Schedule:

What readers fall in love with is typically not story structure or plot but the representation of a real being, with a real beating heart, expressed through the medium of words. They fall in love with the PERSONALITY on the page—not only that of the narrating character or characters but also of the story itself. Its outlook. The spirit that informs the words. In some ways, they fall in love with YOU.

So, how do we create a love affair that turns into a lifelong relationship with readers? Through the magical intersection of voice, viewpoint, and character. In this workshop, we’ll take a fresh approach to these elements, going beyond mere mechanics of character biographies and narrative “camera placement” to create singular, stirring characters with unexpected traits and means of expression that elevate the work.

Come prepared to stretch, explore, and play. You might find yourself falling in love again—with your own work.  

Led by Lorin Oberweger, we’ll look at some sample first pages from participants and discuss what’s effective and what could still be strengthened.

Prior to the workshop, Lorin will request volunteers to share their first pages with the group.

BUILDING A MULTI-PLATFORM WRITING CAREER

In this challenging economy it’s tough to build a career by being a one-trick pony. Writers who want to build a thriving and lucrative career look for all kinds of creative outlets and forms that pay. Novels, short stories of all kinds, essays, magazine features, greeting cards, game writing, comic books, tie-in fiction, poetry, freelance editing, and more are doors just waiting for writers to open.

NY Times bestseller Jonathan Maberry (author of 55 novels, 200 short stories, 30 graphic novels, 28 nonfiction books, 1200 feature articles, as well as poetry, plays, and more) will take you through the steps to build a bigger and stronger writing business that can shift with economic changes.

EMOTIONAL CONNECTION TO PLACE 

Past connections and memories associated with a place can heighten a character’s feelings and experiences while interacting with that specific environment.

During this session, we will look at the places we choose to set our stories, asking ourselves how memories and connections within them and other places can trigger and strengthen a character’s internal and external responses, motivations and actions, inducing stronger conflicts within that place.

In focusing on the emotional connection with “the where” of our story, we will consider ways to create more impactful scenes and more powerful and engaging stories.

SUSPENSE ESSENTIALS: SECRETS TO TAPPING INTO TENSION (WHATEVER GENRE YOU WRITE)

Every story can be improved by increasing the suspense, tightening the tension, and ratcheting up the action.

This in-depth seminar will help you improve your story by pacing the promises that you make and connecting emotionally with your reader.

We’ll explore the differences between suspense and conflict, how mystery, horror, and suspense differ, and how to use promises of peril to increase suspense throughout your story.