Knoxville Writers' Guild Summer Workshops
The Elements of Fiction: Hands-on Exercises to Unblock Your Creative Imagination
Informal, creative play sometimes delivers amazing results. Learn how to free yourself from cerebral limitations. Using a variety of prompts designed to assist creative flow, participants will create in-class sketches exploring the basics of fiction. The instructor is Carole A. Borges, the author of Disciplining the Devil’s Country. Borges received her MFA from Vermont College and is a widely published poet whose work has appeared in Poetry, Kalliope, and numerous other literary magazines. Her essays and articles have appeared in both regional and national newspapers and magazines. She also has led a series of workshops based on Julie Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way. Participants are encouraged, but not required, to take all three sessions.
Character. One session: Monday, July 10, 6 to 8 pm; Room MC322.WS#101: $20 for members, $28 for nonmembers.
Plot. One session: Monday, July 17, 6 to 8 pm; Room MC322.WS#102: $20 for members, $28 for nonmembers.
Setting. One session: Monday, July 24, 6 to 8 pm; Room MC322.WS#103: $20 for members, $28 for nonmembers.
Elements of Fiction Series. Sign up in advance for all three of Carole Borges’s workshops and save $6. WS#104: $54 for members, $78 for nonmembers.
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Picture Books for Children
This workshop will present a guided tour of the process from idea to finished product with stops along the way. Come prepared with ideas, drafts, edits, or questions for class discussion. The instructor, Doris Gove, is a biologist living in Knoxville. She has published six children’s books on nature topics and three hiking guides. Two sessions: Mondays, July 10 & 17, 6 to 8 pm; Room MC337. WS#123: $40 for members, $56 for nonmembers.
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Poetry Writing for Beginners
The workshops in beginning poetry are for novice poets or for poets who want refresher courses, encouragement, and motivation. The goals of the three sessions include learning and practicing poetry basics while ending each workshop with ideas and drafts for future poems. Participants are encouraged, but not required, to enroll in all three sessions.
The instructor, Marianne Worthington, is the author of a poetry chapbook, Larger Bodies Than Mine (Finishing Line Press, 2006). Her poetry has appeared in several journals and anthologies including Shenandoah, The Louisville Review, NaturalBridge, Kalliope, and Wind. Raised in Knoxville, she writes, teaches, and lives in Williamsburg, Kentucky, and is on the faculty at University of the Cumberlands and the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts.
Shaping the Poem. This session covers some basic topics in poetry construction, such as subject matter, vocabulary, voice, rhythm, and line breaks. Participants will freewrite to generate ideas as well as read poetry examples to work on modeling or shaping ideas into poems. Participants will write poems to bring back to the second session. One session: Tuesday, July 11, 6 to 8 pm; Room MC322. WS#201: $20 for members, $28 for nonmembers.
Smoothing the Poem. Part of this session is devoted to finding and using metaphor (and other figures of speech) and imagery in poetry. The other part of the session includes “smoothing” out poems: revising, editing, and critiquing poems worked on in Session I. One session: Tuesday, July 18, 6 to 8 pm; Room MC322. WS#202: $20 for members, $28 for nonmembers.
Sculpting the Poem. We will continue using poetic models as motivation for practicing the pacing, movement, and form of poetry. In addition to finishing a final draft of a poem, this session will include more revising, editing, and critiquing of poems generated in Session II. Some time is devoted to publishing and performance options for poets. One session: Tuesday, July 25, 6 to 8 pm; Room MC322. WS#203: $20 for members, $28 for nonmembers.
Poetry Writing for Beginners Series. Sign up in advance for all three of Marianne Worthington’s workshops and save $6. WS#204: $54 for members, $78 for nonmembers.
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The Practical Side of Writing
This series of workshops offers practical advice about the business of writing. The instructor, Cyn Mobley, is the USA Today bestselling author of more that thirty books, both fiction and nonfiction. She has been published by St. Martin’s Press, Berkley/Jove, Avon, Lyons and Alpha Books, and has written for the TV show JAG. NBC optioned her most recent nonfiction work, Gotcha! for a one hour cable drama. A retired naval officer and former attorney, she publishes several imprints. Cyn lives in South Knoxville with her husband and eight Greyhounds (among others.) Participants are encouraged, but not required, to enroll in all three sessions.
The Care and Feeding of Agents. I average a 70% request-for-manuscript rate. Let me show you how to get, feed, groom, and fire an agent. (Or do you really need one at all?) Bring your query letter or proposal, successful or not, to the class for discussion. One session: Tuesday, July 11, 6 to 8 pm; Room MC340. WS#401: $20 for members, $28 for nonmembers.
The Dreaded Outline. Could you write six to ten books a year? It's possible--and even fun!--when you really understand the hows and whys of outlining. This is the inside scoop on what works and how a little thought up front can save you a ton of time down the road. No note cards, no in-depth character biographies, just my own personal system. One session: Tuesday, July 18, 6 to 9 pm; Room MC340. WS#402: $30 for members, $42 for nonmembers.
Making (and Keeping!) Your Writing Money. How can you make a small fortune as a writer? Either start with a big one OR learn how to multi-task your work AND learn the stuff you're not good at but have to know to protect yourself: what's deductible, the hobby rule and how to paper the trail big time. And (gasp!) how to sock away that huge advance! One session: Tuesday, July 25, 6 to 8 pm; Room MC340. WS#403: $20 for members, $28 for nonmembers.
Practical Side of Writing Series. Sign up in advance for all three of Cyn Mobley’s workshops and save $7. WS#404: $63 for members, $91 for nonmembers.
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Public Relations for Writers
Like it or not, we live in the world of the targeted market. Writing is a commodity, promoted and sold like iPods or panty hose. You can’t just hope someone will read what you write or attend your reading or signing, and you can’t depend on your publisher to do all the promotion for you. Learn how to write press releases, format them the way editors want them, and pick the right people to send them to. Learn to position yourself and your writing (or some other endeavor) through the wonder of public relations and marketing. The instructor, Pam Strickland, has written for regional and national magazines, had her creative nonfiction essays anthologized, and for four years was a local essayist for the National Public Radio affiliate in Little Rock. Former President Bill Clinton, in his best-selling memoir, described Strickland as a “reporter I really respected.” She currently handles programming and publicity for the KWG board. One session: Tuesday, July 11, 6 to 8 pm; Room MC337. WS#789: $20 for members, $28
for nonmembers.
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Song Writing
This hands-on workshop will discuss songwriting methods. Participants are encouraged, but not required, to bring songs they are working on. The instructor, R. B. Morris, is a poet and playwright as well as a renowned songwriter and recording artist. His songs reflect a range of musical styles: pop, country, rock, gospel, and improvisation of the spoken word. His CDs include Take That Ride, Knoxville Sessions, and Zeke and the Wheel. Lucinda Williams has called him “the greatest unknown songwriter in the country” and Steve Earle says, “RB Morris is one of the reasons I started writing poetry.” Morris is currently the Writer in Residence at the University of Tennessee. For more information, visit his website, rbmorris.com. Two sessions: Tuesday, July 18 & Thursday, July 20, 6 to 8 pm; Room MC337. WS#234: $40 for members, $56 for nonmembers.
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Short Story Writing
These workshops explore creative processes associated with the literary short story. The instructor, Brian Griffin, is the award winning author of Sparkman in the Sky and other Stories and is Coordinator of the Peter Taylor Prize for the Novel.
Discovering Stories. The first session provides a look at the ways successful literary artists describe the origins of their short stories, with emphasis on how the original idea is carried through to a finished product. Wednesday, July 12, 6 to 8 pm; Room MC322. WS#301: $20 for members; $28 for nonmembers.
Creating Place in Short Stories. The second session explores “place” in short fiction, emphasizing how language is used to create place and how place can act as a catalyst for developing other elements of a story, such as plot. Wednesday, July 19, 6 to 8 pm; Room MC322. WS#302: $20 for members; $28 for nonmembers.
How Conflict Works in Short Stories. The final session considers the interplay between internal and external conflict, emphasizing how conflict within a character is often the driving force behind a successful story. Wednesday, July 26, 6 to 8 pm; Room MC322. WS#303: $20 for members; $28 for nonmembers.
Short Story Writing Series. Sign up in advance for all three of Brian Griffin’s workshops and save $6. WS#304: $54 for members, $78 for nonmembers.
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Book Publishing Options
This workshop will deal with the pros and cons of various methods of book publishing. The instructor, Robert W. Pelton, has published more than 50 books with mainline New York publishers, has self-published a series of survival books, and has used a Print on Demand (POD) publisher for seven historical cookbooks and five other books. He is presently working on his autobiography as well as two other books: George Washington – Man of Destiny; and Men of Destiny – the Signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. One session: Wednesday, July 12, 6 to 9 pm, Room MC337. WS#543: $30 for members, $42 for nonmembers.
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Fiction and Nonfiction for Young People
In this workshop, Ed Sullivan will discuss common problems encountered by writers of fiction and informational books for children and young adults. Learn about the genres popular with children and teens, how to create great stories, and tips for submitting your work to publishers. A nationally recognized expert on literature for children and young adults, he has written several hundred reviews of children's and young adult books for many publications, including Booklist, Horn Book Magazine, and School Library Journal. He has worked as a consultant for Random House Children's Books and Henry Holt Books for Young Readers and is the author of The Ultimate Weapon: The Race to Develop the Atomic Bomb (Holiday House). One session: Thursday, July 13, 6 to 9 pm; Room MC322; WS#678: $30 for members, $42 for nonmembers.
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Taking Chances, Taking a Stand and Balancing on the Tightrope
You've got something to say, but you're afraid to say it, especially to the people who
represent strength and power in your world. Success as a writer means taking a chance, both in what you have to say and in how you say it. Learn how to be brave and walk through that fear. In this workshop, you will discuss those topics you've been backing away from and figure out how to deal with them successfully. Participants will be asked to respond to a brief questionnaire as part of the preparation for the course. The instructor, Pam Strickland, has written for regional and national magazines, had her creative nonfiction essays anthologized, and for four years was a local essayist for
the National Public Radio affiliate in Little Rock. Former President Bill Clinton, in his best-selling memoir, described Strickland as a "reporter I really respected." Her personal writing stands have included asking the tough questions of politicians about everything from sex to taxes, explaining her Southern Baptist grandmother's support of gay marriage before it was a push-button political issue, and exploring the consequences of her
parents' deaths when she was an infant. One session: Thursday, July 13, 6 to 8 pm; Room MC337. WS#012: $20 for members, $28 for nonmembers.
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How to Write for Magazines: From Queries to Publication
Dorothy Foltz-Gray will offer a close-up of magazine publishing from the start of an idea through publication. She'll cover researching and writing queries and assigned stories; targeting and dealing with editors; negotiating fees and deadlines; revisions; fact-checking and record-keeping; quitting the day job (or not). She has written about health, nutrition, and food for Bon Appetit; Cooking Light; Family Fun; Fitness; Good Housekeeping; Ladies Home Journal; More; Natural Health; O, The Oprah Magazine; Organic Style; Outside; Parenting; Prevention; Reader's Digest; Redbook; Real Simple; Self; Woman's Day; Yoga Journal; and others. She is the author of Alternative Treatments for Arthritis: An A to Z Guide (Arthritis Foundation, 2005) and a contributing editor for Health and Arthritis Today magazines. One session: Wednesday, July 19, 6 to 9 pm, Room MC337. WS#345: $30 for members, $42 for nonmembers.
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Writing for Beginners and Others
Open to all writers and aspiring writers, the course will cover “Great opening lines,” “Drawing on family history and the subconscious for material,” “Writing effective dialog,” “Striking the right tone,” “Communicating with editors and agents,” “Formatting the manuscript,” “Building a writing community,” and “Writing opportunities on the Internet.” The instructor is Don Williams, newspaper columnist, short story writer, founding editor of New Millennium Writings, and author of Heroes, Sheroes, and Zeroes: The Best Writings about People. Williams’s awards include a National Endowment for the Humanities Michigan Journalism Fellowship, a Golden Presscard Award, the Malcolm Law Journalism Prize, and assorted awards from Scripps Howard Newspapers. One session: Thursday, July 20, 6 to 9 pm, Room MC322. WS#455: $30 for members, $42 for nonmembers.
Repeat of July 20 class. One session: Thursday, July 27, 6 to 9 pm, Room MC322. WS#466: $30 for members, $42 for nonmembers.
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Interviewing and Other Research Techniques
Research isn't just for college papers and newspaper articles, and it's not just Googling. In this workshop you will learn where and how to find out what you need to know for your
creative projects, regardless of what kind of writing you do. Topics include preparing for, conducting, and following up on interviews; Internet searching; and other methods of finding information. The instructor, Pam Strickland has written for regional and national magazines, had her creative nonfiction essays anthologized, and for four years was a local essayist for the National Public Radio affiliate in Little Rock. Former President Bill Clinton, in his best-selling memoir, described Strickland as a "reporter I really respected." She provided research and story development for the August House Publishers' children's book, Under One Flag: A Year at Rohwer, which was nominated for the 2006 Historic Preservation Award. One session: Monday, July 24, 6 to 8 pm; Room MC337; WS#890: $20 for members, $28 for nonmembers.
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Memoir Writing
Participants in this workshop will look at five hallmarks of good writing and learn to apply them to stories from their own lives. They will be encouraged to use the time between classes to try out the techniques presented in the first session and discuss problems and successes in the second session. Ina Hughs, the instructor, is a News Sentinel columnist and author of three nonfiction books. Two sessions: Tuesday, July 25 & Thursday, July 27, 6 to 8 pm, Room MC337. WS#567: $40 for members, $56 for nonmembers.
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NOTE:
Please note that all workshops are in the McWherter
Building on Pellissippi State's main campus on Pellissippi Parkway.
For more information,
call John Reaves at 865-659-2651 or e-mail jreaves@pstcc.edu
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