Documentaries: The Writer’s Vision Illuminated

Panel
Monday, July 25, 2016

Rounding off our media triumvirate, our July panel will present some fascinating documentary filmmakers.

The journey from concept to production, distribution and sales presents quite the challenge. Documentarians possess the devotion to their subject and a certain single-mindedness that, if the fates allow, lead them to a worthy finished product.

Our panelists:
Tom Jennings
Stephanie Hubbard
Karla DiBenedetto
Susan Karlin, Moderator

[To read more, click the title!]

Word Processing Prowess: Easy tricks and hints

Seminar
Saturday, February 20, 2016

Have you ever felt that Word Processing is actually harder than writing by hand or type writing? Do you use Word or another word processor and love it — except when you end up with weird page breaks or make one tiny change and end up with rivers of white instead of columns? Are you frustrated when you edit a word and actually lose the word. Do you “get by” in Word or your writing app, but know you could be more efficient?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions or possibly have other frustrations or questions, please do yourself the favor of coming to this seminar and learning how word processing can make you a superhero-strength writer.

Presented by Deborah Shadovitz, who wrote the book!

[To read more, click the title!]

Method Writing: An Organic Approach to Writing” with Presenter Jack Grapes

Seminar
Saturday, March 15, 2014

“Method Writing” is an organic approach to writing, much as method acting is an organic approach to acting, stressing inner process and deep voice. “Method Writing” consists of various concepts that take the writer through techniques designed to make the writing more compelling and more effective, publishable and productive.

Back by popular demand, Jack Grapes…

[To read more, click the title!]

Writing History: Bringing It To Life

Panel
Monday, November 25, 2013

According to polls taken in the mid-1990s, 25% of college seniors could not pinpoint the date of the first voyage of Christopher Columbus; 40% couldn’t say when the American Civil War occurred, and fewer than 2% of American teenagers could name the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court — but for all this seeming historical ignorance, works of history often show up on non-fiction best-seller lists. Either the polls aren’t telling the whole story, or there is a fanatic minority out there who voraciously eats up anything to do with the past.

This month’s panel on writing history will look at what’s happening now about the unpredictable past and explore the motivation, research, writing and publishing that go into creating the chronicle of who we have come to be.

[To read more, click the title!]

Writin’ Funny: Interactive, informative, and ticklish

Seminar
Saturday, October 26, 2013

In keeping with this year’s theme exploring the writing process, we cannot ignore humor, nor do we want to.

There are methods, tricks, turns of phrase, and surprises that elicit a laughter response. The two presenters have all of this, plus the instinct and a distinct ability and personality to clearly communicate how you can apply this to your own writing.

We will discuss how to open up to the absurdities and vagaries of life, and how to enjoy them. If you want to bring something that you have written, we will work with that as time permits, and we may also throw a few easy exercises your way.

[To read more, click the title!]

Marketing for the Writer: How To Get The Biggest Bang For Your Buck — And Your Time

Panel
Monday, May 20, 2013

Your work will not sell itself. No marketing, no nothing, nada, zilch. Regardless of the enormous competition out there, if you are savvy, creative, and energetic, your work will have an edge. But you need to know how, you need to know where, you need to know what’s new and creative, and you need to know how to do it inexpensively and time-efficiently.

What has changed recently? What is all of this new buzz about Amazon and short stories?

For our yearly panel, we have assembled veterans who are very experienced in those matters. Learn from them and resolve to put the time and energy into improving your marketing. Yes, everyone can benefit from improved marketing.

[To read more, click the title!]