"Pssst. Nothing is stopping you."

Here’s a secret, you don’t need to have a finished manuscript to get a book deal. All you need is an amazing idea and as little as 10 pages. (But finished manuscripts are good, too.) To get the benefits of The Shocking Real-Life Book-Pick Package, here’s what to expect after enrolling in this service using the link below:

1. Send me your completely confidential book idea, synopsis and no more than 30 pages. (The pages are even optional.)
2. We’ll schedule three 1-hour one-on-one conferences (via iChat, Skype or just just plain telephone if you want). In addition to this, there will be 2-3 additional hours of time on my part as I treat your pages, research my cadre of agents and their latest acquisitions, and write a draft of your pitch letter:

• Conference 1 will focus on your material and devise a plan to format it so it’s immediately surmountable for an agent to consider. This is important because you will be submitting cold and you need to distinguish yourself from the slush pile.
  
• Conference 2 we will discuss the right agent(s) for your material, the 10 pages you will submit to the agent and how exactly to write the pitch letter.
  
• Conference 3 we will make sure your entire pitch package is completely clean before you email it to the agent (it can be a process, believe me), then — most important and, for some reason, often the hardest part — the pressing of “SEND.”

This purpose of this package is to focus your idea and material into a lean, to-the-point pitch that will intrigue an agent, who will then sell your book to a publisher so you can commence your new life as a published author.

This package is not for people who simply want to sit around bloviating about how hard it is to get a book deal. There are plenty of local coffee houses packed with people perpetuating that myth. Don’t be one of them. This package is proven effective, not just by me, but by the dozens of people I’ve helped acquire literary agent representation because of it. This is your opportunity to get your book deal.

In Nov. 09, Allison Gustavson writes: “Just a quick note of thanks for the one-on-one this evening. It was absolutely wonderful and more helpful and encouraging and grounding than I think you can possibly imagine.  I know you are probably used to this (given the ease and natural way with which you handled the conversation), but it really did shed SO much light on so many aspects of this process for me — both external and internal elements of this crazy endeavor, and I am so grateful. I KNEW you‘d be the right person to work with! I loved how direct and not ‘trying to be overly professional’ you were – I mean that in the most flattering way, because some people, when they don’t have the substance or experience or depth, try and cloak everything in rigid professionalism. Anyway, I am totally excited to go forward.  I think we TOTALLY stumbled upon something that a) is absolutely perfect for the hook we were talking about and b) hugely enormous for my life in general.”

The Shocking Real-Life One-on-One Book Pitch Package Cost: $500

Rather pay by check? Follow this simple 3-step process:

1. Write a check for the cost of the class payable to “Hollis Gillespie” and mail to Hollis Gillespie, 828 Ralph McGill Blvd., Loft 106, Atlanta, GA 30306.
2. Using the contact page, send Hollis a note. Include your name, email, which seminar you are signing up for, and the date the check was mailed.
3. After Hollis receives your check, you will get a confirmation email notifying you that you are registered in the class.

SRL Alumni! Use the “add to cart” button below to register for this service and SAVE $25!

But the Decatur Book Festival, now, that’s a different story. It’s organized by Thomas Bell, who knows how to put on a festival. It’s one of the rare events that make good on it’s premise to enrich you creatively. Below is my schedule of appearances. Feel free to stop by and harangue me.

Friday, Sept. 3, 4 p.m. — “Saved by the Blog,” a 2-hr. mini blogging workshop in Buttrick Hall G. Registration is free.

Saturday, Sept. 4, 2 p.m. – Featured author at the AJC V.I.P. Author’s Tent. (This could be a private affair, I dunno, but if I were you I’d just show up and tell them you know me, and then I’ll be all, like, “Oh, hi!” and stuff.)

Saturday, Sept 4, 4:15 p.m. – Featured author at the THE MOTH storytelling event, where the theme of the night is “Southern Gothic.” I’m gonna tell my story about Myrtle, the lesbian ghost who haunts my house. Also speaking will be the venerated George Dawes Green, who started the whole MOTH phenomenon (heralded as “New York’s hottest and hippest literary ticket” by the Wall Street Journal) years ago. Seriously, you do not want to miss this.

Here are some of the events I plan to attend, and bare in mind that they are listed according to my own personal star-struck-edness:

Maura Shalhoup’s appearance Sunday, Sept. 5, 5:00 at Decatur Conference Center Stage.

Jef Blocker, Saturday, 11:15 at Decatur Conference Center Stage, Jef a Shocking Real-Life “Secrets to Writing & Selling Your First Book” alumn!

Charles McNair, Sunday, 12:00 at Decatur Conference Center Stage

Joyce Bone, Sunday, 3:45 at Decatur Conference Center Stage

Rebecca Burns, Sunday, 1:15 at Decatur Conference Center Stage

Joshilyn Jackson, Friday, 3:00 at Maclean Auditorium in Presser Hall

Tom Junod, Sunday, 12:00 at Decatur Conference Center Stage (I know this conflicts with Charles McNair but they’re on the same stage!)

John Kessler, Saturday, 3:00 at Cooks Warehouse Stage or

Jack Riggs, Saturday, 3:00 at Eddie’s Attic Stage (decisions, decisions!)

Please feel free to berate me for leaving anyone out. (I expect you to argue your case.) Looking forward to seeing you there!

* I also really loved the Georgia Literary Festival held in Rome last year.

Sept. 7 – How to Write & Publish Your Personal Essay (6:30–9 p.m. with Hollis Gillespie)  1 SPOT LEFT!

Sept. 15 – Blog Technology Clinic (6:30–9 p.m.) HURRY! 2 SPOTS LEFT!

Sept. 18 – Creating a Film Resume; How to Get a Job in Film

Sept. 26 — Atlanta’s Famous Blogging Workshop

Oct. 3 – The Secrets to Writing & Selling Your First Book with Hollis Gillespie

Dates Vary – The Pitch Doctor Package with Hollis Gillespie

(*we serve booze and guarantee inappropriate conversation.)

You probably have a ton of questions about your blog with nobody to answer them, right?

Questions like:

• Do I have a compelling concept?
• Where’s the traffic?
• Why is nobody linking to me?
• How do I write better headlines?
• How do I get more people to read my blog?
• How do I get ranked higher on Google?
• Should I rename my blog?
• How do I get people to comment on my posts?
• How do I make money off my blog?
• What’s the fastest way to come up with keywords?
• Is Google Image the only place to get photos?
• How can I tell if an image is copyrighted?
• How do I get advertisers?
• What’s the difference between a visitor and a page view?
• How do I promote my blog with Facebook & Twitter?
• What about YouTube & Linked-in?
• What’s the best way to write my About Me page?
• What’s an RSS feed?
• How can I get more subscribers to my blog?
• How do I track subscribers?
• How do I get people to read more than just one post?

Now, imagine getting answers to all your questions while sitting across the table, face-to-face with the hilarious and irrepressible back-page columnist and blogger for Atlanta Magazine, Hollis Gillespie, and boffo (in a brainy way) syndicated columnist and Huffington Post blogger Mike Alvear.

But before we go any further, check out what Heather Abraham of Chamblee, GA, has to say about her experience at Hollis Gillespie’s Shocking Real Life Blogging Workshop:

Sign up NOW and confirm your seat.

Hurry, the Atlanta blog workshop is limited to 25 attendees and we’ve sold out every blogging class! THIS CLASS IS SO POPULAR, THAT WE SELL OUT EVERY TIME!

Buy Now! to attend the class on SUNDAY, Sept. 26, 11am – 5pm form action=”https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr” enctype=”application/x-www-form-urlencoded” method=”post”>Credit-Card Users, after clicking the above button, look for the credit-card icon on the screen and click “Continue.”

Cost: $175*

100% Safe and Secure – We are PayPal verified.

Click now and you’ll get an immediate email

confirming your seat.

Instant confirmation only available online

(to pay by check, see below)

* Includes finger food, champagne and inappropriate conversation.

CLASS Location is in the historic Castleberry Artist District at 327 Nelson Ave. #313, Atlanta, GA 30313. The workshop space is a large live/work loft complex in Castleberry Point. There is ample street side parking as well as covered parking. CLICK HERE for directions from your location.

This brings us to the first benefit of enrolling in our Atlanta Blog Seminar:

Personal Attention From Two Of The Most Prominent Bloggers In Atlanta.

Hollis after the appearance on The Tonight Show

Hollis Gillespie

Syndicated humor columnist and author of the popular Atlanta magazine’s popular backpage column. Gillespie is also the best-selling author of three memoirs (titled Bleachy-Haired Bitch; Tales from a Bad Neighborhood, Confessions of a Recovering Slut and Other Love Stories, and Trailer Trashed; My Dubious Attempts Toward Upward Mobility) based on her blog, the rights of which were purchased for television by Paramount. She is also a radio commentator for NPR and Georgia Public Broadcasting, the personal-essay judge for the Writers Digest annual creative-writing competition, a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, television writer and not to mention accomplished trapeze artist (not really, but she’s very bendy).

Mike Alvear

Mike's promo page for his HBO show

Huffington Post blogger Mike Alvear is the co-host of HBO’s popular sex advice series, The Sex Inspectors and author of Men Are Pigs But We Love Bacon, Alexander The Fabulous: The Man Who Brought The World To Its Knees, and Sex Inspectors Masterclass: How to Have an Amazing Sex Life. His opinion pieces have appeared in The New York Times, Newsweek, Reader’s Digest, Salon.com, and the Los Angeles Times. Alvear has made guest appearances on the Today Show, Tyra Banks and The Greg Behrendt Show, authors a relationship advice column syndicated to the gay press and blogs at www.mikealvear.com (where he’s always looking for guest bloggers–check it out!)

Still need convincing? Check out what Allison Davis of Decatur, GA, has to say about her experience at the Shocking Real Life blogging workshop:

SO ENOUGH ABOUT US, LET’S TALK ABOUT YOU…

Why would you want to start

a new blog or turbo-charge the one you’ve got?

We can think of five reasons:

And the best way to do that is to sign up for the only “Blogging Bootcamp” in Atlanta. Here’s another peek at what you’re going to learn in our 6-hour blogging seminar:

• How to discover and leverage your blogging voice
• How to maximize your blogging ROI
• How to develop killer content
• How to set short term and long term goals for your blog
• How to effectively analyze your stats and blog traffic
• How to increase your readership and develop loyalty
• Specific strategies and techniques to improve your “findability” on Google
• Maintaining professional boundaries while still being personable

Now, before we get to the boots-on-the-ground view, here’s the 2nd most important benefit to taking our Atlanta Blogging Workshop:

You need another set of eyes to look at your work. Are your ideas sound? Does your execution match your vision? Are you on the right track? Whether you’re spot-on, need to move a few degrees over or need a head-to-toe revamp,

And by the way, if you don’t have a blog, don’t sweat it–we’ll help you come up with a concept. Just see what Deb Carr of Roswell, GA, has to say:

Now, let’s talk about the ground-level knowledge you’re going to leave with:

How to Write Better Blogs:

• Expert tips for outstanding web writing
• How to blog with Magnetic Headlines
• How to make a blog with a “heat map” that attracts readers.
• Create a sneeze page and propel readers deep into your blog.

How to Increase traffic to your blog:

• Five things you can do to double your readers in 30 days.
• Writing secrets that’ll rank you higher on Google.(It’s about phrases not keywords).
• How to start a link exchange program (linking to other blogs to drive traffic).

How to use Social Media to promote your blog:

• An overview of posts that went viral on Twitter, and how these elements can help you do the same.
• Set up Facebook so it automatically grabs your latest blog post and splash it on your page.
• Inventive ways of using YouTube, Flkr and ConstantContact

How to Make Money Blogging*:

• 5 ways to find direct advertisers for your blog
• The best ad networks to join (they’re free!)
• How to find a sponsor for your blog
• The 3 things you should look for in affiliate marketing (getting a cut of what you sell on your blog)

* Important! You must have a minimum of 15,000 to 20,000 page views a month before the $$$ start flowing in. The most critical thing you can do to generate revenue is to GROW TRAFFIC. No worries–we’ll show you how.

How to Improve the Look of Your Blog:

• Which “Theme” should you start off with (or switch to)
• Should you start –or move– your blog to its own domain or keep it hosted where it is?
• Color schemes, type faces, sidebar widgets, line spacing, oh my! What’s best for you?
• How to find the highest quality royalty-free images.

Just look at what Chelcie Rice of Atlanta, GA, has to say about his experience:

The cost of the Atlanta Blogging Class is only:

$175

For a 6-hour blogging class, that works out to a little over $29 an hour. Such a deal! And in this intensely competitive environment, worth every penny.

Before you sign up, take a look at what past participants have to say:

Sign up now and take your blog to the next level.

If you’re a professional, we’ll show you how to build expert status by sharing knowledge and being insanely useful to your readers.

If you’re a “civilian” who wants to showcase your humor, political insight or social commentary, we’ll help you express it and get more people to read you.

If you’re a business, we’ll help put a human face on your company and get you attention, build loyalty, and generate sales.

Sign up NOW and confirm your seat.

Hurry, the Atlanta blog workshop is limited to 30 attendees and we’ve sold out every blogging class!

Buy Now! to attend the class on SUNDAY, Sept. 26, 11am – 5pm Credit-Card Users, after clicking the button below, look for the credit-card icon at the bottom left of the screen and click “Continue.”

Cost: $175*

100% Safe and Secure – We are PayPal verified.

Click now and you’ll get an immediate email

confirming your seat.

Instant confirmation only available online

(to pay by check, see below)

* Includes finger food, champagne and inappropriate conversation.

We can’t wait to strap a rocket to the back of your blog and watch you take off!

All the Best,

Hollis Gillespie, funny bitch

and

Mike Alvear, the funny bitch’s bitch

P.S. – The Atlanta Blogging Workshop is the only Atlanta-based blog seminar for beginning and intermediate bloggers. It’s led by two of Atlanta’s most prominent writers–Atlanta Magazine’s Hollis Gillespie and Huffington Post’s Mike Alvear. For intermediate bloggers this 6-hour workshop will help you write killer content, triple your traffic, and start generating an income stream. For beginners, you’ll learn everything you need to set up, develop and promote your blog. Sign up now–every one of our Atlanta blogging workshops sells out!

Questions?

Email us at: shockingreallife@gmail.com

1. Sign up.
2. Bring your laptop to the class, if you want (we’ve got wifi).
3. Start writing down your questions so that when you get to the workshop your mind won’t go blank.
4. Bring a folder– you’re going to need it for all the leave-behind materials.
5. Bring a sense of humor–you’re going to need that too. We don’t do boring.

Location:

We are now located in the historic Castleberry Artist district in Atlanta! Click HERE for directions from your location to our new space at 327 Nelson Ave. #313, Atlanta, GA 30313!

Because like we said, we don’t do boring. Here’s Cathy Geier of Stone Mountain, GA, talking about her experience at Hollis Gillespie’s Shocking Real Life Blogging Workshop:

Now before you sign up, can we just brag a little? Here’s more of what past attendees have said about our Atlanta blog seminar:

Are You Ready To Put

More Bang In Your Blog?

Then….

Sign up NOW and confirm your seat!Hurry, the Atlanta blog workshop enrollment is very limited and we’ve sold out every blogging class! THIS CLASS IS SO POPULAR, THAT WE SELL OUT EVERY TIME! Enroll Now! to attend the class on SUNDAY, Sept. 26, 2010  11am – 5pm Cost: $175* 100% Safe and Secure – We are PayPal verified. Click now and you’ll get an immediate email confirming your seat. Instant confirmation only available online (to pay by check see below) *Includes champagne, fingerfood and inappropriate conversation.

We’re located just north of Downtown Atlanta in the Poncey-Highlands area. Our Atlanta blogging seminar students come from Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett County. They come from midtown, Marietta, Norcross, Sandy Springs, near the perimeter, outside the perimeter, on Peachtree or north of metro Atlanta. That includes Suwanee, Lithonia, Lawrenceville, Kennesaw, Emory, Douglasville, Decatur, Chamblee, Conyers, Buford, Alpharetta, Saturn, Pluto, and the ocassional escapee from the nearest black hole.

Atlanta Blog Class

Hollis Gillespie & Mike Alvear

353 9th Ave., Atlanta, GA 30308

Terms and conditions subject to change.

Copyright 2009 Hollis Gillespie & Mike Alvear | All rights reserved

To pay by check:

1. Write a check for the cost of the class payable to “Hollis Gillespie” and mail to Hollis Gillespie, c/o of Shocking Real Life, P.O. Box 89083., Atlanta, GA 30312-0083.
2. Send Hollis a note at shockingreallife@gmail.com. Include your name, email, which seminar you are signing up for, and the date the check was mailed.
3. When Hollis receives your email, she will email you a preliminary confirmation. After Hollis receives your check, you will get a confirmation email notifying you that you are registered in the Atlanta blog course.. . . . .

We’re located just north of Downtown Atlanta in the Poncey-Highlands area. Our Atlanta blogging seminar students come from Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett County. They come from midtown, Marietta, Norcross, Sandy Springs, near the perimeter, outside the perimeter, on Peachtree or north of metro Atlanta. That includes Suwanee, Lithonia, Lawrenceville, Kennesaw, Emory, Douglasville, Decatur, Chamblee, Conyers, Buford, Alpharetta, Saturn, Pluto, and the ocassional escapee from the nearest black hole.

ALUMNI REGISTRATION FOR Shocking Real-Life’s Famous Atlanta  Blogging Workshop ATLANTA, GA Sunday, Sept. 26, 11:00am – 5:00pm Use the button below and SAVE $25 on this class! 100% Safe and Secure – We are PayPal verified. Click now and you’ll get an immediate email confirming your seat. Instant confirmation only available online (to pay by check see above)

This class will help you do that. Instructors Hollis Gillespie (legendary world-famous writer of legendary proportions) and Rick Howington (of TechAdvocates) will teach you the fundamentals on how to navigate your blog’s back-end system, impart tips for your blog’s theme and design, help demystify the quagmire of plug-ins, video uploading and video embedding and other tricks to make your blog go from blasé to boffo.

Some of what you’ll learn in this 2.5-hr.  class:

Learn the difference between WordPress.com (and other public blog hosts) and hosting your own site.

How to choose and/or change your blog’s theme and appearance.

A tour of plug-ins and and tips on navigating the bank of over 10,000 plug-ins available.

Wigets; what they are, and why you need to know this.

Social networking, effective tagging and other SEO tips.

How to read analytics reports.

What to write about, how often to write, and how to get in the search engines.

How to integrate social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) into your blog

How to place ads on your blog

Instructor Bios:
Hollis Gillespie – syndicated humor columnist and author of the popular Atlanta magazine Backpage Column. Gillespie has published three top-selling books  (titled Bleachy-Haired Bitch; Tales from a Bad Neighborhood, Confessions of a Recovering Slut and Other Love Stories, and Trailer Trashed; My Dubious Attempts Toward Upward Mobility) based on her blog, the rights of which were bought by Paramount. Gillespie is also a radio commentator for NPR and Georgia Public Broadcasting, the personal-essay judge for the Writers Digest annual creative-writing competition, a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, television writer and accomplished trapeze artist (not really).

Special Guest Speaker — Rick Howington is the owner of  TechAdvocate Solutions, a super techie who, nonetheless, can explain to you in your own non-techie language how to make your blog go from blasé to boffo. Since 2002, his company has provided full-service technology, website development, SEO, network engineering, and tech support.  He is also owner of LanternTec, a company providing B2B web hosting and servers for websites and application development.  Rick authors the Biology-of-Technology blog, a fun look at technology and people and how they interact.  He serves on the Board of the Little 5 Points Community Center, and is  a certified Spin teacher, and has been trying to talk Hollis into taking one or all of his 3-4 classes a week since they met.

Enroll Now! to attend the class on Wednesday, Sept.15   (Hurry! This class fills up quickly)  Cost: $69

100% Safe and Secure – We are PayPal verified. Click now and you’ll get an immediate email confirming your seat. Instant confirmation only available online

(to pay by. check, scroll to the end of this post)

The Shocking Real Life Center for Continuing Education location:

We are now located in the historic Castleberry Artist district in Atlanta! Click HERE for directions from your location to our new space at 327 Nelson Ave. #313, Atlanta, GA 30313!

Because we don’t do boring.

To pay by check:

1. Write a check for the cost of the class payable to “Hollis Gillespie” and mail to Hollis Gillespie, c/o of Shocking Real Life, P.O. Box 89083, Atlanta, GA 30312-0083.
2. Send Hollis a note at shockingreallife@gmail.com. Include your name, email, which seminar you are signing up for, and the date the check was mailed.
3. When Hollis receives your email, she will email you a preliminary confirmation. After Hollis receives your check, you will get a confirmation email notifying you that you are registered in the Atlanta blog course.. . . . .

We’re located just west of Downtown Atlanta. Our Atlanta blogging seminar students come from Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett County. They come from midtown, Marietta, Norcross, Sandy Springs, near the perimeter, outside the perimeter, on Peachtree or north of metro Atlanta. That includes Suwanee, Lithonia, Lawrenceville, Kennesaw, Emory, Douglasville, Decatur, Chamblee, Conyers, Buford, Alpharetta, Saturn, Pluto, and the ocassional escapee from the nearest black hole.

Some of what you’ll learn in this 2.5-hr.  class:
How to read analytics reports and change your blog based on bounce rates
What to write about, how often to write, and how to get in the search engines
Effective tagging, SEO writing, and responding to comments and editorials
How to integrate social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) into your blog
Placing ads on your blog, making money off your blog
How to make your blog your own and join the blogger community
.
Instructor Bios:
Hollis Gillespie – syndicated humor columnist and author of the popular Atlanta magazine Backpage Column. Gillespie has published three top-selling books  (titled Bleachy-Haired Bitch; Tales from a Bad Neighborhood, Confessions of a Recovering Slut and Other Love Stories, and Trailer Trashed; My Dubious Attempts Toward Upward Mobility) based on her blog, the rights of which were bought by Paramount. Gillespie is also a radio commentator for NPR and Georgia Public Broadcasting, the personal-essay judge for the Writers Digest annual creative-writing competition, a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, television writer and accomplished trapeze artist (not really).

Special Guest Speaker — Rick Howington of  TechAdvocate Solutions, a super techie who, nonetheless, can explain to you in your own non-techie language how to make your blog go from blasé to boffo.

Enroll Now! to attend the class on Wednesday, Sept.1  6:30–9 p.m. (SOLD OUT! The button below will enroll you in the Sept. 15 class)  SOLD OUT! The above button will enroll you in the Sept. 15 class. Cost: $69

100% Safe and Secure – We are PayPal verified. Click now and you’ll get an immediate email confirming your seat. Instant confirmation only available online

(to pay by. check, scroll to the end of this post)

The Shocking Real Life Center for Continuing Education location:

We are now located in the historic Castleberry Artist district in Atlanta! Click HERE for directions from your location to our new space at 327 Nelson Ave. #313, Atlanta, GA 30313!

Because we don’t do boring.

To pay by check:

1. Write a check for the cost of the class payable to “Hollis Gillespie” and mail to Hollis Gillespie, c/o of Shocking Real Life, P.O. Box 89083, Atlanta, GA 30312-0083.
2. Send Hollis a note at shockingreallife@gmail.com. Include your name, email, which seminar you are signing up for, and the date the check was mailed.
3. When Hollis receives your email, she will email you a preliminary confirmation. After Hollis receives your check, you will get a confirmation email notifying you that you are registered in the Atlanta blog course.. . . . .

We’re located just west of Downtown Atlanta. Our Atlanta blogging seminar students come from Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett County. They come from midtown, Marietta, Norcross, Sandy Springs, near the perimeter, outside the perimeter, on Peachtree or north of metro Atlanta. That includes Suwanee, Lithonia, Lawrenceville, Kennesaw, Emory, Douglasville, Decatur, Chamblee, Conyers, Buford, Alpharetta, Saturn, Pluto, and the ocassional escapee from the nearest black hole.

Learn the techniques to crafting a professional personal essay and the inside tricks on how to pitch it to major newspapers, magazines and online publications. 

Tuesday, Sept. 7, 6:30–9 p.m., at the Castleberry Point Loft Complex, 327 Nelson Ave. #313, Atlanta, GA 30313 (Click HERE for directions)

Tuesday, September 7, 2010, 6:30–9 p.m. Cost: $69  Class held in the Castleberry Point live/work loft complex! 327 Nelson Ave. #313, Atlanta, GA 30313 100% Safe and Secure – We are PayPal verified.Click now and you’ll get an immediate email confirming your seat. Instant confirmation only available online (to pay by check see below)

1. Write a check for the cost of the class payable to “Hollis Gillespie” and mail to:
2. Hollis Gillespie, Shocking Real Life, P.O. Box 89083, Atlanta,  GA 30312–0083.
3. Send Hollis a note at shockingreallife@gmail.com. Include your name, email, which seminar you are signing up for, and the date the check was mailed.
4. After Hollis receives your check, you will get a confirmation email notifying you that you are registered in the class.

CLASSROOM LOCATION is in the historic Castleberry Artist District at 327 Nelson Ave. #313, Atlanta, GA 30313. The workshop space is a large live/work loft complex in Castleberry Point. There is ample street side parking as well as covered parking. CLICK HERE for directions from your location.
 

___________________________________________________ 

Instructor Bio

Hollis Gillespie is a personal-essay judge for the highly-esteemed annual Writer’s Digest writing competition. She is also a Writer’s Digest “Breakout Author of the Year,” an award-winning, syndicated humor columnist, NPR commentator and author of “The Ugly American,” a travel column in Paste magazine. Her books are titled Bleachy-Haired Honky Bitch; Tales from a Bad Neighborhood (ReganBooks, 2003), the film rights of which were bought by Paramount, Confessions of a Recovering Slut and Other Love Stories (ReganBooks, 2005), and Trailer Trashed; My Dubious Efforts Toward Upward Mobility (Skirt!/Globe Pequot, 2008). Her monthly humor column can be found in Atlanta magazine, recipient of the National Magazine Award two years in a row.

Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010
 
2-hr classes beginning at

10:30, 1:15 and 4

Cost: $40

Wonder why your resume keeps getting overlooked?
Learn how to create a proper film resume, whether you have experience or not.
Learn how to translate your experience into related film experience.
Learn where to gain experience, to build your resume, trade favors and network.
See if you have what it takes to get a job in the film business.
 

3 available time slots*

10:30 am – 12:30 pm

100% Safe and Secure – We are PayPal verified. Pay by clicking the above button now and you’ll get an immediate email confirming your 10:30 a.m. seat. Instant confirmation only available online.

1:15 pm – 3:15 pm

100% Safe and Secure – We are PayPal verified. Pay by clicking the above button now and you’ll get an immediate email confirming your 1:15 p.m. seat. Instant confirmation only available online. 

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

100% Safe and Secure – We are PayPal verified. Pay by clicking the above button now and you’ll get an immediate email confirming your 4 p.m. seat. Instant confirmation only available online.

 * There are only 25 spots per class, registration is first come, first served.

 
Quotes from the last class…
“Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to teach the resume writing course on today.  You definitely made me realize how my resume looks like a dump truck backed into it. Fortunately with the knowledge you have bestowed upon me, I can now escape the dark side.  Thanks a billion!” Christi H

________________________
“Thanks so much for your resume class. The notes you sent me were super helpful, but the class really gave me a good idea of what I needed to do.”
Jon C

________________________

“Thanks for the class. I appreciate your insight and my resume will be much improved.”
John P

________________________

“The workshop was AWESOME!!!! Thank you for all your advice. I will definitely apply it!!!!”
TaKnesha Hubbard

________________________

“Thanks for everything — the class was great and just what I needed.”
Nicole Paschall

________________________

“What a great class Linda, your advice is worth every penny and then some!”
Jeanette G.
 
Class taught by award-winning producer Linda Burns

Award-winning filmmaker Linda Burns instructs film students at Hollis GillesieShocking Real Life Academy.

About the instructor : Linda Burns produces award winning national commercials and industrials, big budget music videos, and television shows, pilots, and promos.  For over 16 years, in between production work on studio-financed feature films, she line produced and production managed numerous indie shorts, trailers and features, nurturing the next generation of filmmakers in Georgia.  She sits on industry and festival panels, teaches production classes, writes coverage on screenplays, screens films for local festivals, is a member of the Producers Guild, and sits on the Executive Committees of the Board of Directors for both Atlanta Film Festival 365 and Georgia Production Partnership.  Recent credits include: Pebble Beach Company, Spectracide, Georgia Pacific, Turner Studios (all networks), “The Little Death”, “Living is Winning” and “The Signal”.  Linda currently oversees the GPP – ATL Film 365 PA Academy and regularly helps local productions acquire interns by collecting and reviewing resumes.  In the last year alone, Linda has processed over 500 resumes.

Location:

Now located in the historic Castleberry Artist district in Atlanta! Click HERE for directions from your location to our new space at 327 Nelson Ave. #313, Atlanta, GA 30313!

Sunday, October 3, 11-5   

Okay, you have a fantastic idea for a book — but do you know how to begin, finish, and sell it? Or let’s say you’ve already finished a manuscript, but now you’re at an impasse trying to get the attention of agents and publishers.

This is the workshop for you! Whether you’re at the idea stage or in the home stretch, this workshop will show you how to navigate the competitive world of book publishing and get your first project sold.

In this workshop, you’ll learn:

• How marketable is your idea, and how to make it more so
• How to pitch an agent for representation and write the perfect query
• What publishers and agents are really looking for and what they hate
• The 10 most common mistakes
• How publishing houses and literary agencies benefit the  author
• How to decipher the miasma of advances, royalties, subsidiary rights, foreign rights, and dramatic rights

Hollis will share her secrets to unclogging your creative arteries so you can tell the world what you’ve been telling your friends all this time; that your book idea is a slam dunk, and now it’s time to cash it in. She will offer her candid critiques, suggestions for selling your work, and answer all your questions about breaking into memoir writing.

Need convincing? Read about recent graduate (and book-deal recipient) Lisa Baron’s experience:

Shocking Real Life graduate Lisa Baron, an award-winning columnist and former aide to Christian Coalition founder Ralph Reed, landed a book deal with Citadel for her memoir MY BURNING BUSH: HOW ONE WOMAN’S CAREER IN CHRISTIAN POLITICS WENT UP IN FLAMES. It’s a Chelsea Handler-meets-George Stephanopoulos exploration of the dismantling of the conservative movement — and why young (drinking, chain-smoking, and, well, you get it) political campaign staffers sometimes go rogue.

TWO QUESITONS with Lisa Baron:

1. How excited ARE you about your first book deal?
Lisa: The percentage of first time authors receiving book deals is very low. But I had two things working for me that I believe made the difference: determination and Hollis Gillespie’s kick ass work shop!

2. How did the Shocking Real Life “Secrets to Writing & Selling Your First Book” Workshop help you?
Lisa: Hollis’ workshop confirmed that I had a sellable idea and that I was on the right track. The workshop gave me the confidence I needed to continue following my dream of becoming a published author. [Hollis] was key to helping me fine-tune my proposal and her personal involvement in my journey has been invaluable.

Need another example? Christal Presley, who is a past participant of both the Shocking Real-Life book-deal and blogging workshops, talks about how signing up for Hollis Gillespie’s workshops led to her becoming an instant media sensation and acquiring big-time NY literary agent Laurie Bernstein (who represents NYT bestsellers Catherine Coulter, Barbara Delinsky and Judith Michael, to name a few):

Here’s some more things you will learn:

• 
• How to pick an eye-grabbing title.
• Which genre best suits your idea (Memoir? Novel? Self-help? Humor?)
• When it’s permissible to embroider, improvise, and reorder real-life events.
• Exactly how to format your pitch letter.
• Exactly which agent to pitch (including contact info).
• How and when to contact agents.
• The difference between an illuminating essay and a journal entry.

And that’s not all, classes come with complimentary booze and fingerfood, as well as inappropriate conversation and other basic essentials for unleashing creativity and unlocking buried memories. Classes fill up quickly, so sign-up now!

Upcoming Class

Sunday, October 3, 2010, 11:00am – 5:00pm Cost: $175 Includes finger food, champagne, ping pong and inappropriate conversation. REGISTER NOW! Class held in the Castleberry Point live/work loft complex! 327 Nelson Ave. #313, Atlanta, GA 30313 100% Safe and Secure – We are PayPal verified.Click now and you’ll get an immediate email confirming your seat. Instant confirmation only available online (to pay by check see below) * Did we say it includes champagne, fingerfood and inappropriate conversation.

1. Write a check for the cost of the class payable to “Hollis Gillespie” and mail to Hollis Gillespie, Shocking Real Life, 353 9th Ave., Atlanta, GA 30308.
2. Send Hollis a note at shockingreallife@gmail.com. Include your name, email, which seminar you are signing up for, and the date the check was mailed.
3. After Hollis receives your check, you will get a confirmation email notifying you that you are registered in the class.

CLASS Location is in the historic Castleberry Artist District at 327 Nelson Ave. #313, Atlanta, GA 30313. The workshop space is a large live/work loft complex in Castleberry Point. There is ample street side parking as well as covered parking. CLICK HERE for directions from your location.

___________________________________________________

Instructor Bio

Hollis Gillespie with Jay Leno

Hollis Gillespie, a Writer’s Digest “Breakout Author of the Year,” is an award-winning, syndicated humor columnist, NPR commentator and author of “The Ugly American,” a travel column in Paste magazine. Her books are titled Bleachy-Haired Honky Bitch; Tales from a Bad Neighborhood(ReganBooks, 2003), the film rights of which were bought by Paramount, Confessions of a Recovering Slut and Other Love Stories(ReganBooks, 2005), and Trailer Trashed; My Dubious Efforts Toward Upward Mobility (Skirt!/Globe Pequot, 2008). Her monthly humor column can be found in Atlanta magazine, recipient of the National Magazine Award two years in a row.

_______________________________________________________

Special Guest Appearance by Charles McNair, whose first novel, Land O’Goshen (St. Martin’s Press) received a Pulitzer Prize nomination for fiction and critical acclaim from the New York Times Book Review, Washington Post, and other venerated publications.

_________________________________________________________

ANOTHER SUCCESS STORy

Rachael Brownell, author of Mommy Doesn’t Drink Here Anymore, became a best-selling author after taking this Shocking Real-Life “Develop and Sell Your Memoir” workshop. Her book, a series of funny and touching anecdotes about early motherhood and recovery, came out in August ’09 and she’s since been on the Today Show, Good Morning America and NPR. Visit her website and see for yourself. Brownell was also a contributor to a popular department of Blabber.com called Strollerderby, which served as a great platform for her book. (Click HERE to see how to make YOUR blog a platform for your upcoming book).

 Rachael Brownell’s testimonial:

“I wanted to THANK YOU, Hollis, for your workshop. It played a crucial role in being able to complete and submit a successful book proposal.”

Sunday, October 3, 2010, 11:00am – 5:00pm Cost: $175 Includes finger food, champagne, ping pong and inappropriate conversation. REGISTER NOW! Class held in the Castleberry Point live/work loft complex at 327 Nelson Ave. #313, Atlanta, GA 30313.

More Success Stories:

SRL Alum Brenda Stockdale’s book, You Can Beat the Odds: Surprising Factors Behind Chronic Illness & Cancer–and the 6-Week Breakthrough Program for Optimal Immunity(Sentient Press, ‘09), debuted at the top of Amazon’s list of cancer-recovery books. Harvard scientist, best selling author Joan Borysenko wrote of Brenda’s book, “If you read only one health book this year, this should be the one.”

SRL alumn Lynn Coulter’s book Mustard Seeds: Thoughts on the Nature of God and Faith was released by B&H Books in September 2008. It earned a starred review from  Publisher’s Weekly and netted the author a second book deal.

SRL alumn Susan Contreras, graduate of “Publish Your Personal Essay” says, “It’s one of the best things I ever did for my writing career! By the end of the class, Hollis had helped me take one of those crazy ideas in my head and turn it into a finished essay, ready to be emailed to an editor. Within two months, that essay led directly to two assignments from a senior editor at Family Circle magazine.”

Wendy Merrill’s juicy tell-all, Falling Into Manholes; the Memoir of a Bad/Good Girl was just published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

Amanda Lamb

Amanda Lamb’s book, Smotherhood, Wickedly Funny Confessions from the Early Years, was released by Skirt!press in 2007. Congratulations, Amanda! Her book is a laugh-riot “momoir” told in a series of interconnected vignettes. Amanda’s second book, Deadly Dose, will be coming out this year from Berkeley.

Dixie Feldman, just landed a book deal with HarperCollins to publish her manuscript The Lost Art of Being a Dame (working title).

Corinne Humphrey’s book The Tao of Rudy was recently published by Sage Press.

Rhiannon Bowman landed gigs as a regular writer for Skirt! magazine and Creative Loafing Charlotte.

____________________

You can be the next Shocking Real-Lifer to get a book deal! Check out our class schedule and get working on your book today!

What past participants say about the Shocking Real-Life Writing Seminar

“I made contact (totally used your letter) with a friend’s agent at Writer’s House. It worked! Now he wants to see the proposal. They loved the idea of the 5 People You Meet in Heaven, but from a female perspective. Thanks again! The class was great.” — Stephanie Davis, Editor, skirt! Magazine

“Hollis, thanks for being in touch so quickly.  Your seminar rocked!! I want to be one of your successes.  I’ll start with [the agent you suggested] and if a rejection, will just keep going.  I did not even realize I was so on fire about getting this book out there, until I felt the full Hollis Effect!!” –  Susan Campbell

“Hollis Gillespie’s writing workshop was the best I’ve ever attended.  Hollis was extremely encouraging and helpful in both creative and procedural modes.  And the yellow theme with the mimosas worked at a deep level of community which added to the enjoyment of the whole experience.” — David Ryback

 “Hollis is a rule-breaker who will teach you things you won’t hear anywhere else.  If you don’t care about political correctness and want to learn a proven tactic to get an agent’s attention, Hollis can show you the way.” — Debbie Unterman

 “Hollis and crew were positive and upbeat. ‘Can’t’ wasn’t spoken. The environment and food were ‘quirky and fun,’ one of the underlying themes of the workshop and Hollis’s principles: build a support system of writers, share your work and contacts, and hit the send, send, send button on your computer made sense. The agent list was an added bonus.” — Lynn Hesse

 “The Hollis Gillespie workshop was money well spent and the day went by very quickly!  Hollis took time with each person to help them clarify details of the story that they’d like to tell, develop a creative title, found similar books to use as examples in a pitch letter and provided a list with a recommendation of an agent (or agents) to contact.  Hollis gave concise, realistic feedback to each person.  As an added bonus, Michael Alvear spoke and each offered excellent advice. I came home and began work immediately on my story! I’m impressed by Hollis and Michael’s philosophy of helping other writers.  Thank you for offering this wonderful seminar to AtlantaWriters Club members.” — Sharon LeMaster

 “It was a great experience and nice to sit around a table with others who are dealing with the same obstacles I am.  I liked the advice given to ignore conventions and rules when querying agents and publishers which I will paraphrase: as long as it’s well written, go for it regardless of the ‘supposed’ hurdles or rules.  Receiving a rejection doesn’t necessarily mean you’re work isn’t any good or you didn’t follow the rules. I liked having published authors talk about their personal experiences and paths to success using somewhat unconventional means. I spent part of yesterday putting the advice in practice and sent out several queries with an entirely different attitude.” — Kathy Lewis

The Shocking Real-Life  “Secrets to Writing & Selling Your First Book” Seminar with Hollis Gillespie Sunday, October 3, 2010, 11:00am – 5:00pm Cost: $175 Includes finger food, champagne, ping pong and inappropriate conversation. REGISTER NOW! Class held in the Castleberry Point live/work loft complex! 327 Nelson Ave. #313, Atlanta, GA 30313.

Questions? For more information contact Hollis.

We’re located just north of Downtown Atlanta in the Poncey-Highlands area. Our Atlanta blogging seminar students come from Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett County. They come from midtown, Marietta, Norcross, Sandy Springs, near the perimeter, outside the perimeter, on Peachtree or north of metro Atlanta. That includes Suwanee, Lithonia, Lawrenceville, Kennesaw, Emory, Douglasville, Decatur, Chamblee, Conyers, Buford, Alpharetta, Saturn, Pluto, and the ocassional escapee from the nearest black hole.

Terms and conditions subject to change.

Copyright 2009 Hollis Gillespie | All rights reserved

To pay by check:

1. Write a check for the cost of the class payable to “Hollis Gillespie” and mail to Hollis Gillespie, Shocking Real Life, 353 9th Ave., Atlanta, GA 30308.
2. Send Hollis a note at shockingreallife@gmail.com. Include your name, email, which seminar you are signing up for, and the date the check was mailed.
3. When Hollis receives your email, she will email you a preliminary confirmation. After Hollis receives your check, you will get a confirmation email notifying you that you are registered in the Atlanta blog course.. . . . .

We’re located just north of Downtown Atlanta in the Poncey-Highlands area. Our Atlanta blogging seminar students come from Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett County. They come from midtown, Marietta, Norcross, Sandy Springs, near the perimeter, outside the perimeter, on Peachtree or north of metro Atlanta. That includes Suwanee, Lithonia, Lawrenceville, Kennesaw, Emory, Douglasville, Decatur, Chamblee, Conyers, Buford, Alpharetta, Saturn, Pluto, and the ocassional escapee from the nearest black hole.

ALUMNI REGISTRATION FOR The Shocking Real-Life Secrets to Writing & Selling Your First Book Seminar ATLANTA, GA Sunday, October 3, 2010, 11:00am – 5:00pm Use the button below and SAVE $25 on this class! (Credit-card users look for the credit-card icon at the bottom left of the screen after clicking ”continue”) 100% Safe and Secure – We are PayPal verified.Click now and you’ll get an immediate email confirming your seat. Instant confirmation only available online

(*we serve booze and guarantee inappropriate conversation.)

You probably have a ton of questions about your blog with nobody to answer them, right?

Questions like:

• Do I have a compelling concept?
• Where’s the traffic?
• Why is nobody linking to me?
• How do I write better headlines?
• How do I get more people to read my blog?
• How do I get ranked higher on Google?
• Should I rename my blog?
• How do I get people to comment on my posts?
• How do I make money off my blog?
• What’s the fastest way to come up with keywords?
• Is Google Image the only place to get photos?
• How can I tell if an image is copyrighted?
• How do I get advertisers?
• What’s the difference between a visitor and a page view?
• How do I promote my blog with Facebook & Twitter?
• What about YouTube & Linked-in?
• What’s the best way to write my About Me page?
• What’s an RSS feed?
• How can I get more subscribers to my blog?
• How do I track subscribers?
• How do I get people to read more than just one post?

Now, imagine getting answers to all your questions while sitting across the table, face-to-face with the hilarious and irrepressible back-page columnist and blogger for Atlanta Magazine, Hollis Gillespie, and boffo (in a brainy way) syndicated columnist and Huffington Post blogger Mike Alvear.

But before we go any further, check out what Heather Abraham of Chamblee, GA, has to say about her experience at Hollis Gillespie’s Shocking Real Life Blogging Workshop (taught in the Sister Louisa Gallery — check out that crazy art!):

Sign up NOW and confirm your seat.

Hurry, the Atlanta blog workshop is limited to 25 attendees and we’ve sold out every blogging class! THIS CLASS IS SO POPULAR, THAT WE SELL OUT EVERY TIME!

Buy Now! to attend the class on SUNDAY, July 11, 2010 11am – 5pm Credit-Card Users, after clicking the above button, look for the credit-card icon at the bottom left of the screen and click “Continue.”

Cost: $175*

100% Safe and Secure – We are PayPal verified.

Click now and you’ll get an immediate email

confirming your seat.

Instant confirmation only available online

(to pay by check, see below)

* Includes finger food, champagne and inappropriate conversation.

Class held in the JavaVino wine cellar! 579 North Highland Ave., Atlanta, GA 30306.

This brings us to the first benefit of enrolling in our Atlanta Blog Seminar:

Personal Attention From Two Of The Most Prominent Bloggers In Atlanta.

Hollis after the appearance on The Tonight Show

Hollis Gillespie

Syndicated humor columnist and author of the popular Atlanta magazine blog “Inappropriate Conversation.” Gillespie is also the best-selling author of three memoirs (titled Bleachy-Haired Bitch; Tales from a Bad Neighborhood, Confessions of a Recovering Slut and Other Love Stories, and Trailer Trashed; My Dubious Attempts Toward Upward Mobility), a radio commentator for NPR and Georgia Public Broadcasting, the personal-essay judge for the Writers Digest annual creative-writing competition, a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, television writer and not to mention accomplished trapeze artist (not really, but she’s very bendy).

Mike Alvear

Mike's promo page for his HBO show

Huffington Post blogger Mike Alvear is the co-host of HBO’s popular sex advice series, The Sex Inspectors and author of Men Are Pigs But We Love Bacon, Alexander The Fabulous: The Man Who Brought The World To Its Knees, and Sex Inspectors Masterclass: How to Have an Amazing Sex Life. His opinion pieces have appeared in The New York Times, Newsweek, Reader’s Digest, Salon.com, and the Los Angeles Times. Alvear has made guest appearances on the Today Show, Tyra Banks and The Greg Behrendt Show, authors a relationship advice column syndicated to the gay press and blogs at www.mikealvear.com (where he’s always looking for guest bloggers–check it out!)

Still need convincing? Check out what Allison Davis of Decatur, GA, has to say about her experience at the Shocking Real Life blogging workshop:

SO ENOUGH ABOUT US, LET’S TALK ABOUT YOU…

Why would you want to start

a new blog or turbo-charge the one you’ve got?

We can think of five reasons:

And the best way to do that is to sign up for the only “Blogging Bootcamp” in Atlanta. Here’s another peek at what you’re going to learn in our 6-hour blogging seminar:

• How to discover and leverage your blogging voice
• How to maximize your blogging ROI
• How to develop killer content
• How to set short term and long term goals for your blog
• How to effectively analyze your stats and blog traffic
• How to increase your readership and develop loyalty
• Specific strategies and techniques to improve your “findability” on Google
• Maintaining professional boundaries while still being personable

Now, before we get to the boots-on-the-ground view, here’s the 2nd most important benefit to taking our Atlanta Blogging Workshop:

You need another set of eyes to look at your work. Are your ideas sound? Does your execution match your vision? Are you on the right track? Whether you’re spot-on, need to move a few degrees over or need a head-to-toe revamp,

And by the way, if you don’t have a blog, don’t sweat it–we’ll help you come up with a concept. Just see what Deb Carr of Roswell, GA, has to say:

Now, let’s talk about the ground-level knowledge you’re going to leave with:

How to Write Better Blogs:

• Expert tips for outstanding web writing
• How to blog with Magnetic Headlines
• How to make a blog with a “heat map” that attracts readers.
• Create a sneeze page and propel readers deep into your blog.

How to Increase traffic to your blog:

• Five things you can do to double your readers in 30 days.
• Writing secrets that’ll rank you higher on Google.(It’s about phrases not keywords).
• How to start a link exchange program (linking to other blogs to drive traffic).

How to use Social Media to promote your blog:

• An overview of posts that went viral on Twitter, and how these elements can help you do the same.
• Set up Facebook so it automatically grabs your latest blog post and splash it on your page.
• Inventive ways of using YouTube, Flkr and ConstantContact

How to Make Money Blogging*:

• 5 ways to find direct advertisers for your blog
• The best ad networks to join (they’re free!)
• How to find a sponsor for your blog
• The 3 things you should look for in affiliate marketing (getting a cut of what you sell on your blog)

* Important! You must have a minimum of 15,000 to 20,000 page views a month before the $$$ start flowing in. The most critical thing you can do to generate revenue is to GROW TRAFFIC. No worries–we’ll show you how.

How to Improve the Look of Your Blog:

• Which “Theme” should you start off with (or switch to)
• Should you start –or move– your blog to its own domain or keep it hosted where it is?
• Color schemes, type faces, sidebar widgets, line spacing, oh my! What’s best for you?
• How to find the highest quality royalty-free images.

Just look at what Chelcie Rice of Atlanta, GA, has to say about his experience:

The cost of the Atlanta Blogging Class is only:

$175

For a 6-hour blogging class, that works out to a little over $29 an hour. Such a deal! And in this intensely competitive environment, worth every penny.

Before you sign up, take a look at what past participants have to say:

Sign up now and take your blog to the next level.

If you’re a professional, we’ll show you how to build expert status by sharing knowledge and being insanely useful to your readers.

If you’re a “civilian” who wants to showcase your humor, political insight or social commentary, we’ll help you express it and get more people to read you.

If you’re a business, we’ll help put a human face on your company and get you attention, build loyalty, and generate sales.

Sign up NOW and confirm your seat.

Hurry, the Atlanta blog workshop is limited to 30 attendees and we’ve sold out every blogging class!

Buy Now! to attend the class on SUNDAY, July 11, 2010 11am – 5pm Credit-Card Users, after clicking the button below, look for the credit-card icon at the bottom left of the screen and click “Continue.”

Cost: $175*

100% Safe and Secure – We are PayPal verified.

Click now and you’ll get an immediate email

confirming your seat.

Instant confirmation only available online

(to pay by check, see below)

* Includes finger food, champagne and inappropriate conversation.

The Atlanta Blogging Course is held in the JavaVino wine cellar! 579 North Highland Ave., Atlanta, GA 30306.

We can’t wait to strap a rocket to the back of your blog and watch you take off!

All the Best,

Hollis Gillespie, funny bitch

and

Mike Alvear, the funny bitch’s bitch

P.S. – The Atlanta Blogging Workshop is the only Atlanta-based blog seminar for beginning and intermediate bloggers. It’s led by two of Atlanta’s most prominent writers–Atlanta Magazine’s Hollis Gillespie and Huffington Post’s Mike Alvear. For intermediate bloggers this 6-hour workshop will help you write killer content, triple your traffic, and start generating an income stream. For beginners, you’ll learn everything you need to set up, develop and promote your blog. Sign up now–every one of our Atlanta blogging workshops sells out!

Questions?

Email us at: shockingreallife@gmail.com

1. Sign up.
2. Bring your laptop to the class, if you want (we’ve got wifi).
3. Start writing down your questions so that when you get to the workshop your mind won’t go blank.
4. Bring a folder– you’re going to need it for all the leave-behind materials.
5. Bring a sense of humor–you’re going to need that too. We don’t do boring.

Speaking of Humor…

Wait’ll you get a load of where we conduct our seminar:

CLASS Location

This class is held in the wine cellar of JavaVino, where a regular cappuccino has 3 shots of espresso! Located at 579 North Highland Ave., Atlanta, GA 30306. View a map to Atlanta seminar. Sunday wine consumption is encouraged for unleashing creativity, unlocking buried memories and basic other excuses.

Because like we said, we don’t do boring. Here’s Cathy Geier of Stone Mountain, GA, talking about her experience at Hollis Gillespie’s Shocking Real Life Blogging Workshop:

Now before you sign up, can we just brag a little? Here’s more of what past attendees have said about our Atlanta blog seminar:

Are You Ready To Put

More Bang In Your Blog?

Then….

Sign up NOW and confirm your seat!Hurry, the Atlanta blog workshop enrollment is very limited and we’ve sold out every blogging class! THIS CLASS IS SO POPULAR, THAT WE SELL OUT EVERY TIME! Buy Now! to attend the class on SUNDAY, July 11, 2010 11am – 5pm Cost: $175* 100% Safe and Secure – We are PayPal verified. Click now and you’ll get an immediate email confirming your seat. Instant confirmation only available online (to pay by check see below) *Includes champagne, fingerfood and inappropriate conversation.

We’re located just north of Downtown Atlanta in the Poncey-Highlands area. Our Atlanta blogging seminar students come from Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett County. They come from midtown, Marietta, Norcross, Sandy Springs, near the perimeter, outside the perimeter, on Peachtree or north of metro Atlanta. That includes Suwanee, Lithonia, Lawrenceville, Kennesaw, Emory, Douglasville, Decatur, Chamblee, Conyers, Buford, Alpharetta, Saturn, Pluto, and the ocassional escapee from the nearest black hole.

Atlanta Blog Class

Hollis Gillespie & Mike Alvear

353 9th Ave., Atlanta, GA 30308

Terms and conditions subject to change.

Copyright 2009 Hollis Gillespie & Mike Alvear | All rights reserved

To pay by check:

1. Write a check for the cost of the class payable to “Hollis Gillespie” and mail to Hollis Gillespie, c/o of Shocking Real Life, 353 9th Ave., Atlanta, GA 30308.
2. Send Hollis a note at shockingreallife@gmail.com. Include your name, email, which seminar you are signing up for, and the date the check was mailed.
3. When Hollis receives your email, she will email you a preliminary confirmation. After Hollis receives your check, you will get a confirmation email notifying you that you are registered in the Atlanta blog course.. . . . .

We’re located just north of Downtown Atlanta in the Poncey-Highlands area. Our Atlanta blogging seminar students come from Fulton, Dekalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett County. They come from midtown, Marietta, Norcross, Sandy Springs, near the perimeter, outside the perimeter, on Peachtree or north of metro Atlanta. That includes Suwanee, Lithonia, Lawrenceville, Kennesaw, Emory, Douglasville, Decatur, Chamblee, Conyers, Buford, Alpharetta, Saturn, Pluto, and the ocassional escapee from the nearest black hole.

ALUMNI REGISTRATION FOR Shocking Real-Life “Blog Your Way Out of the Recession” Workshop ATLANTA, GA Sunday, July 11, 2010, 11:00am – 5:00pm Use the button below and SAVE $25 on this class! 100% Safe and Secure – We are PayPal verified. Click now and you’ll get an immediate email confirming your seat. Instant confirmation only available online (to pay by check see above)