Workshops
WRITE QUOTABLE DIALOGUE
We’ve all slogged through novels with boring, predictable, or chit-chat dialogue. In many genres, dialogue makes up half of the novel, so dialogue can make or break your bond with readers. Discover how to craft purposeful, quotable dialogue, by applying techniques used by screenwriters and playwrights. The workshop offers ten practical lessons to apply immediately to your work in progress.
The lessons are:
- Discover when and when not to use dialogue
- Infuse conflict
- Employ text and subtext
- Create suspense
- Transform the predictable
- Cut to the chase
- Individualize characters through speech markers
- Apply the stimulus/response pattern for clarity
- Use three types of tags to reveal goals, motivations, and conflict, and
- Format and punctuate dialogue properly.
This workshop is available in 2-hour, 3-hour in person or live online format. It is also available in 10 online lessons over a 30-day period with students applying the lessons to their own work.
DIALOGUE WORKSHOP HISTORY
Previously presented at:
- The 2023 American Christian Fiction Writers At-Home Conference.
- The 2023 Florida WritersCon.
- The Florida Writers Association Conference in person in 2018 and 2019 and by Zoom in 2020 in the 1-hour format.
- Southeastern University’s Expressions Workshop in 2018 and 2019, in the 3-hour in person-format.
- SavvyAuthors.com online in 2010 and 2013 in the 1-hour in-person format.
- Space Coast Writer’s Guild in 2022 in the 3-hour in-person format.
- Lakeland Library’s combined writers’ groups in Lakeland, Florida, 3-hour in-person format in 2016.
- Common Sense Marketing Strategies Group hosted a 2-hour workshop via Zoom in 2016 and they purchased the right to sell the recording for 1 year to their members.
- Central Florida Romance Writers in 2015 in the 2-hour in-person format.
- First Coast Romance Writers in 2018, in the 2-hour in-person format.
- Florida Romance Writers, online in the 30-day format, with each lesson applied to the writer’s work-in-progress in 2013.
- From the Heart Romance Writers, online in 2014 in the 30-day format, with each lesson applied to the writer’s work-in-progress.
- Kiss of Death Chapter, online in 2013 in the 30-day format, with each lesson applied to their work-in-progress. This chapter manages the annual international contest for the Daphne DuMaurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense.
- Lowcountry Romance Writers of America, online in 2012, 2014, and 2017 in the 30-day format.
- Maryland Romance Writers, online in 2013 in the 30-day format.
- Outreach International Romance Writers, online in the 2-hour format in 2012 and 2014.
- Romance Writers of America Online Chapter 136, in the 30-day format in 2015 and 2019.
- Tampa Area Romance Authors in the 1-hour format in 2010, 2015, and 2019.
- Yosemite Romance Writers, online in the 30-day format in 2013.
Editing Down to the Bones Workshop
The Space Coast Writer’s Guild is hosting the one-day workshop.
Whether you are writing your first novel or your fiftieth, how you approach the editing stage can make or break your story. This 2-hour workshop teaches a streamlined process to strengthen and deepen your story from its structural bones to the final polishing of sentences. Thriller author Steve Berry said he edits every scene and sentence of his work seventy times before it goes to the publisher. His 27 historical thrillers have been translated into 40 languages. He understands the power of editing.
In this workshop, students will be introduced to:
- how to test and build the structure of a story
- choosing a point of view—whose story is it?
- composing scenes by cause and effect
- ordering scenes for maximum impact
- establishing the story question and when to answer it
- using the value of setting
- choosing the types and levels of conflict
- discerning scene from sequel
- timing the use of backstory, flashbacks, and transitions
- developing sensory details and fact-checking
- crafting figures of speech and imagery
- setting the pace
- proofreading and line editing with critique partners and professionals.
EDITING WORKSHOP HISTORY
Previously presented at:
- Southeastern University’s Expressions Workshop in 2019, in the 3-hour in person-format.
- Tampa Area Romance Authors in 2019, 2-hour in-person format.
- Space Coast Writer’s Guild in 2022, one-day workshop format.
WRITING FOR MAGAZINES AND PAID BLOGS
Essays and articles are in high demand by magazines, paid blogs, and organizations. To tap into this rich market, writers need to know 10 basics. In this workshop students will learn how to:
- Identify common types of articles and essays,
- Discover a personal topic niche,
- Generate story ideas,
- Use methods and sources for research,
- Interview sources,
- Use query letters & writer’s guidelines,
- Discern reader demographics,
- Apply contract basics, copyright, and ethics,
- Multiply income through reprints & rewrites, and
- Track work and payments.
Students receive a 22-page handout, rich with content and links to more information.
WRITING FOR MAGAZINES OR PAID BLOGS WORKSHOP HISTORY
Previously presented at:
- The 2023 Florida WritersCon.
- Florida Writers Association (FWA) conference in 2019 and served on a panel discussion about What Makes a Great Ending.
- Southeastern University’s 2020 Expressions Writer’s Conference, in the 1-hour in-person format. Jeff Goins was the keynote speaker.