Creative Writing Workshop 1--Lucy Rosenthal
Successful fiction writing is a pleasure that requires an educated patience as well as work. We will be working with short assigned exercises; these can either be complete in themselves or serve as springboards for longer stories. We will seek to show how the writing itself, as it unfolds, provides clues---in its language, story-line, distribution of emphasis, etc.–to the solution of its own creative problems. We will explore such questions as:
How can the writer best win and keep the reader's attention?
What shifts in approach would help?
Where is this story going?
What are its intentions?
How close does the writer come to realizing them–and how can we help the writer to realize them more fully?
We will look at the links between the answers to these questions and the writer's evolving voice. Discussion of student work will be supplemented by consideration of published short stories by writers ranging from Junot Diaz to James Thurber, from Ann Beattie to Toni Cade Bambara, and others. The workshop is open to writers at all levels.
This workshop will continue through the afternoon session. Though the emphasis might shift, both workshops are part of an ongoing conversation that the student can enter at either session; sign up for the morning or the afternoon session or both.
The Creative Writing Process--Anna DeStefano will be presenting an interactive workshop in three parts:
Meet Your Characters First--They're your story... A hands-on discussion of how to kick the plot of your next novel into a higher gear, by researching and mapping character growth BEFORE you write the first word (class handout).
Improvisation--Twelve Steps for putting your planning to work, and letting your creativity thrive... Nothing happens until something happens. You need your own personal plan for avoiding the roadblocks to your draft-writing process (class handout).
Learn to Rewrite--Finishing the manuscript is just a beginning... Bring your latest work-in-progress for a hands-on exercise in conquering the revisions every manuscript needs. Tips for handling both self-editing and editorial revisions will be covered (class handout).
1:30pm-4:30pm
Creative Writing Workshop 2--Lucy Rosenthal
Successful fiction writing is a pleasure that requires an educated patience as well as work. We will be working with short assigned exercises; these can either be complete in themselves or serve as springboards for longer stories. We will seek to show how the writing itself, as it unfolds, provides clues---in its language, story-line, distribution of emphasis, etc.–to the solution of its own creative problems. We will explore such questions as:
How can the writer best win and keep the reader's attention?
What shifts in approach would help?
Where is this story going?
What are its intentions?
How close does the writer come to realizing them–and how can we help the writer to realize them more fully?
We will look at the links between the answers to these questions and the writer's evolving voice. Discussion of student work will be supplemented by consideration of published short stories by writers ranging from Junot Diaz to James Thurber, from Ann Beattie to Toni Cade Bambara, and others. The workshop is open to writers at all levels. This workshop begins in the morning session, but though the emphasis might shift, both workshops are part of an ongoing conversation that the student can enter at either session; sign up for the morning or the afternoon session or both.
Inspired to Write: Inspirational fiction: what it is, who's writing it, who's publishing it, and how do I know if it's right for me?--Lisa Samson is the critically acclaimed author of eighteen novels, including her latest, Quaker Summer (class handout). The Craft of Poetry: Talk on Craft, Workshop of Student Poetry, and Poetry Reading--Frederick Smock This interactive workshop begins with a discussion of favorite authors and ends with a reading of Dr. Smock's original poetry from his most recent books, Guest House (Larkspur Press) and Sonnets (Finishing Line Press).
The Original Idea: The Core of Writing and Selling Your Book, and Idea Workshop--Bob Mayer Can you say what your book is about in 25 words of less? This is essential to both writing a tight book and then selling it. We'll discuss ways to find and state your original idea so that you stay on course while writing the book and with which you can excite those you tell it to when trying to sell it. After the formal presentation, volunteers will get the opportunity to write their idea down and have it discussed. We'll find out what you really meant to write and the level of interest it generates. All will profit, not just the person whose idea is discussed, as this workshop will show you how to focus your creative energies. (class handout)