Summer 2008 Workshops at Writers & Books

Fiction

Advanced Fiction

JA8-F01
6 Wednesdays, 7–9 p.m.
July 23 through August 27
$100 W&B members / $110 general public
Instructor: Martin Naparsteck

This workshop is designed to help experienced writing students take their fiction to the next level. Character, plot, narration, dialogue, voice, theme, and everything else that goes into the best fiction will be discussed. Participants will have the opportunity to critique and be critiqued in a supportive atmosphere. Participants are expected to have some workshop experience or some practice at writing fiction.

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Romance 101

JA8-F02
3 Wednesdays 6–8 p.m.
July 2 through 16
$56 W&B members / $59 general public
Instructor: Robbi Hess

Learn from the former senior editor for the Black Rose line at The Wild Rose Press what goes into the making of a romance story that readers and editors want to read. In this class you will get your feet wet with exercises and examples in: opening hooks, dialogue, characterization, love scenes, plotting and more that are unique to romance fiction. The class will include optional “homework” in class exercises and critiques.

Course Canceled

Beginning Story Writing

JA8-F03
1 week, M-F 10 a.m.–12 noon
August 4 through 8
$129 W&B members / $139 general public
Instructor: Steven Huff

You’ve always wanted to write fiction but have not known where to begin. This five-day class will examine the basic principles and techniques of fiction that everyone new to fiction writing needs to know: Point-of-view, dialogue, plotting, and character development. Learn to dig into your own cache of memories and experiences for story material, train your ear for authentic dialogue, and learn the mechanics of creating a scene. The class will hold a finale reading, Friday evening at 7 p.m. in the Writers & Books performance space.

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“Shut up and drive,” she said: A Dialogue Workshop

JA8-F04
1 Saturday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
July 19
$35 W&B members / $39 general public
Instructor: Martin Naparsteck

Good dialogue makes characters in a story sound like real people talking, yet no one in real life talks like a character, even in the best novels. This seeming contradiction can be explained by examining the attributes of good dialogue. This workshop will offer a combination of lectures, readings, and exercises (mostly exercises) designed to help you write dialogue that both sounds good and moves your story forward.

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