ELLEN WATERSON WORKSHOPS ANNOUNCED

Ellen Waterston Announces Fall and Winter Creative Writing Workshops and Retreat

Classes are scheduled for Bend, Oregon and Todos Santos, Mexico

Award-winning author, poet and president of the Writing Ranch, Ellen Waterston, will conduct her popular “The Story You Came To Tell”© workshop at two Bend locations in fall and winter 2012-2013, and will lead a week-long writing workshop in Todos Santos, BCS, Mexico in February. 

Ellen Waterson is the founder and former director of The Nature of Words, a Bend-based literary organization. Her book "Then There Was No Mountain" was rated one of the top ten books by the Oregonian in 2003. Among other awards, she received the 2009 and 2005 WILLA Award in Poetry for her collections "Between Desert Seasons" and "I Am Madagascar," respectively. For more information about Ellen's writing workshops and retreat, visit www.writingranch.com, e-mail info@writingranch.com or call 541.480.3933. 
 

For Children's Writers

For our children’s writers:

OCCBW presents the tenth Oregon Coast Children's Book Writers Workshop, July 9-13, in the exquisite Oregon coast town of Oceanside. For more information visit www.occbww.com.

Knowonder is an online children’s magazine dedicated to providing a story a day to develop a child’s love of reading. They are currently restructuring to make their site better and more accessible. The newly designed site should launch June 1^st, but they are looking for story submissions now. Visit their website to see what they are looking for and as always follow their submission guidelines.

There is a wonderful online resource for children’s writers. Verla Kay’s message boards (known by the users as the blueboards) is a free site for children’s writers and illustrators. The users discuss everything there is to discuss about craft, publishing opportunities, resources, different genres, even share response times from submissions. It is a wealth of information and a caring, supportive environment. Sign up here.

Listening Deep: Writing Real Life

Listening Deep: Writing Real Life

 

Combining prose examples from Pam Houston, Elizabeth Stout, and Louise Erdich with insights on craft, Ruby Hansen Murray will help participants develop new work or enhance work in progress. Participants will practice techniques to deepen the impact of their words. Writers of all levels welcome.

 

Ruby Murray is a fellowship resident at Playa. Her work has appeared in Oregon Humanities Magazine and been read on Oregon Public Broadcasting. She has also written "The Heart Stays People: Writing Real Life," on writing the historical novel.

 

When: Sunday, Feb. 19, 1-3 p.m.

 

Where: Playa (formerly Summer Lake Inn)

               47531 Highway 31, Summer Lake, OR 97640   541-943-3983

 

This event is free of charge

 

For more information, contact Toni Bailie   541-943-3174  cny75710@centurytel.net

Break Into Fiction Workshop

Break Into Fiction® Workshop
September 17-18, 2011
9am to 5pm

Mary Buckham & Dianna Love, are coming to Portland Oregon to teach aspiring authors their POWER WRITING DAY, a new hands-on program on Power Openings, Scene Survival Test Analysis, Active Settings and How Many Hooks Are Enough. This is high energy two-day workshop meant to ratchet up the power in stories and to send writers home chomping to type those pages. $75.00. Portland Community College - Sylvania Campus. Visit http://www.rosecityromancewriters.com/special-events.html for registration information.

Researching and Writing Regional and Local History

RIVER VALLEY WRITERS GROUP is proud to present

Dr. Richard Etulain

Giving us a workshop on

 

RESEARCHING AND WRITING REGIONAL AND LOCAL HISTORY

Friday, September 9, 2011
from 9-11:30 am, and 12:30-2 pm
At the Dayville Presbyterian Church

There will be an Oregon Trail Pioneer style lunch provided during the break.

 

Preregistration is suggested due to limited seating!
$20.00 donation requested.
Make checks out to River Valley Writers Group.

Send checks to Kelly Cooper
29584 Franks Creek Road,
Dayville, OR. 97825 

 

This workshop will be devoted to the study and encouragement of regional and local historical writing. 

Primarily, I will provide several suggestions about researching and writing history that should be helpful to each participant-as well as to the entire group.

I want to incorporate the current interests and projects of workshop participants into my comments about research and writing. We can help each other, more than we often have, in the lonesome and frustrating business of authorship. Such encouragement and support often come first in knowing the current endeavors of fellow scribblers.

In addition, I'll emphasize the varieties of materials available to researchers, particularly those working on Oregon and western subjects. Of course I'll want to speak specifically, too, about the strengths and possible limitations of regional-local history. Finally, I'll note some of the markets open to writers of regional-local history. Most of all, the workshop will be a time of sharing and encouragement. Please come.

Richard (Dick) W. Etulain

Richard W. Etulain is Professor Emeritus of History and former Director of the Center for the American West at the University of New Mexico.

He is a specialist in the history and literature of the American West and has authored or edited more than forty-five books.

River Valley Writers Group website is: www.rivervalleywritersgroup.org

Jill Williamson Workshops

River Valley Writers Group


Presents

Jill Williamson Workshops

On March 5th, 2011

10:00 am. To About 1:00 pm.

Dayville Presbyterian Church

$10.00 per person ­-- lunch potato bar included

So You Want to Write a Novel

Ideas are everywhere. In this workshop we will talk about where to find story ideas, how to test them to see if they would make a good book, and how to turn those ideas into a novel. I’ll use examples from popular novels for the visual learners.

How to rewrite your novel

You’ve finished that novel. Congrats! But now what? In this workshop, we’ll learn why editing and rewriting is important. We’ll talk about Track Changes in Microsoft Word, when to cut and when to add, weasel words, characterization, story goals, pacing, dialogue, description, author quirks, formatting chapters, and more.


Jill Williamson’s first novel, By Darkness Hid, won the Christy Award. She loves working with teenagers and gives writing workshops at libraries, schools, camps, and churches. She lives in Oregon with her husband and two children. Visit Jill online at http://www.jillwilliamson.com/


http://johndayvalleywriters.6te.net/

World Building Workshop

Mid-Willamette Valley RWA Presents:

Our March 2011 online class:

World-Building for Writers

Taught by Rebecca Lynn

Description: A world-building course focusing on all facets of fictional writing, not just on fantasy and paranormal books. Historical fiction and contemporary genre fiction writers need to know how to world-build, as well. World-building, at its foundation, is about incorporating details into narrative. This class will start with the basic building blocks of a world (whether known or invented) and move toward the integration of research and worldbuilding into narrative fiction.

Week One: You Are God - The building blocks of fictional worlds; the two main methods of world-building.

Week Two: The Genesis Effect - Organizing and ordering your fictional world; resources for world-building in genres.

Week Three: Hobbits and iPods and Claymores, Oh My - Integrity in your fictional world; dissecting student examples.

Week Four: Writer as Weaver - Integrating world-building details into narrative and dialogue.

BIO

Rebecca Lynn took an MFA in Creative Writing and an undergraduate degree in Linguistics and Literature, and has taught both writing and literature courses on the collegiate level. She has published short fiction as well as some short non-fiction, and academic articles.

Class runs from 3/1/2011 to 3/31/2011. Cost is $20 for MWV RWA members and $25 for non-members.

For details see http://www.midwillamettevalleyrwa.com/online.classes.htm

Fundamentals of Self-Publishing Workshop

Paulina Springs Books in Redmond is sponsoring Ginger Dehlinger for a workshop called "Fundamentals of Self-Publishing". This event will be held at the Redmond store at 422 SW 6th St on February 19 starting at 2 pm. Call 541-526-1491 to sign up or ask for more details.

POWER OF REVISION WORKSHOP PRESENTED BY ELIZABETH LYON, SATURDAY OCTOBER 16

On Saturday October 17, Elizabeth Lyon presented her workshop, The Power of Revision. The topic was Manuscript Makeover: From Rough Draft to Ready: Revision Techniques for Fiction and Creative Nonfiction. Elizabeth, who was the keynote speaker at the previous evening’s Literary Harvest, focused and expanded on these components of good writing: Movement (more than just action), revision for sound structure, characterization, voice and style.

Elizabeth talked about the etymology of original writing—what we learn and what we must do to break the pattern of conformity. A first step is to free oneself of one’s inner critic, which can stand in the way of original writing. She defined riff writing, comparing it to a musician’s riff, and said the story riff has pieces of melody woven into it. The purpose of riff writing is to free the writer from constraints, give our brains a focus to get past self-imposed restrictions. Elizabeth said we must know our characters and use multiple sources of movement to improve the pace of our story, increase suspense and deepen our characters. If we apply these techniques of creating movement, she said we will see our writing soar! She talked about scenes, which if effectively written can become characters in the story. It is important to reveal the goal at the top of the scene, and move/riff the character(s) through the scene as they face opposition and obstacles as they move toward the goal. The idea is to keep the reader hooked, continually engaged and looking forward to the next page.

Elizabeth based her workshop on her most recent book, Manuscript Makeover, which is available at Camalli Books in Bend. Her presentation was timely, fast-paced, and jam-packed with information every writer needs. Elizabeth conducts writing workshops nationwide, as well as speaking at conferences. She is a top-notch editor and writing instructor. We sincerely thank Elizabeth for providing us a day of learning and inspiration. To learn more about Elizabeth and keep updated on her schedule and adventures in editing, go to http://www.4-edit.com/

15 Most Common Plot Problems & How to Fix Them

Mid-Willamette Valley RWA Presents:
Our July 2010 3-week
online class: Plot Fixer: the 15 Most Common Plot Problems and How to Fix Them
Taught by Kara Lennox/Karen Leabo

Description: Do you create wonderful, three-dimensional characters who then stumble around blindly in your book, trying to find a story? As a frequent critiquer, contest judge, and the recipient of many, many rejection and revision letters over the years, I've witnessed and personally experienced just about every way your plot can veer into a ditch. In this workshop I'll cover the fifteen most common problems, how to spot them and how to fix them them.
BIO

Kara Lennox, who also writes as Karen Leabo, has written 50-plus contemporary romance novels for two major publishers: Harlequin Enterprises, the largest publisher of romance in the world, and Bantam Dell (Loveswept line). Since her first novel was released in 1989, her books frequently appear on romance bestseller lists. They have been translated into 17 languages and published in twenty-plus countries around the world, with over four million books in print. Kara's books have been nominated for major romance industry awards as well, including the National Readers' Choice Awards and the Holt Medallion. She won a Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice for best Harlequin American Romance in 2003. She has also been a finalist in the Romantic Suspense category of the RITA competition, the Romance Writers of America's prestigious peer award. You can learn more about Kara and her upcoming books at her website, http://www.karenleabo.com/

Class runs from July 5-25, 2010. Cost is $20 for MWV RWA members and $25 for non-members.

See http://www.midwillamettevalleyrwa.com/online.classes.htm for details

Write to Publish

Ooligan Press is excited to announce that award-winning authors Chuck Palahniuk and Ursula K. Le Guin will be sharing their publishing experiences at the Oolicon: Write to Publish open house event, May 23, 2010, at Portland State University.

Several other noteworthy Portland-area writers will be appearing as well, including: Shannon Wheeler, creator of Too Much Coffee Man and Eisner Award-winning artist; Deborah Hopkinson, Oregon Book Award-winning children’s author; Virginia Euwer Wolff, National Book Award-winning YA fiction author; and Lilith Saintcrow, popular urban fantasy author.

Write to Publish, affectionately known as Oolicon, is a conference organized by Ooligan Press. The primary goal of Write to Publish is to demystify the publishing process for writers. Write to Publish is different from other writing conferences in that it does not focus on the craft of writing, but rather on the process of getting published.

On May 22, Workshop Day, choose to attend workshops for writers or workshops for industry professionals. Come back on May 23, Open House Day, to mingle with professionals in the industry and to hear authors speak about their experiences with the publishing process.

Ticket prices are $130 for writers for the full conference (this includes five workshops and the Open House on the second day) or $32 per workshop. Ticket prices are $215 for industry professionals for the full conference.To purchase tickets, please contact the Portland State University box office at (503) 725-3307.

Intensive Critique Workshop

Central Oregon Writers Guild Presents

Intensive Critique Workshop

With Author and Writing Instructor, Mike Lankford

Saturday, May 8, 9:00-12:30 PM
COCC Redmond Campus, 2030 SE College Loop, Building 1, Room 128
Cost for 4 readers: $15/$10 for Guild members--$7 for non-readers

Looking for better feedback?

Want to help others see what is or isn’t working in their manuscripts?

How can you tell if a story is headed in the right direction?

Join us for this small group session limited to ten writers led by Mike Lankford. Four writers may submit a ten-page manuscript (early chapter of novel or short story) for critique in the workshop (first come, first serve) and agree to preview the other writers’ work before the class. The remaining six students may observe or actively participate in discussion. Everyone who signs up for the workshop will get the most benefit by reading the manuscripts being critiqued before coming to the workshop. A set of review questions will be given to registered students. *Deadline to submit work for workshop, May 1.

“The proper approach to any work is to treat it as your own,” says Mike Lankford, who teaches at COCC and conducts a private workshop in Bend.

Mike Lankford is a graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop and the author of Life in Double Time, a memoir. He has ghost written twelve books and is working on #13—in addition to his own work which is currently a novel and a second memoir. He can be contacted at bent@bendcable.com

Sign up at our monthly Guild meeting, Thursday, April 22, or reserve space by contacting Guild Events Director, Lindy Jacobs at 541 408-6306 or by email: lindyj@bendcable.com.

Workshop in Dayville with Poet Michael Aune

River Valley Writers Group is sponsoring a workshop with Poet Michael Aune from Lynden Wa. coming down to combine black and white photography with creative writing.

We also have Richard Mack of LaGrand doing readings from his works of essay and poetry mostly about the North West on the same day, April 24th from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. Cost is $12.00 per person which includes lunch and beverages. It will be held at the Dayville Community Building.

If there are any questions folks can call Kelly Cooper at C Bar C Guest Ranch, the number is: 541-987-2462

Writing Your Book Proposal Workshop

Reminder, this Saturday

Central Oregon Writers Guild presents ...

Writing Your Book Proposal Workshop
With Best-selling Author Paty Jager

Saturday, April 10, 10:00-3:00 PM

COCC Redmond Campus, 2030 SE College Loop

Building 3, Room 306

Cost: $15/$8 for Guild members

Writing the book proposal is the most important step in selling your book. In this four-hour, hands-on workshop, Paty will show us how to put together a book proposal packet. You will be working on your query/cover letter, 2 page synopsis, and the first three chapters of your project. Paty will begin with a brief overview of what a professional letter should look like and how to condense your book into a three to four sentence pitch.

Registered students can send your 2- page synopsis to Paty at patyjag@gmail.com by March 30th and she will return the synopsis to you with her suggestions and kudos during the workshop. Please know Paty may use sections of some of the student’s work as illustrations during the workshop (remember all writers need to build a tough skin, rejection is a necessary evil of becoming published). Then she will give you tips for the final editing of your first three chapters before you send them along with your letter and synopsis.

There will be a one hour break for lunch at noon (restaurants nearby or bring a sack lunch)

Sign up at a monthly Guild meeting or reserve space by calling Events Director Lindy Jacobs 541 408-6306.

Scholarship Applications for Donald Maass Workshop

PLEASE FORWARD TO INTERESTED WRITERSF
ree Expressions Seminars and Literary Services
8710 W. Hillsborough Ave., #172Tampa, FL 33615
866-I-WRITE-2(866) 497-4832
brenda@free-expressions.com

FREE EXPRESSIONS SEMINARS GIVES WRITERS A HANDWITH SCHOLARSHIP TO ACCLAIMED BREAKOUT NOVEL INTENSIVEWITH LITERARY AGENT DONALD MAASS

Free Expressions Seminars is now welcoming applications for a full scholarship to its acclaimed Writing the Breakout Novel Weeklong Intensive, with top New York literary agent, Donald Maass.

The scholarship is available for one student who wishes to participate in the September 13-19 Writing the Breakout Novel Intensive, to be held in Charlotte, NC. It covers complete room, board, tuition and all other workshop expenses, except transportation.

The workshop offers thirty-five writers the opportunity to dig into their novels-in-progress in an intensive workshop in which they take daily classes with Don Maass and receive in-depth feedback on their work from Maass and a roster of experienced industry professionals.

Suitable for published and pre-published writers alike, the workshop's core focus is on creating a "breakout" work, one that transcends genre to offer a rich, dramatic, and memorable experience to the reader.

"Even though this workshop regularly goes to waiting list status, we know that not every writer can afford the investment," says workshop director, Lorin Oberweger. "We wish we could help a thousand writers, but this is one small way for us to lend a hand."

For more information on the workshop or to download a scholarship application and information, visit: http://www.free-expressions.com/. Or call toll-free: 866-497-4832.

Goal, Motive and Conflict Workshop

Writers Workshop

GMC
Goal, Motive and Conflict
essential parts of a good book

Join award winning author Paty Jager in a workshop aimed at helping you find the GMC in your story. We’ll discuss what each means to your story and show you how to fill out a conflict grid to help you make the most of the GMC in your story.

March 20, 2010 • 9:00-4:00
Lunch provided
C-BAR-C Guest Ranch, Dayville
$12 covers the workshop and your lunch.

Call 541-987-2462 for more information and to reserve a seat!
C-BAR-C is located about .5 miles east of Dayville on Hwy 26.

Paty Jager has four western historical romance novels published and one contemporary western romance which won an EPPIE Award in 2008. In June, Doctor in Petticoats, a historical western romance will be released, and in August the first book of a historical paranormal trilogy, Spirit of the Mountain, will be released. To learn more about Paty and read excerpts and reviews go to
www.patyjager.net.

Sponsored by the River Valley Writer’s Group.

BEND AUTHOR MARY SOJOURNER OFFERS WRITING COURSE

'
Beginning Monday, October 5, from 6:30-8:30 at Dudley’s Bookshop and Cafe, 135 North Minnesota, Bend, author Mary Sojourner will teach six weeks of writing.

The class is restricted to nine as Mary says, "More than ten people in a writing circle cheats all of us... I won’t know until you tell me what you need how our time together will play out."

The fee is $120/$80 nonrefundable deposit. For more information or to register, call Mary at 541-350-1322 or e-mail her at bstarr67@gmail.com

There are already three signed on for the course, so time is of the essence if you want to participate in the workshop.

Wordstock

What: Writers workshops all day Saturday and Sunday
When: Saturday October 10th and Sunday October 11th
Where: Portland Convention Center

Tickets just went on sale for the workshops. Most are limited to 30-40 people. Tickets are $35 for one workshop, $60 for two, and $20 for each one after that.

For a listing of all the fine workshops offered and more details go to: http://www.wordstockfestival.com/#/page_id=110/

Online Class: Building Cohesiveness in Your Novel

Mid-Willamette Valley Romance Writers of America Presents:
Our August 2009 2-week intensive online class: Building Cohesiveness in Your Novel
Taught by: Karen Wiesner
Description: This workshop is an intensive two-week capsulated version of Karen Wiesner's Writer's Digest Book, FROM FIRST DRAFT TO FINISHED NOVEL {A Writer's Guide to Cohesive Story Building}. The workshop will take you through the process of using a Story Plan Checklist to build cohesiveness into your novel, and will help you design your synopsis. At the end of the workshop, Karen will provide attendees with a consolidated file containing all the lessons, in addition to the Q&A covered in the class. The class will also remain open for an additional week in which Karen will answer final questions.
Cost is $20 for MWV RWA members and $25 for non-members.
See http://www.midwillamettevalleyrwa.com/online.classes.htm for details.

Our thanks to Paty Jager for providing information about this important opportunity!
_

COWG Critique Workshop - May 9

Central Oregon Writers Guild will present a

CR I T I Q U E W O R K S H O P

Saturday, May 9, 9:30 -12:30 at Central Oregon Community College, Redmond Campus 2030 SE College Way. Building One, Room 122

Sharpen Your Critique Skills & Take Your Own Writing to the Next Level.

Join authors Paty Jager and Lindy Jacobs for a morning of intensive learning followed by break-out sessions of small group critique. Please bring five copies of your 3-5 page manuscript (double spaced). Sign-up by email: lindyj@bendcable.com or call Lindy at 541 408-6306.