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FOURTH ANNUAL LAKE CHAPALA
WRITERS' CONFERENCE
January 24 - 25 , 2008 in Ajijic, Mexico.
at the Hotel Real de Chapala
Jessica Morrell and Vince Beiser
You'll never get this opportunity again at such a great price and in such beautiful surroundings—with a promise of wonderful Ajijic weather. Ajijic is located 50 miles south of Guadalajara in the colonial highlands of Mexico.
For a map of the area, click here: http://www.mexconnect.com/maps/chapalamaps.pdf
Jessica Morrell
Jessica is a writing coach and author whose published books include, Writing Out the Storm, Between the Lines, The Writer’s I Ching and an upcoming Writer’s Digest Book: Bullies, Bastards and Bitches: How to Write the Bad Guys in Fiction. Her articles have been published in The Writer and Writer's Digest magazines. In addition to teaching at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, Morrell conducts workshops throughout the Pacific Northwest and at conferences. Jessica grew up in Wisconsin and earned a Bachelor of Arts degee at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She lives in Portland, Oregon.
January 24 Morning Workshop: Plot is a Verb
This half-day workshop is a primer on plot and storyline with a special emphasis on how to create opposition and conflict. The workshop will also cover:
- Mythic and three-act structure in a modern tale
- Building a story that is not a pale imitation of life, but rather a larger-than-life rich reenactment
- How plot points push the story forward; how to use set pieces to create a rising and falling pattern of tension
- How to avoid middles that languish or plod.
January 25 Afternoon Workshop: Story People
Her second half-day workshop will focus on:
- Defining the terms and categories of fictional people
- Delineating the differences between static characters and transforming characters
- Discussing flat versus round characters
- How to use back story to enhance character conflict
- Anti-heroes—creating sizzle between antagonist and protagonist
- Creating sympathy and empathy…and more.
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Vince Beiser
Vince is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist specializing in criminal justice and other social issues. His work has been honored by Investigative Reporters and Editors, the Columbia, Medill and Missouri Graduate Schools of Journalism, the National Mental Health Association, the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies and many other institutions. In some 15 years in the news business, he has been a senior editor for Mother Jones, a special projects reporter for The Oakland Tribune, and a senior writer for The Jerusalem Report, Israel's leading news magazine. His investigative stories have appeared in Harper's, Wired, The Los Angeles Times Magazine, The Village Voice, The New Republic, The Nation, and Rolling Stone. He has also appeared on BBC, NPR and other networks.
January 24 Afternoon Workshop: Start Freelancing!
You’ve got ideas, you can write about them - and you wouldn't mind getting paid for it. But who do you approach? How much should you ask for? What kind of experience do you need? This course will teach you the essential basics you need to start selling non-fiction articles to magazines and newspapers.
The seminar will cover:
- How to develop ideas into saleable articles
- How to figure out which publications and editors to target
- How to present yourself as a writer
- How to haggle out the best possible contract
- How to keep assignments coming
January 25 Morning Workshop: The Art of the Query Letter
As a freelance writer, the query letter is your most important tool: It's your personal introduction, writing sample, and article outline all in one. Write a solid one and you're on your way to a feature contract; write a lousy one and you'll disappear into the slush pile. Whether you're pitching a travel piece or an undercover investigation, there are some key techniques and strategies you need to know.
This seminar will cover:
- The basic questions all queries must answer
- What editors look for in a query
- When and how to follow up
- How to package yourself as the ideal writer for your idea
- How to deal with rejection
- How to re-sell your ideas for extra cash
Bring your story ideas along for hands-on "workshopping."
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Included with each registration are two lunches, coffee and soft drinks. If you need more information, please contact Stephanie Smith at lakechapalawriters@hotmail.com. If you're ready to join us,
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