Focus Writing Workshops: Specific Projects
Students who have works in progress or specific projects ready for development can bring them to these workshops for professional guidance and feedback. Workshops will focus on idea development; defining of structure and—where appropriate—outlining; research and organization of material; the writing and rewriting process; and marketing strategies as applicable. Students are expected to have a good grasp of mechanics and composition, as well as an understanding of the basic skills and techniques required for project development (an appropriate Craft Workshop is strongly recommended as a preliminary). Writing assignments will be drawn specifically from the work in progress and will be submitted for the instructor’s review as well as for group critique. Students are encouraged to participate in ongoing critique and discussion sessions.
Extended Magazine Article Writing Workshop
For freelance writers, both novice and experienced, no other market is as open as the magazine market. From trade and association publications, to special interest magazines, to regional and national consumer publications, editors are looking for writers who can deliver well-researched, reader-targeted articles on deadline.
Work with a published article writer to develop, research and write two articles suitable for publication in magazines you’ve identified.
>> Learn More About Extended Magazine Article Writing Workshop
Extended Novel Writing Workshop
Whether you write short fiction, nonfiction, memoir or poetry, chances are there is a novel yearning to get out. The idea of actually writing something as long and complex as a novel can seem overwhelming. You can set your novel free – by developing a plan with someone who has successfully negotiated this literary minefield.
>> Learn More About Extended Novel Writing Workshop
Extended Short Story Writing Workshop
Successful short story writers know there is more to writing a short story than meets the eye. They require a sharply focused idea, finely rendered characters and tightly crafted prose to be effective. Work with a published short story author to write and revise two complete short stories and develop skills to write short stories independently.
>> Learn More About Extended Short Story Writing Workshop
Focus On The Nonfiction Magazine Article
For freelance writers, both novice and experienced, no other market is as open as the magazine market. From trade and association publications, to special interest magazines, to regional and national consumer publications, editors are looking for writers who can deliver well-researched, reader-targeted articles on deadline.
Work with a published article writer to develop, research and write two articles suitable for publication in magazines you’ve identified.
>> Learn More About Focus On The Nonfiction Magazine Article
Focus On The Novel
Whether you write short fiction, nonfiction, memoir or poetry, chances are there is a novel yearning to get out. The idea of actually writing something as long and complex as a novel can seem overwhelming. You can set your novel free – by developing a plan with someone who has successfully negotiated this literary minefield.
>> Learn More About Focus On The Novel
Focus On The Personal/Family Memoir
The story of your own or your family’s history is likely to be the most personal, emotionally satisfying and potentially overwhelming writing project you’ll ever undertake. You’ve collected all the oral history, personal memories, journal entries, photographs, letters and countless other documents – now find out how to weave them together into a compelling story.
Work with a published author to write and revise chapters of your memoir (up to 12,000 words) and develop a working outline for the remainder of the entire book.
>> Learn More About Focus On The Personal/Family Memoir
Focus On The Short Story
Successful short story writers know there is more to writing a short story than meets the eye. They require a sharply focused idea, finely rendered characters and tightly crafted prose to be effective. Work with a published short story author to write and revise two complete short stories and develop skills to write short stories independently.
>> Learn More About Focus On The Short Story
Focus On Writing Fiction For Children
Children’s publishing is a vibrant yet challenging market for today’s writers. Editors say that 95% of submissions are poorly written and inappropriate. Because children have short attention spans and a wide range of reading abilities, it takes more than just a good story to be successful.
Work with a professional children’s author to take your writing skills to the next level, and interact with other children’s writers. You will also find ways to take the seemingly abstract concepts behind writing for children and apply them to the story or novel you are working on. By the conclusion of this workshop, you will have written and revised up to 2000 words of fiction for children
>> Learn More About Focus On Writing Fiction For Children
Focus On Writing Nonfiction For Children
Are you looking to break into children’s writing, but have a growing collection of rejections from your fiction submissions? Try writing nonfiction for children! Like the nonfiction market for adults, the nonfiction children’s market is easier to break into. Covering topics from biographies to history to science to sports, you will be able to find something to write either books or articles about. Editors are always looking for writers who can deliver well-researched, interesting nonfiction written specifically for children and teens.
>> Learn More About Focus On Writing Nonfiction For Children
Write Great Fiction: Revision & Self-Editing
There is no such thing as good writing, only good rewriting. Good writers become published writers through the process of rewriting. It’s hard work. In this course, we’ll be training ourselves to become our own editors by first teaching ourselves what makes fiction work. By focusing on concrete self-editing checklists, lookouts, and questions—and using key concepts in James Scott Bell’s Write Great Fiction: Revision, & Self-Editing—you’ll learn how to turn your first draft into a fine-tuned, finished, and publishable novel.
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Writing The Nonfiction Book Proposal
You’ve got a great idea for a book. You’ve done the research, interviewed the experts, collected all the materials you need, started—or maybe even finished—a draft of the manuscript. Now what? Before you spend months finishing and/or polishing that manuscript, wouldn’t it be nice to know there’s an editor out there who’s already made a commitment to publish it, or an agent who’s agreed to represent it? Professional authors know how to get that commitment up front—with a book proposal package.
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Writing The Novel Proposal
For months, maybe years, you’ve worked diligently to craft your novel. You’ve written and revised and revised some more until finally – your novel is finished. Your next step is to find a home for your masterpiece. But just how, exactly, do you go about finding an agent or editor, and – even more important – getting one of them to say “yes”? If your goal is commercial publication, you need to know how to approach the market the way successful novelists do – with a professionally presented novel proposal.
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Writing the Young Adult Novel
Audience becomes a more than usually important consideration when drafting a young adult (YA) novel. In this course, we’ll familiarize ourselves with the genre and audience of the YA novel, learn specific strategies for improving the core components of your YA book—such as character, plot, and setting—and, finally, unearth the mysteries of querying agents and editors. By focusing on specific writing techniques—and using K.L. Going’s Writing & Selling the YA Novel—you’ll learn how to turn your idea for a YA novel into a finished, and saleable, novel.
