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DO YOU HAVE A STORY? LOOKING FOR AN EXPRESSION OF IT?
WANT TO WRITE?
IS 2013 THE TIME TO GET STARTED? OR TO FINE TUNE WHAT YOU’VE ALREADY BEGUN?
Many of us have a long lingering hankering to write. Some of us write a good bit in our day jobs. Yet…there’s more we want to do with stringing words together. Some of us have manuscripts stuffed in a drawer or in a box under the bed, or perhaps used as a doorstop. Wherever a writer is on this journey, we all benefit from gathering with other writers.
Ways to do that:
- In my Fort Worth home “Writer’s Circles” for both beginning and novice writers, combining instruction with writers reading and discussing their work and that of others.
- At SMU’s “The Writing Path” for more formal classes.
- At home with private students, one on one.
- At SMU for one on one tutorials.
Writer’s Circles:
- The “Novice” group meets Tuesdays—starting Feb. 19 — from 7 – 10 p.m. Each class runs for six weeks at a cost of $90 for the six weeks session. A terrific starting point for developing your ideas and making way for writing in your life. Going on our 4th year now, some members have grown and completed manuscripts of novels, nonfiction narratives, and poetry. Others have expanded their writing forms, moving from nonfiction book length works to essays and back, from essays to feature articles and back. All have grown and continue to learn, welcoming newcomers. Generally we have one opening a six week session in the gathering that’s capped at 10; when we don’t, I start a waiting list. Many of those in the group starting in January began by adding their name to a waiting list. A typical evening opens with handouts and discussion of story writing principles, principles that govern all forms and others specific either to nonfiction, fiction or poetry. Then writers read their work and get the opportunity to hear from others, and Carmen, about their strengths as well as tips on how to strengthen the story.
Contact: carmengoldthwaite@sbcglobal.net and Let’s Talk!
- The “Intermediate” group meets Wednesdays—starting Feb. 20 from 2 to 5 p.m. Also in its fourth year, some have been here since the beginning, signing up every six weeks since Day One. Most started with a completed manuscript and worked through—with instruction from Carmen and feedback from the 5-member group—story and style principles as well as ideas for getting published. The current makeup of this group is all novelists but that’s not always the case. So far, the members of this group have completed two or more manuscripts, are submitting to agents and editors, and two have contracted with agents. A typical “Circle” starts with instructions, handout(s) and discussion about writing, story or publishing principles and strategies. With the smaller group, longer pieces are read, discussion and feedback on how to get better lengthier.
If you’re interested in a well-seasoned group of conscientious writers…
Contact: carmengoldthwaite@sbcglobal.net and Let’s Talk!
- Private Students. Over the last three years, I’ve taught individuals—by appointment—in the art and craft of writing to publish, a couple of high school students polishing their college application/essay writing skills, a teacher who wanted to turn her ideas into short stories, a business person who wanted to communicate better in position papers and a couple of memoirists.
If class schedules don’t work for you or you’re a bit unsure about reading your work in a group, perhaps this will be your ticket to greater writing and greater confidence in your writing.
Contact: carmengoldthwaite@sbcglobal.net and Let’s Talk!
AT SMU…I teach in a more formal, although relaxed, classroom setting at the main campus:
Sound interesting? Have a true story to tell? Want to dramatize it so the reader is engaged, not just informed?
Contact: http://smu.edu/creativewriting.
- Want to break into the writing craft without tackling a book length work right off the bat? Try “Write Now!”
In this class, meeting Mondays, 6:30 to 9 p.m., Jan. 28 – March 4, you’ll learn the skills, techniques and strategies to write for magazines, newspapers, anthologies and blogs, i.e., the “short market.” Whether you have a short story idea, an essay, a feature or an analysis, i.e., fiction or nonfiction, in this class you’ll learn to write publishable pieces—stories and nonfiction pieces that have strong beginnings, well-hinged middles, and dramatic or satisfying endings. Also, you’ll learn ways to strategize your submissions to angle for that best chance of getting published.
Sound interesting? Contact: http://smu.edu/creativewriting.
- JUST STARTING OUT, LOOKING FOR AN AVENUE OF EXPRESSION? SAMPLE “Creative Writing Fundamentals,” on Monday nights starting March 18, 6:30 to 9 p.m. In this class you’ll get a basic look at poetry and prose, fiction and nonfiction, how they differ, and how to write in each. You’ll learn the value of strong leads, of developing characters and plot, and using description to take the reader into the character’s world. And you’ll learn basic style pointers to take that “sound of a beginner” out of your writing. An excellent starting place to rub off the rust of not having written in years or to put feet on the dream of writing that’s been waiting for you.
Contact: http://smu.edu/creativewriting.
- Tutorials. No time for class? Have a manuscript drafted that you want to see how it stacks up before submitting to agents and editors? This may be a good direction for you. At SMU I’ve worked one on one with writers to prepare a manuscript and/or to edit a manuscript with instructions.
In all SMU classes, as the motto goes, “at SMU, writers write.”
Join us on “The Writing Path.”
Contact: http://smu.edu/creativewriting.
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Carmen Golthwaite at the Texas Writers Guild in Richardson.
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WRITING and SPEAKING ABOUT WRITING
I’ve been privileged to lead workshops for professional communicators, speak at writing conferences about various techniques of writing as well as to lead and teach at ongoing writers programs in professional organizations and church groups. Below are some of the topics.
Description. What’s too much? Not enough? How to build a story’s background—fiction and nonfiction—so that the reader is invited into the story world. How to show, not tell.
Point of View & Theme. Whose story is it? Will that character—fact or fictional—be able to carry the story (the plot) and the theme?
Plot. What’s it about? That’s what editors and agents want to know. Techniques of plotting both the commercial story and the literary one; building tension and suspense so readers can’t put it down.
Style. Techniques of style, publishing traditions and other literary devices to give the writer a full quiver of story writing tools.
“Storycraft: Getting Our Stories Read.” Designed for professional business communicators but adapatable to all forms of writing.
“Finding the Story.” Discover the story you want to write, focus your writing on the message, the conflict, and the character. Discover the writing form or genre that calls forth your talents. Blend fiction AND nonfiction skills to create powerful articles, memoirs and fictional stories.
"Bring Your Characters to Life--in Fact or Fiction." Grow them into the hearts of readers. We'll build from the outside in so that when finished, you'll have a character poised to assume Center Stage in your stories. By doing so, the reader—and the editor—will find your book hard to put down because they will care for your characters and want to know what happens.
“Dialogue: Add Grit to Your Characters, Tension to Your Plot.” Apply the skills of dialogue, the “tension engine of fiction.” Keep readers turning pages and rooting for your character in this session of information, practice, and coaching. Develop dialogue skills to reveal personality, culture, values by “showing not telling,” creating a distinctive difference among characters.
"Voice, Suspense & Style." I look for that distinctive...new...and refreshing author's voice." That's what editors and agents say. So that's what topic covers--how to develop a distinctive voice, using the techniques of literary style and the dramatic element of suspense.
"How to Publish Short and/or Long Works."
Learn the “how-to’s” of turning stories and articles into published materials. How to approach editors and how to match your writing to their readers' interests. Learn about pitch, cover and query letters that get attention. Yes, it’s a tough market. But schooled in the techniques of talking about your story in a persuasive manner and matching your writing to a publisher’s audience—magazine and book (or agent)—will improve your odds.
More topics are often created as you and I sort through how your organization or conference might best benefit. Contact: carmengoldthwaite@sbcglobal.net.
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