Secret Writing Tips from Published Authors Workshop

Writing Workshop for kids ages 12 – 18 FREE!
Secret Writing Tips from Published Authors Workshop
Wednesday, July 29 3 – 5 p.m.
Clayton Library.
6125 Clayton Rd, 925-673-0659

“How to make a good story better. Create suspenseful stories with fabulous characters in settings that make your readers feel like they’re really there.” Discover writing secrets from two professional children’s authors who love writing. You’ll get a chance to ask questions about the publishing world, write, meet other writers, “talk books,” and be inspired to write and publish your own works of prose. Seating is limited.

If you would like to join the members of this workshop, send an email to [email protected]

Items for you to bring:
1. Lined paper to take notes and write.
2. A clipboard or sturdy notebook.
3. Pens and/or pencils – whichever you like to use.
4. Your questions about writing. (Or if you don’t have any, you may during the course of the class.)
5. Although we won’t have time to share a complete story with the group, you might want to bring a story you’re working on, because you may come up with ideas on how to improve it during the course of the discussion.

We look forward to seeing you on July 29 at 3 pm – 5 pm. Please be prompt.
Thank you!
Best,
Sarah and Liz
Sarah wwwsarahwilsonbooks.com
Liz www.lizbooks.com

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Great Poetry Site!

http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/394

(Thanks Al!)

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For the Kids in Room D-21

Thank you so much for your letters. I enjoyed visiting your classroom for the day, and I rate my experience a 10 too! All of your writing ideas are fabulous, and I hope that you are busy working on them now.

Mariah: Although I’ve never been a “real” librarian, my first job in high school was in a library. I loved it. I was a “page” and got to help patrons, file books, go down in the “dungeon” (basement!) of the 1800-something building to find old newspapers and magazines, and help the librarian with the card catalog. Most of all, I enjoyed finding the best books while I was shelving them.

Nicole: Yes, if you are writing about your cat, it would be great to include your dog too. Especially if the two interact. You can give them problems together or with each other. Conflict in stories always makes stories more suspenseful. Yes, you can e-mail me!

Have a great summer and keep reading and writing! Liz

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Writing Camp Ages 9 – 12

Writing Camp – Ages 9 – 12

August 3rd – 7th
2:00 – 3:30 pm
at the Storyteller Bookstore in Lafayette, CA

Meet with other young writers to play around with poetry and prose in a lively, informal group setting.

Topics include:
· setting up a writer’s notebook
· narrative poetry
· imagery
· elements of a short story
· persona and voice
· scallop format
· cumulative tales
· eavesdropping and dialogue

In addition, we will prepare work for a culminating publication and open mic party coming this Fall.

Questions? E-mail [email protected]
Registration forms are available at The Storyteller Bookstore or by contacting Lisa at:
[email protected]

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Contest Question

Should the story be based on reality?
Answer: While your story is fiction, you will need to set it in a reality-based historical time period. For instance, if you write a story about a character who lived during the Civil War, read books about this time period and take notes about the details of life. Copy the book titles, authors, etc. down for a bibliography. The historical data will be important for this contest.

This is a great opportunity! I wish I could do it. Lots of fun here. It’s like time travel! Is there a time in history you’d like to live or learn more about?

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More on a mystery . . .

To read a great mystery story (the beginning of one by MC) see the comment section. Loved the specific details showing the motive for a robbery. Created images, while gave motivation at the same time. Great details and use of setting! Liz

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Poetry Slam

Host: Bay Area Poetry Slam & Open-mic Update
Type: Music/Arts – Performance
Network: Global
Start Time: Friday, July 24, 2009 at 7:30pm
End Time: Saturday, July 25, 2009 at 11:30pm
Location: MAMA CALIZO’S VOICE FACTORY THEATER
Street: 1519 Mission (@ 11th)
City/Town: San Francisco, CA
Email: [email protected]

This event was held in Big Sur for the last 10 years, but this year it goes back to where it started, Babylon By The Bay!
All proceeds of this years tournament go to benefit the Individual World Poetry Slam 2009, to be held in Berkeley this Fall, Oct 8-10!

The is a 2-day event, held on July 24-25 in San Francisco, CA. Teams from across the West will compete for cash prizes! 10 teams max, first 10 that pay registration get in.

Catch this: our venue has THREE theater spaces, and we’ll be using at least 2 of them so we’ll be able to accommodate ALL the teams for the first time under one roof!

Registration is $100, and there will be $1000 in prizes, split 500-300-200. “Straw Teams” or hand-picked teams ARE welcome to compete, so grab three of your best poet friends and sign up!

Oh, and if you think the slam is gonna be fun, you should ask about the party we have planned afterwords!

For full details on Registration, Prizes, and Accommodations for teams, please email: thecityslam@ yahoo.com for details.

MAMA CALIZO’S VOICE FACTORY THEATER
1519 Mission (at 11th a few blocks from the Civic
Center BART, next to Fire Stone Tires), SF, 94103.
HOST: MONA WEBB & friends.
7-10:00pm ALL AGES VENUE. Cash Prizes.
Info: myspace.com/thecityslam
myspace.com/goldengateslam
[email protected]
http://www.voicefactorysf.org

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Accepting Student Work

This from the editor of Bread & Circuses:

Bread &Circuses is a new magazine published (for now) out of Orinda, California. You can learn a bit more and read the call for submissions on our temporary website here: http://breadandcircuseszine.wordpress.com/about/

Yes, submissions can be anonymous. You can either send us your work under a psuedonym, sign it “anonymous”, or give us your real name but ask us not to publish it (we won’t print it if you ask us not to). If you want to receive a copy of the zine, you should include your real street/mailing address, and we will send you one if your work is accepted.

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Regarding Bread and Circuses

Can submissions be anonymous? From a blog reader

Good question! I would assume it can, but one should NEVER make assumptions about submissions. I will defer to editor Annelyse Gelman. Annelyse, can you answer this one for me here please? Liz

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Workshop for Visual Artists – Free

A Rare Opportunity for Visual Artists

Visual artists, are you ready to take the next step toward becoming an arts professional? Do you understand strategic business planning, personal branding, marketing, strategic partnerships, and goal setting (to name just a few of the topics covered)?

AC5 is partnering with G-TAC Management Consultants to offer ArtsEdge, a business management workshop tailored specifically to professional visual artists. The workshop will be offered twice, once in Pinole and once in Lafayette. Each workshop spans two days. Led by senior consultants from G-TAC, the focus will be on best practices for building, enhancing and growing a professional business. Thanks to a generous grant, there is no charge to qualifying participants.

ARTS EDGE – WORKSHOP DATES AND LOCATIONS

Please choose to attend in either Lafayette or Pinole; no “mixing and matching”:

Saturday and Sunday, June 13 & 14 from 1 to 5 PM at the Lafayette Studio, 3506A Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, CA (Thank you, Lamorinda Arts Alliance!)

Saturday and Sunday, June 20 & 21 from 1 to 5 PM at the Pinole Art Center, 2221 Pear Street in Old Town Pinole (Thank you, Pinole Artisans!)
For more details, including how to sign up, go to www.ac5.org

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