NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@alpha.nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

9/05/2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES -Non-credit courses on writing, photography, real estate and Bisque potter painting management will be offered in late September through Northwestern State University's Office of Continuing Education.

Dr. Ron McBride will teach a short course, "Taking Better Family Pictures" beginning Sept. 18. The course will be taught on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. in Room 213 of Russell Hall through Oct. 25. One Saturday session is also planned. The class will provide instruction on how to use a family camera and take better portraits as well as improving participants skills on taking other pictures.

Instructor Burk Baker will teach "Real Estate Principles and Practice" Sept. 20 ­ Oct. 21. The course will be taught on Thursday through Sunday in Room 225 of Russell Hall. Class time on Thursday and Friday from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The fee is $595 plus $45 for books.

The course meets the requirements of the Louisiana Real Estate Commission for real estate licensing. The subjects covered include real estate contracts, agency, ownership, property transfer, encumbrances, finance, valuation, fair housing laws, real estate math, license law, commission rules and regulations and civil law. The information is useful to anyone wanting to buy or sell their own property or wanting to become a licensed real estate agent.

"Basic Bisque Pottery Painting" will include eight hours of instruction in which the student will plan, design, paint and personalize an item of choice from a selected group. The course will be taught on Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. beginning Sept. 20. The class will run through Oct. 11. Pot Luck Studio at Bienville Square in Natchitoches will be the site of the course. There is a $30 fee for the class plus a $60 supply fee.

Editor Michael Garrett will teach five classes, "A Guide to Self-Publication," "Screenwriting for Movies," "Writing a Novel that Sells," "Short Story and Novel Feedback" and "Creating a Novel from Scratch on Sept. 21-23. Each course will be taught in Room 213 of Russell Hall on Northwestern's Natchitoches campus.

Garrett will teach the first course, "A Guide to Self-Publication," from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21. The fee for the course is $59. Garrett said with the advent of print-on-demand publishing, self-publication has become the perfect low-cost solution for many writers who wish to target a specific audience and maintain complete control over their book. He said that a professional-quality book could be on the market in months with an investment of as little as $400. The included textbook will serve as an example of the quality to be expected from print-on-demand publication.

"Screenwriting for Movies," will be taught on Friday, Sept. 21 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. There is a $59 fee for the course. Garrett will teach proper screenplay format, recommended screenplay development software packages, how to contact an agent, writing dialogue and more.

On Saturday, Sept. 22,"Writing a Novel that Sells," will be presented from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. There is a $85 fee for the course. In the workshop, Garrett will instruct participants on how to write a novel that publishers want. Garrett maintains that many authors write well enough to sell a novel, but are not meeting a publisher's needs.

That evening, Garrett will teach "Short Story and Novel Feedback" from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. The fee is $59. In the course, Garrett will discuss how editors evaluate submissions, the importance of a strong opening and the recipe for marketable fiction.

On Sunday, Sept. 23, Garrett will teach "Creating a Novel from Scratch" from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The workshop will offer a step-by-step methodology to producing a first novel. Garrett will assist those in the class to develop a novel outline, characters, appropriate viewpoint and structure. He will also help individuals write an opening paragraph. The fee for the class is $85.

For more information on the classes or to sign up, contact the Office of Continuing Education at (318) 357-5682 or (800) 376-2422.

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