Presentations Available
KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW
For those who are writing now or who have thought they would like to write – a novel, a nonfiction book, a journal. This is a multi-part workshop designed to help writers discover what resources they already have for creating a story. It can also be introduced in a single workshop, leaving the participants with the tools they need to continue on their own.
To contact Anna about doing a presentation, click here.
TEN STEPS TO PUTTING IT TOGETHER
Knowing What NOT to Do
A Hands-on Workshop Proposal for
Beginning or Not-Yet-Published Writers
This is a workshop aimed at unpublished writers. It addresses several '‘mistakes'’ that beginning writers can make, and how to spot them, fix them or avoid them altogether. The session combines commentary and lecture with hands-on exercises completed in session with the participants. It covers:
- Not looking at the BIG Picture (Exercise: Project management)
- Openings That Don’t Engage the Reader (Exercise: Write opening sentence/paragraph)
- Don’t Front Load Your Novel (Exercise: Review openings of famous novels)
- Avoid giant leaps of faith (Exercise: Checklist for character development)
- Suffering from Punchline or Sound Byte Syndrome (Exercise: Establishing clear goals and motivation)
- Putting the Elements Together (Exercise: Barbra Streisand song: rules/compromises)
- Show -- Don’t Tell (Exercise: Plot points and pitfalls)
- If You Want to Be Political, Run for Office (Exercise: Identifying the author’s hidden agenda)
- Editing and Rewriting (Exercise: Tips for self-editing used on participant’s opening paragraph)
- Never Forget -- This Is a Business (Exercise: Open discussion about the business of writing romance.)
To contact Anna about doing a presentation, click here.
THE JOURNALING JOURNEY
The difference between a diary and a journal is that technically a diary is a record of events, schedules, weather, etc. – it is more outwardly focused.
A journal assumes that we are interested in forming a relationship with our inner self. The journal is a way of opening ourselves to insights about how and why we are as we are. A journal is a safe place to think, say and record anything we dare not speak aloud. In doing so we are often led to decisions and actions that are good for us and for others. Journal writing is a voyage to the interior.
To contact Anna about doing a presentation, click here.
The following copyrighted article may be used by any RWA chapter or organized writing group:
FIVE MISTAKES EVEN PUBLISHED AUTHORS CAN MAKE
