus you'll get some bonus material. The deadlines for each written assignment will be important, but you'll generally have at least three days from the time of posting to complete a written assignment. Work on your own schedule, and make this class work around anything else that's going on. If a day slips past when you just can't log in, you simply come back the next day and read everything you missed.
The more time you can make for the class, the more you'll get from the experience, but nothing should prevent you from streamlining this class into the rest of your life. And that's one major advantage of taking an online course over the traditional classroom with its set meeting times. We cater to adult learners who often have jobs and many competing responsibilities, and we cater to gifted writers from all over the Anglophonic world, including Australia and New Zealand, which sit quite opposite from most U.S. timezones. The open format simply makes sense.
What We'll Cover:
Big-picture items included, such as philosophy, lifestyle, habits, how to get unblocked, and where we go as writers (metaphorically, internally) in the quest for big ideas.
But the Devil is in the details. We'll also cover many fine-tuned issues of the writer's craft. This course will help you identify any weak points in your writing that hold you back. We'll dig into very basic and necessary aspects, such as sentence construction, the strength of your verbs, achieving balance in your use of descriptive elements and modifiers, and how to construct effective dialogue. And it doesn't stop there.
Sign Up Now or continue with the letters below.
Dear Cult Writer of the Future,
You may recall the letter I wrote to you in late June. This letter challenged you to let go of excuses and to escape the gravity well of inertia and self-doubt--all those forces that have prevented you, so far, from a new level of success and satisfaction as a writer.
It's part of our mission here at Chuck-Palahniuk dot Net to help readers become writers and writers become authors. We know you have it in you. I can say that with confidence, because you're the sort of bright and talented person who visits and reads this Web site in the first place. When you're not visiting us, you sometimes read and appreciate... gasp... books! While others remain lost in video games or television shows, you're already prone to a form of entertainment that engages your mind and imagination in a different way, calling for a deeper participation and a lasting response.
This deeper participation makes you a candidate to go even further, to become one of the few voices that shape the culture. That's a big statement. And the idea that you can do so isn't presented to you very often. No one on a television sitcom is going to look you straight in the eye and say, "Hey, buddy, (or "hey, girlfriend") why aren't you writing your book?"
The same goes for your friends and acquaintances. As lovely as these people are, if they aren't the sort of people who write novels or short fiction themselves, they aren't likely to understand or endorse the activity. I realize that when I offer encouragement, I'm competing with a world of noise and of mostly good-natured indifference. The indifference won't change until you're published and on the shelf at the local chain bookstore. And even then, your friends may not understand what this is all about. Along the way, luckily, you'll make some new friends.
But first things first. You need more than encouragement. You need the chance to learn, experience, and work on your skill set. And a big part of what I've been doing for seven years is developing online learning experiences for writers. In particular, our intensive online workshops are renowned for delivering more in the way of practical writing skills and craft knowledge than people sometimes encounter in several years and several thousand dollars of instituitional learning. Past graduates rave about how much they gain in such a short time from our classes. And people who miss the chance often regret it.
You may notice from the comments on the June letter that a number of people were caught off-guard at the first release of Zen Mind Beginning Fiction Workshop. As a number of you specifically asked for a chance to participate in the Fall, I've carved out the time to make it happen. This may well be the last run for this class all year, so I do hope you'll take advantage right away. We often hit our enrollment cap within just a few days of a new class promotion.
Sign Up Now, and we'll talk very soon.
All the Best,
Mark Vanderpool
Writers Workshop Administrator
www.chuckpalahniuk.net
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Comments
I took part in the first one and was very happy. The knowledge that Vig imparts is second to none, and he will exceed any expectations you might have.
There is nowhere else in the world where someone with his level of experience will give you one on one feedback for this kind of money.
If you are a person that thinks that you might be a good writer, but are unsure of how to get a story started or finished this is the workshop for you. If you are already an accomplished writer, it is also a great way to refresh some fundamentals and maybe pick up something new.
That is all. Thanks for reading my infomercial.
Been looking for something like this. Just signed up! Can't wait to get started.
Thanks for that ringing endorsement, J.C., and thanks for all commentary, questions, and expressions of interest.
This time, I will not waste the space of someone more deserving
This time, I will not waste the space of someone more deserving
This time, I will not waste the space of someone more deserving
This time, I will not waste the space of someone more deserving
This time, I will not waste the space of someone more deserving
This time, I will not waste the space of someone more deserving
This time, I will not waste the space of someone more deserving
This time, I will not waste the space of someone more deserving
This time, I will not waste the space of someone more deserving
Sorry about the last one Vig... Just makes me loathe myself even more. Good luck to you and all the participants with round #2.
I've finally learned my lesson... crawling back into my quiet corner of The Cult now. Cheers!
Heya, Dave. Hope you're doing well in all the new married life (right?) and all good things. It is a strange habit to sign up for the intensives and mostly abstain from participation, but I trust that you're finding your way.
For you to say that "It is a strange habit to sign up for the intensives and mostly abstain from participation" is excessively kind and carefully worded on your part... and I wouldn't expect anything less from you. Just come right out and say it... I'm quite a strange anomaly, even for this place. I know it. I just can't seem to do much about it. But thank you for you softening the blow. It's appreciated.
And thank you as well for you asking about the wedding... yes, everything went perfect... hopefully, the third time is a charm. Yes, I'm also a serial marrier.
Good luck with the next intensive... I promise not to waste your time (or the precious class space) by pretending to participate. But I'm sure I'll work up the courage to try again someday in the future.
Best to you my friend.
D
I've just signed up! Very excited, though nervous I won't write anything worthy. Going to be a crazy autumn this year with the workshop in September and Nanowimo in November!
This looks sooo good.
For all who aren't sure about this, remember my wise words: I've done four intensives organized by Mark with other authors, and the lessons were extremely well put together. Mark is a gifted critic and a friendly personality, so if you're preparing to jump into the big pond for the first time, this is a safe bet.
That, and you may end up becoming manuscript-swapping buddies with someone on the course, later on. It happened to me.
You know..
The workshop sounds absolutely amazing. I am a writer and - whoa man - do I have a lot of stuff to say. Did I mention it's insanity? Haunting, really.
I can only laugh. "One of the few voices that shape culture."
If only you were in my universe.
Sucks I can't dish out 250 for it. Good luck to those who can though - I bet there are some interesting things for you to talk about.
Welcome aboard. I'm sure you'll write to your personal best and also improve that best along the way. That's what matters.
@Tuffy & Phil: Thanks for the kind words.
@Onechickmoshpit: user name award is in order.
Hey, an award? I can dig it.
Makes me happier than you think.
Hi Vigorous,
I hate to have our first experience be about this, but there is a typo in the first sentence of the header. Sepember.
That being said, I am rifling through my house looking for one of my family member's possessions to hawk at the pawn shop in hopes of scraping the tuition together for your pigs in zen workshop.
I am considering setting up a fallacio stand at First Thursday tomorrow...
Thanks, typo corrected.
Kind words, nothing; that was jealousy on my part. I only wish I had the time to dedicate to this. I would be all up in it like an all-up-in-stuff thing.
I hate to have our first experience be about this, but there is a typo in the first sentence of the header. Sepember.
That being said, I am rifling through my house looking for one of my family member's possessions to hawk at the pawn shop in hopes of scraping the tuition together for your pigs in zen workshop.
I am considering setting up a fallacio stand at First Thursday tomorrow...
"fellatio" FYI.
Tuffy,
Now our first experience is about this...
Just don't think too long about why I would know how to properly spell it...
Fallacious fallatio Batman!
I pawned one of my son's Darkhorse comics for $249!
Guess what I am going to do.
Sign up for the workshop. Learn to write. Become a publishing sensation...and pay him back with this:
http://www.goldenagebatman.com/cover34.html
I pawned one of my son's Darkhorse comics for $249!
Guess what I am going to do.
Sign up for the workshop. Learn to write. Become a publishing sensation...and pay him back with this:
http://www.goldenagebatman.com/cover34.html
This is a clever plan, but where are the penguin parade balloons filled with knockout gas? Where the ridiculously complicated sub-plot and the army of henchmen? Oh, keep going, Evil Genius. Defrauding your own progeny is only step one.
Mirka,
I found another typo...4th paragraph...freinds...although sometimes my friends are feinds, so the hybrid freinds is an accurate moniker...ah, come to think of it, you might just leave that one...
Yes Vigorous, damage control...
How about balloons filled with laughing dust? And the whole story could have a comedique flair ala Trey Parker's Team America World Police...oh the possibilities just give me butterflies...they are all aflutter in my belly! (Scottish Accent) "Get out of my Belly!" :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q94de3ZV67o
Whoa,
I think I put too much International Delight Hazelnut coffee creamer in my sixteen pots of coffee this morning...binge and splurge...feeling better now, but I better go shower.
Chester Alabaster Pane
Tuffy,
Your Avatar reminds me of a clock my rich Uncle had in his study. Come to think of it, I don't think he was actually my uncle by blood, but one of those Uncles who I caught sharing a bed with my Mom while my father was touring.
He was the kind of Uncle who liked to stick things in new places where they didn't belong.
Like your Avatar, he too swung both ways. He would often go back and forth between my mother's room and mine during the night performing his fluid release ritual.
One Sunday morning after we had all spent the night at his house, which was often referred to as a Chateau, or The Chateau, depending on who was saying it, I woke to the whispering swings of the pendulum... It was still 'quiet time' which meant everyone was still immersed in sopor. As usual they were trying to rinse the somniferum from the bottoms of their crusty souls.
Soon they would drowse out of bed. I would hear the mechanical screams from the blender echo through the cavernous halls from the kitchen while my mother made her signature Bloody Mary Smoothie that Uncle loved so much.
Then she would probably take another shot and float back to sleep. Uncle would take another shot too; His shots were Frisco Specials. He said he liked the way they made his rococo look. I always thought the rococo looked just fine the way it was, but I guess I didn't know what I had been missing.
Last night Uncle had scored what he called "A Lux-Trifecta"; A ball of China White, a ball of Pure-bred-Pru, and countless helpings of Grape Parfait. He said he was saving them for Sunday...because then we could all pray to the Man in the Tin Can. He said it was time for me to stop acting as Ground Control and to prepare for Sunday Morning Liftoff. His words made me nervous. He made me nervous. I liked being Ground Control.
Like many of his other furnishings, the clock was late Baroque. I could hear it tock on the other side of my lidded eyes. I opened my eyes to the Rococo glare that embellished and festooned off everything in the room. As I laid and listened to the clock remove time, I remembered what Uncle had said about floating in a tin can and Grounds Control. Then the blender's blades began severing the chilled Bloody Mary ingredients and I prepared for Liftoff.
Leave me out of this.
Hey Vig.....Looks like you are in for a month a fun if ChesterPane is going to take part
I wish I could just be a fly on the wall.
We'll see if he gets released from the sanitarium in time.
If there is still space available after the weekend I'll join in.
Hey Mark, what kind of things are you going over in this class?
It's encompassing. Big-picture stuff, like philosophy, lifestyle, habits, how to get unblocked, and where we go for ideas. And craft skills, like how to handle dialogue and characterization, how to use descriptive elements in the right measure, and how identify and cut the things that aren't working for you. With detailed feedback on several brief writing assignments, no concern is too large or too small for this class.
It's encompassing. Big-picture stuff, like philosophy, lifestyle, habits, how to get unblocked, and where we go for ideas. And craft skills, like how to handle dialogue and characterization, how to use descriptive elements in the right measure, and how identify and cut the things that aren't working for you. With detailed feedback on several brief writing assignments, no concern is too large or too small for this class.
Thanks for the reply. Trying to pull together the funds.
I signed up! A bit nervous about it. Where does it take place, do we get a secret code and access it through this site? Or something happens through our email?
Hi, Liana. We'll have a private forum on the site. As soon as it's set up, you'll have access. No password or secret code needed (though I do like them with the fascination of a 12-year-old.)
Instead, the user role for this class was automatically assigned in your profile when your order was completed. I'll get an orientation e-mail to everyone enrolled before Thursday, so that you know where to look for the private forum and how best to get started.
Welcome to the class! Glad to have you aboard for it.
Hi Mark,
Quick question: I'm really interested in this but will be traveling during this time, so just wondering what is the work schedule like? i.e. Meeting once/twice a week? And I'm assuming assignments after each class?
Quick question: I'm really interested in this but will be traveling during this time, so just wondering what is the work schedule like? i.e. Meeting once/twice a week? And I'm assuming assignments after each class?
Better to think of it as a single intensive class that rolls 24 hours per day for a month. This is our online Zen Mind: Every moment of the day you're awake there is a meeting.
Don't let that be frightening or conjure any anticipation of exhaustion or psychosis. We draw students from Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, many places in Europe, and every zone of the Continental U.S. With our participants in every conceivable time zone, and every possible work schedule conflict, we don't attempt to structure this class around live chat sessions or any form of distinct and set meeting times.
It's going on all the time, which means join in whenever you can, and no penalty when you can't. Simply, the more time you can make for it the more you'll get out of it.
We'll have some assignment deadlines, of course, but nothing to dictate during which part of the day or night you work on things.
And we'll have some phone conference options, for the sake of direct contact and a feeling of community, but most of the class content will be text-based and posted for the duration. Respond when you can.
A bit of travel interruption won't pose any problem at all, so long as you can check in periodically and aren't completely removed from class participation for more than two days at time.
YAY!!!
just cashed in for the class. When does the class actually start? Sometime this week? I'm really stoked about this!!
Thank you Mr. Vanderpool for this awesome opportunity.
Should I call you Mark or Mr. Vanderpool? Or do you have some other cool nicknames?
-Mike
This is all happening right before my wedding, but I couldn't pass up the option of spending my fall only rolling up paper roses.
So I joined, and I'm looking forward to this. For the past few months I've been trying to start new stories; I always have a great story starter, but I never get any further into the larger scale of the story. This class is exactly what I need. It's kind of at a hectic time of my life, but I'm sure it'll all work out.
just cashed in for the class. When does the class actually start? Sometime this week? I'm really stoked about this!!
Thank you Mr. Vanderpool for this awesome opportunity.
Should I call you Mark or Mr. Vanderpool? Or do you have some other cool nicknames?
-Mike
Mark is just fine. Around The Cult, vig and VP are used interchangeably. Equally fine.
The class starts on Thursday, Sept. 9th
So I joined, and I'm looking forward to this. For the past few months I've been trying to start new stories; I always have a great story starter, but I never get any further into the larger scale of the story. This class is exactly what I need. It's kind of at a hectic time of my life, but I'm sure it'll all work out.
Awesome. Glad you could join.
It must be the season for weddings; had wedding makings going on with at least two of the guys in our late summer class.
I've added some important updates to the main post, including many things people had questions about it. Also, just a nudge that Tuesday is the last day for early registration discount, and a few seats remain. Thanks.
Ok I'm in.
I badly need to be whipped into shape. Bring on the pain, Mark.
"ONE ORDER OF PAIN!"
(I'll be right with you...)
Important: We're up and rolling! Invitation by e-mail just went out. If you're registered for the class, it should be in your inbox. If not, check the spam filter. If necessary, white-list my firstnamelastname at Google Mail without the "oogle" dot com. (Let's see a bot figure that one out!)
Or, hell, just click here and start talking:
http://chuckpalahniuk.net/forum/1000688/meet-your-zen-writing-community
If you're not registered for the class, that link shouldn't work. If it does anyway, please let me know.
See you within.
-MV
Maybe I missed it but when you do the workshop again, how much will it be?
thanks,
Josh