Imagine that book you’re writing or have always wanted to write sitting on the shelves at Barnes and Noble and being checked out by your neighbors from the Library. Whether you’re just thinking about your first writing project or working on the next chapter of your epic series, the Library’s Writing Lab will move your story along, break through writer’s block and get you ready to send that book to the editor.
National Novel Writing Month is coming in November. Are you ready? Whether you're a first-time participant, a long-time Wrimo, or even if you have never and will never write a novel in a month, we can help you hone your craft in time to start your next novel! Check out our three workshops on plot, character, and setting with three fabulous local writers:
October 9 - The Importance of Place: The Silent Character of Your Story, with Nikesha Elise Williams
Every story takes place somewhere, be it a real city, state, country, or one that is entirely made up. Every story has a setting. In “The Importance of Place” workshop, award-winning author Nikesha Elise Williams will help you connect the story and characters you are crafting with the location and place that the story is taking place. This workshop is for writers who want to give their stories another level of depth beyond dialogue, character development, and descriptive exposition. By focusing explicitly on place, participants will discover new layers they can add to their stories, novels, essays, or nonfiction works in progress by capturing the feel, smell, sound, and movement of their setting in picturesque prose or vivid verse.
October 16 - Building Lively Characters in Fiction with Hurley Winkler
In any piece of fiction, character is the heartbeat of the story. A strong, memorable character lasts well beyond the final page of a short story or novel. In this hands-on workshop, we'll discuss critical techniques for building strong, memorable characters, including voice, dialogue, and point of view. We'll work through writing exercises that we'll share with one another. Come prepared to put pen to paper!
October 23 - Plot Nesting for Genre Fiction with M.M. Schill
Create efficient, tight story structure, with a sense of completion, using the “Plot-nesting Technique”. “Plot-nesting”, sometimes called M.I.C.E. Method (or quotient), was originally popularized by Orson Scott Card and has been championed by sci-fi/fantasy writer Mary Robinette Kowal in recent years. In this discussion we will go over what plot-nesting is, how plot-nesting can be used to tighten up story drafts, and the many strengths of this method, along with alternatives to plot-nesting when it comes to crafting a well-rounded piece of genre fiction. We’ll also discuss how to save a story’s ending once it's gone off the rails, how to start a story to get an editor’s attention, how to approach editors in the pro-market, and genre expectations on the pro-market.
Registration is required for this event, and must be completed two hours prior to the start time. A library card and PIN are required for registration. If you do not have a card, click HERE to obtain one.
A link to the Zoom meeting room will be sent 1 hour prior to the event. Your Zoom name must match your registration name for you to be admitted to the program.
Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon request. Please allow 1–2 business days to process. Last-minute requests will be accepted, but may not be possible to fulfill. Please ask for Learning Services at 255-2665 or email JPLPrograms@coj.net.
AGE GROUP: | Adults |
EVENT TYPE: | Authors, Books, and Writing |
TAGS: | Writers | adult programs |