Browsing Tag

writing craft

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-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-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…

language-learning-in-literature-and-life
Writing Tips

Language Learning in Literature and Life

As a language learner, things can get a little overwhelming at times.  Having a conversation one-on-one in a second language can be hard enough, but being dropped into an on-going conversation takes everything to the next level.  I still remember the first time I got into a…

promises-to-the-reader-avoiding-the-empty-doughnut
Writing Tips

Promises to the Reader: Avoiding The Empty Doughnut

I’ve been binge-watching past episodes of Master Chef. In one challenge from a few seasons ago, the contestants were supposed to make a dozen doughnuts. Some of them went a bit nuts with it – one contestant did twelve different flavors. Some of them came up with elaborate fillings…

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…

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…

sticking-the-landing
Writing Tips

Sticking The Landing

When you watch a gymnast doing a parallel bars routine, it is easy to get caught up in the grace and the power – coupled with an I-could-never-do-that kind of awe.  Nothing ruins that experience – or the gymnast’s score – faster than failing to stick the landing…

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…

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…

storysmith-conference

Storysmith Conference

I will be presenting Surf the Waves: Writing Compelling Characters at the Storysmith Conference sponsored by the Writer’s Guild of Texas.You can find more details on the conference on thier site:  https://www.wgtonline.org/events/spring-2019MORNING SESSION (9AM–NOON):“Surf the Waves: Writing Compelling Character…

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…

kintsugi-and-the-fine-art-of-the-character-arc
Musing, Uncategorized, Writing Tips

Kintsugi and The Fine Art of the Character Arc

In real life, we resist change.  But our characters get pushed to change by the plot.  Some characters embrace change, and are more than ready to undertake a hero’s journey. Typically, though, protagonists don’t like change – especially difficult, painful change — any more than you do. &nbsp…

wordfest

WordFest

I’ll be representing Saturday Night Write out at WordFest.  I will also be on the panet “It’s a mystery to me: Working Authors describe the writing process.”  Come on out to see what’s going on in the DFW writing community! RSVP through the Facebook event.https…

guest-blogger-bud-humble
News, Writing Tips

Guest Blogger: Bud Humble

We have Bud Humble as our guest speaker for Saturday Night Write on March 16, 2019. So I thought I’d invite him to stop by the blog. He will be discussing The Benefits of Hands-On Research.So here’s what I asked Bud:Hi Bud!Hey Amber! Thank…

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…

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