Browsing Tag

Fiction Writing

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…

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…

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…

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 Elements 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…

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…

5-week-class-novel-writing-level-3-start-date

5 Week Class: Novel Writing: Level 3 (Start Date)

Are you ready to take your novel writing skills to the next level? In this course, participants will learn how to handle four different types of scenes: action scenes, relationship scenes, humorous scenes and “twister” scenes. We will cap the course with a session on how to properly construct a…

5-week-class-are-you-ready-to-publish-start-date

5 Week Class: Are You Ready to Publish? (Start Date)

Whether you are looking for a traditional publisher, or are planning to self-publish your manuscript, you need to have a top-notch manuscript and either submission or advertising materials. In this class, participants will do some hands-on editing, create a query and synopsis, build a couple of versions…

5-week-class-write-it-short-start-date

5 Week Class: Write It Short (Start Date)

Want to write but think you don’t have time? In this course, participants will explore a sampler of short forms: flash fiction, short stories, poetry, personal essays and nonfiction articles. They will focus on how to be pithy and how to introduce all the needed story elements in a…

saturday-night-write-archetype-vs-cliche

Saturday Night Write: Archetype vs Cliche

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…

wordfield2019

WordField2019

This is the Make-Up Day for the events that got flooded out at Writer’s in the Field.RSVP at their facebook event:https://www.facebook.com/events/346640309403885/Yeli from Yelibelly Chocolates and I will be doing the Chocolate in the Field Demo, so you guys won’t…

5-week-class-novel-writing-level-2-start-date

5 Week Class: Novel Writing: Level 2 (Start Date)

Are you ready to build your novel writing skills? Or are you confident in your writing, but mystified by terms like character agency, pathos, and subtext? In this course, participants will learn why it is important to achieve character attachment, create characters who do indeed have agency, understand narrative structure…

5-session-class-waxing-poetic-start-date

5 Session Class: Waxing Poetic (Start Date)

Have you always wanted to understand what makes poetry different from ordinary language? Or do you write poetry, and want to delve deeper into the structure and history that shapes your work? In this course, participants will explore form and pattern in traditional poetry, as well as how to express…

5-week-class-creativity-exercises-start-date

5 Week Class: Creativity Exercises (Start Date)

Overcome writing/creative block or spark a new direction for your work in this hands-on class where participants will use writing prompts, story games, storyboarding, art techniques and more to unlock their creativity. This class is suitable for writers, game designers and other creatives. Participants will develop ideas sparked…

saturday-night-write-aliens-and-anthropomorphic-characters

Saturday Night Write: Aliens and Anthropomorphic Characters

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…

worldbuilding-is-people
Musing, Writing Tips

Worldbuilding is People

Part of worldbuilding – whether you are writing an epic Sci-Fi story or a quiet romance – comes down to designing people.  Everyone is shaped by their surroundings, be they a small town in Montana or the confines of a space station.  Clothing, customs, economic structures – all of these were designed…

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