This ten session workshop is for those writers with a novel in progress, almost completed, or completed but in need of a final polish. Each student will submit forty pages (half at the beginning of the course, the rest during the sixth week) of his work in progress for discussion and critique by the class and close editing with written comments by the instructor. We will focus on the effective use of key techniques such as creating an intriguing opening line and compelling chapters, creating a likable and/or engaging protagonist, weaving in back story in small, manageable doses, writing realistic dialogue, setting up a dilemma that begs to be resolved, making the most of each scene and, in general, producing a page-turner. We will attempt to weed out the mistakes that mark the amateur writer and turn each student into a discerning editor of his own work. The suggested text is the highly acclaimed Don't Sabotage Your Submission by career manuscript editor Chris Roerden (Bella Rosa books --ISBN 978-1-933523-31-6.) LINK TO COME.
2016 June 5 - 11 JOHN C. CAMPBELL FOLK SCHOOL - A Practical Guide to Writing Popular Fiction I'll be leading a class for all levels in the nuts and bolts of writing fiction for publication. Details probably not on line yet but this will be like my 2015 class HERE.
September 15 (First meeting) 6-8:30 pm at the Riverlink offices in Asheville. Forty Pages -- a class through the Great Smokies Writing Program on UNC-Asheville