Laurel Anne Hill

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Breathing Life into your Writing (RavenCon 2010, April 11) Presented by Laurel Anne Hill

2010, 9:38 pm

Heroes Arise Cover.JPG
Heroes Arise Cover.JPG

Breathing Life into Your Writing (April 11, 10am – Noon, RavenCon)

A Workshop Presented by Laurel Anne Hill, with the assistance of Nancy Holzner, Barbara Friend Ish & Allen Wold

A. Make Characters Come Alive on the Page: Stay Close to Point-of-View Characters

1. Create authentic and believable characters.  Keep thoughts and actions consistent with who they are and the situation.

2. Back story should arise because the point of view character has a reason to recall the information.  Organize back story to reflect the way people think.

3. Create realistic dialogue.  Avoid unrealistic information dumps in dialogue.

4. Avoid “talking heads.”  Let point-of-view characters react to words and actions of others through thoughts and words.

5. Use the five senses.

6. Stay in the culture

B. The Story Structure and Forward Momentum

1. Story arc, forward momentum and breathing space.

2. The contract with the reader.

a.) Where should your story start and end?

(1) Visiting a “new world”

(2)The question

(3) Character

(4) “World” out-of-order

b.)The end informs the beginning.

3. The opening promise and editing your story line

4. Employ strong verbs but “was-zies” have their place.

5. Minimize use of adverbs,” it,” and “that.”

C. Writing Exercise and Feedback:  Participants are encouraged to bring several pages of a work in progress.

Hope to see you there,

Laurel Anne Hill (Author of “Heroes Arise”) http://www.laurelannehill.com


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"Rum and Runestones" Cover (From Laurel Anne Hill)

I be needin’ to share the cover of “Rum and Runestones,” an anthology o’ piracy and magic (Dragon Moon Press, 2010).  The editor, a clever lass, be Valerie Griswold-Ford.  For those of ye who know not, the tales in this anthology be:

“Steer a Pale Course” by Gail Martin
“Cursed Luck” by BA Collins
“Booty Haul” by Danny Birt
“God Empress of the Sea” by James R Stratton
“Thar Be Magic” by Laurel Anne Hill
“A Treacherous Stone” by MJ Blehart
“Making History” by Tera Fulbright
“Mister Adventure in Neverland” by Davey Beauchamp
“X Spots the Mark” by Michael A Ventrella
“In the Runes” by Danielle Ackley-McPhail
“A Final Battle” by Stuart Jaffe
“At Map’s End” by Misty Massey
(Introduction by editor Valerie Griswold-Ford, and artwork by Bryan Prindiville) 

The book be launchin’ in April.

Laurel Anne Hill (Author of “Heroes Arise”) http://www.laurelannehill.com

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RavenCon 2010: Schedule for Laurel Anne Hill (Author of "Heroes Arise")

Laurel Anne Hill’s Schedule for RavenCon 2010 at the Holiday Inn Koger Center in Richmond, VA, April 9-11, is as follows:

  

Friday, April 9

4 pm, Room E, Kill Them All-And Let the Reader Sort Them Out  How does one resolve the issues of the not so happy ending? Many times the kill them all kind of ending is not a big winner with readers or movie goers. Yet to not do so, may change the intent of the writer. Do writers have to knuckle under and change the endings or are they brave enough to let it all happen the way they see it?

Valerie Griswold-Ford, Laurel Anne Hill, Stuart Jaffe, Lee Martindale

 

11 pm, Cove, The Changing Face, Body, Language, Imagery…etc. of Feminism in SF and Fantasy  Feminism has been introduced in literature in various ways. But as with everything, time mandates that in order to keep the interest of the audience, some things have to change. Or do they? Are there ways in which feminism can displayed without the “in your face” use of the stereotypical woman who can kick every alien’s ass and yet still be womanly?

Gregory Eatroff, Laurel Anne Hill, Nancy Holzner, Laura Underwood

 

Saturday, April 10

10 am, Dealers, Signing,  Laurel Anne Hill

 

4 pm, Anna, Putting the Adult in Young Adult Stories

How do you decide when too much is well…too much? How is a successful story created that satisfies the wants and desires of more than just one market while not going overboard in the process?

Mike Allen, Rachael Caine, Laurel Anne Hill, Amy Sturgis

 

9 pm, Anna, And Then Buffy Met Edward: The End

There are vampires and well there are vampires. Is there a form of discrimination against the too “soft” types or is that the new norm? Has society become vampire friendly or are we being led astray by political and societal correctness? Do vampires have to sparkle in order to be successful?

Catherine Asaro, Rachael Caine, Chris Flick, Laurel Anne Hill

 

Sunday, April 11

10 am, New River, “Breathing Life into you Writing” Workshop

A two-hour workshop that focuses on staying close to the point-of-view of characters and revealing the story world through their five senses, thereby creating authentic, believable characters. Discussion also about story structure, believable dialogue, creating forward momentum and strong/weak verb usage.  

Led by Laurel Anne Hill, with the assistance of Nancy Holzner, Barbara Ish and Allen Wold.

 

2 pm, Anna, Rapid Fire Reading Given by Members of Broad Universe

 

And watch for the launch of Rum and Runestones: Magical Tales of Piracy (Dragon Moon Press, 2010), Edited by Valerie Griswold-Ford.  Laurel’s short story, “Thar Be Magic” will appear in this anthology.  Visit the Laurel Anne Hill website at http://www.laurelannehill.com.

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"Crescendo" at St. Sulpice in Paris (by Laurel Anne Hill)

In 2002, my husband and I spent the month of November in Paris.  Our dream vacation.  I was still recovering from a severe illness when I attended worship services at St. Sulpice, a church nearby our rented apartment.  I experienced more than I had anticipated that Sunday morning, and “Crescendo,” relates my true, inspirational (and award-winning) story.  To listen to this ten-minute story (an mp3 file), go to http://laurelannehill.libsyn.com.  This podcast also is available for free on iTunes.

None of the music in my podcast came from the grand organ at St. Sulpice, but such music can be found through Google.  The introduction and closing music I used was graciously provided by Looperman at http://www.looperman.com. 

Warm regards,

Laurel Anne Hill

(Author of “Heroes Arise”) http://www.laurelannehill.com

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"Rum and Runestones," RavenCon & Breathing New Life into your Writing (Laurel Anne Hill's Adventure)

Rum and Runestones, RavenCon, and Breathing New Life into your Writing:  Ahoy me hearties.  It be me pleasure to announce the launch of “Rum and Runestones: Magical Tales of Piracy” (Dragon Moon Press, 2010).  The tales in this anthology be:

“Steer a Pale Course” by Gail Martin
“Cursed Luck” by BA Collins
“Booty Haul” by Danny Birt
“God Empress of the Sea” by James S Reichert
“Thar Be Magic” by Laurel Anne Hill
“A Treacherous Stone” by MJ Blehart
“Making History” by Tera Fulbright
“Mister Adventure in Neverland” by Davey Beauchamp
“X Spots the Mark” by Michael A Ventrella
“In the Runes” by Danielle Ackley-McPhail
“A Final Battle” by Stuart Jaffe
“At Map’s End” by Misty Massey
(Introduction by editor Valerie Griswold-Ford, and artwork by Bryan Prindiville) 

Laurel Anne Hill (Author of “Thar Be Magic” and “Heroes Arise”) be preparin’ for the launch at RavenCon 2010, in Richmond, Virginia.  The Flying Dutchman be her travelin’ companion.  And Laurel plans to be givin’ a two-hour workshop (Breathing New Life into your Writing) on Sunday mornin’ April 11, durin’ which there be no pirate talk from she.  

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