May 23, 2007
Workshops, workshops
Written by Jenna Petersen in Writers and WritingIt’s Conference Season for writers. The time of year when there are a million local chapter conferences, the big RWA National conference in Dallas, BEA in New York, and the list goes on. It also seems like the time when online conferences are big on presenting boot camps and special programs. Well, I’m all on board for that. I like teaching classes. I think it’s fun to talk to other authors and if I can help someone on their journey, then that’s cool, too!
Right now I have 4 workshops that I’m actively teaching:
1. The Great Agent Search — My biggest endeavor where I go through everything you ever wanted to know about agents, from searching for them to hiring them to working with them to firing them.
2. The How, The Why and the What of Website Design for Authors — Sort of speaks for itself, doesn’t it?
3. So I Wrote This Book… Now What? — A basic workshop with the nuts and bolts of the industry.
4. Anatomy of a Love Scene — My new baby. To be presented for the first time in June of this year.
But the thing is, I’ve been teaching these same workshops (with the exception of Anatomy) for a long time. I’m going to be retiring Websites after I present it for the last time in September and I’m probably going to shelve Agents for at least six months after the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Conference (just because I’ve been presenting it a lot and it’s not getting as much play anymore).
So that leaves me with two and I think I need some more workshops.
There are so many basic topics that a workshop can cover. There’s craft, which is obviously about the nuts and bolts of romance writing. There’s Industry, which is teaching about elements of this crazy Romance World. There’s A Writer’s Life, which is about balance or motivation or dealing with the forces that keep you from writing. There’s research, too, which is probably pretty obvious. That’s a lot of topics to pick from. And I just don’t know which ones to focus on.
I know there are a lot of writers out there in Jauntyville. Help me out, here. If you were going to attend a workshop taught by moi (or anyone), what topic would you want covered? What do you have the most questions about? What do you think isn’t being taught by the current slate of conference speakers in the world and cyberspace? What is there interest in?
Lord knows I have time on my hands right now. I might as well create something new with it.
Oh, and if I end up using your idea to create a new workshop (first one who posts the idea gets the credit, but feel free to post repeats if you like someone else’s idea, too), I will send you some coverflats. So have at it!
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Isabel Says:
Jenna, I hope you’re teaching a workshop next year when the RWA comes to SF. I’ll be there.
As for suggestions, personally I’m interested in learning the craft. The first workshop idea that come to mind is: A workshop on “Beginnings” how to start your book with a bang (for lack of better terms), hook the reader and get them to read the rest of the book.
How about one on, “how do you know which idea can be developed into novel length story?” We all get ideas all the time, but which ones are worth pursuing and how do you know this is the one?
It’s been done, but I’d love to attend a GMC workshop, extra points if it deals with how to write a synopsis using GMC.
Finally “scene structure” what’s this stuff I’ve heard about? Action, reaction, setup?
Clarisse Says:
How about a research one on Regency Underworld: the Hells, the skells, pickpockets, thieves and kingpins, whores and courtesans.
Kathryn Says:
How about a workshop on continuity and setting the scene for a trilogy or a series of related books (without flogging a dead horse?
I agree, research is an obvious choice, pick something near and dear to your heart — clothing or accessories your heroine would wear, house design in the era of your book…
Shana Says:
Jenna, I think the best workshops focus on the presenter’s skills. So think about what you do best in your writing. That’s what you should do a workshop on.
Recently, I was looking through the RWA list of workshops for the conference this summer, and I saw 2 I would definitely attend. One was about–of all things–how to give a workshop. The second was about how to quit your day job.
Robyn DeHart Says:
Jenna, why don’t you put together one on the differences between sexy historicals and erotic historicals? You explain the difference so well and obviously know how to create conflict for the characters with their sexuality - seems like lots of writers would find that kind of workshop useful.
Clarisse Says:
I don’t know if this is one of your areas of expertise, but I would personally love a research workshop on the regency house, servants and the whole below-stairs set up.
Jenna Petersen Says:
Holy cow! You guys have some great ideas. Unfortunately, as for hte research ones I don’t think I’m qualified for any of them. I meant that research has an obvious definition, not that it’s obvious for me. I think someone who teaches a research class has to have way more than just a basic working knowledge of a subject and I just don’t.
Jenna Petersen Says:
Robyn, I think I might cover some of those things in my Anatomy of a Love Scene workshop. But it’s a good thought. Often people don’t get the difference.
Shana, you’re right. It is about your strengths. That’s why I’ve done so many industry workshops. I feel like that’s a strength of mine. Some of the craft workshops that have been recommended here are great ideas, I just don’t know if I’m the best one to teach them.
Isabel, I think Robyn does one on GMC.
Rainy Says:
Time and Place
I think this is important in any story, whether it’s set in 1950 or Regency. Getting the feeling of authenticity. I believe that for beginning writers especially the thought of writing something in a different time or place is daunting.
Dialogue:
There always is a need for good dialogue. I’ve read storis where the a character appears as “animated” as the Lost in Space robot…”Danger, Will Robinson. That girl has something up her sleeve!! Danger! Danger!”
How about an interactive workshop. Most writers enjoy…writing! In a short workshop, this can be hard because of time but you could probably think of something that is possible.