| Watermark Writers' Conference 2006 |
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"The Amazing Saga of Emily Phipps. (Miss)".
"How to Negotiate a Book Deal"
before you submit your proposal, finding an excellent literary agent, working with an editor, an overview of all publishing departments , and in-depth review of
a book contract, copyright permissions, and publicity and promotion strategies. A PowerPoint is presented along with a detailed resource list and a list of
common publishing words used in the industry.
John Riddle
"Freelance Writers and Truth About Tough Times: They Don't Exist"
David Kohner Zuckerman
"Writing Your Script to Sell"
This is a class taught by producer David Kohner Zuckerman for screen writers interested in the inside scoop on what Hollywood development executives and
producers seek when choosing what material to pursue. Topics will include outlining, formatting, dialog, the 3-act structure, and adaptation. David will also
draw from his experiences working in Hollywood as a reader, executive and producer in discussing tips of the trade.
Rachel Rose
"From Family Legend to Public Poem" Writing Poetry Inspired by Personal History.
All of us have legends in our families: Stories of great Uncle Isadore, who escaped the Nazis in Romania, of a grandfather who secretly kept another family across
town, a great, great grandmother who gave birth to twins in a covered wagon crossing the prairies, a sister who drowned just before we were born and whose
name was never spoken. These mythic stories may have been part of our own childhoods or may have been passed down for generations and may be haunting
the poet, who nevertheless struggles to find a way to write them that is both honest and sympathetic. In this workshop Rachel Rose will discuss poems by
Michael Ondaatje, Sharon Olds, Sylvia Plath and others, examining strategies to create what appear to be autobiographical poems, as well as strategies to protect
the private self.
______________________________________________________________________
Saturday, September 30, 1:00 to 3:00 PM
Gordon Kirkland
"Climbing the Writing Ladder"
As writers gain more experience and get some publication credits under their belt, they begin to climb the ladder from the Wannabe Writer to the Emerging
Writer to the Experienced Writer. Successfully moving up the rungs takes a concerted effort and a dedication to the endeavor. This workshop will provide tips on
ways to make the climb easier and the rewards at the top more accessible.
Topics include:
Nancy Warren
"Strong Women, Foolish Choices"
A look at female based comedy from Jane Austen to Helen Fielding, with a fair discussion on the chick lit phenomenon. Warren will also discuss the timeless
appeal of the romance novel. Nearly one of every two mass market fiction paperbacks sold is a romance novel, a fun and reasonably lucrative genre to write in.
Discussions will include:
Katharine Sands
"From Pitch to Published: a Seven Step Plan for Getting Into Print"
Publishers are always in search of writing that takes a fresh look, writing that is insightful, observant, funny or urgent. Writing that is transporting. Writing
that makes you want to turn the page. New York literary agent and author of "Making the Perfect Pitch", Katharine Sands guides participants step by step
through the getting-published process, including topics such as:
provide everything-you-need-to-know. Participants who bring samples of their works-in-progress will receive professional evaluation.
Greg Greenway
"Songwriting for Poets and Writers"
Songs are truly the well connected, more social cousins of poems. The happy connection is to music, that most abstract of gifts. The "social" is that by definition
the words must travel through the air, affixed to time, to someone listening. Anyone who writes in short forms knows how maddeningly difficult that is to do
memorably. In my experience as a nationally touring singer/songwriter, when done well, there is nothing so powerful. The gauntlet thrown down by so many
from Dylan to Randy Newman is that it doesn't matter how well you play or sing, it's how well your writing communicates.
My workshop will delve into:
_______________________________________________________________________
Saturday, September 30, 4:00 to 6:00 PM
John J Nance
John will share his background and writing information.
John J Nance is one of the most informative and dynamic speakers today. His insights and information will intrigue and inspire . Don't miss this opportunity to
work with this nationally acclaimed author and speaker.
David Kohner Zuckerman
"Life's a Pitch"
So, You've written a great script. Terriffic--now it's time to show it! There are two basic ways to sell your projects to the Hollywood Elite: verbal pitching and
query letters. In this highly interactive class that includes plenty of practice pitching, David will discuss ways to improve your verbal pitching skills and your
query letters. He will also cover such topics as, "Hollywood Etiquette" and "The Follow-up." This class is a great way to prepare yourself for marketing your script
to industry pros. At the end of the class the attendees have a chance to get in front of the class and practice pitch their screenplay. The winning pitch, that the
class decides on, receives free Draft Software valued at $250.00.
Laurie Lindop
"Characters that Leap From the Page, Grab Attention and Won't Let Go"
What do Humbert Humbert, Mrs. Dalloway, Jay Gatsby, and Sherlock Holmes have in common? They're unforgettable characters. In this workshop, you will
learn how to develop three-dimensional fictional characters who will intrigue readers (and editors) and keep them turning the pages. We will discuss ways to
make our characters psychologically complex and realistically flawed. The ultimate goal will be to create a fictional protagonist readers won't be able to forget.
Gordon Kirkland
"Takin' it to the Streets"
Most authors who are either self-published or published by smaller publishers cannot afford the luxury of hiring a publicist and a tour valet. As a result many
are left with the task of doing the work themselves with little or no help or guidance. This workshop will deal with the problems and solutions when organizing
and running a successful book marketing campaign and tour including:
Ilya Kaminsky
"Talking All Afternoon" A Survey of Issues in Contemporary Poetry
The only way to become a great poet in a tradition is to understand what others have done so far. We will look at poems both modern and contemporary, from
around the world, and try to understand how they were made. Particular attention will be paid to the forms, the music, the images and other aspects of the craft.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sunday, October 1, 9:30 to 11:30 AM
Robert Fulghum
"Why to Dance, Sing, Act and Draw" What Underlies Your Creativity
This workshop will discuss creativity and how to tap into it. Interactive programs will help writers unlock their imagination and build on the inspirations they
discover. Fulghum will include an "I'll show you mine if you show me yours" technique to involve the writer in a thought-provoking experience that will move
any work forward.
John J Nance
John will share his background and writing information.
John J Nance is one of the most informative and dynamic speakers today. His insights and information will intrigue and inspire . Don't miss this opportunity to
see this nationally acclaimed author and speaker.
"How to Negotiate a Book Deal"
before you submit your proposal, finding an excellent literary agent, working with an editor, an overview of all publishing departments , and in-depth review of
a book contract, copyright permissions, and publicity and promotion strategies. A PowerPoint is presented along with a detailed resource list and a list of
common publishing words used in the industry.
John Riddle
"Freelance Writers and Truth About Tough Times: They Don't Exist"
David Kohner Zuckerman
"Writing Your Script to Sell"
This is a class taught by producer David Kohner Zuckerman for screen writers interested in the inside scoop on what Hollywood development executives and
producers seek when choosing what material to pursue. Topics will include outlining, formatting, dialog, the 3-act structure, and adaptation. David will also
draw from his experiences working in Hollywood as a reader, executive and producer in discussing tips of the trade.
Rachel Rose
"From Family Legend to Public Poem" Writing Poetry Inspired by Personal History.
All of us have legends in our families: Stories of great Uncle Isadore, who escaped the Nazis in Romania, of a grandfather who secretly kept another family across
town, a great, great grandmother who gave birth to twins in a covered wagon crossing the prairies, a sister who drowned just before we were born and whose
name was never spoken. These mythic stories may have been part of our own childhoods or may have been passed down for generations and may be haunting
the poet, who nevertheless struggles to find a way to write them that is both honest and sympathetic. In this workshop Rachel Rose will discuss poems by
Michael Ondaatje, Sharon Olds, Sylvia Plath and others, examining strategies to create what appear to be autobiographical poems, as well as strategies to protect
the private self.
______________________________________________________________________
Saturday, September 30, 1:00 to 3:00 PM
Gordon Kirkland
"Climbing the Writing Ladder"
As writers gain more experience and get some publication credits under their belt, they begin to climb the ladder from the Wannabe Writer to the Emerging
Writer to the Experienced Writer. Successfully moving up the rungs takes a concerted effort and a dedication to the endeavor. This workshop will provide tips on
ways to make the climb easier and the rewards at the top more accessible.
Topics include:
- Defining yourself as a writer
- Defining your meaning of success as a writer
- Setting goals and benchmarks
- Making valuable contacts along the way
- Making sure the world knows whenever you move up a rung
- Paying it forward when you get closer to the top
Nancy Warren
"Strong Women, Foolish Choices"
A look at female based comedy from Jane Austen to Helen Fielding, with a fair discussion on the chick lit phenomenon. Warren will also discuss the timeless
appeal of the romance novel. Nearly one of every two mass market fiction paperbacks sold is a romance novel, a fun and reasonably lucrative genre to write in.
Discussions will include:
- How to break into the Romance Novel genre
- What makes a romance novel work
- Why the genre is so successful
Katharine Sands
"From Pitch to Published: a Seven Step Plan for Getting Into Print"
Publishers are always in search of writing that takes a fresh look, writing that is insightful, observant, funny or urgent. Writing that is transporting. Writing
that makes you want to turn the page. New York literary agent and author of "Making the Perfect Pitch", Katharine Sands guides participants step by step
through the getting-published process, including topics such as:
- How to navigate the publishing landscape: the quirks, processes and challenges
- How to pitch with aplomb: write a query letter that sells the editor in the first two lines
- How to stand out in the "Leaning Tower of Queries" in a literary agent's office
- How to make the perfect pitch and how to build the perfect platform
- Why the writing you do about your writing is as important as the writing itself
provide everything-you-need-to-know. Participants who bring samples of their works-in-progress will receive professional evaluation.
Greg Greenway
"Songwriting for Poets and Writers"
Songs are truly the well connected, more social cousins of poems. The happy connection is to music, that most abstract of gifts. The "social" is that by definition
the words must travel through the air, affixed to time, to someone listening. Anyone who writes in short forms knows how maddeningly difficult that is to do
memorably. In my experience as a nationally touring singer/songwriter, when done well, there is nothing so powerful. The gauntlet thrown down by so many
from Dylan to Randy Newman is that it doesn't matter how well you play or sing, it's how well your writing communicates.
My workshop will delve into:
- Defining Yourself: of the thousands of lives of songs, where is yours aimed?
- Believability: the performance/persona part of what you choose to write about and how it is presented.
- The Song as a Blind Date: escaping the page, all the rules of drama apply (The Sociology of Songs)
- The Music of Language: rhythm and sense of sound.
- Fear no Emotion: what is dangerous to you will be the most compelling.
- Getting Your Songs Out to the World: networking and the business of performing and selling songs
_______________________________________________________________________
Saturday, September 30, 4:00 to 6:00 PM
John J Nance
John will share his background and writing information.
John J Nance is one of the most informative and dynamic speakers today. His insights and information will intrigue and inspire . Don't miss this opportunity to
work with this nationally acclaimed author and speaker.
David Kohner Zuckerman
"Life's a Pitch"
So, You've written a great script. Terriffic--now it's time to show it! There are two basic ways to sell your projects to the Hollywood Elite: verbal pitching and
query letters. In this highly interactive class that includes plenty of practice pitching, David will discuss ways to improve your verbal pitching skills and your
query letters. He will also cover such topics as, "Hollywood Etiquette" and "The Follow-up." This class is a great way to prepare yourself for marketing your script
to industry pros. At the end of the class the attendees have a chance to get in front of the class and practice pitch their screenplay. The winning pitch, that the
class decides on, receives free Draft Software valued at $250.00.
Laurie Lindop
"Characters that Leap From the Page, Grab Attention and Won't Let Go"
What do Humbert Humbert, Mrs. Dalloway, Jay Gatsby, and Sherlock Holmes have in common? They're unforgettable characters. In this workshop, you will
learn how to develop three-dimensional fictional characters who will intrigue readers (and editors) and keep them turning the pages. We will discuss ways to
make our characters psychologically complex and realistically flawed. The ultimate goal will be to create a fictional protagonist readers won't be able to forget.
Gordon Kirkland
"Takin' it to the Streets"
Most authors who are either self-published or published by smaller publishers cannot afford the luxury of hiring a publicist and a tour valet. As a result many
are left with the task of doing the work themselves with little or no help or guidance. This workshop will deal with the problems and solutions when organizing
and running a successful book marketing campaign and tour including:
- Making bookstore contacts
- Dealing with libraries
- Getting the most out of a book signing event
- Creating a media buzz for your appearances and your book
- Developing event and book marketing materials on a budget
- Planning a book tour
- The tools to use
- Cutting costs on the road
Ilya Kaminsky
"Talking All Afternoon" A Survey of Issues in Contemporary Poetry
The only way to become a great poet in a tradition is to understand what others have done so far. We will look at poems both modern and contemporary, from
around the world, and try to understand how they were made. Particular attention will be paid to the forms, the music, the images and other aspects of the craft.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sunday, October 1, 9:30 to 11:30 AM
Robert Fulghum
"Why to Dance, Sing, Act and Draw" What Underlies Your Creativity
This workshop will discuss creativity and how to tap into it. Interactive programs will help writers unlock their imagination and build on the inspirations they
discover. Fulghum will include an "I'll show you mine if you show me yours" technique to involve the writer in a thought-provoking experience that will move
any work forward.
John J Nance
John will share his background and writing information.
John J Nance is one of the most informative and dynamic speakers today. His insights and information will intrigue and inspire . Don't miss this opportunity to
see this nationally acclaimed author and speaker.
