Whidbey Island Writers Association Classes

WIWA OFFERS THE SATURDAY SERIES WORKSHOPS
$90 WIWA Members; $110 nonMembers
Join WIWA and enjoy member discount

To register, email wiwa@whidbey.com or call 360-331-0307
You may send payment to PO Box 639, Freeland, WA 98249
or call 360-331-0307 to pay by credit card

Starting Your Own Critique Group: What Works For You?
July 31st, 10am-4pm
Rowena Williamson, instructor
Coupeville Library

A critique group that works well encourages writers to improve their manuscripts. Whether you’re a poet or a writer of fiction or  nonfiction, meeting with others that share your passion will make a difference in your writing skills. This class will help you define the type of critique group that will work for you. The instructor will have handouts available. Bring a short piece to be discussed in class and a notebook or laptop.

Crafting Fiction that Sells:
One Day Intensive Focused on Plot & Structure for Novels and Memoir
September 18th, 10am-4pm
Andrea Hurst, instructor
Windermere Building, Freeland

In this one day intensive workshop, writers will have the opportunity to learn what agents and editors look for in a marketable novel or memoir.  Once an agent determines an author has mastered the craft of writing, the next thing they look for is an intriguing plot and compelling structure. In this hands-on class, we will go over techniques that will help build your story, solve plot issues, and create a strong beginning, middle, and end. Bring your synopsis and come prepared to write!

Andrea Hurst has over 25 years of experience as a published author, developmental editor, and skilled literary agent. Her client list includes emerging new voices and New York Times best sellers.  She is the founder of Andrea Hurst Literary Management, and www.justwriteon.com a site that offers expert instruction and resources for writers. She enjoys working with authors who have something meaningful to share and are driven by their enthusiasm and desire to create books that touch lives and make a difference.

Using Distancing Techniques
October 9th, 10am-4pm
Helen Sears, instructor
Windermere Building, Freeland

Distancing Techniques are as basic to fresh, meaningful writing as having insights on character and action arcs. Distancing is the difference between sentimentality and resonance, between cliche and something memorable. It's the tool that lifts the edge on a new way of looking at the world; it's what makes us pause in the middle of a chapter or movie and re-read or re-wind. Students will explore several types and then experiment together, using the Amherst Writers Method developed by Pat Schneider.

All About Self-Publishing
November 6th,
Session 1: 9am-noon
Session 2: 1-4pm
Tom Trimbath, instructor
Windermere Building, Freeland

Publishing is undergoing a revolution. Just like independent movies challenged Hollywood tradition, and independent music challenged the major record labels, print-on-demand is enabling legions of writers to pursue their passions without having to appease agents and editors. Most authors can get their books published worldwide within a few months for about the cost of a writer's conference. An industry in revolution is never an easy place though, so come see some ways to steer your dream project through the shifting landscape, and become aware of the cautions that lie ahead. Give your dreams the freedom they deserve.

Session 1 -- $50 WIWA Members, $60 nonMembers
Session 2 -- $90 WIWA Members, $110 nonMembers

Who's Telling This Story, Anyway? An Exploration of Viewpoint
December 4th, 10am-4pm
Wayne Ude, instructor
Coupeville Library

First person, third person, omniscient, stream of consciousness:  these terms barely begin to describe the nuanced range of viewpoints available to the writer.   

Is a first person narrator consciously aware of telling the story, or is he or she seeming to experience it with no awareness of an audience?  Is the first-person narrator telling the story shortly after it happened, a few years later, a lifetime later? Does that narrator know more now than he or she did as the story took place? Is that narrator reliable or unreliable—and if unreliable, does the narrator intend to be unreliable or does he or she believe his/her account is the truth, even though the reader can see that it isn’t.

In third person, an additional layer of meaning becomes possible. Consider this range of options:

He was an honest man.
He knew himself to be an honest man.
He had always been an honest man.
He believed himself to be an honest man.
He had always believed himself to be an honest man. He figured he was honest enough. He was as honest as the next guy.

And then there's omniscience--the freest, most difficult viewpoint of all. This five-hour class will explore the range of things which can be cone with first person, third person, and omnisciient viewpoints.

Blog to Book -- A New Path to Publishing Success
January 22nd, 10am-4pm
Tom Masters, instructor
Windermere Building, Freeland

Want to create an audience for your work while you write?  Promote your work more effectively and get the attention of publishers?  Blogging is an exciting new media that can help you do all of these things! You’ll learn about:

• blogging as a new media
• how authors are using the blog to book strategy
• how blogs work and how to set one up
• using blogs to do research
• techniques for quickly building an audience for your work with your blog
• marketing your work with your blog, including blog tours and book trailers
• measuring your audience and your impact
• transitioning from blog to book – or blogging an existing manuscript
• strategies for fiction and non-fiction writers

 Whether you choose to work with a publisher or agent, or decide to self-publish, the blog to book strategy is a powerful new path to publishing success.

Photos by Bob Richardson