The Writing and Illustrating For Young Readers Conference is
happening this month. Some of the classes are full, but there’s still time to
sign up for the morning sessions. The workshops are a great way to grow your
craft. Below are descriptions of the classes.
The idea of writing a novel--even if you're one of those people who
has "a book in you"--can be daunting. Ann Cannon's class is
designed to help you break the process down into manageable steps. In
addition to giving pointers about the elements of fiction--character, setting,
plot and theme--Ann will provide information in a workshop setting about
getting started, dealing with "the messy middle, creating believable
dialogue, pacing, striking the right balance between "showing" and
"telling," and wrapping the whole thing up. Class members will have
the opportunity to learn by reading one another's manuscripts, as well as
novels by published authors. Expect to work hard and to have a lot of fun
in the process!
Kris Chandler - Novel Class
Everyone should bring roughly twenty pages of a work in progress.
We’ll critique ten or so pages at a time and try to get everyone twice. You can
opt to have the same ten pages done twice. We’ll have an instruction period
each day where we cover critical elements of story like plot,
character, dialogue, voice, research, etc. We’ll look at examples of
authors who have done these things successfully and talk about market place
strategies. Everyone will contribute written comments on the manuscripts
we are critiquing, including me. You will also be required to laugh at least
one of my jokes and have your hair in artistic disarray by the end of the week.
Cheri Pray Earl - Introduction to
Writing for Children Class
From Scraps to (manu)Scripts: Conquering the Murky Middles: Rescue those
stalled-out novel manuscripts from your computer boneyard and bring them to
this new, innovative, paddling-through-the-murky-middles workshop. This is a
workshop for our faithful writers who have polished two or three beginning
chapters in a WIFYR workshop in the past, or who have made those first few
chapters top notch at other conferences (or on their own), but who need
help getting the rest of their novel on paper and submission-worthy.
Workshop Goal: “Finish, Polish, and Submit” is the
mantra of this workshop. For five days, you will work harder than you have ever
worked before (and so will Cheri), you will work smarter than you have ever
worked before, and you will experience writing success like you have never
experienced before.
Preparing for the Murky Middles Workshop: Prior to the
conference, students will submit a murky-middles portion of their work (two to
three of their murkiest chapters), a brief description of the problems of those
two-to-three middle chapters, and a chapter-by-chapter synopsis (two sentences
per chapter) of the entire novel, from the first chapter to the last. This is
the material you will work with for the five days of WIFYR, so choose wisely.
Workshop Content: Each day, Cheri will share a different
solution to novel-writing problems including Plot, Conflict, and Pacing;
Character Development and Voice; Setting and Description; Scene, Summary, and
Dialog; Developing Themes and Introducing Backstory.
Daily Assignments: Participants will write and workshop specific
scenes that emphasize plot, pacing, character development, moral conflicts, and
so forth, in addition to revising their middle chapters and, in some cases,
writing new ones.
Final Project: Participants will present two to three
completely revised and murk-free middle chapters on the last day of the
workshop, a revised and annotated plot outline, a plan for finishing their
novel, and . . . they will confess their love for writing, each other, and
above all, their workshop teacher.
Sharlee Glenn - Picture Book Class
In this class we will focus on mastering one of the most difficult
forms of writing known to humankind--the picture book. We will begin by
examining such fundamental questions as: What is a picture book?
How is it different from, say, a magazine story? What makes a good
picture book? During our time together, we will discuss both the craft
of writing (focusing on such things as the writing process, rhythm, meter,
cadence, rhyme, repetition, sensory language, figurative language, and imagery)
and the business of writing (the submission process, publication,
marketing, etc.). Since this is an intensive, hands-on workshop,
participants are asked to bring at least one polished picture book manuscript
with them to be shared, critiqued, and revised. They will also be expected
to produce from 2-5 new manuscripts throughout the course of the week.
Mette Ivie Harrison - Full Novel
Class
As a class, we will be reading complete YA/MG manuscripts from all
the participants. Manuscripts need to be sent electronically by May 15 and must
be under 80,000 words. Please make sure your manuscripts are as perfect as you
can possibly make them on your own. Ideally, you will already have had feedback
on part or all of the manuscript from workshops or writing groups.
This is a
workshop for people who are serious about publication. Please be ready to work
hard and revise during the week we’re together, so that you can make sure that
you have fully understood the critique comments and are able to begin to
integrate them.
Matt Kirby - Advanced Class
My Advanced Novel class will explore the deeper aspects of
narrative structure and voice. Students can expect an in-depth critique and
discussion on their work from me and from their workshop peers.
Bring ten pages of a novel in progress, whether new or in revisions.
Critiques will be handled at an advanced level. Feedback will be constructive
but tough, aimed only to work out any flaws and improve your story. The
remainder of the workshop will be devoted to helping you generate or improve
your novel. We’ll discover more about your characters, unearth and firm up
plot, play with setting, and write parts in the beginning, middle and end of
your story. By the conclusion of the workshop you will have gained a stronger
sense of your story and the tools to help you go home and write your best novel
yet.
Jake Parker - Illustrator Class
(No description of the class, but Jake’s bio information.) Jake
Parker is a freelance illustrator, designer, and comic artist. He is the
creator of the Missile Mouse graphic novel series published by Scholastic and
"The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man" published by Harper Collins.
For the last several years he worked for Blue Sky Studios creating sets and
environments for feature films like Horton hears a Who, Rio, and Epic.
Now he lives in Utah with his wife and children working on picturebooks, comics,
and other freelance projects. His latest picture book is "Apples A to
Z" published by Scholastic and illustrated "The Girl Who Wouldn't
Brush Her Hair" published by Random House coming out this Fall. You can
find out more about Jake at www.mrjakeparker.com
J. Scott Savage - Middle Grade
Novel Class
(Could not pull up his class information)
For writers who want a bit more private instruction on their writing
(10 attendees). It includes:
•
Smaller class size (10 attendees)
•
55 pages of your novel discussed OR three picture books
•
Synopses and/or cover letters discussed
•
More individualized attention
•
Special guest visits
•
Marketing instruction
•
10-minute pitch session with an editor or agent
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