Plot a Page Turner with Kim Purcell: Writers will leave this workshop with a solid plan to write their book based on a four-act plot structure. They’ll start by learning how to write a solid elevator pitch. Then, we'll cover the basics of a four-act plot structure. Writers will learn how to improve their plot with differentiated characters, alternating settings, yes-no plotting, and world-building. Finally, writers will plan one key scene for each act, brainstorming ten key elements of every scene. We'll use bestsellers Harry Potter and Sorcerer’s Stone, The Hunger Games, and Gone Girl as examples (it will be helpful if attendees have read at least one of these books, but not required).
Get BookDoctored - Key Story Elements to Include in Your Manuscript with Christine Fairchild: Get insider knowledge on what editors/agents/readers expect in storytelling so you can put the right elements on the right pages of your manuscript. We’ll enhance your first page(s), hooks, scene/chapter transitions, clarify the Call to Action vs the Point of No Return, and bolster last chapters/finale/denouement for a satisfying ending. Attendees will learn of the common mistakes new authors make at key story points and how to resolve/revise them; ways to use Hooks beyond opening sentences (chapter openings, scene endings, final chapters) and suspense techniques to employ on every page to better engage readers of any genre.
The Essentials of Scene: Master the Art of Immersive Writing with Jenny Bartoy: Write it in scene. Show, don’t tell. Immerse the reader. Most of us have heard this writing advice or received this feedback on our work. But what does it mean to write in scene? Let’s explore the foundational elements of immersive writing: description, action, dialogue, and interiority. Attendees will learn how to identify whether their writing “shows” or “tells"; immerse the reader with descriptive, sensory details and an engaging balance of narrative elements like dialogue, action, and interiority; and strengthen their narrative in revision to ensure it connects with readers.
Craft Matters: Eight Tricks of the Trade Every Memoir Writer Should Consider for Every Page with Jennifer Leigh Selig: This workshop will focus on eight essential craft elements that make memoir pages come alive. Participants of all
skill levels will benefit from receiving this toolkit of trade techniques to craft their memoirs-in-progress, or polish
pages they’ve already completed to make them more compelling. Attendees will learn how to easy--and fun--it is
to create compelling scenes, how to use the techniques at any stage of writing, from initial drafting to revising and
editing, and why voice is the key element in making your memoir stand out.