Browsing Tag

Creative Writing

north-texas-rwa-archetypes-vs-cliche

North Texas RWA: Archetypes vs. Cliche

Archetypes can be used as a shortcut to character development, which is effective as long as you build on this “template” with your unique voice and viewpoint to make a real person.  We will discuss how you can use archetype without falling into cliche.  What are some of the worst…

saturday-night-write-whose-story-should-it-be

Saturday Night Write: Whose Story Should It Be?

Saturday Night Write meets on the third Saturday of each month to provide instruction and encouragement to writers in the community surrounding UT Arlington (and anyone else who wants to drive out to meet up with us).  Our discussion leader presents a structured topic and background research to spark interactive…

seminar-managing-the-passage-of-time

Seminar: Managing the Passage of Time

Some stories take place in a matter of days, or even hours.  Others are multi-generational epics.  And yet, both need to fit into the number of pages you get for a book manuscript or screenplay.  So how do you manage the progression of time?  We will focus on utilizing…

seminar-high-stakes-plotting

Seminar: High Stakes Plotting

You know there needs to be something at stake in your plot, but are those stakes high enough to keep the reader engaged?  Are the stakes getting higher as your story progresses?  Will readers be on the edge of their seats, so invested in what is happening to your character…

saturday-night-write-story-vs-situation

Saturday Night Write: Story vs. Situation

Saturday Night Write meets on the third Saturday of each month to provide instruction and encouragement to writers in the community surrounding UT Arlington (and anyone else who wants to drive out to meet up with us).  Our discussion leader presents a structured topic and background research to spark interactive…

saturday-night-write-tension-and-conflict

Saturday Night Write: Tension and Conflict

Saturday Night Write meets on the third Saturday of each month to provide instruction and encouragement to writers in the community surrounding UT Arlington (and anyone else who wants to drive out to meet up with us).  Our discussion leader presents a structured topic and background research to spark interactive…

sisters-in-crime-how-competing-character-agency-amps-up-your-plot

Sisters in Crime: How Competing Character Agency Amps Up Your Plot

Character agency is a character’s ability to take actions and make decisions that have a lasting impact on the story’s plot. When multiple characters in your story exercise agency, and when they have their own agendas (so important in mystery!) which clash, things really get interesting. Learn how…

saturday-night-write-nonstadard-words-with-special-guest-peter-keenan

Saturday Night Write: Nonstadard Words With Special Guest Peter Keenan

Saturday Night Write meets on the third Saturday of each month to provide instruction and encouragement to writers in the community surrounding UT Arlington (and anyone else who wants to drive out to meet up with us).  Our discussion leader presents a structured topic and background research to spark interactive…

carrollton-league-of-writers-truth-and-lies-in-your-fiction

Carrollton League of Writers: Truth and Lies in Your Fiction

This month, we’re going to talk about lies — the lies your character believes about himself, and the lies he tells himself, the lies other characters tell, all of those un-truths and pieces of misunderstood subtext that make for page-turning reading.  But we’re also going to talk…

5-week-class-novel-writing-unit-4-character-building-start-date

5 Week Class: Novel Writing: Unit 4 – Character Building (Start Date)

It is often said that, “Story Is Character.” In this course, you will learn how to design dynamic protagonists, villains, mentors and sidekicks, and love interests – and how to handle unlikable characters and antiheroes. Aspiring writers will have the opportunity to have samples of their work critiqued each week.Prerequisites…

5-week-class-focus-on-genre-getting-a-clue-about-mystery-start-date

5 Week Class: Focus on Genre: Getting a Clue About Mystery (Start Date)

Whether the mysteries you love take place in coffee shops with quirky amateur sleuths, or in gritty neighborhoods with jaded detectives, mystery fans can find much to get excited about in today’s market. Are you ready to write one of your own? Learn how to reverse-engineer a mystery…

what-to-leave-in-and-what-to-leave-out-with-special-guest-terry-detrich

What to Leave in and What to Leave out with Special Guest Terry Detrich

Saturday Night Write meets on the third Saturday of each month to provide instruction and encouragement to writers in the community surrounding UT Arlington (and anyone else who wants to drive out to meet up with us).  Our discussion leader presents a structured topic and background research to spark interactive…

teen-summer-writing-camp-session-iii

Teen Summer Writing Camp Session III

This is a workshop-style class in fiction writing, designed to provide a peer environment for teenaged writers (Grades 8-12). Led by Amber Royer, whose debut novel Free Chocolate was named one of Barnes & Noble’s 25 Debuts to Watch for in 2018, the class is designed to…

seminar-writing-vivid-side-characters-2

Seminar: Writing Vivid Side Characters

You know you need a spectacular protagonist, facing off against an equally strong antagonist.  But what about all your spear carriers, love interests, sidekicks, mentors and henchmen?  They don’t always get much page space, so how can you use what you do give them to make them memorable?  We…

teen-writing-class-level-2-1-week

Teen Writing Class Level 2 (1 week)

Class runs July 22-28 from 10 AM -12:30 PM.  Requirements: Teen Writing Class Level 1 or Writing Instruction through another school/program.Sign up on the Writing Workshops Dallas Web Site.Welcome to our Writing Classes for Teens and Young Writers at Writing Workshops Dallas! We’re happy…

saturday-night-write-sticking-the-landing-creating-a-strong-resolution

Saturday Night Write: Sticking the Landing: Creating a Strong Resolution

Saturday Night Write meets on the third Saturday of each month to provide instruction and encouragement to writers in the community surrounding UT Arlington (and anyone else who wants to drive out to meet up with us).  Our discussion leader presents a structured topic and background research to spark interactive…

teen-writing-class-1-week-2

Teen Writing Class (1 Week)

Class runs July 15 – 19 from 1-4 PM.Sign up on the Writing Workshops Dallas Web Site.This is a workshop-style class in fiction writing, designed to provide a peer environment for teenaged writers (Grades 8-12). Led by Amber Royer, whose debut novel Free Chocolate was named…

fiction-for-young-writers-1-week

Young Writer’s Camp (1 Week)

Class runs July 15 – 19 from 10 AM-12:30 PM.Sign up on the Writing Workshops Dallas Web Site. This is a hands-on class in fiction designed to introduce young writers (Grades 4-7) to basic concepts in writing craft.  Led by Amber Royer, whose debut novel…

writing-science-fiction-with-author-amber-royer

Writing Science Fiction with Author Amber Royer

I will be at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff Arizona on Saturday night, July 13, to talk about science fiction writing, especially how to use and bring originality to genre-related codes and conventions, as well as SF worldbuilding.  I’ll also discuss practical steps to take when trying to…

teen-writing-class-1-week

Teen Writing Class (1 Week)

Class runs June 24 – 28 from 1-4 PM.Sign up on the Writing Workshops Dallas Web Site.This is a workshop-style class in fiction writing, designed to provide a peer environment for teenaged writers (Grades 8-12). Led by Amber Royer, whose debut novel Free Chocolate was named…

DFW Writer’s Conference

I will be on programming this year at the DFW Writer’s Conference.  For more information, and to check out my schedule when it is listed visit the Conference site at:https://dfwcon.org…

saturday-night-write-seeding-in-literary-elements-to-make-your-story-feel-complete

Saturday Night Write: Seeding in Literary Devices to Make Your Story Feel Complete

Saturday Night Write meets on the third Saturday of each month to provide instruction and encouragement to writers in the community surrounding UT Arlington (and anyone else who wants to drive out to meet up with us).  Our discussion leader presents a structured topic and background research to spark interactive…

symbolically-speaking
Literary Terms, Writing Tips

Symbolically Speaking

When I start talking about literary devices in my writing classes, the discussion inevitably comes around to whether or not the authors of various works were using them intentionally – or if these literary effects came about by accident.  I believe that it is a combination of both:  often I don…

saturday-night-write-designing-a-mystery-plot-subplot

Saturday Night Write: Designing a Mystery Plot / Subplot

Saturday Night Write meets on the third Saturday of each month to provide instruction and encouragement to writers in the community surrounding UT Arlington (and anyone else who wants to drive out to meet up with us).  Our discussion leader presents a structured topic and background research to spark interactive…

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