So you wanna be a writer . here's what you gotta do..

Creative Writing Workshops for groups

•  12 - 15 hours for complete program
Classes can be broken into one and two hour segments also.*

The sessions will include readings from modern novels, classical works, the bible as literature and the instructor's own work. There will be hands-on assignments and practice. Handouts will be provided.

Fees negotiable

One to two hour workshops are also available as outlined below.

 

 

Workshop courses

By Chuck Dowling, prize winning author.*

Courses designed for workshops.
They can be tailored to a one or two hour presentation

In the Beginning .
A Blue Print for Writing Success.

Is there a story nagging at you; a message to get out? Would you like to see your thoughts in print? Do you feel the need to express yourself in writing? Are you not sure of where or how to begin? A Blue Print for Writing Success might be the answer. We will discuss the six most important things a writer must do in order to be successful. We will become story tellers. We will delve into the habits of successful writers. We will analyze their journeys. We will lay out the plan for your future as a writer. Motivation, personal training and behavior modification will be addressed. You will learn what skills you must acquire. You will learn to "just do it!" Most important, however, is that you will come away from this workshop with A Blue Print for Writing Success.

Blurb: The six most important things a writer must do in order to be successful. This workshop provides a blue print for the neophyte, so that they can take their thoughts from a blank piece of paper to a completed manuscript.

Build it right and it will last ...
The Structure of a novel:

What about how my story is structured? Do you want to write a novel that others will enjoy reading? Novels must be structured properly in order to tell your story. Learn the proper elements of that structure and how to make it work for you. The workshop will include inviting openings, outlining, themes, plotting, scene creation, the use of pace, and how to handle various points of view. Subjects like foreshadowing and backstory will be touched on. The workshop is all about moving from "Once upon a time" to "They loved happily ever after" and doing it well.

Blurb: Novels must have a framework upon which to hang your tale. Learn the proper way to do this so that you work succeeds.

Character Building:

Which is more important, character or plot? What is the difference between character and plot driven stories? Which is better? Where do characters come from? How do you show character traits? This workshop is an in-depth look at characters and character development in fiction .and how they drive your plot. The course will take a look at writer's techniques, psychological factors and methods to show traits. We will learn how to "know" and to show your characters. We will look at what characteristics are needed for a protagonist, an antagonist or others in your story. How characters react to roles or situations in which they find themselves will be discussed. What "markers" or speech patterns are used to show character? You will learn more about Character Building than you ever wanted to know.

Blurb: Knowing your characters so they can provide you with a believable story. In part, the workshop moves through Psychological insights, astrology and observation so that the writer can create real people and show them to the reader.

In the Mood:

This workshop explores the methods to create different moods and images in your writing and to analyze the best use of showing or telling. Obviously a vampire story will have different images and create different mood than a family or baby story. But how do you explore this? How do you set the tone and create the pictures you want for your story? How do you "show" a mood? How do you "show" a character trait? How do you show a tense situation; a dangerous situation? How do you bring the setting into play to create your mood? This workshop will show you how to open your mind to the world around you and to get it down on paper so that your story becomes alive.

Blurb: The ability to create the proper moods and images, and to show them as well as to show action is often overlooked in storytelling to the detriment of the piece. This workshop will make your writing come alive.

Plotting and Scheming:

What is the difference between plot and plotting? What is a theme? What is story telling? How about the opening? How does a writer plan and lay out his/her story? What about outlining or writing a synopsis. What about research? What makes a good plot? How to write scenes. How they figure into the overall plot. How other writers accomplish their goals. What is The Greek method? What are the elements of a plot? What is a time line? Flashback? In Media Res? Learn about all these subjects as we plot and scheme our way to a riveting story.

Blurb: How do you get from "Once upon a time" to "they lived happily ever after? This workshop covers the nuts and bolts of how to lay your story out in an exciting and readable fashion. Classic plots and themes are also discussed.

He Said What?

Join us in the wonderful world of the spoken word. How to write meaningful dialogue. The purposes of dialogue. Using dialogue to move the plot. How to reveal character through dialogue. How to make the story come alive. Emotions shown through dialogue. Dialogue tags. Creating moods and images through dialogue. How to edit your characters speech. What about the action surrounding the spoken words? How to coordinate the action with the words. Coordinating dialogue with character traits. "Listening" to silence and non-verbal "dialogue."

Blurb: How to convey information, emotions and character traits and to make your story live through realistic dialogue.

Here's Looking at You Kid:

This workshop is about Point of View. Arguably, the proper use of POV is one of the most difficult things a writer must learn to master. How to play God. Who is telling the story? Where do you place the camera? What are the different points of view? How does one use the proper Point of View? What is the best POV for your story? How about changing POV mid-stream? How do you change POV without confusing the reader? Should you change POV? Samples using different POV's to tell the same story. What about perspective? Is perspective different than POV? Why is POV so important?

Blurb: Learn the most effective ways to "tell" your story. Through whose eyes should the story be told? The class is about how to us POV effectively.

Fight the Good Fight:

Do you have yearnings to be the next Tom Clancy, W.E.B. Griffin, Leon Uris, Dean Coonts, Clive Cussler or Bernard Cornwell OR do you simply want to include some action; some combats scenes in you next blockbuster? Do some combat scenes in books and movies leave you flat? Find out why. This is the workshop for you. Even if you just want a few action sequences, certain things must be addressed. . It is not good enough to simply include a few fast moving gun battles. The Combat scenes must be real and have a relevance to the story. Learn to "live" the action.

Blurb: Make your combat scenes come alive. Learn how to realistically show man's darkest, but also his finest endeavors. Make your characters real heroes or real villains or real cowards.

*To Keep Our Honor Clean, Grand prize winner Gardenia Press Competition 2001, published by Gardenia Press and The Mad Dogs, Florida Writers Association award for Military Fiction in 2004 and Honorable mention JADA Press International 2005, published by Bookshelf Global Press. First to Fight, FWA award for historical fiction, published by Double Edge Press, 2012. The Time of the Raven and the Time of the King, both novels of King Arthur, both FWA prize winners and both published by Double Edge Press in 2012.

 
Chuck Dowling

www.chuckdowling.com

chuck@chuckdowling.com