Writers Welcome - Workshops

WORKSHOPS

SANTA BARBARA WRITER'S CONFERENCE
June 22-29, 2007
Santa Barbara, California

OREGON CHRISTIAN WRITER'S CONFERENCE,
July 30-Aug 2, 2007
Canby, Oregon,

WILLAMETTE WRITER'S CONFERENCE
August 4-5, 2007
Portland, Oregon,

Dr. Frankenstein's Character Laboratory
Writers-by-the-Sea Workshop
Presented by: CRAIG ENGLISH (click here for bio)
Saturday, September 8th and Sunday, September 9th
The Adobe Resort • Yachats, Oregon

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 they 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.
Features:
• The writer as warrior
• Inhabiting a character
• Gender
• Attachment psychology
• Family history
• Body, Voice, and Dialogue

This workshop will include writing exercises, group exercises, teaching, and consultation. Writers are asked to bring their characters with them.

Registration deadline is August 15, 2007. Click these links for Registration Form (23KB PDF) and Class Schedule (47KB PDF).

SURPRISE VALLEY WRITER'S CONFERENCE
September 20-23, 2007
Cedarville, California

“He Said, She Said: Crafting the Opposite Sex”
Writers-by-the-Sea presents a workshop for fiction writers
Saturday, October 27th and Sunday, October 28th.
The Adobe Resort • Yachats, Oregon

To write believable, compelling characters can be daunting, especially when creating one whose gender is the opposite of yours (and so, akin to an alien life form). Novelists John Reed and Jennie Shortridge have pooled their resources and teamed up to offer this fun and lively workshop, delving into what makes males and females tick and come to life on the page. Armed with a bevy of resources and exercises, and plenty of humor, John and Jennie will do their darnedest to take you beyond stereotypes into the land of the living, breathing alien lif—er, opposite sex.

This two-day workshop is for fiction writers at any level. Students will learn how to write better characters of the opposite (and same) sex through understanding the biological, psychological, and social implications of being male and female. Participants can hone their skills with in-class writing exercises and work on individual projects. Writers may have up to 50 pages of a finished novel or work-in-progress reviewed and critiqued by both Reed (He) and Shortridge (She) in a private consultation.

John Reed, well known Oregon writer, teacher and editor, is the author of Thirteen Mountain and The Kingfisher's Call. He has taught at writing conferences around the country, including The Maui Writer’s Retreat and the Santa Barbara Writer’s Conference. He is a former writing instructor at Lane Community College.

Jennie Shortridge is the author of bestselling novels Eating Heaven and Riding With the Queen. She teaches at conferences and for organizations across the western U.S. Her nonfiction work has been published nationally in newspapers and magazines such as Glamour and Natural Home. Her third novel is forthcoming from NAL/Penguin in 2007-08.

Cost of the workshop is $200, or $300 including manuscript review/critique.

Registration closes October 15, 2007 and is limited to 25. Manuscripts must be received by October 1, 2007. Mail to: John Reed, 1320 Evergreen Dr. Eugene, OR 97404. You can download a Registration Form (24KB PDF) and a Class Schedule (34KB PDF).

For additional information, contact John Reed at (541) 461-0789 or email jreed@writerswelcome.com.

WORKSHOP INFORMATION

John Reed’s workshop presentations are characterized by humor and high energy. He draws on twenty years experience as a writer and teacher to help writers find their voice, polish their prose and market their work.

If your group or organization is looking for an interesting, informative presentation for your next meeting or conference, please call John at (541) 461-0789 or email for availabilities and rates.

John will develop and present a workshop customized for your group’s specific needs, or you may select from the popular workshops listed below:

“ENERGIZE YOUR NOVEL WITH THE POWER OF POETRY,” explores how the rich language, imagery and soul-deep energy of poetry adds power and scope to your novel.

“TIME IS RUNNING OUT,” draws on John’s experience as a spy novelist to unlock the secrets of researching, writing and selling your thriller.

“UNLEASHING YOUR PRIMITIVE DOG,” puts you in touch with the deepest wellsprings of your creativity and frees you to write at your full potential: to Write At Absolute Top Speed.

“GETTING PERSONAL,” reveals the secrets of crafting your life experiences into marketable essays, the techniques of crafting life into art.

“MAGAZINE ARTICLES THAT SELL,” focuses on crafting the perfect query letter, polishing the final draft and finding the right market.

“THE TROUBLE WITH SHORT STORIES,” deals with character and conflict, structure and plot, in the making of a saleable short story.

Workshops may range from one hour to several days, depending on subject matter and needs of the group. Cost is based on group size and the location and length of the presentation. For more information about a workshop for your group, call (541) 461-0789 or email.

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