Thursday, January 6, 2011

Wriiting Workshops...The Writing Without The Drama Way!



So after putting out the "Absolutely No Excuse" challenge I got flooded with requests to help people not only embrace the challenge but to get their story into publishable shape.

After threatening to do this for months, I have finally been convinced to start workshops.

These are an intense 1 hour to1 & 1/2 hour group workshop where I look at each person's (if 5 people are in the session, it is an hour if we have more it will run 1 1/2- 2 hours depending on the number of people maximum of 10 people) writing and pin-point its strengths and weaknesses.

Each person's work will get about 10 minutes each, but I am telling you that you will want to stick around for the whole session because you actually learn more when it ISN'T your work being discussed. You aren't nervous, or tense and can take in way more information plus you learn things you didn't even realize you could use until 2am a month later when you go "Ah-ah! That's what Carolyn was talking about!"

Any level of writer can join the workshop. If your stuff is nearly ready for publication, I can help polish it until it shines. If you are just in your first edit stage or even still writing the manuscript I can give invaluable pointers to make your life easier and your writing more powerful.

We don't hold hands. We don't sing around the campfire, we just roll up our sleeves and analyze and enhance our writing!

The cost is $10.00 per session.

The sessions are on Saturdays and start at 3pm PST (right after my radio show on Blog Talk Radio at 2pm PST which has TONS of tips and tools for free). Please schedule at least 1 1/2 hours of time to dedicate to the workshop since part of the workshop is getting feedback from your peers as well and for you to give feedback to your peers :-)

If you are interested simply email me at craftycmc (at) aol (dot) com.

I will put your name on the list and give you instructions on how to pay (all payment must be made by Saturday at noon to make it for that day's session).

Once you have made your payment, you will be sent instructions on how to attend the webinar (you will need a computer and either call in or use your computer's headset to listen in). I will be sharing my desktop so everyone can see the words on the page and any notes I may write about them ;-)

I can't wait to workshop with you!!

***Additional information...
Okay, I have already gotten a bunch-o-questions so let me address them here...

Yes, this workshop is geared towards the serious writer looking to get their work in shape to be published. That includes anyone that has just written their first chapter ever to someone who is polishing their fourth novel. It isn't the stage of your career that tells you whether this workshop is for you, it is YOUR level of dedication to improving your writing.

Yes, this will be a loving, emotionally safe and supportive environment... and at the same time be very honest. Too many authors attend class or workshops or get told by family and friends that their writing is 'great' only to spend all the time and energy on publishing only to find it, you know... sucked... or worse wasn't commercial.

See below for the list of questions I ask all participants to answer for their fellow writers. I know I will be honest. Not brutal, but honest in my assessment of your work. If I feel it is not in publishable shape, I will tell you so. If I would not buy the book based on the pages submitted, I will tell you so. The beauty of The Writing Without The Drama way is that I will then give you very specific ideas on how to improve any weakness I detect :-)

*** More details on how this writing workshop will be conducted.
Before each session, everyone will submit 10 pages. If this is your first session that will be the first 10 pages of your book. And that is all you submit. Just the title of the book, your name and those 10 pages. Do NOT include genre, age group or other information. I want these reads to be COLD. This gives us all the best information back without any preconceived notions that muddy the waters.

Everyone signed up for the session will read all participants' 10 pages.

Everyone will answer the following 3 questions for each submission:
What genre did you feel these pages represented?
What age group do you feel these pages were geared for (ex. Everyone, Grade 12+, YA, etc) ?
Based on these pages would you buy this book?

Okay, hopefully that answered this round of questions, I am sure I will be back with more info and the questions roll in :-)

4 comments:

  1. This sounds like an aamzing idea! (=

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  2. I'm definitely joining, but I'm nervous! It's my first attempt at writing, so my pages will probably be ripped to shreds! I don't mind though. It's part of the process.

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  3. Nope. No ripping. No shredding. I totally get each stage of a writer's journey. If you are new to the craft I will give supportive, insightful and incredibly helpful notes.

    Ok, #fine. I may crack the whip a bit... but I wouldn't be Writing Without The Drama otherwise :-) :-) :-)

    And did you send me an email? I'm not sure if I got it/responded. If I did, just chalk it up to a long night :-)

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  4. Can't wait for this workshop. I'm nervous, too, but I want to better my craft so I can publish. Thank you for hosting this.

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