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FictionWriting the Truth in Fiction
Do you wonder where fiction stories come from, or how they are written? Do you have so many ideas and stories in your head, but do not know how to put them to paper? Or perhaps it’s the opposite, you love to write, but don’t know what to write or how to organize it. This class will give you building blocks for understanding the process of writing short stories, while showing you how to use what you already know—your life—to write them. Through reading and discussion, we will look at such fictional elements as character, plot, point of view, voice, dialogue, and setting. Writers we will read include: Eudora Welty, Amy Tan, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and many other strong and descriptive examples. Bring your pens and your ideas and let’s write!
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing Workshop
Science fiction stories—in print, audio, and on the big screen—are more popular than ever. Whether you are interested in writing short stories or novels, this workshop will guide you through the challenges of writing tales of science fiction (that extrapolate upon existing scientific theory) and fantasy stories (that are true departures from reality). Learn all about the genres and sub-genres that make up this thriving literature, as well as how to market your work to appropriate publishers. Participants are expected to bring to class at least a first draft of a short story or one chapter of a novel to share with the group for constructive in-class critique sessions.
Upping the Stakes
In this class you will learn how to create tension and suspense as you work from inciting incident to the climactic scene of your novel. The key to writing a good novel is conflict, and the key to creating good conflict is upping the stakes. Many authors think they do this by creating small incidents that “happen” to the characters making their life a bit more difficult. However, in order for your writing to be tight it’s important to have escalating conflict through turning points and creating situations where the character has to grow and change in order to make it through the increased conflict.
But Wait, There’s More! Using Advertising Techniques to Write and Market your Novel
Like any book, a successful ad is more than just a clever idea. Both require detailed planning, careful analysis and a deep understanding of the target audience. And both books and ads require writers to cut the fluff and hone their messaging while remaining compelling and memorable. In this course you’ll learn the secrets behind the proven techniques advertisers use to develop effective ad campaigns, and you’ll learn how to apply those techniques to plotting your novel and developing complex, believable characters. You’ll also learn how to strategically position your completed novel so that it stands out—with publishers and readers—in an already overcrowded marketplace. Hurry—limited time only! Operators are standing by.
Advanced Fiction
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.
“Shut up and drive,” she said: A Dialogue Workshop
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.
Beginning Story Writing
You’ve always wanted to write fiction but have not known where to begin. This 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.
You are here > Home > Spring 2009 Seminars, Courses & Workshops > Fiction |
The Bertrand Russell SocietyHosted by: Dr. David White The Bertrand Russell Society was formed shortly after Russell’s death in 1970. Russell was born in 1872 and worked in fields such as mathematical logic; philosophy; social, religious, and educational reform; anti-war protests and politics. An accomplished writer, Russell received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950. This ongoing lecture series promises to enlighten and entertain. Monthly meetings are open to everyone, not just to members of the society. Monthly Story SlamMarch. 17, 7 pm An open mic of true loose and spontaneous stories based on one’s own life! Themes include: “Brush with the Law,” “Love Life,” “Embarassing Moment,” “True Tales from College”...but stories can be independent of the theme. This is an event where participants tell stories about their lives. The stories are loose and spontaneous, and the emphasis is on authenticity. See examples on Youtube by searching MothUp Story Slam. According to The New York Times: “Like the folk revival in the 70s or standup comedy in the 80s, all of a sudden everyone is doing it....Storytelling has exploded into a thriving genre all its own, a new avenue to prominence for writers and, increasingly, for actors and comedians.” Each performer gets approximately 5 minutes. Signup list at front desk 1/2 hour before. or sign up by emailing Carol Roberts at crobert8@rochester.rr.com with “Monthly Sign Up” in the subject line. Valley Manor Book Discussions1570 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14610 Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. This is the “If All of Rochester Read the Same Book”. History Reading GroupHosted by Steve Huff Join Writers & Books’s history buffs as they explore the big issues and personalities of history. We do not choose particular books, but only subjects. You can read any book or other material on the subject and join the discussion. Meets on the third Wide Open MicMonday, March 22 W&B is proud to sponsor Rochester’s longest-running open mic, hosted by Norm Davis, poet and editor of HazMat Review. Known for its eclectic mix, Wide Open Mic welcomes poets, performers, and writers of all kinds. 25 & UnderTues. March 23 More than a quarter century ago W&B first opened its doors. To celebrate that milestone anniversary we initiated a monthly reading series featuring writers who are 25 and younger. Join us as we discover a new generation of writers for the next quarter century.
Click here for more March Events...
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| Writers & Books, Rochester's community literary center, inspires and instructs over 25,000 people each year through a wide array of offerings in nearly every literary genre. Believing that the written and spoken word are central to our lives and culture, Writers & Books celebrates, promotes and works to make them available to all. Writers & Books is located at 740 University Avenue, near Atlantic Avenue in the Neighborhood of the Arts. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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