Monday, June 9, 2008

Character Development: Writing Exercise

Create a list of people and then add an adjective.  You might have woman, man, child and then adding the adjective have: sleazy man, woeful child, lunatic woman.  Try on professions for size: timid garbage man, boastful weight lifter, etc.  Once you have a list (keep it for future reference) pick two characters and decide what one wants from the other. 

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Workshop Saturday, June 14th

Location: Empire Coffee Shop, Orange Street
Time: 9:30-11:30A.M.
Date: Saturday, June 14th, 2008
RSVP: kathie dot blog at gmail dot com or 530-521-4264 by Thursday, June 12th, 2008
Guests: Open to anyone in the Chico/Paradise/Oroville/Hamilton City/Orland area (or those who can make it to our meeting place!)
Facebook: We’re on Facebook!

New Format!

9:30 - 10:00 AM
Share and Discuss Assigned Writing Exercise: (Either email a copy to everyone, be prepared to read outloud or bring enough copies for everyone.  Contact Kathie for further information and instructions.)

“Create a narrative voice that is distinctly different from your own by changing a key element of the character. If you’re a woman, write in a man’s voice. If you’re under thirty, create the voice of a character over sixty. Make a change in appearance or education or background.”

10:00 - 10:30 AM Craft Chat: Voice

Each writer has a distinct personality. Hemingway, for example, would never write like Mark Twain. How does a writer develop her/his voice? What is the difference between voice and style? A writer must master narrative voice. How is it done, and what exactly is it? A story’s voice is created by some fundamental tools a writer must have in their “writer’s toolbox.” We will discuss these and look at how this all works.

10:30 - 11:30 AM Manuscript Critique: Piece by Kathie Leung [download copy here].  Critique will be lead by N. D. Austin whom will use the following Critique Worksheet (please use this sheet to help guide the critique):

Author Name / Title of Piece
Concept (Scope/Originality)
Plot (Conflict/Crisis/Resolution)
Characterization (Action/Appearance/Thought)
Dialog (Tension/Rhythm/Diction)
Setting (Time and Place/Concrete Detail)
Tone (Language/Style)
Additional Comments