Intended for a more intensive learning and writing experience. Choose one of four six-hour workshop options. Workshops are limited to 25 students and cost $40. Please indicate a first and second choice on the registration form. Priority will be given to Saturday Conference attendees through January 31st. Those registering only for a Friday workshop will be placed on a waiting list. On February 1st, if space is available, registrations will be processed from the waiting list in order of the date they were received, and the participants notified.
1. The Six Core Competencies of Successful Storytelling - Larry Brooks
Get your head around all six competencies and you have a shot at being published, but if you're weak in just one - any one - it's like a singer not hitting the high notes... not gonna happen.
2. Breaking Through Stereotypes to More Interesting Writing - Ann Cameron
Writing is easy; it's thinking and feeling that are hard! How can we get better at thinking and feeling, catching and elaborating our elusive subjects, and bringing our inner worlds to full life? This workshop will include brief readings from authors who developed unique voices, and writing exercises to help participants free their imaginations. I hope participants will bring their own questions and problems for discussion, so the seminar can be as useful as possible for all of us.
Participants may want to check my website, http://www.childrensbestbooks.com, for some comments on how I approach fiction writing , as well as interesting quotes from the greats about every aspect of the process.
3. Criminals (who they are and how they think) and Violence - Rory Miller
Does your story have bad guys, blood and gore? Regardless of your genre, you will gain insight that will empower your writing as you explore the types of criminals; how they think; how they relate to their peers, their families and the police. Writers will learn about personality disorders and mental illnesses, and how they relate to crime and policing. In the second half, students will explore how violence happens, what it is like and the after-effects. Taught by a real-life martial arts expert and Corrections Tactical Team instructor.
4. Blogging Your Way on to the World Wide Web - Jim Coffee
Are you being hounded to get a web page up, but you are putting it off for lack of money and time? Procrastinate no more. Create an immediate web presence that you can control, update daily, and use to connect to readers and fellow writers. By coming to this workshop with a few pre-class tasks completed, you will be able to leave in 6 hours with a web presence up and running. Participants should have basic computer skills. The class will be using TypePad, and participants will need to establish a TypePad account prior to attending the class. This workshop is limited to 12 students and will be held in the SOCC computer lab, on the fairgrounds.