Course length: 5 Weeks
Course cost: $295.00
Required Books: No required texts.
Prerequisite: No prerequisites.
Course description: Astrologers translate the symbolic language of astrology into plain English. This writing course will focus on writing and editing. You will learn how to improve your writing skills so that your communication is clear and precise.
January 15 – Lesson 1. We discuss our goals for the next five weeks. There are writing exercises that teach you to be original and specific. Arlan and Alexandra share readings from some of the masters of the craft. We then practice writing using these concepts. There will be homework that needs to be ready before our next meeting.
January 22 – Lesson 2. This week you deepen your writing skills. We will discuss how to go from a first draft to a finished product, how to prepare articles for publication in an astrological journal or any other magazine. ß
January 29 – Lesson 3. Julian Wise will co-teach this class. Julian is the style editor of OPA’s book The Professional Astrologer and the owner of an independent publishing company. Julian will speak about editing,
writing, and how to prepare a manuscript for publication. Julian will also talk about self-publishing – the pros and cons. He will join Arlan and Alexandra to edit some of your written homework pieces.
February 5 – Lesson 4. Today we look at charts of some well-known
writers. We will look at the charts of class members with an eye on Mercury and the third house. We will review and edit more articles of those who wish to share their work and offer constructive insights and comments.
February 12 – Lesson 5. In this final class, we discuss your ideas for new writing endeavors, review earlier writing so you can see your accomplishments over the last five weeks. You may read to the group anything you have written over our time together. We will help you to set goals and create a timeline for your writing projects..
Weekly topics:
1. 5-week goals
2. Deepen writing skills
3. Editing
4. Famous writes + Natal Astrology
5. Your future and projects
Instructor bio:
Alexandra Karacostas is a professional astrologer based in northern California. With decades of experience as a consultant, she offers practical wisdom, insight, and compassion to help people successfully navigate their lives. An avid student of astrology since 1975, she has been practicing professionally since 1984. Alexandra teaches and lectures nationally and abroad and serves an international clientele. In 1989 she co-founded Syn-Sig, an NCGR Special Interest Relationship Group.
She has served on the board of directors of the Organization for Professional Astrology (OPA) since 2007, as President between 2010-2014. Alexandra is on the OPA faculty, serving as a certified Peer Group and Consulting Skills facilitator. She has been published in various astrological magazines, was a regular columnist for The Mountain Astrologer between 2010-2019, and has written chapters for OPA’s books, The Professional Astrologer and the new Essential Astrology coming out soon. She has been a co-editor for ISAR’s Journal, for OPA’s Career Astrologer magazine as well as The Mountain Astrologer. Alexandra also leads sacred site tours in her beloved Greece.
Alexandra teaches the following course:
PD106A Writing for Publications
Arlan Wise has been a professional consulting astrologer for over 40 years. She studied with such luminaries as Liz Green, Richard Idemon, Dennis Elwell, Michael Lutin, and Marc Edmund Jones.
Arlan is OPA certified, an OPA Peer Group leader, ISAR CAP. She has a large international practice and has been on OPA’s board of directors since 1994, serving two years as President. Arlan was on the committee that created OPA’s certification process and was instrumental in setting up OPA’s retreats, a unique conference experience. She is currently OPA’s Director of Education.
Arlan channels Mercury in her writing workshops for astrologers. She lectures on Mercury in his role as the writer’s friend. She wrote the chapter on Writing and Astrology in OPA’s book, The Professional Astrologer. She edits and reviews astrology books.
Arlan teaches the following course:
PD106A Writing for Publications
- Teacher: Alexandra Karacostas
- Teacher: Arlan Wise