Conference Workshops

Two-Hour Workshops

Thursday, September 22, 7 - 9 PM

I Finished the Book! Now What?

You’ve done the hard part, now the work starts. There’s a long road between typing “The End” and seeing your book in print. This offers a quick primer on the main paths to publication and their pros and cons.

Presented by John G. Hartness


How to Pitch Agents, Editors, and Publishers

Pitching an agent face-to-face is a golden opportunity to bypass the slush pile. When done well, you can sell the agent on your project within minutes and get real-time feedback that simply isn’t available in the querying process. In this workshop, we will break down how to prepare, how to start, what to say, how to hook and be remembered, what they might ask and how to respond, and, perhaps what you want to know most, how not to keep yourself from melting into a puddle of nerves. We will steel those nerves with knowledge of what to expect and real-time pitch practice.

Presented by M. M. Finck


Point of View and Voice

Point of view may well be the most important tool a writer has at their disposal. It is the nexus of storytelling, the place where character, plot, and setting meet. It is also quite often the key to problem solving when we run into issues with our manuscripts. In this session, we will explore different approaches to point of view and the establishment of voice, and discuss ways in which point of view can help us overcome common narrative pitfalls. The class will include lecture, discussion, and writing exercises.

Presented by David B. Coe


Using Archetypes to Create Characters and V is for Villain

In this two-hour workshop, learn what are character archetypes with examples from literature, film, and television. Learn ways to make your protagonist or villain three-dimensional with motivation, backstory, and inherent traits.

Presented by Cate Hart


 

 

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