A Special Pre-Conference Event

“It’s Alive!”: Creating Imaginative Writing that Could Wake the Dead

When our writing becomes lifeless, how can we get it to rear up and start talking?  In this workshop we will push our limits through discussions and exercises that focus on developing both our versatility and strength as writers by focusing on craft.  The key question that will guide our pursuit:  How can we make our writing dynamic enough to surprise not only our readers but ourselves?  Getting unstuck doesn’t mean we have to come unglued.  We’ll seek to re-envision our writing in terms of tension, imagery, tonal shifts, and the “underside” or hidden world of powerful meanings that may emerge as we attend closely to language.  Our focus will be on discussing and practicing a range of possibilities that aid us in discovering not only a character’s or persona’s motivation but our own.  Each participant in this intensive and supportive workshop is asked to bring two copies of a piece of imaginative writing to read aloud, if time permits.  The workshop is suitable for fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry.

 Limited space, enroll early.

*This workshop is optional and is NOT included in the Write Stuff conference price. If you are registering for the conference, check the “It’s Alive!” option on the conference registration form and enclose a separate check made out to GLVWG for $40.

GLVWG reserves the right to cancel advance registration workshops that do not fill. In the event of cancellation, your check will be returned.

Page Cuts

*Advanced registration necessary; sessions fill quickly. Page Cuts critique sessions are optional and included in the conference price. Check the “Page Cuts” option on the conference registration form.  Participants will be assigned to a room headed by a team of industry professionals who have been asked to provide off-the-cuff feedback. Your work will be read aloud by a room moderator and commented upon by our panelists; no names will be used. Opinions of workshop leaders are theirs alone and do not represent the opinions of GLVWG.

No advance submission necessary. Participants should bring four copies of the first page of a longer work (fiction, creative nonfiction, or memoir), along with four copies of a 100-word overview of the entire work.

Limited to 36 readings. Those interested in being critiqued should bring four (4) copies of their first page of a longer work. Copies must be formatted as follows: Double-spaced, 12 pt. “Times” font, 1-inch margins, Title & Genre at top of page. No names please. Print to start at the top of the page.

Stand Up…er…Sit Down and Be Heard with Karen Syed

Easy-to-swallow tips and advice on how to survive the most stressful ten minutes of your writing career—the agent/editor pitch—offered from both sides of the table.

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR FICTION WRITERS
(Advance Submission Required)

AH! Where to Begin Karen Blomain

Revision can be fun. In this advance submission workshop, Karen will help fine-tune your opening by helping you get rid of Miss Information, Info Dump, and other intruders. When informed of your successful enrollment, submit the opening 10 pages of your fiction manuscript (double spaced, 1-1/4 inch margins, 12 pt. Times New Roman) via Word or rtf attachment as well as in the body of the e-mail to kwcraft@dejazzd.com no later than February 28, 2009. Bring to the workshop an extra copy of your manuscript, a pair of scissors, three colors of highlighters, and a sense of creative play! Limit: 12 participants

Concurrent Workshops

Writing YA and MG in the 21st C. David Lubar

The real world, and the publishing world, are rapidly changing. Anyone hoping to publish their young-adult or middle-grade fiction needs to pay attention to these changes. This session will look at both craft and business aspects of writing short stories and novels for young readers.

 A Nose for News Mike Miorelli

Newspaper and magazine contributors are often taught that titillating story leads are all around us. To find them, journalists are encouraged to accept handouts on the street from people they might otherwise ignore, read all public notices, and infiltrate organizations in pursuit of the story. But what makes a good story and how do seasoned writers know that a story is worth following? Find out from a Metro desk editor.

 Agents Panel Moderator: Kathryn Craft

Literary Agents [get list of names and agencies they represent from Dianna] will share insights, guidelines and ideas for writers. Agents will meet with participants individually throughout the day to receive proposals.

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Concurrent Workshops

Fictional World Building Maria V. Snyder

Placing your characters in a believable world is key in any genre. In this workshop, a top fantasy writer will show how to create a rich and textured world for your characters, and how to insert appropriate detail into your story without jarring your reader.

 The Ten Most Common Mistakes Beginning Writers Make Juilene McKnight

The last thing a creative person wants to be is predictable. Yet despite the fact that each fiction project offers up story-specific hurdles, experienced creative writing professor Juilene McKnight finds that mistakes fall into predictable categories. Get the inside scoop, strike these ten mistakes from your manuscript, and let the true voice of your story shine through!

 Editorial Gangster Karen Syed

Editors are a necessary tool in your success as an author. Echelon Press publisher Karen Syed will provide some tips on how to survive working with yours.

Concurrent agent and editor appointments

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