I am usually at Willamette Writers but I won't be there this year. In my absence, here's are my recommendations for Saturday of what workshops you don't want to miss! [With apologies to the film side of the conference. I'm sure someone else is better informed about what film session you don't want to miss.]
Saturday:
8:30-10:00
Jeff Herman
Write the Perfect Book Proposal
Level: All
Format: Presentation Q&A
Unlike fiction, publishers acquire most non-fiction books on the basis
of a proposal, as opposed to a finished and pristinely written
manuscript. Once the non-fiction writer learns the protocols and tricks
for how to write slam-dunk proposals, they can be written in a matter
of hours, and contract offers can flow within weeks, sometimes even
days. The length and complexity of the proposal, and the possibility
that some sample material will be needed depends on the nature of the
work. This class will provide detailed instructions about how to
understand and powerfully construct every part of the proposal for all
non-fiction categories.
8:30-10:00
Melissa Hart
Write Children's Resource Books for Fun and Profit
This workshop offers attendees a glimpse into children's resource-book
publishing. Resource books differ from standard textbooks in that they
offer less narrative and are frequently project-based-a difference that
allows the writer an incredible amount of creativity. Sev- eral
well-known publishers put out resource books and are always looking for
new writers and illustrators. In this workshop, students will learn how
to pitch resource book proposals to editors, the process of researching
and writing a resource book, how public domain resources on the
Internet can benefit writers, how to build relationships with editors
so that they so- licit your work, and how to use resource books to
further creative writing projects.
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Format: Presentation/Q&A
9:00-10:00
Panel: Literary Editors Interactive Starts at 9 A.M.
Level: All
Format: Presentation/Q&A
Join Deb Werksman, Source Books; Nick Eliopulo, Random House; Jane
Friedman, Writer’s Digest Books and Kristin Sevick, Tor to discuss
their company needs, personal histories and other topics of interest to
you.
10:30-12:00
Cynthia Whitcomb
Playwriting 101
Level: Beginning Format: Presentation/Q&A
Screenwriter turned playwright Whitcomb talks about her journey back to
the theatre and shares the differences between writing for stage and
screen. Hear about the challenges and joy of working with actors and
directors, and the exciting journey from first read, to closing night
and the cast party. Whitcomb will also cover marketing, networking,
competitions, fellowships, and much, much more.
10:30-12:00
Jane Friedman
How New Publishing & Community Models Get You Noticed
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Format: Presentation /Q&A
The online writing and publishing world has exploded with new
opportunities to help you get published and get noticed by agents and
editors. New community sites like WeBook and Authonomy put you in
collaboration with other authors/writers to qualify the best stuff, and
get noticed by talent seekers. New, free digital publishing services
also give you exciting ways to create and share content across multiple
devices (e.g., iPhone or Kindle), that can test your ideas or help
promote you and your work. (No tech experience required.) Get a
live-time tour of how these sites work and how writers are using them
to get published or make their published work more successful.
1:30-3:00
Eric Witchey
Short Fiction for Fun, Money, & Skill
Level: All
Format: Presentation/Q&A
This seminar demonstrates how to use short stories to build your skills
faster while having fun and making a little cash on the side. Eric
Witchey will demonstrate hands-on techniques, the importance of knowing
your target audience, and efficient methods of manuscript management
and marketing. This seminar is appropriate for all levels of
development.
3:30-5:00
Eric Witchey
The ABCs of Saleable Fiction
Level: All
Format: Presentation/Q&A
This
hands-on, interactive seminar demonstrates techniques for managing the
interplay of important narrative skills in order to create compelling,
saleable fiction. This seminar can be taken as a stand-alone, or it can
be taken as a continuation of, and preparation for, Mr. Witchey’s other
seminars.
1:30-3:00
English & Rapson
Dr. Frankenstein’s Character Laboratory
Level: All
Format: Presentation/Writing
Do your characters lack life? Do they reek of potential, and yet lie on
the table, offering an occasional eyelid flutter or the odd toe twitch?
Or perhaps you have a character who gets up and sings "Putting on the
Ritz" over and over without variation. Might as well be dead. Or maybe
your characters seem to do all the things that real people do, but
somehow lack that elusive dimension of depth. This workshop is designed
to help you channel the lightening of psychological motivation so that
your characters will rise on their own two legs and walk into the
world, not merely advancing the plot, but engaging the reader with
their humanity.
3:30-5:00
Sage Cohen
7 Habits of Widely Published Poets
Level: Beginning
Format: Presentation/Q&A
Make 2009 your year for establishing a submissions system that gets
your poetry in the public eye. In this interactive workshop for
beginners, participants will learn how to develop the skills, tools and
systems they need to publish their poetry. They will be supported in
developing their own personal action plans that align their work with
the publications and contests where they are most likely to get
noticed. Participants will learn how to identify the right
publications, contests, prizes and residencies for their poems; how to
establish a submissions tracking system that keeps them moving forward;
how an online presence can help them get in the public eye, and stay
there. Instructor Sage Cohen has applied these strategies to publish
two books, win high-paying poetry contest prizes, writing residencies
and scholarships - and to place dozens of poems, essays and short
stories.
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