SHARPENING THE QUILL WRITING WORKSHOPS
Lauren leads monthly writing workshops, on the last Saturday of every month at Camillo's Cafe in the Princeton Shopping Center on N. Harrison Street. We begin at 10:00 a.m. and end at 3:00 p.m.
Whether you’re an absolute beginner, or a published professional, you will find supportive, encouraging writers with whom you can share your successes as well as your frustrations (and yes, the writer’s life always has a few of those!). We sharpen our skills and practice together. We critique our work and experiment with new styles. We learn the basics, discover our voices, refine our techniques.
In the morning we have a writing class on varying subjects. We’ll share a fabulous lunch prepared by Chef Camillo – an opportunity to network and build writing support. The afternoon session is devoted to critiquing. You are encouraged but not required to submit your work for critiquing. (Don’t worry, it’s gentle – all about making the work better. NEVER about tearing anyone down!) On July 31 we are going to begin a series of workshops on “The Art of the Scene.” The scene is the building block of all good writing, fiction and non-fiction alike. It is in scenes that we make use of those significant sense details and create an emotional connection with the reader. This month we’ll examine and compare the summary and the scene, discuss how both are used, and look at the components that make up a scene. Next month we’ll move on to “Scene Launches.”
The cost is $85.00, which includes lunch, coffee/tea and soft drinks.
For more information, including registration instructions, please contact Lauren at "Lauren [at]LaurenBDavis.com." For more information on Lauren B. Davis, please visit www.LaurenBDavis.com
I hope you can join us! Future dates are: July 31, August 28, September 25, October 30, November 27 ...(We're taking December off!) and then we begin again on January 29, 2011...
Here are some photos from our June workshop. We had a fantastic time!
SHARPENING THE QUILL by email
If you are interested in taking the creative writing course I designed, SHARPENING THE QUILL, by email, please contact me.
Perhaps talent can’t be learned, but how to skilfully use the writers’ tools can. SHARPENING THE QUILL is designed not only to inspire and guide, but also to hone the craft of fiction writing. You will learn about structure, conflict, point of view, voice, characterization, setting, language, narrative distance, critical analysis and more. For committed beginners as well as those who have been writing for some time. Students will be expected to practice free-writing, complete writing exercises as well as specific assignments and return them, via email, on a schedule for critical feedback. Each class will cover specific topics as well as practise writing about a different emotion. Designed to be taken chronologically, but students can begin at the start of any session.
Cost: $400 (US) per session
Timetable: Flexible -- can be arranged between student and teacher
HOW IT WORKS
For five weeks, every Monday students will receive, via email, a new lesson, which includes exercises and an assignment. Students have until the following Monday to submit their work for comment. I will review the work and send feedback sometime during the next week. On the sixth Monday, students submit a short story of 2,500 words or less for critiquing.
COURSE OUTLINE
Session one: FOG AND FORM
Class 1: Generating Momentum. (Emotion: Excitement)
Class 2: Openings (Anxiety)
Class 3: The Folk Tale as Structural Model – Cinderella (Surprise)
Class 4: Getting someone in trouble: Continuing conflicts (Worry)
Class 5: Endings (Jealousy)
Class 6: Submission and Critiquing
Session Two: CHARACTER
Class 1: Generating Momentum – recharge – (Longing)
Class 2: Characterization 1 – finding your character (Desire)
Class 3: POV, 3rd, 2nd, 1st/To whom is your character talking? (Loneliness)
Class 4: Methods of Character Presentation – Declaration, Description, dress,
demeanour & dramatics (Anger)
Class 5: Methods of Character Presentation cont’d: Dialogue, deeds (Forgiveness)
Class 6: Submission and Critiquing
Session Three: VOICE AND VIEW
Class 1: Generating Momentum – recharge (Hate)
Class 2: Significant Detail and The Active vs the Passive Voice (Revenge)
Class 3: Narrative Time – Summary and Scene; Flash back; slow motion (Despair)
Class 4: Interior monologues, monologues/ stream of consciousness (Shame)
Class 5: Distance/Unreliable narrator (Guilt)
Class 6: Submission and Critiquing
Session Four: TIME, PLACE AND FINAL TOUCHES
Class 1: Generating Momentum – recharge (Suspicion)
Class 2: Theme, dramatic monologues (Sadness)
Class 3: Setting & Atmosphere/Tone (Hope)
Class 4: Metaphor and Simile/rhythm and music in writing/action (Happiness)
Class 5: Editing and Revision (Restlessness)
Class 6: Submission and Critiquing
