Online Workshops — too much ?
20 Jul 2009 5 Comments
in Workshops Tags: workshops, writing
I’m due to give an online workshop with Colorado Romance Writers – in past years this has been very well attended (it’s the Show & Tell Workshop), but this year isn’t looking too full. And might well be canceled. They show other workshops they’ve held in the past couple of months as also canceled. Which makes me think folks are really tightening belts and budgets, and this falls under extras.
I’ve cut back on a few things–less trips, fewer lattes out, and really thinking twice before I buy a book (but I’m still buying and have hit a new streak of great reading).
But I’ve also seen writer contests struggling, pushing back close dates, entries dropping. So now I’m wondering if it’s a time crunch as well as cash–as in the second job take, or the extra work undertaken, or the stress of job shopping (can be hard on the muse, I know).
Maybe it’s due to just too many contests, too many workshops online, too much info floating about. There’s certainly nothing wrong with putting your head down and writing–much more can be learned from the doing instead of the learning. But I do wonder how this will shape the market, and future writers.
April Online Workshop
21 Mar 2009 2 Comments
in Workshops, writing Tags: workshops, writing
I’m doing the Show & Tellworkshop online again for OCC–not sure it’s good that this seems to be a perennial favorite. However, I took a year off from giving this workshop, and that was good–time always gives perspective (and new things to say).
The interesting thing about this workshop is that most folks get how to “tell” a story, but don’t get that good “telling” takes as much work to craft beautiful prose as does good “showing” (or action). In fact, I sometimes think a beautiful narrative passage is even more work. This is a difficult concept to teach, because, it’s like music–you have an ear for it (language or music) or you don’t. If you don’t there’s no teaching it.
It’s also interesting in that so many writers are hung up on having been told to show more that that’s all they want to focus on. And the real trick to learn is not just to show, but to show the RIGHT things. It’s not the details, the actions, that make a character–it’s the right actions.
The other interesting thing will be to see what mix is in the workshop. There are always more than a few lurkers, which is cool, but it’s not like a classroom where you can look at the quiet ones and know which ones get it and which ones are struggling. There are a few teacher’s pets who do every assignment and ask tons of questions but I sometimes have the feeling they’re too focused on doing it ‘right’ and that can defeat the point of learning. There are the difficult ones, because email as a form of communication can leave much to be desired, and sometimes I wonder why these folks signed up for anything since they just seem to want to do things their ways. And then there are the surprises. That’s the best part of any workshop. We’ll see what this one brings.
Show & Tell Workshop
15 Nov 2008 Leave a Comment
in Other Things Tags: workshops, writing
There is such a thing as teaching burn-out. I’ve taught folks how to ride — and I miss that part of my life, and still plan to get back to it someday. But these days it’s more about writing workshops. The best part of any workshop is that it makes me rethink some of my own process. However, when you find yourself saying the same things over and over, it starts to feel dull–which is why 2008 was the year of just say no to any workshops. But I’ve already lined up a few for next year, and I’m actually excited.
The first one off is a “Show and Tell” workshop Jan. 5th thru the 16th for the Northeast Ohio Chapter of RWA. While I’ve given this workshop before, a year of space has given me time to rethink things, and I did a run through of this for the local LA RWA chapter, and that went well. It always interests me just how many writers do not have a clear idea between what’s the narrative voice, and what isn’t–and I think there’s a connection here between if a writer leans more towards instinct or analytics. Instinct is good, but one thing I learned from one of the most brilliant riders I’ve ever known–George Morris went on to coach the US Olympic riding team, and he always said he’d take a solid technical over a brilliant instinctual rider. He knew he could count on the technician to produce–that person might not give the brilliant rides, but the instinctive rider also has moments when instinct fails or goes wrong, and so there’s a lack of consistency in the performance.
Writing is a lot like that. Instinct can fail–can take you the wrong way. But solid technique–that can lead you to solid performance. Which is why I lean more towards wanting a better understanding of craft. I adore brilliant writing– but I also love a really well-crafted story with solid technique. And if I can pass on a love and interest of that–well, hey, that’s not a bad thing, is it?
Workshops 2005
05 Jul 2008 Leave a Comment
in Other Things Tags: workshops
October 12 to November 8 2005 – OCCRWA Online Class – “The Selling Synopsis”
July 7 – September 7, 2005 – UCLA Online Extension Class – “Chick Lit and Her Sisters: Writing Marketable Romance Novels”
July 27, 2005 – Beau Monde Conference, Reno, Nevada – “Historical Characters in Fiction”
May 2 – 31, 2005 – “The Selling Synopsis” – Earthly Charms Workshop
May 2 – 31, 2005 – “Show and Tell”- Eastside Romance Writers
April 15 – 17, 2005 – Historical Novel Society Conference, Salt Lake, UT
January 11, 2005 – Eastside Romance Writers, “Plotting From Character”, Bellevue, WA
Workshops 2007
05 Jul 2008 Leave a Comment
in Other Things Tags: workshops
Workshops given in 2007 (2008 was a regeneration year)…
October 2007 – Outreach International Romance Writers – Show and Tell Workshop
May 2007 – POV: It’s More Than a Point of View
April 2007 – Workshop: Sell that Book
February 2007 – The Selling Synopsis – Earthlycharms.com
Words on Workshops Given
05 Jul 2008 Leave a Comment
in Other Things Tags: workshops
Because praise is always nice, and self-promotion is vital….
Words on Shannon’s Workshops–
“I did revamp the entire thing according to this workshop and guess what? I got a request for a full (manuscript) off of my synopsis! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!” Kim Daniel — Selling Synopsis Workshop
“I’ve finaled in the Sharp Synopsis contest. Using the synopsis we created in your class, by the way. Thank you so much for teaching me so well!” Wendy-Marie Foerster — Selling Synopsis Workshop
‘Writing synopses is hard; I’ve done about six of the beasts by now and it never seems to get easier. Your approach is very, very helpful.” Nancy Herkness — Selling Synopsis Workshop
“I learned a great deal from your expertise as a writer and a special “thanks” for your patience as an instructor.” Diana Hizar – Selling Synopsis Workshop
“You definitely added more tools to my writing toolbox… Thank you!” Genene Valleau — Show and Tell Workshop
“You gave valuable info regarding the use of telling and showing and now better understand when to use them in my writing. Thank you for teaching this course.” Gerry Jove — Show and Tell: An Interactive Workshop
“Thank you for the huge amount of really useful information. I especially appreciate how you broke down what seemed to be an impossible task into doable parts.” Jocelyn McGrath — Research Workshop
