Focus: "Epiphanies and Endings: Bring Your Story Arc Full Circle"

AUGUST 15-17, 2008

SCHEDULE

Preliminaries: What’s What?

	Peers and faculty enjoy a cheery lunch   on our private Hilton veranda. Photo: Marsha Diane Arnold

Keynotes, Panels and Craft Focus Sessions will address our theme, “Epiphanies and Endings.” We’ll explore what makes endings satisfying (inevitable, yet surprising) and how smaller epiphanies—insights that fuel character growth—lead to “the big one.” Your entire plot line can affect and be affected by these layered revelations!

Panels include the faculty-led Book Club Roundtable, for which you’ll be invited to read a short (approximately 100-page) published novel in advance. This and the Marketing Focus Session are highly interactive and hands-on.

Masterclass (Open Clinic) Critiques are team-taught by three faculty (editor, agent, published author) with all peers attending. To maximize benefits, enrollees are assigned to pre-critique at least four of these selected manuscript samples. Every 30-minute masterclass critique includes five minutes’ feedback from each presenter, then five minutes in which the writer asks faculty questions. In the final 10 of 30 minutes, the floor is open to peer-audience discussion about the manuscript being critiqued.

Perks: Faculty will comment on the story structure in each synopsis (including  epiphanies and endings). They may also review an optional scene beyond the standard first 15 pages.

Dialogues du Jour will start each morning with enrollees’ questions from the previous day, suggestions for the current day/next workshop, or other topics introduced by participants. Dialogues are moderated by a panel of faculty, peer-alumni and the workshop director.

Writing Bursts are a self-directed option for maximizing breaks (usually 15 minutes). Here’s your chance to expand and personalize an aspect of craft that’s just been discussed—exploring some connection or spark that “speaks” to you. Apply it immediately to your own manuscript, or jot notes to stimulate you later.

HOUR-BY-HOUR EVENTS

FRIDAY
3:30	Orientation and Roundtable Intros (faculty, peers, peer-authors introducing their books)
3:45	Keynote (Agent)
4:15	Keynote (Editor)
4:45	Break/Writing Burst
5:00	Keynote (Faculty Author)
5:30	Masterclass Critique #1 (an alum-enrollee’s manuscript serves as demo)
6:00	Dinner with peers and faculty at a nearby restaurant
7:45	Optional: Socializing, peer-enrollee speakers (published authors and/or MFA students in Children’s Literature) or a peer panel. Or, meet with your self-designated critique group.
SATURDAY
9:00	Dialogues du Jour
9:15	Masterclass Critiques #2 and #3
10:15	Break/Writing Burst
10:30	Masterclass Critiques #4 and #5
11:30	Break/Writing Burst
11:45	Panel: Book Club Roundtable
12:15	LUNCH on our private, scenic Hilton veranda
1:20	General Q-A (editor and agent)
1:45	Masterclass Critiques #6 and #7
2:45	Break/Writing Burst
3:00	Focus Session (faculty author leads hands-on “Epiphanies and Endings”)
4:00	Break/Writing Burst
4:20	Masterclass Critiques #8 and #9
5:20	Break/Writing Burst
5:30	General Q-A (all faculty)
6:00	Depart for “Dinner On Your Own” (pre-arrange with peers)
SUNDAY
8:30	Dialogues du Jour
8:45	Focus Session (Editor and agent present a “Contract Negotiation” skit, accompanied by a pre-workshop study guide. These two faculty worked on real book deal with renowned YA author, M. E. Kerr!)
9:15	Masterclass Critique #10
9:45	Break/Writing Burst
10:00	Masterclass Critiques #11 and #12
11:00	Break/Writing Burst
11:15	Faculty Wrap-Up
11:45	Enrollee Wrap-Up
12:15	LUNCH at the Hilton. End at 1:30, or stay as long as you wish!

“Intimate workshop with serious writers and top-notch faculty. Masterclass critiques were fabulous.” — Marsha Diane Arnold, author of Prancing, Dancing Lily (Dial Books for Young Readers)

SUMMARY

FRIDAY 
3:30 pm to 6:00 pm

SATURDAY
9:00 am to 6:00 pm

SUNDAY
8:30 am to 1:30 pm... or beyond

THE GRAND TOTAL

12  Masterclass (Open Clinic) Critiques 

5   Dedicated Q-A Sessions
 
3   Faculty Keynotes 

2   Focus Sessions 

2   Faculty Panels 

1   You

Immerse yourself in these savory summer delights...
JOIN US AND WRITE, WRITE, WRITE!