SATURDAY SEMINARS

Writing, Revising & Publishing Your Poems

with David Harrity

Saturday, May 19, 10:00 am-2:00 pm $40

In this workshop, we’ll examine ways in which a writer can get practical and develop systems to help form better pieces. Using William Stafford’s poetry and writings about craft and vocation as a lens, we’ll take a look at how organization and consistency can inform the processes and methods by which we create. We’ll focus on exercise, production, revision, and technique. This workshop is designed for poets, but open to writers of all genres. We’ll take a short break for lunch, so bring a brown bag if you’d like.

How to Self-Publish Your Book

with Peggy DeKay

Saturday, June 16, 10:00 am-2:00 pm $48

Whether you are a published author or writing your first book, this class will give you a comprehensive guide to making money by self-publishing. The class will cover everything from creating a manuscript on your PC to selling your book on Amazon and in bookstores the smart and profitable way. Peggy will share tips on how to use print-on-demand technology and CreateSpace to publish and sell your book. We will take a short break for lunch, so bring a brown bag if you’d like.

Using Detail to Create Winning Prose

with Ellen Birkett Morris

Saturday, June 30, noon-2:00 pm $30

Do you have a great story idea but don’t know how to make it come to life? Do you have a character that won’t leave you alone but you’re not sure about the plot? We’ll discuss how to use authentic, telling detail to fuel plotlines, create characters, and take readers places they could never imagine. Writers
will receive a few short readings in advance. We will alternate between discussion and writing exercises to ensure that each person leaves class with something they can work on for weeks to come.

Navigating the Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Horror Genre Markets

with Jason Sizemore

Saturday, July 14, 10:00 am-1:00 pm $35

Finding the right publisher for your genre work can be a challenge. SF, fantasy, and horror are filled with multitudes of niche publishers that show up on the bookshelves right next to the larger book companies. Small press, micro-press, big six… join the Hugo and Stoker Award-nominated editor and publisher Jason Sizemore of Apex Publications as he lays out the many paths to publication you may take in both the novel and short fiction markets. We’ll discuss the leading publishers in the field, the qualities you should seek in a genre publisher, and the types of fiction currently sought by editors.

Lineation & Punctuation in Poetry

with Jay McCoy

Saturday, July 21, 10:00 am-noon $30

Where you place punctuation or end a line in a poem can determine whether you “be real” or “be real cool.” It is all up to you as the poet to make those tough decisions, and those choices can make all the difference in how your readers may understand your poem. We’ll look at some examples of how to use colons, commas, and periods to direct your reader and how to break lines to your most poetic advantage. Please bring a poem of your own to work on during the session.

Social Media for Writers & Businesses

with Bertena Varney

Saturday, July 28, 10:00 am-noon $30

Knowledgeable about social media but confused about how to use it to market your writing or business? If you want to learn some tricks in promoting your writing or business, then this is the class for you. We will be discussing the best way to utilize Facebook and Twitter, and even look at newer sites that may be useful, such as Pinterest. This class is for those who already use social networking but need to know the next step in promotion. Feel free to bring a laptop, but it is not required.

Poetry of Appreciation

with James Wright

Saturday, August 4, 10:00 am-noon $30

Praise the toothbrush! Praise the skunk? Yes! Our daily lives involve people, places, and things that we might not think important—at least not at first. In this class, we’ll read and write praise poems that unlock our appreciation for the extraordinary in the ordinary. We’ll celebrate great and small, big and
tall—all that can be celebrated for making us what we are. Bring paper and pen, and prepare to get your praise on!

Creating Your Own Logo

with Stephen Moore

Saturday, August 4, 10:00 am-2:00 pm
$50

Do you have a business that’s in need of a logo? In this workshop, we will brainstorm and sketch out concepts and turn them into Vector graphics for your own original logo in Adobe Illustrator. Your logo will be catchy and unique but also reflect the nature of your business or mission. We’ll also create our own
template for a letterhead that you can place on all your company material to brand yourself like the pros. Previous experience in Adobe Illustrator or Vector graphics program strongly recommended. Basic computer skills required. We will take a short break for lunch, so bring a brown bag if you’d like.

Business Plans for Writers

with Mark St. Cyr

Saturday, August 18, 10:30 am-noon $25

In today’s world, writers need to be aware of much more than syntax and structure. In order to succeed in the rapidly changing business landscape, even the veteran novelist needs to adjust his strategies and tactics. In this seminar, writer and CEO Mark St. Cyr will give you tips for developing a business plan. We’ll look at the mistakes most people risk falling into and pave a way that will help you succeed as a writer.