Speaking Engagements / Workshop FacilitationI am available to lead workshops and craft discussions for creative writing classrooms, writers groups, bookstores, arts councils, libraries, festivals, conferences, and online via Skype. Take a look below at some of the workshops I am currently offering. I'm always happy to tailor classes that will better fit the needs of your group. Contact me for details.
Workshops on Craft
Tribal Narrators: A Look at Voice in Fiction Info. coming soon... Pity and Fear in Fiction Aristotle was the first to recognize that all good drama relies on the cathartic experience. He was also the one to recognize that the way to elicit catharsis in an audience is by arousing pity and fear. Looking at examples from contemporary fiction, we'll discuss strategies for accomplishing the cathartic experience in our own prose writing, fiction and nonfiction alike. [1-2 hrs.] Anatomy of a Scene We’ll discuss the difference between writing scenes (with dialogue and direct action) and exposition, also known as summary. Looking at examples from contemporary prose, we'll dissect a scene into its component parts with an eye toward understanding how each piece fits into and works within the whole. [1-2 hrs.] How Bad Things Happen to Good Characters: Compression and Tension in Fiction We’ll discuss the fundamental way that short stories and novels differ in narrative structure, beginning with the most fundamental element of any narrative: conflict. How does it work in short fiction? How does it work in the novel? Why is it important to know the difference? [1-2 hrs.] Imitating the Masters of Short Fiction Series Building and maintaining momentum in fiction requires a skilled touch. Who better to look to than the masters of short fiction? In our Masters of Dialogue workshop, we'll take our cues from writers such as Raymond Carver, Andre Dubus, and others and discuss ways of making your dialogue say and do more, from what author Benjamin Percy calls “triangulating” dialogue to establishing high-and low-order goals to the art of misdirection. Other workshops in the series include Masters of Character, Masters of Plot, Masters of Point-of-View. [1-2 hrs.] Timelines and Storyboards: Outlining Your Novel In this workshop, we'll discuss the various approaches to outlining (or not outlining) a novel. We'll talk about ways to organize all your research and look at techniques for mapping storylines using notecards and storyboards. [2 hrs.] Exquisite Corpse: Surrealist Techniques for Writers Surrealism is best known for visual artwork steeped in the element of surprise and unexpected juxtapositions, but the cultural movement that swept across Europe in the 1920s was actually founded by poets looking for a creative process free of conscious control. Despite the fact that only a small group of fiction writers considered themselves surrealists at the height of the movement, today there is a growing trend among short story writers and novelists to revisit and reinvent some of the techniques and games developed by poets during the halcyon days of surrealism. We'll discuss the wild and wacky methods writers have used over the past century to tap into the deepest reaches of their minds in an effort to capture the purest forms of literary expression -- from automatic writing to something called "Exquisite Corpse." [1-2 hrs.] The Nuts and Bolts of Writing Stories We'll spend the day focusing on the short story, looking to examples from the masters of the shorter form. We'll review the fundamentals of narrative writing — plot, character, dialogue, POV, and setting -- with lots of prompts to generate ideas for new stories. [2-3 hrs.] Experience is the great teacher In this workshop, we’ll draw upon our own vast knowledge of the world around us to generate stories, poems, and essays locked safely away in memory. Whether you’re new to writing or have been writing for years, this afternoon of memory games and writing prompts is sure to unearth enough material to last any writer a lifetime. [1-2 hrs.] Edit & Polish Sessions Meeting weekly for six weeks, this small group will exchange manuscripts, receive and offer criticism of the work presented, and discuss elements of narrative prose writing. [1-2 hrs. for six weeks] Do I Need an MFA? One of the most frequently asked questions I get: Do I need an MFA? My answer: That depends. We'll discuss the pros and cons of entering an MFA program by comparing programs (full-residency, low residency, or no residency?) and weighing our options. [1-2 hrs.] Workshops on Publishing and Marketing Your Work 50 Shimmering Pages: Submitting Work to Agents Agents and publishers want to see the first 50 pages of your ms. We’ll discuss why those first 50 matter so much, including what must happen when in order to grab an agent’s interest. You'll learn how to get your first 50 in shimmering-good shape. [1-2 hrs. -- or -- as a week-long course with ms review] Playing Matchmaker: Finding the Right Markets for YOU Not just another overview of publishing. This workshop is designed to help you find the right place for YOUR work. Bring one manuscript, any length, and we'll research the markets together to help you get that story/poem/book that's been sitting on your desk into the hands of the right editors. [1-2 hrs.] How to Wow Agents, Editors, and Publishers Today's market requires so much more than your standard query letter- writing skills. Writing is no longer the habit of introverts. It's not just your book that needs to dazzle potential agents, editors, and publishers. In the age of Google, you can bet your next big advance that they're looking at you, too! [1-2 hrs.] How to Help Your Publicist -- Or Become Your Own! We’ll discuss ways you can help your publicist market and promote your new book. Or, if you’re like many small press and self-published authors, you may not even have a publicist working with you. We’ll talk about how you can become your own publicist. You'll learn how to set up your own events, plan your own readings and workshops, write your own press releases, pitch your book to reviewers all by yourself, and lots, lots more. [1-2 hrs.] Building Your Own Book Tour Learn the strategies for coordinating your own book tour on any budget, from full-blown 10-city stops across the country to regional events in your area to virtual book tours you can do in your pajamas. [1-2 hrs.] Discovering Your Public Persona Writers who want to find their readers understand the need for discovering a public persona, your best YOU. Who is your best you? How does she dress? Talk? Blog? Interact on Facebook and Twitter? What does her website look like? How does she read? Conduct a workshop? Sign copies of her books? You'll learn tips for discovering and enhancing your most authentic and personable self with an eye toward building a steady and consistent public image that draws people toward you and keeps them engaged with your work over the long course of your career. [1-2 hrs.] The Ins and Outs of Working with a Small Press Publisher Finding a good small publisher is just the beginning. Lots of writers aren't prepared for all the work that comes after their manuscripts have been accepted for publication. Your new book has a very small window of opportunity for reaching an audience, opportunities that diminish with each passing day after publication. Learn the secrets for making the most of every minute of this exciting new phase of your career. [1-2 hrs.] Developing Your Own Press Kit Learn the elements of press kit copywriting. Writers interested in tackling some or all of their own book marketing and publicity efforts will be introduced to the elements of copywriting. We'll look specifically at strateties for writing effective press releases, pitch letters, book jacket copy, synopses, book discussion questions, media tip sheets, book reviewer ARC sheets, and author bios. [1-2 hrs.] |
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