Posted on February 19, 2016 by lavlunabiz

Love the Ones You Hate — Creating Appealing Flawed Characters

Seminar
Love the Ones You Hate — Creating Appealing Flawed Characters

Presented by Diana Y. Paul, author of “Things Unsaid”

Saturday, March 19, 2016
10:30 am to 1:00 p.m.
Doors open at 10:00 am. Please arrive by 10:20 to be assured a seat.

Book cover of Diana's book — Diana’s book, Things Unsaid

Diana Paul will be giving a few examples of flawed characters from her novel, “Things Unsaid,” and discussing their importance for the structure of the novel. In addition to examples from her novel, she will use “Olive Kitteridge” (Elizabeth Strout) and “Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant” (Anne Tyler) and their use of character flaws. In a workshop format, Diana Paul encourages all participants to read from their own writing or from some of their favorite authors so we can open the discussion on characters we love to hate.

A good story is all about character. And plot is also character. How do you combine and interweave the two?

Some of the areas of discussion:

I. Negative Feelings can make the story compelling.
Building character profiles: what flaws work for the protagonist and for the antagonist?

II. Saints and easy solutions leading to happy endings can be forgettable and even boring.
Endings and Beginnings depend on each other. Flaws and problems drive the character and plot.

III. The challenge for the writer is to pull in the reader via characters’ imperfections.
What backstory explains the character’s flaws? Understanding the psychology of all major characters’ behavior.

IV. Going too far. Like a joke taken to the extreme.
Certain flaws are tool objectionable and unsympathetic; no longer a flaw but a psychosis.

V. Contrasts between positive and negative traits work best when not absolutes, but fluid and impermanent.
Examples from favorite books: how the character must change.

Assignment: Bring at least one example of a flawed character to discuss. This example can be from a novel or from your original writing.

2) Diana Paul’s column on being a writer – Chronicle of First Words – for the “San Diego Book Review” at SanDiegoBookReview.com/blog/first-words. The posts should be read in consecutive order, but if there isn’t time, just read the article on “Flawed Characters.”

Presenter/Author Bio — DIANA Y. PAUL

DIANA Y. PAUL, born in Akron, Ohio, is a graduate of Northwestern University, with a degree in both psychology and philosophy, and of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, with a PhD in Buddhist Studies.

Her debut novel, “Things Unsaid” (She Writes Press, 2015), has been ranked #2 in the “Top 14 Books about Families Crazier Than Yours” and was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

A former Stanford University professor, she is also the author of three books on Buddhism, one of which has been translated into Japanese and German (Women in Buddhism, University of California Press).

Her short stories have appeared in a number of literary journals and she is currently working on a second novel, “A Perfect Match.”

Diana lives in Carmel, CA with her husband, Doug, and their white-and-grey calico, Mao. She and Doug enjoy visiting their two adult children, Maya Miller (San Francisco) and Keith Paul (Los Angeles), as often as they can.

To learn more about her and her work, visit her author website at DianaYPaul.com and her blog on movies, art, and food at UnhealedWound.com or follow her on Twitter: @DianaPaul10.

Posted on January 20, 2016 by lavlunabiz

Word Processing Prowess: Easy tricks and hints

Seminar
Word Processing Prowess: Easy tricks and hints
presented by Deborah Shadovitz, who wrote the book!

Saturday, February 20, 2016
10:30 am to 1:00 p.m.

Have you ever felt that Word Processing is actually harder than writing by hand or type writing? Do you use Word or another word processor and love it — except when you end up with weird page breaks or make one tiny change and end up with rivers of white instead of columns? Are you frustrated when you edit a word and actually lose the word. Do you “get by” in Word or your writing app, but know you could be more efficient?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions or possibly have other frustrations or questions, please do yourself the favor of coming to this seminar and learning how word processing can make you a superhero-strength writer.

But there’s more to the power of word processing than knowing the mechanics. The word processing app you use on your computer is not just typewriter on a computer. It can actually help you formulate and organize your ideas.

No matter how well you get by in your computer’s writing program, chances are great that you’ll leave this seminar with more word processing power and time-saving efficiency.

Our presenter: Deborah Shadovitz

DEBORAH SHADOVITZ has been teaching and writing about using a computer efficiently since the dawn of the 90’s.

She penned many a book including Clarisworks Office for Dummies, Appleworks for Dummies, the Macworld Office 98 Bible and the Adobe GoLive Bible and contributed key chapters to many other Mac, writing, and web books. She was a Contributing Editor at MacAddict magazine and was called upon to write for Macworld and PC World magazines as well as every other major Mac or design magazine.

As a speaker at Macworld Expo, Internet World and other trade shows and events she was always well-received as a dynamic speaker.

Deborah has been solving people’s ”why does my page do this” queries since 1989 and has often helped exasperated people who felt the computer was not a time-saver at all. We are happy to have finally landed her to teach her fellow LA writers. She will teach us how to save time and end frustration. What you learn can be used on any version of Microsoft Word and with other word processing apps as well.

You can learn more about Deborah at Shadovitz.com or TalesOfTravelAndTech.com.

Posted on January 1, 2016 by lavlunabiz

Trends in Publishing

Panel
Trends in Publishing

Monday, January 25, 2016
7:30 to 9:15 p.m. (networking follows the program)

WHAT DO PUBLISHERS WANT?

As the greatest writer of them all once said, “That IS the question.” We all know that writing an interesting, involving, and top-quality book is a must, if you want to attract a good agent or a mainstream publisher — and especially if you want to publish it yourself.

But what happens after you write “The End”?

What goes on “behind the scenes” at publishers and agencies that determine if they say Yes or No? What do publishers and agents need from authors themselves, with regard to pre-existing fame and media profile, platform, credibility, education/credentials, and the like, besides writing a good book on a worthwhile topic?

What is the step-by-step journey that a manuscript travels behind closed doors at a publisher, after you or your agent or referral gets the book in the door? How are books — and authors — publicized and promoted in today’s social media, multi-platform world?

With physical bookstores on the decline — but a few valiant indies starting to recover again — how important is the physical bookstore to a self- or small/medium-press published author?

How has the change from emphasizing professional career authors (e.g., Stephen King, Joyce Carol Oates) to “overnight superstar” reality-TV celebrities changed things — and what about E-books, Kindles, and iPad apps?

As the Great Recession finally shows signs of beginning to lift, it is more important than ever to find out how to advocate for yourself, how writers will be able to make a living, and how to navigate these game-changers in the 24-hour spin cycle that is today’s publishing world.

IWOSC’s kickoff panel of 2016 will address all of these questions and more.

Panelists confirmed include veteran editor and book coach (and IWOSC member) Monica Faulkner and Tom Benton, a senior sales and marketing executive with Penguin/Random House. Additional panelist to be added, possibly a book publicist, self-publishing and/or small-press coaches, and a literary agent.

IWOSC’s own Telly Davidson will moderate — and there will be plenty of time set aside for audience Q&A with the panel, and networking afterward.)

Memories from the panel:

Posted on January 1, 2016 by lavlunabiz

Method Writing: An Organic Approach to Writing

Seminar
Method Writing:
An Organic Approach to Writing
with Presenter Jack Grapes

Saturday, January 16, 2015
10:30 am to 1:00 p.m.

“Method Writing” is an organic approach to writing, much as method acting is an organic approach to acting, stressing inner process and deep voice. “Method Writing” consists of various concepts that take the writer through techniques designed to make the writing more compelling and more effective, publishable and productive.

Back by popular demand, Jack Grapes will present this overview of the writer’s creative process, focusing on his book “METHOD WRITING,” a technique he’s developed and used in his writing workshops over the last 35 years. Jack will discuss the nature of the creative process, and how that applies to “Method Writing.” So bring something to write on: paper and pen, parchment and quill, stone and chisel — whatever works.

He and his son, Josh, will lead the group in a writing prompt, time permitting.

Our presenters: Jack and Josh Grapes

JACK GRAPES is an award-winning actor, poet, playwright, publisher, editor, and teacher.

He wrote and starred in “Circle of Will,” a metaphysical comedy about the lost years of William Shakespeare which ran for several years at the Globe Theatre in Hollywood.

He’s the author of 8 1/2 books of poetry, including the three most recent “The Naked Eye,” “Poems so Far,” and “All the Sad Angels.”

All available on Amazon.com.

Jack is editor and publisher of the highly acclaimed literary journal “Onthebus.”

He teaches classes based on his METHOD WRITING program. Both METHOD WRITING and ADVANCED METHOD WRITING are available on Amazon.com.

“What I treasure about Method Writing is that it is a brilliant lesson in connecting and staying true to one’s voice.
From that place, the writer can go anywhere.
It is the core teaching that has made me passionate about acting as well.”
~ Laura Dern

JOSH GRAPES is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College.

He’s a poet and writer, and a singer/songwriter.

His most recent CD is “Creature Comforts,” and a book of poetry is due for publication in 2016.

He’s also working on an alternate history of the United States.

He teaches special writer classes and workshops.

“Asking all the right questions, Josh helped me to get to the core of my story, opening up possibilities that blasted me out of the box. His suggestions were amazing, and at the same time, encouraging and respectful of my work. He’s fun. He’s enthusiastic. He’s brilliant! I love working with him and my work loves him too.”
~Barbara Rothstein

Category: PastEvent16

Love the Ones You Hate — Creating Appealing Flawed Characters

Seminar
Love the Ones You Hate — Creating Appealing Flawed Characters