Todd Fahnestock, Faculty
 Todd
Todd co-wrote the Heartstone Trilogy (published by HarperCollins) and several short stories for international anthologies. He currently has two projects in the works--a solo-written fantasy trilogy and his first book for early readers.
He lives in Denver, CO with his wife, two children, a neurotic Weimaraner named Lancelot and sweet-natured boxer/border collie named Ade. The only thing Todd loves more than writing is talking about writing. He has presented workshops at writing events on a variety of topics including world-building, collaboration, character development, and how to build better beginnings, and he loves teaching craft workshops to Delvers. The Heartstone Trilogy by Todd Fahnestock & Giles Carwyn Heir of Autumn Mistress of Winter Queen of Oblivion |
Deb Courtney, Faculty
 Deb
Deb Courtney holds a degree in Creative Writing from the University of South Florida where she was a Saunders Scholar in Fiction. She worked as a journalist for many years, with work appearing in The Tampa Tribune, Tampa Bay Business Journal, User Friendly Computer News, Builder Architect Magazine and others. She has had many short stories published in obscure literary journals, though none recently.
Samples of her writing can be seen on Amazon, where her short stories “Suburban Myth” and “Three Girls, Two Boys and a Red Camaro” are available for purchase. Deb is a well known speaker at Pikes Peak Writers Conference, Steamboat Springs Writers Conference and The Douglas County Libraries Writers Conference, and has hosted Pikes Peak Writers Open Critique and Pikes Peak Writers Night for several years. Currently Deb runs Courtney Literary, a micro-publisher, with 6 books on the market, including Robert Spiller’s “Radical Equations,” Hilari Bell’s “Navohar” and “A Matter of Profit,” and Leonardo Galea’s “Wargasm.” |
PREVIOUS CLASSES
(click titles to watch the recordings)
(click titles to watch the recordings)
ANALYZING FIREFLY with Todd Fahnestock
Shiny! Bring your favorite Whedon-isms and be prepared to sling them as we Delve into Joss Whedon’s Firefly. Using examples from this short-lived but much-beloved series, we will study how the story and characters are built, looking for those best practices that will make us better writers. For those who love Firefly, prepare to geek out and see storytelling mechanics you might have missed before. For those who have never watched Firefly, take a look behind the curtain and see why so many rave about the memorable characters, masterful world-building, and snappy dialogue that keeps you wanting more.
MEMBERS: to submit a sample for this workshop, send your favorite episode and scene/character/dialogue from Firefly to analyze to submissions(at)delvewriting.com with the subject line: Submission for 12-21.
Please note that we may not be able to use all submissions.
Shiny! Bring your favorite Whedon-isms and be prepared to sling them as we Delve into Joss Whedon’s Firefly. Using examples from this short-lived but much-beloved series, we will study how the story and characters are built, looking for those best practices that will make us better writers. For those who love Firefly, prepare to geek out and see storytelling mechanics you might have missed before. For those who have never watched Firefly, take a look behind the curtain and see why so many rave about the memorable characters, masterful world-building, and snappy dialogue that keeps you wanting more.
MEMBERS: to submit a sample for this workshop, send your favorite episode and scene/character/dialogue from Firefly to analyze to submissions(at)delvewriting.com with the subject line: Submission for 12-21.
Please note that we may not be able to use all submissions.
MARKETING FOR WRITERS
Marketing is more than Facebook and Twitter. Word-of-mouth is still the best way to sell books, and this session will focus primarily on face-to-face marketing. We'll discuss how to build a communications plan and how to implement it. From talks and signings to interviews and videos, we'll discuss the tried-and-true methods like bookstore signings as well as some out-of-the-box ones like hardware store chats that will be sure to get folks chatting up all of your books. Feel free to bring ideas and questions.
JENNIFER LOVETT is a U.S. Air Force Reserve Public Affairs Officer with 13 years combined active and reserve duty. As a communicator, she has worked with the White House press corps and other international journalists on issues as diverse as humanitarian aid to Africa, special operations missions in Afghanistan, and political soirées in Korea. Her promotion work includes books, novels, concerts and Hollywood productions. She won Best Feature Writer of Air Mobility Command and Best News Writer of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, as well as selection of her nonfiction story in an anthology called Women Write the War. She is currently pursuing her first fiction series. The BattleScar books weave military issues through romantic suspense to bring awareness of serious Veteran concerns to mainstream America. Currently residing in Alexandria, Virginia, she is a member of the Washington DC Chapter of Romance Writers of America, and is always looking for fellow writers and military spouses to feature on her blog: jenniferlovettherbranson.com.
Marketing is more than Facebook and Twitter. Word-of-mouth is still the best way to sell books, and this session will focus primarily on face-to-face marketing. We'll discuss how to build a communications plan and how to implement it. From talks and signings to interviews and videos, we'll discuss the tried-and-true methods like bookstore signings as well as some out-of-the-box ones like hardware store chats that will be sure to get folks chatting up all of your books. Feel free to bring ideas and questions.
JENNIFER LOVETT is a U.S. Air Force Reserve Public Affairs Officer with 13 years combined active and reserve duty. As a communicator, she has worked with the White House press corps and other international journalists on issues as diverse as humanitarian aid to Africa, special operations missions in Afghanistan, and political soirées in Korea. Her promotion work includes books, novels, concerts and Hollywood productions. She won Best Feature Writer of Air Mobility Command and Best News Writer of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, as well as selection of her nonfiction story in an anthology called Women Write the War. She is currently pursuing her first fiction series. The BattleScar books weave military issues through romantic suspense to bring awareness of serious Veteran concerns to mainstream America. Currently residing in Alexandria, Virginia, she is a member of the Washington DC Chapter of Romance Writers of America, and is always looking for fellow writers and military spouses to feature on her blog: jenniferlovettherbranson.com.
STORY STRUCTURE FOR PLOTTERS AND PANTSERS Part One with Chris Mandeville
Whether you plan out your story before you write it (Plotter) or write "by the seat of your pants" without a plan (Pantser), understanding story structure can be essential if you want to take your writing to the next level. This workshop will explore several ways of looking at the overall structure of a story, and demonstrate how knowledge of story structure can help both plotters and pantsers when drafting, revising, and getting "unstuck."
Part One: Freitag's Pyramid, Goal, Motivation & Conflict (GMC), the Plotting Grid
Part Two: 3-, 4-, and 5-Act Structure, The Hero's Journey, The Hero's Arc
MEMBERS: to submit your work for this session, please send a 1-2 page synopsis, outline, or list of plot points to submissions(at) delvewriting.com with the subject line: (Your Genre) Submission for 12-7.
Please note that we may not be able to use all submissions.
Whether you plan out your story before you write it (Plotter) or write "by the seat of your pants" without a plan (Pantser), understanding story structure can be essential if you want to take your writing to the next level. This workshop will explore several ways of looking at the overall structure of a story, and demonstrate how knowledge of story structure can help both plotters and pantsers when drafting, revising, and getting "unstuck."
Part One: Freitag's Pyramid, Goal, Motivation & Conflict (GMC), the Plotting Grid
Part Two: 3-, 4-, and 5-Act Structure, The Hero's Journey, The Hero's Arc
MEMBERS: to submit your work for this session, please send a 1-2 page synopsis, outline, or list of plot points to submissions(at) delvewriting.com with the subject line: (Your Genre) Submission for 12-7.
Please note that we may not be able to use all submissions.
Tiffany Yates Martin
|
EDIT YOURSELF: PRACTICAL STEPS TO POLISHING YOUR MANUSCRIPT
You've finished a first draft of your manuscript, and now it's time to edit. For some writers, this is the hardest part, but editing can be as fun and creative as writing--if you approach it the right way. The first step is to regain the objectivity that's been lost while you were neck-deep in your story. Tiffany will offer a number of methods for coming to your story with "fresh eyes," then show a method of approaching revisions that lets you retain that freshness as much as possible while addressing the big-picture areas in the manuscript--character, plot, stakes--what she calls "macro-edits." For each of these areas, Tiffany provides a number of specific methods, tips, and "tricks" to check that your plot holds together, that momentum stays strong, the reader stays invested, and characters are motivated, clear, and believable. TIFFANY YATES MARTIN has worked in the publishing industry for more than twenty years, currently through her editorial consulting company, FoxPrint Editorial, helping authors hone their work to a tight polished draft. As a developmental editor she works both directly with authors as well as through major publishers. As a freelance copyeditor and proofreader, she has worked with several of the "big six" New York publishers, among them Random House, the Penguin Group, and HarperCollins. She holds a BA in English Literature from GSU and is a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association. As a speaker, Tiffany has offered editing workshops and presentations at the Santa Barbara and Pikes Peak writers conferences, along with writers' groups including Delve Writing and the Austin chapter of Romance Writers of America, and has served multiple years as a panel moderator for the Texas Book Festival. She has worked on titles by New York Times best-selling authors and manuscripts for unpublished writers, single titles as well as entire series. Editorial clients include NYT bestseller and RITA winner Sherry Thomas (Bride of Larkspear, The Luckiest Lady in London) and Sarah Bird (Gap Year, Above the East China Sea) and Ania Ahlborn (Seed, The Neighbors, The Bird Eater); and as a copyeditor, Jennifer Weiner (Goodnight Nobody), Chuck Palahniuk (Pygmy, Tell-All, Beautiful You), Pat Conroy (My Reading Life, The Death of Santini), Walter Mosley (Parishioner, Little Green, Odyssey), Sylvia Browne (The Mystical Life of Jesus), Jim Butcher (Dresden Files series), Geraldo Rivera (The Great Progression), J. R. Ward (Black Brotherhood series), "the Blogess" Jenny Lawson (Let's Pretend This Never Happened), and Perez Hilton (Red-Carpet Suicide), among hundreds of others. Learn more at www.foxprinteditorial.com and visit her at www.facebook.com/FoxPrintEditorial. |
ENHANCED WHAT??
Sorry to disappoint, but this presentation has nothing to do with enhanced actress lips -- or any other acting parts for that matter. Rather, Enhanced What?? is a brief overview of Enhanced eBooks. This look at the Hows, Whats and Whys includes: What is an enhanced ebook? How do I create one? Why should I explore them? What can they do for Moi? (hint: they can help you stand out in the crowded arena of the ebook world)
We'll also take a peek at an apparent conundrum --- what if I'm still focused on paper? What good can I get out of this concept?
RON HEIMBECHER, principal of ChaliceMedia LLC, has spent the past several years doing research and development on a number of ways to take the written word to the next level -- a level driven by technology and modern constraints on a reader's time. Ron has created over 100 websites and other components in an online R&D universe. Ron is also involved with regional writers groups and is a past president of Pikes Peak Writers. Learn more at http://WiFiction.com and http://ChaliceMedia.com.
Sorry to disappoint, but this presentation has nothing to do with enhanced actress lips -- or any other acting parts for that matter. Rather, Enhanced What?? is a brief overview of Enhanced eBooks. This look at the Hows, Whats and Whys includes: What is an enhanced ebook? How do I create one? Why should I explore them? What can they do for Moi? (hint: they can help you stand out in the crowded arena of the ebook world)
We'll also take a peek at an apparent conundrum --- what if I'm still focused on paper? What good can I get out of this concept?
RON HEIMBECHER, principal of ChaliceMedia LLC, has spent the past several years doing research and development on a number of ways to take the written word to the next level -- a level driven by technology and modern constraints on a reader's time. Ron has created over 100 websites and other components in an online R&D universe. Ron is also involved with regional writers groups and is a past president of Pikes Peak Writers. Learn more at http://WiFiction.com and http://ChaliceMedia.com.
INVOKING THE SENSES with Deb Courtney
What tools do you carry in your writer's toolbox to invoke the senses in your prose? In this workshop Deb will discuss the more standard tools, then introduce others that may be less familiar. Learn how to make the world your characters inhabit feel as real as possible by using these tools to invoke the senses in subtle ways.
MEMBERS: to submit your work for this session, please select a scene in which you would like to add MORE sensory details, and send it to submissions(at) delvewriting.com with the subject line: (Your Genre) Submission for 11-30.
Please note that we may not be able to use all submissions.
What tools do you carry in your writer's toolbox to invoke the senses in your prose? In this workshop Deb will discuss the more standard tools, then introduce others that may be less familiar. Learn how to make the world your characters inhabit feel as real as possible by using these tools to invoke the senses in subtle ways.
MEMBERS: to submit your work for this session, please select a scene in which you would like to add MORE sensory details, and send it to submissions(at) delvewriting.com with the subject line: (Your Genre) Submission for 11-30.
Please note that we may not be able to use all submissions.
Finding Your Way Out of the Woods: Using Improv to Get Unstuck and Defeat the Brambles of Writer’s Block
In this special two-part "Write Brain" workshop in conjunction with Pikes Peak Writers, Angel Smits will teach you how to use a variety of prompts to get past whatever’s blocking you. Whether you’re participating in NaNoWriMo or wanting ways to get past writer’s block, her tips in the first half of the workshop will help you break through and finish what you’ve started. The second half of the workshop will be a time to actually WRITE. You'll use your own characters/worlds/stories when responding to prompts provided by Angel. You are welcome to write during the hour "alongside" fellow writers, or you can sign off and use the prompts at a later time.
ANGEL SMITS' background as a social worker in geriatrics has given her a glimpse into many varied lives and generations. She often finds her characters and stories in the people she’s met. Angel lives in Colorado with her husband and daughter. Her most recent book is A Message for Julia from Harlequin SuperRomance, with her new book A Family for Tyler coming out in February 2014. Angel has received the Romance Writer’s of America’s Golden Heart Award.
In this special two-part "Write Brain" workshop in conjunction with Pikes Peak Writers, Angel Smits will teach you how to use a variety of prompts to get past whatever’s blocking you. Whether you’re participating in NaNoWriMo or wanting ways to get past writer’s block, her tips in the first half of the workshop will help you break through and finish what you’ve started. The second half of the workshop will be a time to actually WRITE. You'll use your own characters/worlds/stories when responding to prompts provided by Angel. You are welcome to write during the hour "alongside" fellow writers, or you can sign off and use the prompts at a later time.
ANGEL SMITS' background as a social worker in geriatrics has given her a glimpse into many varied lives and generations. She often finds her characters and stories in the people she’s met. Angel lives in Colorado with her husband and daughter. Her most recent book is A Message for Julia from Harlequin SuperRomance, with her new book A Family for Tyler coming out in February 2014. Angel has received the Romance Writer’s of America’s Golden Heart Award.
VOMIT WRITING: Banish the Inner Editor and FREE WRITE with Chris Mandeville
Learn how to turn off your editorial eye (and that voice inside your head that won't stop criticizing your work) and get "in the zone" for putting new words on the page. Chris will introduce concepts for vomit writing, then participants will put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and WRITE. Great for those needing a boost during NaNoWriMo (or NaNoTRYmo), or anyone who wants to learn how to let their stories flow freely without the inhibition of a demanding internal editor. SUBMISSIONS: No submissions for this workshop, but come prepared to write.
Learn how to turn off your editorial eye (and that voice inside your head that won't stop criticizing your work) and get "in the zone" for putting new words on the page. Chris will introduce concepts for vomit writing, then participants will put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and WRITE. Great for those needing a boost during NaNoWriMo (or NaNoTRYmo), or anyone who wants to learn how to let their stories flow freely without the inhibition of a demanding internal editor. SUBMISSIONS: No submissions for this workshop, but come prepared to write.
SELF EDITING: Tune your ear to make your stories sing
As authors, you are keen observers of the world and human behavior. In this workshop, you’ll turn your observational skills toward your own work to hone your self-editing skills. We’ll focus on learning how to identify what’s working and what’s not in your writing—and, most importantly, why. We’ll do some exercises to tune your ear and discuss how to make your stories sing.
Presenter:
Liana Holmberg is a freelance developmental editor and editor-in-chief at Red Bridge Press. She engages each editing project with a precise set of diagnostic and problem solving skills and a deep understanding of the writing process. She gives clear, actionable feedback that honors the writer's goals and style. Liana advocates for the author's vision and encourages them to consistently deliver their best work. Her most recent book is Writing That Risks: New Work from Beyond the Mainstream, an anthology of fiction and poetry by twenty-nine authors from around the world and across the genre spectrum.
Non-members RSVP here to attend for free!
As authors, you are keen observers of the world and human behavior. In this workshop, you’ll turn your observational skills toward your own work to hone your self-editing skills. We’ll focus on learning how to identify what’s working and what’s not in your writing—and, most importantly, why. We’ll do some exercises to tune your ear and discuss how to make your stories sing.
Presenter:
Liana Holmberg is a freelance developmental editor and editor-in-chief at Red Bridge Press. She engages each editing project with a precise set of diagnostic and problem solving skills and a deep understanding of the writing process. She gives clear, actionable feedback that honors the writer's goals and style. Liana advocates for the author's vision and encourages them to consistently deliver their best work. Her most recent book is Writing That Risks: New Work from Beyond the Mainstream, an anthology of fiction and poetry by twenty-nine authors from around the world and across the genre spectrum.
Non-members RSVP here to attend for free!
SALIENT DETAILS with Aaron Brown
In this workshop, we'll focus on your pages and passages to see how well you're bringing your prose to life in your description work. Send 1-2 pages from your WIP to submissions (at) delvewriting.com and we'll dissect them together.
MEMBERS: to submit a sample for this workshop, send your work to submissions(at) delvewriting.com with the subject line: (Your Genre) Submission for 11-9.
Please note that we may not be able to use all submissions.
In this workshop, we'll focus on your pages and passages to see how well you're bringing your prose to life in your description work. Send 1-2 pages from your WIP to submissions (at) delvewriting.com and we'll dissect them together.
MEMBERS: to submit a sample for this workshop, send your work to submissions(at) delvewriting.com with the subject line: (Your Genre) Submission for 11-9.
Please note that we may not be able to use all submissions.
BAD MOON RISING: Set the tone through mood and atmosphere
Your character needs a voice, and so does your setting. Whether it's dark-and-stormy or bright-and-sunny, it's time to bring your setting to life just like your characters. Learn to take your writing to a new level by infusing your story with mood, tone and atmosphere.
WARREN HAMMOND is a Denver author known for his gritty, futuristic detective novels, KOP, Ex-KOP, and KOP Killer, all available from Tor Books. By taking the best of classic crime noir and reinventing it on a destitute colony world, Warren has created these uniquely dark tales of murder, corruption, and redemption. KOP Killer received the 2013 Colorado Book Award for Crime/Mystery.
Non-members RSVP here to attend for free!
Your character needs a voice, and so does your setting. Whether it's dark-and-stormy or bright-and-sunny, it's time to bring your setting to life just like your characters. Learn to take your writing to a new level by infusing your story with mood, tone and atmosphere.
WARREN HAMMOND is a Denver author known for his gritty, futuristic detective novels, KOP, Ex-KOP, and KOP Killer, all available from Tor Books. By taking the best of classic crime noir and reinventing it on a destitute colony world, Warren has created these uniquely dark tales of murder, corruption, and redemption. KOP Killer received the 2013 Colorado Book Award for Crime/Mystery.
Non-members RSVP here to attend for free!
THE TRANSFORMATION MACHINE: Using archetypal energies in your character arcs
Every story is a journey of transformation, but it's often difficult to see how to get a character from point A to point Z. By learning to move your characters through the four archetypal energies of the lover, the warrior, the magician, and the sovereign, you can create an emotional road map to lead your characters from their place of strength into the dark reaches of their own psyche and out the other side. Using this simple and emotionally resonant model for understanding human nature will help you to create brilliant but blind/broken characters and transform them into healthy and whole human beings who have what it takes to defeat their internal and external demons.
GILES CARWYN is the co-author (with Todd Fahnestock) of the epic fantasy Heartstone Trilogy published by Harper Collins. He will soon complete his path to becoming a certified Shadow Work facilitator. Combining his two passions, writing and Shadow Work, has led him to adapting the concepts of personal transformation work into fiction. He is currently working on Grandma’s Magic Hat Shop, a series of children’s books that utilizes Shadow Work archetypes to teach children emotional literacy. He lives in Earthaven eco-village in Black Mountain North Carolina.
Non-members RSVP here to attend for free!
Every story is a journey of transformation, but it's often difficult to see how to get a character from point A to point Z. By learning to move your characters through the four archetypal energies of the lover, the warrior, the magician, and the sovereign, you can create an emotional road map to lead your characters from their place of strength into the dark reaches of their own psyche and out the other side. Using this simple and emotionally resonant model for understanding human nature will help you to create brilliant but blind/broken characters and transform them into healthy and whole human beings who have what it takes to defeat their internal and external demons.
GILES CARWYN is the co-author (with Todd Fahnestock) of the epic fantasy Heartstone Trilogy published by Harper Collins. He will soon complete his path to becoming a certified Shadow Work facilitator. Combining his two passions, writing and Shadow Work, has led him to adapting the concepts of personal transformation work into fiction. He is currently working on Grandma’s Magic Hat Shop, a series of children’s books that utilizes Shadow Work archetypes to teach children emotional literacy. He lives in Earthaven eco-village in Black Mountain North Carolina.
Non-members RSVP here to attend for free!
EXPLORING YOUR PUBLISHING OPTIONS:
A CONVERSATION BETWEEN MAN AND APEs
Guy Kawasaki has coined the term APE (Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur) to describe the new role of the writer in today's publishing landscape. Aaron will speak with two APEs about their strategies, successes, and missteps on their paths to publication. Come prepared with your questions as we'll be conducting a hybrid presentation/panel-chat.
Our featured guests are:
J.A. KAZIMER lives in Denver, Colorado. Her novels include Curses! F***ed-Up Fairy Tale, Holy Socks & Dirtier Demons, Dope Sick: A Love Story, and Froggy Style. Upcoming publications include The Assassin’s Heart (a romance from Coffeetown Press) and Deadly Ever After (a mystery series from Kensington Books). J. A. spent years spilling drinks as a bartender and then stalked people while working as a PI.
ERIC JAMES MILLER is a former systems analyst and world traveler who also once made his living delivering sixty and seventy foot sailboats in the Caribbean. A veteran of both the business and creative side of the film and television world, he is a former long-term resident of Venice Beach, California who finds the ghosts of the Mojave Desert less neurotic, but equally as eclectic as those in Hollywood and the southern California beach communities. "For Rent: Dangerous Paradise" is set in a surreal, but not altogether unreal, apartment building in Venice Beach. It is the first in a new series of beguiling place-centric For Rent mysteries. The next one, "For Rent: Haunted Neon" follows budding young journalist Dana Santoyo to Las Vegas. His earlier novel, the 1996 road trip comedy "The Metaphysics of Nudity" has been out of print for a number of years but is scheduled for re-release in 2013. A Pennsylvania Dutch baker, Tuscan cook and Chilean wine maker, Eric is currently using his eclectic past, nose for business, taste buds for world cuisine and fondness for deploying an array of disguises to gather the sights, sounds, symbols and sensations to spice up his next novel in the series.
Non-members RSVP here to attend for free!
A CONVERSATION BETWEEN MAN AND APEs
Guy Kawasaki has coined the term APE (Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur) to describe the new role of the writer in today's publishing landscape. Aaron will speak with two APEs about their strategies, successes, and missteps on their paths to publication. Come prepared with your questions as we'll be conducting a hybrid presentation/panel-chat.
Our featured guests are:
J.A. KAZIMER lives in Denver, Colorado. Her novels include Curses! F***ed-Up Fairy Tale, Holy Socks & Dirtier Demons, Dope Sick: A Love Story, and Froggy Style. Upcoming publications include The Assassin’s Heart (a romance from Coffeetown Press) and Deadly Ever After (a mystery series from Kensington Books). J. A. spent years spilling drinks as a bartender and then stalked people while working as a PI.
ERIC JAMES MILLER is a former systems analyst and world traveler who also once made his living delivering sixty and seventy foot sailboats in the Caribbean. A veteran of both the business and creative side of the film and television world, he is a former long-term resident of Venice Beach, California who finds the ghosts of the Mojave Desert less neurotic, but equally as eclectic as those in Hollywood and the southern California beach communities. "For Rent: Dangerous Paradise" is set in a surreal, but not altogether unreal, apartment building in Venice Beach. It is the first in a new series of beguiling place-centric For Rent mysteries. The next one, "For Rent: Haunted Neon" follows budding young journalist Dana Santoyo to Las Vegas. His earlier novel, the 1996 road trip comedy "The Metaphysics of Nudity" has been out of print for a number of years but is scheduled for re-release in 2013. A Pennsylvania Dutch baker, Tuscan cook and Chilean wine maker, Eric is currently using his eclectic past, nose for business, taste buds for world cuisine and fondness for deploying an array of disguises to gather the sights, sounds, symbols and sensations to spice up his next novel in the series.
Non-members RSVP here to attend for free!
CHARACTER BUILDING: THE HERO Part Two with Todd Fahnestock
What does it take to build a great protagonist? What makes them memorable? Likeable? In this 2-part workshop, we’ll focus on building your hero(ine) into that unbreakable/vulnerable/brooding/flashy/surly/understated/charismatic/sour/effervescent fellow who grabs the reader and darts off, pulling them into your imagination.
Part Two: The Arc - Evolving the Hero(ine) - Beginning to End. Who will they become when the story is done with them?
Note: if you missed Part One of this series, click here to watch a recording after October 20th.
MEMBERS: to submit a sample for this workshop, send your work to submissions(at)delvewriting.com with the subject line: (Your Genre) Submission for 10-26.
Submit the climax for the character, the point at which they evolve, where they find their "elixir" before returning back home.
Please note that we may not be able to use all submissions.
What does it take to build a great protagonist? What makes them memorable? Likeable? In this 2-part workshop, we’ll focus on building your hero(ine) into that unbreakable/vulnerable/brooding/flashy/surly/understated/charismatic/sour/effervescent fellow who grabs the reader and darts off, pulling them into your imagination.
Part Two: The Arc - Evolving the Hero(ine) - Beginning to End. Who will they become when the story is done with them?
Note: if you missed Part One of this series, click here to watch a recording after October 20th.
MEMBERS: to submit a sample for this workshop, send your work to submissions(at)delvewriting.com with the subject line: (Your Genre) Submission for 10-26.
Submit the climax for the character, the point at which they evolve, where they find their "elixir" before returning back home.
Please note that we may not be able to use all submissions.
CHARACTER BUILDING: THE HERO Part One with Todd Fahnestock
What does it take to build a great protagonist? What makes them memorable? Likeable? In this 2-part workshop, we’ll focus on building your hero(ine) into that unbreakable/vulnerable/brooding/flashy/surly/understated/charismatic/sour/effervescent fellow who grabs the reader and darts off, pulling them into your imagination.
Part One: The Ingredients - Getting to Know your Hero(ine). Who are they? Why are they that way? What drives them
MEMBERS: to submit a sample for this workshop, send your work to submissions(at)delvewriting.com with the subject line: (Your Genre) Submission for 10-19.
Send what is (or what will be, if the scene is not yet written) the turning point for your character (up to 3 pages). Include what page this information is introduced in the story. Also submit a plot synopsis (no more than 3 pages), if you have one.
Please note that we may not be able to use all submissions.
What does it take to build a great protagonist? What makes them memorable? Likeable? In this 2-part workshop, we’ll focus on building your hero(ine) into that unbreakable/vulnerable/brooding/flashy/surly/understated/charismatic/sour/effervescent fellow who grabs the reader and darts off, pulling them into your imagination.
Part One: The Ingredients - Getting to Know your Hero(ine). Who are they? Why are they that way? What drives them
MEMBERS: to submit a sample for this workshop, send your work to submissions(at)delvewriting.com with the subject line: (Your Genre) Submission for 10-19.
Send what is (or what will be, if the scene is not yet written) the turning point for your character (up to 3 pages). Include what page this information is introduced in the story. Also submit a plot synopsis (no more than 3 pages), if you have one.
Please note that we may not be able to use all submissions.
COVER COPY FOR THE INDIE AUTHOR:
Getting Your Hooks in Deep
Indie author and Carina Press freelance editor Jeff Seymour has written cover copy for dozens of books, including his own. He’ll discuss how to break down a synopsis to find its sharpest hooks, and how to fit them into a short, sweet package that will give readers everything they need to open a book. Topics will include basic structures, hook identification, working under a strict character count, and making judicious use of your hard-earned writing skills. Bring your thinking hat! We’ll work together to create cover copy from an example synopsis over the course of the workshop.
JEFF SEYMOUR is an author, freelance writer, and editor who has been creating speculative fiction since he was a teenager. His writing covers a variety of genres, from magical realism to science fiction to young adult fantasy. Jeff’s nonfiction has appeared in Clarkesworld Magazine. He presently edits for Harlequin’s digital-first imprint Carina Press and works as a freelance copy writer. In his free time, he blogs about his writing and editing, pretends he knows anything about raising an energetic kitten, and dreams. Find him on the web at www.Jeff-Seymour.com.
Non-members RSVP here to attend for free!
Getting Your Hooks in Deep
Indie author and Carina Press freelance editor Jeff Seymour has written cover copy for dozens of books, including his own. He’ll discuss how to break down a synopsis to find its sharpest hooks, and how to fit them into a short, sweet package that will give readers everything they need to open a book. Topics will include basic structures, hook identification, working under a strict character count, and making judicious use of your hard-earned writing skills. Bring your thinking hat! We’ll work together to create cover copy from an example synopsis over the course of the workshop.
JEFF SEYMOUR is an author, freelance writer, and editor who has been creating speculative fiction since he was a teenager. His writing covers a variety of genres, from magical realism to science fiction to young adult fantasy. Jeff’s nonfiction has appeared in Clarkesworld Magazine. He presently edits for Harlequin’s digital-first imprint Carina Press and works as a freelance copy writer. In his free time, he blogs about his writing and editing, pretends he knows anything about raising an energetic kitten, and dreams. Find him on the web at www.Jeff-Seymour.com.
Non-members RSVP here to attend for free!
THE PITCH PARAGRAPH with Chris Mandeville
The "pitch paragraph" is the part of your query letter that tells what your book is about. Learn how to write this critical paragraph -- what to include as well as what to leave out -- based on insight Chris learned from super-agent Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary Agency.
MEMBERS: to submit a sample for this workshop, send your pitch paragraph to submissions(at) delvewriting.com with the subject line:
(Your Genre) Submission for 10-12. You are welcome to send your whole query letter or simply the paragraph that tells about your story.
Please note that we may not be able to use all submissions.
The "pitch paragraph" is the part of your query letter that tells what your book is about. Learn how to write this critical paragraph -- what to include as well as what to leave out -- based on insight Chris learned from super-agent Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary Agency.
MEMBERS: to submit a sample for this workshop, send your pitch paragraph to submissions(at) delvewriting.com with the subject line:
(Your Genre) Submission for 10-12. You are welcome to send your whole query letter or simply the paragraph that tells about your story.
Please note that we may not be able to use all submissions.
NANO WHAT? Everything You Need to Know about NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) with Chris Mandeville
Since 1999 writers have been hunkering down for the month of November to attempt the monumental task of writing start-to-finish a 50,000 word novel in only thirty days: National Novel Writing Month, known affectionately as NaNoWriMo or "NaNo" for short. November is just weeks away, so find out now what NaNo is, what it can do for you, what you're "allowed" to do under the official NaNo rules, what NaNo "pirates" do, and how to have a successful NaNo experience whatever you do. Whether you’re new to NaNo or a seasoned WriMo, join us for tips and tricks that can help you be an uber-productive writer any month of the year.
Since 1999 writers have been hunkering down for the month of November to attempt the monumental task of writing start-to-finish a 50,000 word novel in only thirty days: National Novel Writing Month, known affectionately as NaNoWriMo or "NaNo" for short. November is just weeks away, so find out now what NaNo is, what it can do for you, what you're "allowed" to do under the official NaNo rules, what NaNo "pirates" do, and how to have a successful NaNo experience whatever you do. Whether you’re new to NaNo or a seasoned WriMo, join us for tips and tricks that can help you be an uber-productive writer any month of the year.
ENDINGS with Aaron Brown
Some say you can't write a great first page until you write a great last one. Whether that's true or not, we're going to focus on endings here. But don't worry, you don't have to have actually finished your manuscript to submit for this session. Indeed, it can be a great exercise to write the final paragraph or page of your book long before you actually get there.
Some say you can't write a great first page until you write a great last one. Whether that's true or not, we're going to focus on endings here. But don't worry, you don't have to have actually finished your manuscript to submit for this session. Indeed, it can be a great exercise to write the final paragraph or page of your book long before you actually get there.
TIPS FOR WRITING YOUR MEMOIR
Kathy says: When my son, Max, and I began work on our memoir, Walks on the Margins: A Story of Bipolar Illness, we knew we wanted to tell our story from each of our individual perspectives. He would write from the inside of his illness, showing readers just what it’s like to be manic, psychotic, and depressed. I would write from the outside, narrating my fear and my determination to find help. But of course, there was much more that we had to consider—the beginning, the middle the end, the focus, what we wanted to accomplish, what we wanted our readers to take away. In this workshop, I’ll try to help you be efficient and effective in your own process and provide tips to consider from the time you begin with that blank page until the time you put the period on that last sentence.
KATHY BRANDT is a published author who taught writing at the University of Colorado for ten years. After her son, Max, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she became active in mental health issues. She was on the Board of Directors of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Colorado Springs (NAMI-CS) for six years, and served as President. In 2012 she received the NAMI National Award for her outstanding service to the organization. She is currently the NAMI-CS liaison to the Mental Health Court in Colorado Springs. Kathy has published four novels with the Penguin Group. She has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Rhetoric. She lives in the mountains of Colorado.
Kathy says: When my son, Max, and I began work on our memoir, Walks on the Margins: A Story of Bipolar Illness, we knew we wanted to tell our story from each of our individual perspectives. He would write from the inside of his illness, showing readers just what it’s like to be manic, psychotic, and depressed. I would write from the outside, narrating my fear and my determination to find help. But of course, there was much more that we had to consider—the beginning, the middle the end, the focus, what we wanted to accomplish, what we wanted our readers to take away. In this workshop, I’ll try to help you be efficient and effective in your own process and provide tips to consider from the time you begin with that blank page until the time you put the period on that last sentence.
KATHY BRANDT is a published author who taught writing at the University of Colorado for ten years. After her son, Max, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she became active in mental health issues. She was on the Board of Directors of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Colorado Springs (NAMI-CS) for six years, and served as President. In 2012 she received the NAMI National Award for her outstanding service to the organization. She is currently the NAMI-CS liaison to the Mental Health Court in Colorado Springs. Kathy has published four novels with the Penguin Group. She has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Rhetoric. She lives in the mountains of Colorado.
SWEET 16
The first 16 lines of any manuscript are absolutely essential to selling your book to agents, editors, and readers. Yes, there is more to your book than the first page, but the first page must introduce your voice and your world in a truly compelling way. To take the edge off of that pressure, bring it to our Sweet 16 workshop.
The first 16 lines of any manuscript are absolutely essential to selling your book to agents, editors, and readers. Yes, there is more to your book than the first page, but the first page must introduce your voice and your world in a truly compelling way. To take the edge off of that pressure, bring it to our Sweet 16 workshop.
WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED: The Dos and Don'ts of Professional Book Cover Design
Presented by Paul Carhart
Join us for a crash course on the elements of strong book cover design, including samples of good and not-so-good covers. Carhart will give his take on why some covers work better than others, and provide pointers based on lessons he's learned doing his own covers along the way.
Presented by Paul Carhart
Join us for a crash course on the elements of strong book cover design, including samples of good and not-so-good covers. Carhart will give his take on why some covers work better than others, and provide pointers based on lessons he's learned doing his own covers along the way.
CRISES, CRUCIBLES, and OTHER CRUCIAL MOMENTS
In this workshop, Aaron will look at the moments in your writing when you need to bring your characters through the proverbial fire or otherwise expose them to serious trauma. Please send 1-4 pages (we may not use everything) of a crucial situation with lots on the line and we'll examine how best to capture these critical situations. If you think it's necessary, feel free to include a brief overview or set-up paragraph to let us know where we are. Otherwise, simply send your work to submissions(at) delvewriting.com with the piece attached and the subject line: (Your Genre) Submission for 9-21.
In this workshop, Aaron will look at the moments in your writing when you need to bring your characters through the proverbial fire or otherwise expose them to serious trauma. Please send 1-4 pages (we may not use everything) of a crucial situation with lots on the line and we'll examine how best to capture these critical situations. If you think it's necessary, feel free to include a brief overview or set-up paragraph to let us know where we are. Otherwise, simply send your work to submissions(at) delvewriting.com with the piece attached and the subject line: (Your Genre) Submission for 9-21.
ADVANCED PLOTTING
Many books and workshops teach the basics of plotting: conflict, complications, climax. Now learn advanced techniques that will make a decent plot dynamic. Start with a “grab you by the throat” opening to pull readers into the story. Learn how to pack the plot full by complicating your complications. Control your pacing through sentence and paragraph length. And finally, cliffhanger chapter endings ensure late-night reading under the covers. Learn techniques to make any story or book better. Novelists will benefit from these insights, whether they are just starting out or have years of experience.
CHRIS EBOCH writes fiction and nonfiction for all ages, with 20 traditionally published books for children. Her novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventure; and the Haunted series. Her book Advanced Plotting helps writers fine-tune their plots. Learn more at www.chriseboch.com. Chris also writes novels of suspense and romance for adults under the name KRIS BOCK. What We Found is a suspense about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the woods, Rattled follows a treasure hunt in New Mexico, and Whispers in the Dark involves intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com.
Many books and workshops teach the basics of plotting: conflict, complications, climax. Now learn advanced techniques that will make a decent plot dynamic. Start with a “grab you by the throat” opening to pull readers into the story. Learn how to pack the plot full by complicating your complications. Control your pacing through sentence and paragraph length. And finally, cliffhanger chapter endings ensure late-night reading under the covers. Learn techniques to make any story or book better. Novelists will benefit from these insights, whether they are just starting out or have years of experience.
CHRIS EBOCH writes fiction and nonfiction for all ages, with 20 traditionally published books for children. Her novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventure; and the Haunted series. Her book Advanced Plotting helps writers fine-tune their plots. Learn more at www.chriseboch.com. Chris also writes novels of suspense and romance for adults under the name KRIS BOCK. What We Found is a suspense about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the woods, Rattled follows a treasure hunt in New Mexico, and Whispers in the Dark involves intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com.
SYNOPSIS AND THE HERO'S JOURNEY
Deb will look at ways you can use the Hero's Journey (as described by Christopher Vogler based on the work of Joseph Campbell) to sharpen your synopses. Send a 1-3 page synopsis of your work to submissions(at) delvewriting.com with the piece attached and the subject line: (Your Genre) Submission for 9-14. If you're not actively in a publication phase where you need to have a prepared synopsis, this can still be an excellent exercise to help you work through major plot points. Write up a 1-3 page plot description of your WIP and submit that. Don't worry too much about the finer points of the language. Just get something down.
LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX!
Let's talk about all the good things and the "bad" things.....
Do you need to get out of your head and spice up your love scenes? Ready to grab that long, hard pen and put some naughty words on paper? Are you bold enough be on top -- of the bestseller list? Today erotic romance is all around us. There are many ways to add steam to your writing. But let's make sure your book doesn't turn into a Letter To Penthouse. Using examples from some of her favourite movies and novels, Eve will lead you through a frank and humourous discussion about the things you always wanted to ask your mother but would need even more therapy at the thought of her doing them.
*Content Warning! This is an open and explicit conversation regarding intimacies, sexual intercourse and the varieties thereof. The language is graphic and honest. No one under the age of 18 permitted.
EVE SAVAGE (not her real name) is multi-published in romance and erotica under several pen names. She has a diverse background that includes extensive study in mythology, Wicca, and most things paranormal, as well as what her friends call “encyclopedic knowledge” on subjects as varied as vampire lore of New Orleans and the kings and queens of England. Her writing covers a wide range of interests as well, from contemporary erotica to near-future paranormal erotic thrillers.
Let's talk about all the good things and the "bad" things.....
Do you need to get out of your head and spice up your love scenes? Ready to grab that long, hard pen and put some naughty words on paper? Are you bold enough be on top -- of the bestseller list? Today erotic romance is all around us. There are many ways to add steam to your writing. But let's make sure your book doesn't turn into a Letter To Penthouse. Using examples from some of her favourite movies and novels, Eve will lead you through a frank and humourous discussion about the things you always wanted to ask your mother but would need even more therapy at the thought of her doing them.
*Content Warning! This is an open and explicit conversation regarding intimacies, sexual intercourse and the varieties thereof. The language is graphic and honest. No one under the age of 18 permitted.
EVE SAVAGE (not her real name) is multi-published in romance and erotica under several pen names. She has a diverse background that includes extensive study in mythology, Wicca, and most things paranormal, as well as what her friends call “encyclopedic knowledge” on subjects as varied as vampire lore of New Orleans and the kings and queens of England. Her writing covers a wide range of interests as well, from contemporary erotica to near-future paranormal erotic thrillers.
THE WRITER'S LIFE AS CHARACTER ARC --
HOW I WENT FROM HOBBYIST AMATEUR TO BATTLE-SCARRED PROFESSIONAL
In the very best stories, characters who grow and change continue to haunt us after we turn the last page. We might refer to these fictional people like they are close friends or long lost relatives, knowing exactly what they would say or do in any given situation. On the road to publication, writers also must grow and change. Writing requires the discipline of a monk, the focus of a microcellular biologist, and at times the questionable vision of a schizophrenic. Part workshop, part interview, we’ll examine with Aaron Ritchey what makes characters great and how writers must be as heroic as the characters they create.
AARON MICHAEL RITCHEY grew up as a garbage can for stories including way too much Robert E. Howard, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Stephen King. Early on, he started writing and he’s tried to quit, but he just can’t kick. His debut novel, The Never Prayer, was published by Crescent Moon Press in 2012. More recently, he’s gotten steampunky in The Penny Dread Tales Volume III anthology and cyberpunky in the online ezine Electric Spec. His next novel is a happy, little suicide book for young adults. Aaron lives in Colorado, born and raised. Here's where you can find him and his books online:
www.aaronmritchey.com
http://www.facebook.com/TheNeverPrayer
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13565800-the-never-prayer
https://twitter.com/AaronMRitchey
HOW I WENT FROM HOBBYIST AMATEUR TO BATTLE-SCARRED PROFESSIONAL
In the very best stories, characters who grow and change continue to haunt us after we turn the last page. We might refer to these fictional people like they are close friends or long lost relatives, knowing exactly what they would say or do in any given situation. On the road to publication, writers also must grow and change. Writing requires the discipline of a monk, the focus of a microcellular biologist, and at times the questionable vision of a schizophrenic. Part workshop, part interview, we’ll examine with Aaron Ritchey what makes characters great and how writers must be as heroic as the characters they create.
AARON MICHAEL RITCHEY grew up as a garbage can for stories including way too much Robert E. Howard, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Stephen King. Early on, he started writing and he’s tried to quit, but he just can’t kick. His debut novel, The Never Prayer, was published by Crescent Moon Press in 2012. More recently, he’s gotten steampunky in The Penny Dread Tales Volume III anthology and cyberpunky in the online ezine Electric Spec. His next novel is a happy, little suicide book for young adults. Aaron lives in Colorado, born and raised. Here's where you can find him and his books online:
www.aaronmritchey.com
http://www.facebook.com/TheNeverPrayer
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13565800-the-never-prayer
https://twitter.com/AaronMRitchey
Query Quandary?
In this session we'll go through your query letters and get them polished to launch. Members, send your letters to submissions@delvewriting.com ASAP!
In this session we'll go through your query letters and get them polished to launch. Members, send your letters to submissions@delvewriting.com ASAP!
CREATING AND KEEPING TENSION IN YOUR FICTION
In this workshop, Cindi will go over tricks to keep up the tension in your novel so that your reader can't put the book down once they've started. We'll go over common problems, including how to fix the trouble spots, and we'll also discuss how to keep tension between your characters.
CINDI MADSEN sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children. She is the author of YA books All the Broken Pieces, Cipher, and Demons of the Sun, and adult romances Falling for Her Fiancé, Act Like You Love Me, and Cinderella Screwed Me Over.
In this workshop, Cindi will go over tricks to keep up the tension in your novel so that your reader can't put the book down once they've started. We'll go over common problems, including how to fix the trouble spots, and we'll also discuss how to keep tension between your characters.
CINDI MADSEN sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children. She is the author of YA books All the Broken Pieces, Cipher, and Demons of the Sun, and adult romances Falling for Her Fiancé, Act Like You Love Me, and Cinderella Screwed Me Over.
SET UP VS BACKSTORY
What's the difference between "set up" and "backstory"? When should you use each? In this workshop Chris will define the two concepts, using examples to illustrate. Then we'll examine work submitted by Delve members, looking at elements of set up and backstory, and evaluating if they've been employed appropriately, effectively, and adequately.
If you'd like for your work to be considered, send the first 5 pages of chapter one of your WIP to submissions (at) delvewriting (dot) com. It's important that you send the beginning of your story for this workshop.
NOTE: for a discussion on backstory, see the recording of Chris' previous workshop "Baby Got Back(story)." It may be helpful to watch this prior to "Set up vs Backstory" but it's not required.
What's the difference between "set up" and "backstory"? When should you use each? In this workshop Chris will define the two concepts, using examples to illustrate. Then we'll examine work submitted by Delve members, looking at elements of set up and backstory, and evaluating if they've been employed appropriately, effectively, and adequately.
If you'd like for your work to be considered, send the first 5 pages of chapter one of your WIP to submissions (at) delvewriting (dot) com. It's important that you send the beginning of your story for this workshop.
NOTE: for a discussion on backstory, see the recording of Chris' previous workshop "Baby Got Back(story)." It may be helpful to watch this prior to "Set up vs Backstory" but it's not required.
WRITING A WINNER: TIPS AND TRICKS FOR ENTERING WRITING CONTESTS
This two-part, two-hour event is a "Write Brain" workshop presented in partnership with Pikes Peak Writers
In the first hour, published author and former contest director, Dawn Smit, will discuss writing contests in general, addressing tips, tricks, dos and don'ts, synopses, query letters, formatting, rule-following, and contest selection (phew!).
In the second hour you're invited to stay on and learn about the launch of a new writing contest hosted by Pikes Peak Writers, THE ZEBULON. PPW staffers will unveil the details and give you the inside scoop on the goals, rules, guidelines and perks of this fresh, new writing contest.
DAWN SMIT is published in both fiction and nonfiction, and spent multiple years directing a nationally recognized writing contest. Through Spiral Eyes, her first published novel , placed third in the 2001 Paul Gillette Memorial Writing Contest for science fiction/fantasy. Her nonfiction book, Rainbow Editing(TM), is a companion to her workshop of the same name, in which she introduces a colorful new weapon in the war against sloppy writing and the eternal editing cycle.
Visit Dawn at her website: www.dawnsmit.com.
This two-part, two-hour event is a "Write Brain" workshop presented in partnership with Pikes Peak Writers
In the first hour, published author and former contest director, Dawn Smit, will discuss writing contests in general, addressing tips, tricks, dos and don'ts, synopses, query letters, formatting, rule-following, and contest selection (phew!).
In the second hour you're invited to stay on and learn about the launch of a new writing contest hosted by Pikes Peak Writers, THE ZEBULON. PPW staffers will unveil the details and give you the inside scoop on the goals, rules, guidelines and perks of this fresh, new writing contest.
DAWN SMIT is published in both fiction and nonfiction, and spent multiple years directing a nationally recognized writing contest. Through Spiral Eyes, her first published novel , placed third in the 2001 Paul Gillette Memorial Writing Contest for science fiction/fantasy. Her nonfiction book, Rainbow Editing(TM), is a companion to her workshop of the same name, in which she introduces a colorful new weapon in the war against sloppy writing and the eternal editing cycle.
Visit Dawn at her website: www.dawnsmit.com.
SALIENT DETAIL
In this workshop, we'll focus on your pages and passages to see how well you're bringing your prose to life in your description work. Send 1-2 pages from your WIP to submissions (at) delvewriting.com and we'll dissect them together.
In this workshop, we'll focus on your pages and passages to see how well you're bringing your prose to life in your description work. Send 1-2 pages from your WIP to submissions (at) delvewriting.com and we'll dissect them together.
BETWEEN THE QUOTES: DIALOG DECONSTRUCTED (PART 1 and PART 2)
After an overview of the rules for writing effective dialog, Deb will deconstruct examples of dialog in published works across a variety of genres. There will also be several opportunities to share and discuss participant work. Send to: submissions (at) delvewriting.com.
After an overview of the rules for writing effective dialog, Deb will deconstruct examples of dialog in published works across a variety of genres. There will also be several opportunities to share and discuss participant work. Send to: submissions (at) delvewriting.com.
AUGUST 13th, 2013 BRINGING REALITY TO FICTION
As a former journalist, Mark Stevens will speak with us about how to use the news to illuminate and inspire your writing, bringing real-world issues into your fictional worlds. To be as accurate as possible about the human experience, we should all consider the broader context in which we live our lives. We will also look at the role of citizen journalists (aka bloggers) in shaping the conversations of the day and discuss ways to join these conversations most effectively through your own platform. Finally, we'll discuss the upcoming Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers conference and offer some behind-the-scenes glimpses of what promises to be an exceptional event in Denver this September.
MARK STEVENS is the best-selling author of Antler Dust, as well as Buried by the Roan, which was a finalist in the 2012 Colorado Book Awards. Mark has a strong background in journalism, having reported for many years for The Christian Science Monitor, The Rocky Mountain News, The Denver Post, and the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. He's a Colorado resident who's active in the writing community, currently serving as president of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. Learn more about Mark and his books here: http://www.writermarkstevens.com
As a former journalist, Mark Stevens will speak with us about how to use the news to illuminate and inspire your writing, bringing real-world issues into your fictional worlds. To be as accurate as possible about the human experience, we should all consider the broader context in which we live our lives. We will also look at the role of citizen journalists (aka bloggers) in shaping the conversations of the day and discuss ways to join these conversations most effectively through your own platform. Finally, we'll discuss the upcoming Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers conference and offer some behind-the-scenes glimpses of what promises to be an exceptional event in Denver this September.
MARK STEVENS is the best-selling author of Antler Dust, as well as Buried by the Roan, which was a finalist in the 2012 Colorado Book Awards. Mark has a strong background in journalism, having reported for many years for The Christian Science Monitor, The Rocky Mountain News, The Denver Post, and the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. He's a Colorado resident who's active in the writing community, currently serving as president of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. Learn more about Mark and his books here: http://www.writermarkstevens.com
AUGUST 6TH, 2013 FLASHING YOUR BOOK WITH A BLOG TOUR
Blog Tours are a great way to get exposure for your book and generate reviews. They can also be used as a tool to launch and promote your book. This workshop teaches you how to find a blog tour, how to prepare for a blog tour, and how to get the most out of one.
Blog Tours are a great way to get exposure for your book and generate reviews. They can also be used as a tool to launch and promote your book. This workshop teaches you how to find a blog tour, how to prepare for a blog tour, and how to get the most out of one.
JULY 30, 2013 EMT TO THE RESCUE
We're supposed to torment and traumatize our characters, right? But if you inflict physical trauma, what's it supposed to look like? How would it affect your character? And what would realistic treatment consist of? In this workshop, Jax will present an overview of trauma and medical emergencies, show you how to endow your characters with appropriate signs and symptoms, and then share treatments for patching them up.
We're supposed to torment and traumatize our characters, right? But if you inflict physical trauma, what's it supposed to look like? How would it affect your character? And what would realistic treatment consist of? In this workshop, Jax will present an overview of trauma and medical emergencies, show you how to endow your characters with appropriate signs and symptoms, and then share treatments for patching them up.