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Still a few places left

4/14/2015

DON'T MISS THIS ONE:
April 25th and 26th: Characters and Short Story workshops

Join award winning author Sheryl Gwyther for these two valuable workshops

You can choose to take both or one of these workshops.

Crafting Unforgettable Characters – Saturday, April 25th 10am – 4pm

Great characters are essential to a great story. We recall story characters with fondness and passion because they've reached into our hearts, our thoughts, our psyches, and our memories.

Like Harry Potter, Frodo and Sam in Lord of the Rings and Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice or complex characters like Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, whose intelligence, wisdom and courage shines like a beacon, your characters have to be believable and memorable.

There are many more, of course; those unique characters with surprising points of view like Death in Zusak's The Book Thief, and Bartimaeus the Djinn in Jonathan Stroud's The Amulet of Samarkand. Will your readers remember your character as we all remember them, even after the book is closed?

This hands-on workshop will investigate:

* how to ensure your characters have the strength to carry your story.

* how to create new engaging, believable characters using visual stimuli.

* how to build on their complexity, vulnerability and appeal.

The workshop will include a Q & A session.

Bring along your Work-in-Progress if you want help to develop your characters.

************

Writing Successful Flash Fiction and other short stories – Sunday, April 26th 10am – 4pm

Writing Flash Fiction is ideal for time-poor writers … a most satisfying, crazy but rewarding literary obsession. They usually range in word limit between 20 and 1000 words. At its heart, this short-short story is a snappy, sensory exposé of the human condition, a narrative that rings with shared humanity.

All good short stories, they have a beginning, middle and end, they have limited characters, settings, plot and conflict, and a twist at the end, that exquisite ah-ha moment surprising your main character as well as your reader.

This hands-on Workshop will show you:

* how to find story ideas

* practise using the five senses; how to focus on a tiny excerpt of life, how to ensure your story has a reason for being.

* learn successful ways to increase your short story's chance in competitions; submitting to magazines and anthologies.

This is a two day workshop by you may choose to attend either day if you wish.

ACCOMMODATION: As our accommodation is not yet ready, we have arranged accommodation at the nearby Kilcoy Motel for those who wish to stay over.

They have 2 and 3 bedroom cabins as well as motel rooms. You can have a look at their rooms on their website http://kilcoymotel.com.au. If you book through us, we can get you a slightly cheaper rate.

To book phone 54 981 332 or go to http://gondorwriterscentre.com/workshops.htm

Tutor: Sheryl Gwyther

Award-winning author / Experienced writing workshop presenter / Organiser of the highly-successful 52-Week Flash Fiction Challenge on FB.
.
http://sherylgwyther.net

https://www.facebook.com/groups/flashfictionchallenge/

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So what exactly is a plot?

4/9/2015

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A story is a series of events recorded in their chronological order.

A plot is a series of events deliberately arranged to reveal the dramatic, thematic, and emotional significance of the events.

Barthe DeClements said: “Get your character in trouble in the first sentence and out of trouble in the last sentence. "Pacing of plots is crucial; never give the reader a place to put the story down. This focus on tension on every page begins at the stage of slogging out a plot and continues till the last copyedit."

A Plot is the bare bones of a story - it a series of events which is driven by the protagonist’s attempt to resolve a source of conflict. The protagonist’s actions and reactions to a set of problems, obstacles, or ordeals guide the plot. I believe that the main cause of writers block is not having a well thought out plot before you start. Having a guide allows you to know exactly what you want to happen in the next scene.

To me, to write a story of any size without a plan or plot is like going on a journey without a map or GPS. But some writers feel it limits them to only writing what was contained in the plot, and doesn’t leave room for any of those great leaps of the imagination that can take them in all sorts of surprising directions. That is not how it works. Plot lines are only a guide. As creative ideas emerge, most writers adjust their plot line to suit.

I think P.G. Wodehouse said it best: “The principle I always go on in writing a novel is to think of the characters in terms of actors in a play. I say to myself, if a big name were playing this part, and if he found that after a strong first act he had practically nothing to do in the second act, he would walk out.

I believe the only way a writer can keep himself up to the mark is by examining each story quite coldly before he starts writing it and asking himself it is all right as a story.

I mean, once you go saying to yourself, "This is a pretty weak plot as it stands, but I'm such a hell of a writer that my magic touch will make it okay," you're sunk. If they aren't in interesting situations, characters can't be major characters, not even if you have the rest of the troop talk their heads off about them."
(Interview, The Paris Review, Issue 64, Winter 1975)”
― P.G. Wodehouse

The plotting workshop on April 18th shows you how to build a story structure that will give you direction but not restrict the creativity of the process of developing your story. It covers the questions you need to ask to move the story forward, scene by scene.

To book phone 54 981 332 or go to http://gondorwriterscentre.com/workshops.html

This is workshop is closely followed by;

A two day workshop: April 25th and 26th Tutor: Sheryl Gwyther

Day one: Crafting unforgettable characters: Story characters underpin their stories plot. If not fully developed they’re like paper-dolls. This hands on workshop will teach you how to create engaging, believable characters.

Day two: Writing successful stories. In this workshop, under the guidance of your tutor, you will write a story using characters you developed yesterday.

Two day workshop cost $160 per person. One day $80. Accommodation can be arranged if required. Ask for the cost when you book.

These workshops are meant to follow each other, but you may choose to do only one of them if you wish.

10 am to 4 pm both days.

Phone 54 981 332 to book, or go to www.gondorwriterscentre.com for more information on these workshops and the rest of the year’s program.

0 Comments

So what exactly is a plot?

4/9/2015

0 Comments

A story is a series of events recorded in their chronological order.

A plot is a series of events deliberately arranged to reveal the dramatic, thematic, and emotional significance of the events.

Barthe DeClements said: “Get your character in trouble in the first sentence and out of trouble in the last sentence. "Pacing of plots is crucial; never give the reader a place to put the story down. This focus on tension on every page begins at the stage of slogging out a plot and continues till the last copyedit."

A Plot is the bare bones of a story - it a series of events which is driven by the protagonist’s attempt to resolve a source of conflict. The protagonist’s actions and reactions to a set of problems, obstacles, or ordeals guide the plot. I believe that the main cause of writers block is not having a well thought out plot before you start. Having a guide allows you to know exactly what you want to happen in the next scene.

To me, to write a story of any size without a plan or plot is like going on a journey without a map or GPS. But some writers feel it limits them to only writing what was contained in the plot, and doesn’t leave room for any of those great leaps of the imagination that can take them in all sorts of surprising directions. That is not how it works. Plot lines are only a guide. As creative ideas emerge, most writers adjust their plot line to suit.

I think P.G. Wodehouse said it best: “The principle I always go on in writing a novel is to think of the characters in terms of actors in a play. I say to myself, if a big name were playing this part, and if he found that after a strong first act he had practically nothing to do in the second act, he would walk out.

I believe the only way a writer can keep himself up to the mark is by examining each story quite coldly before he starts writing it and asking himself it is all right as a story.

I mean, once you go saying to yourself, "This is a pretty weak plot as it stands, but if I'm such a hell of a writer that my magic touch will make it okay," you're sunk. If they aren't in interesting situations, characters can't be major characters, not even if you have the rest of the troop talk their heads off about them."
(Interview, The Paris Review, Issue 64, Winter 1975)”
― P.G. Wodehouse

The plotting workshop on April 18th shows you how to build a story structure that will give you direction but not restrict the creativity of the process of developing your story. It covers the questions you need to ask to move the story forward, scene by scene.

To book phone 54 981 332 or go to http://gondorwriterscentre.com/workshops.html

This is workshop is closely followed by;

A two day workshop: April 25th and 26th Tutor: Sheryl Gwyther

Day one: Crafting unforgettable characters: Story characters underpin their stories plot. If not fully developed they’re like paper-dolls. This hands on workshop will teach you how to create engaging, believable characters.

Day two: Writing successful stories. In this workshop, under the guidance of your tutor, you will write a story using characters you developed yesterday.

Two day workshop cost $160 per person. One day $80. Accommodation can be arranged if required. Ask for the cost when you book.

These workshops are meant to follow each other, but you may choose to do only one of them if you wish.

10 am to 4 pm both days.

Phone 54 981 332 to book, or go to www.gondorwriterscentre.com for more information on these workshops and the rest of the year’s program.

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Ooops ... that slip could be grounds for divorce

4/6/2015

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In the last post, I missed mentioning the workshop on using similes and metaphors that is on next weekend. My apologies to the talented Dr Ron Day.

April 11th: Tutor Ron Day

Workshop: Using Similes and Metaphors
Memorable writing often makes use of figures of speech such as similes and metaphors. If fresh and original they can lift description, add interest to any writing, and make it sparkle. This workshop will show you how it's done.

Course cost: $50 One day—10am to 4pm

We already have some bookings, and space is limited, so if anyone wants to book, I suggest they do it now. I have included the rest of the April workshops in case someone missed seeing them.

http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/workshop-bookings.html

MORE APRIL WORKSHOPS:

April 18th: Tutor Elaine Ouston:

Workshop: Plotting your story:
This workshop will cover the importance of structure. It doesn’t matter if you are a ‘plotter’ or a ‘pantser’ this workshop will help make sure your story flows and doesn’t go off track.
Course cost: $50 One day—10am to 4pm

APRIL 25th & 26th: Tutor Sheryl Gwyther

Sheryl Gwyther is an award-winning author and experienced writing workshop presenter for children and adults.

Two day workshop—10am to 4pm

Workshop: Day one: Crafting unforgettable characters
Story characters underpin their story’s plot – if not fully developed they’re like paper-dolls. This hands-on workshop will include:
* How to create new engaging, believable characters using visual stimuli.
* Increase the complexity, vulnerability an appeal of your own story’s protagonist; and the effective use of your antagonist.
* Explore ways to use minor characters.

Workshop: Day Two: Writing successful short stories
In this workshop, you will take yesterday's characters and write a short story about them.
This practical workshop will help:
* Find a story idea. * Improve your writing skills. * Draft and edit your story.

Cost: $160. 2 days 10am to 4pm

For more information go to http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/workshops.html

For bookings, phone 07 54 981 332 or use the booking form on the website.

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Still a few places left

DON'T MISS THIS ONE:
April 25th and 26th: Characters and Short Story workshops

So what exactly is a plot?

So what exactly is a plot?

Ooops ... that slip could be grounds for divorce

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Still a few places left

DON'T MISS THIS ONE:April 25th and 26th: Characters and Short Story workshops

So what exactly is a plot?

So what exactly is a plot?

Ooops ... that slip could be grounds for divorce

Subscribe to our newsletter for writing tips and information.

Author

Archives

Categories

DON'T MISS THIS ONE:
April 25th and 26th: Characters and Short Story workshops