FREE WRITING WORKSHOPS AND CONSULTATIONS
for writers attending the San Mateo County Fair, June 7–14, 2014

San Mateo Event Center, San Mateo, CA, Expo Hall, Fine Arts Galleria

 

POETRY/PROSE WORKSHOP: SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 5-6 P.M. (Presented by Michele Jessen)

 

Mrs. Michele Jessen is a writer who loves to combine fantasy, science fiction and lyrical poetry into her fictional stories. Her first novel, Angels of the Dream Clouds, is unusual because of its use of lyrics as a language for the angelic characters. Each poem has a hidden philosophical meaning on many important life topics.

 

TWO-HOUR OVERVIEW & WORKSHOP FOR WRITERS AND INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS: SUNDAY JUNE 8, 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Bay Area Independent Publishers Association is a not-for-profit organization open to anyone. We focus on all aspects of self- and independent publishing to help our members complete everything from writer to reader. Our members are book designers, marketers, editors, writers, printers, publishers, photographers, graphic artists and many other professions involved in bringing books to market.  During the festival BAIPA will present a series of experts giving an overview of things you need to know to publish your book and resources for more complete information.

LITERARY JOURNALISM AND CREATIVE NONFICTION  SUNDAY JUNE 8, 3-4 P.M.  (Presented by Scott Thomas Anderson)

 
Award-winning journalist Scott Thomas Anderson discusses why writers should refuse to surrender their literary arsenal when tackling reality. He’ll talk about identifying a universal story-arc in everyday events; how to capture character dimensions of actual people; and how to transmute locations into living, breathing settings on the page. Anderson is the author of Shadow People: how meth-driven crime is eating at the heart of rural America.

 

BEYOND THE FIRST DRAFT: A WORKSHOP ON SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 4-5 P.M.  (Presented by Laurel Anne Hill)

All right, you’ve done it! You’ve completed the first draft of your short story or novel. Yet what should you do next? Fill in all the blank spaces you left in your manuscript? Make sure you’ve written only realistic dialogue? Contact friends to be beta-readers? Open that bottle of champagne? Award-winning author Laurel Anne Hill will offer her advice to workshop participants, and let them compare samples of her ugly firsts drafts with the corresponding finished products.   

 

SHY WRITERS SELF-PROMOTION WORKSHOP:  SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 5-6 P.M.  (Presented by Beth Barany)

 Many authors think that book promotions are about giving away tchotchkes, like bookmarks, key rings, coffee mugs to get attention for their books. But actually, book promotions start with one of the most powerful yet overlooked methods to promote your books: by what you actually say. Word of mouth still sells more books than any other promotional tool out there. And aspiring authors: You can use this tool now. 

 

FIRST PAGES FREE WRITING CONSULTATIONS, SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 6-7 P.M.
Bring the first 1-2 pages of your short story or novel for a critique by an expert. Sign-ups for 15-minute sessions will be on a first come, first served basis. To sign up, please come to the Fine Arts Stage in Expo Hall on June 8 or June 9. 

Beth Barany: Writer’s coach; Author; Marketing advisor for novelists; Speaker.

Darlene Frank: Writer, Editor; Creativity Coach.

Tory Hartmann: Managing Editor, Parenting on the Peninsula; Also an editor at Sand Hill Review Press; Author.

Laurel Anne Hill: Author; Writers’ Workshop Leader; Writing Contest Judge.

Audrey Kalman: Author; Consultant; Current Editor of Fault Zone Anthology.

Lisa Meltzer-Penn: Author and former editor (including Fault Zone).

Sandra Saidak: Author; English Teacher; BayCon Writers’ Workshop Leader.

Chris Wachlin: Co-founder of Stoneslide Media (Stoneside Books and The Stoneslide Corrective e-magazine). President of CWC SF/Peninsula Branch.

 

WRITER’S JOURNEY WORKSHOP, TUESDAY, 6/10/14, 2:00-3:30 P.M.  (Presented by Darlene Frank)

 

The writing journey is never dull. It calls and consumes us; it demands persistence and stamina and a high level of confidence. This workshop will introduce you to seven key elements of the writer’s journey, and we’ll do a few activities that will help you feel confident, committed and inspired as you move forward on your unique writing journey.

 

 

UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY WORKSHOP: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 6-7 P.M. (Presented by Mary Knippel)

 

A great experience for the young and the young at heart. We’ll explore the secrets of keeping a journal and discover how combining bits of paper, glue, and magazine images create magic!

 

 

AUTHOR READING AND DISCUSSION ABOUT WRITING, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 5:00-5:30 P.M. (Presented by Frank A. Saunders)

 

Frank A. Saunders writes poetry, fiction, scientific articles and music, most recently the portfolio “A Scent of Tea.” Frank will read selections from his poetry and fiction, as well as offering an interactive discussion about the process of writing, especially encouraging new writers to “tell their story”.

 

RESEARCH ENHANCES EVERYTHING YOU WRITE, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 5:30–6:00 P.M.  (Presented by Marjorie Bicknell Johnson) 

 

Marjorie Bicknell Johnson is a retired Santa Clara high school mathematics teacher. She has accompanied archaeologists to Maya ruins in Yucatán. Also a pilot, she has flown small airplanes throughout the American Southwest. Her novel, Jaguar Princess: the Last Maya Shaman, incorporates all of these experiences. More at http://mbicknelljohnson.com/.

 

 

MANUSCRIPT READINESS:  SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 4-5 P.M. (Presented by Laurel Anne Hill)

All right, your novel or short story is ready to ship to an agent or editor. Or, is it ready? Should you have made more of those changes your writing group suggested? Or did you let your story arc sink in the sea of rewriting? Is your story even YOUR STORY anymore?  Was your story ever a story in the first place? We think our stories are ready when we send them out. Yet it’s possible to overthink or not think enough. Award-winning author Laurel Anne Hill will offer her advice on manuscript readiness.

 

HOW TO SELL YOUR BOOK TO READERS: SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 5-6 P.M.  (Presented by Ezra Barany)

The Million Dollar Question: Great writing and a great story will not sell your novel, but answering this question will.
A lot of authors think that as long as they write a good story and write it well, readers will want to read their book. The truth is that great writing doesn’t sell books, word-of-mouth does. While your writing does need to be good, you must answer the million-dollar question, “What must I write to get my readers eager to tell their friends about my book?” Most authors never even think about this question. Author Ezra Barany will share with you the four surprising ways to answer that question when writing your novel.

For more information about presenters go to: https://sanmateocountyfair.com/contests/departments/literary-arts.

 

Literary Arts Stage Schedule at the Fair: