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Message |
    
Dennis Collins
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
2478
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 10:03 am: |   |
(disclaimer) I'm emerging from my self-imposed exile because I need the help of some of my friends at this forum. I'm not implying that I feel the transgression has been reconciled but I feel that this forum may provide the best resources.
In a few weeks I will be conducting a three day class at Saginaw Valley State University (wonder if that means I'll be tenured). It's called "Writing Workshop: Where to Begin and More." There are no guidelines offered by the University. It's my solo gig from start to finish.
It's part of a lifelong learning program aimed at senior citizens. It seems that many of these people are interested in telling their stories but don't have a clue about getting started or where to find opportunities. I'm guessing that there could be a very broad variety of students ranging from the grandmother who wants all of her descendents to know about their Ukrainian heritage to the old man who spent two years in a German POW camp during WWII and everything in between.
Here's my plan (so far):
Week one will be getting acquainted. I need to find out who is in the class and what their goals are. I plan to solicit questions and expectations from the class. I'll tell them a little about myself and my misadventures in authordom.
Week two will be defining the challenges of getting published and the necessity of honing your craft as a writer.
Week three will be presenting resources; publishers, agents, self-publishing, ePublishing, etc. I may be leaning on LA, Fred, and Joyce for this one.
Egads!!! What if they all write poetry???
I'd love to hear some suggestions.
Dennis Collins
Moderator
www.theunrealmccoy.com
http://theunrealmccoy.blogspot.com |
Claudia Turner VanLydegraf
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
3196
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 12:55 pm: | |
Dennis,
For poetry, contact Laurel, she knows about all there is to know from who to contact, to how to get your stuff out there.
For other type writers, Todd has several short stories now published and he would be an invaluable source for getting info from.
For mystery, you are the best source..... or Nancy Mehl.
For Christian books, try Perry and for all relevant information on any subject out there,
get into the net,.....as I am sure you already are, and pull from the sources there and ALSO, you might try Brenda at MyShelf and some of the other writers that do reviews. Also Carolyn Howard-Johnson and her books about the Frugal Book Promoter (I think that is the title) and others she has written. She has a wealth of info inside her mind and I am sure she could point you or anyone else in the right direction.
Hope some of those help you, and great luck in the class. I think you will be great at it.
Claudia
MINDSIGHT MODERATOR
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Tom Elkins
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
912
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 01:22 pm: | |
Todd - If they are seniors most will probably want to write about themselves, or their families. Those stories can be interesting, but, like anything else, they can be disastrous. Make them carefully define a target audience.
Tom Elkins
NORTH of TEXAS
www.authorsden.com/tomelkins |
Tom Elkins
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
913
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 01:24 pm: | |
P. S. I meant Dennis.
Tom Elkins
NORTH of TEXAS
www.authorsden.com/tomelkins |
Stephen Lodge
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
632
Registered: 06-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 05:07 pm: | |
"P. S. I meant Dennis"
It begins with small things like that, when you start getting old.
http://www.stephenlodge.com
Novels by Stephen Lodge:
"Charley Sunday's Texas Outfit!"
"Nickel-Plated Dream"
"Shadows of Eagles"
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Gloria Marlow
Unity Member
Post Number:
2066
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - 08:19 pm: | |
I don't have the first suggestion, Dennis, but I've been pondering some writing workshops I'd like to give, and if I could be any help, just let me know.
Gloria
www.geocities.com/gloriadmarlow
http://youtube.com/user/gloriamarlow
Flowers for Megan**Shades of Silence**The Butterfly Game
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Dennis Collins
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
2479
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 05:09 am: | |
I'm doing my best to write a curriculum. I think it's important to encourage a lot of interaction. When I attend conferences, it's obvious that the sessions with the most participation also provide the best information.
I'm accumulating as much stuff as I can and I figure that I'll wait until after the first class to see what I think would work best in the second session. The classes will be two hours long and there will be three of them: March 13,20, & 27.
The college administrator says that enrollment has been fairly brisk but classes of this type generally attract anywhere from 10 to 25 students.
Dennis Collins
Moderator
www.theunrealmccoy.com
http://theunrealmccoy.blogspot.com |
Tom Elkins
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
914
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 06:48 am: | |
It's a given (to us, at least) that you learn how to write by writing. For us ol' folks, a small notebook helps. We have ideas, then forget them before we get to a keyboard. You younguns' never have that problem, of course.
There are those in the ladies' writing club set who seem to think that some kinds of writing aren't real writing, and that real writers shouldn't have to worry about such annoying things as spelling and grammar. You would do as all a service if you could dissuade your students of such notions.
Tom Elkins
NORTH of TEXAS
www.authorsden.com/tomelkins |
Dennis Collins
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
2480
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 06:59 am: | |
Thanks Tom. I hadn't thought about mentioning the notebook even though I've been carrying one ever since I turned 65. Maybe I should have written myself a note to talk about it in the class.
Dennis Collins
Moderator
www.theunrealmccoy.com
http://theunrealmccoy.blogspot.com |
Joyce Scarbrough
Unity Member
Post Number:
1228
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 08:26 am: | |
Dennis, great to have you back!
I'm the president of our local writers' guild, and we're putting on a manuscript preparation/submission process workshop at our monthly meeting in March. I'll be glad to send you samples of our handouts from the various segments we're including. A good thing to remember is that in addition to craft instruction, new writers often need instruction on basic things like fonts, running headers, title pages, etc.
~Joyce Sterling Scarbrough
True Blue Forever
ISBN 0-9722385-9-X
Different Roads
ISBN 0-9722385-3-0
Authors Ink Books
http://www.authorsinkbooks.com
Read the first chapters: http://www.authorsden.com/joycelscarbrough1
Waste time on Joyce's Blog: http://joycescarbrough.blogspot.com
Watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kztz5e3XZeo |
Tom Elkins
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
915
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 09:18 am: | |
One of my profs (way back when) had us critique each others' work. Of course, the only critique that counted was his, but the exercise was helpful - to me, at least.
Tom Elkins
NORTH of TEXAS
www.authorsden.com/tomelkins |
Laurel Johnson
Unity Member
Post Number:
4493
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 03:01 pm: | |
I can see where this class might easily lead to another series of classes. What you are offering so far will be like candy to a sweet tooth!!
It sounds to me like you have all your ducks in a row. My only suggestion might be -- for those hoping to write a family history or bio -- the importance of research and how to find what they need. Some may not be familiar with researching on the internet, for example. They will have to begin with the basics such as gathering information, putting that info together in an interesting way if they want their work published or even self-published.
Good luck!! I'll be interested to hear how this goes for you.
Laurel Johnson
http://laureljohnsonblogs.blogspot.com
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Tom Elkins
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
917
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 - 01:35 am: | |
Value of a notebook: yesterday I wrote down two phone numbers, but didn't note who they are for. They are in front of me right now (2:30 a.m.) and I have no idea why I noted them. I might just call them and see who answers...but I'd better wait until morning, don't you think?
Tom Elkins
NORTH of TEXAS
www.authorsden.com/tomelkins |
Pacwriter
Unity Member
Post Number:
3136
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 22, 2008 - 04:38 am: | |
From "family" experience when writing memoirs -- those "family rumors" -- facts only or lawsuits follow.
http://www.perrycomer.com
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Dennis Collins
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
2482
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 23, 2008 - 09:26 am: | |
Thanks to Joyce, Claudia, Tom, Perry, Laurel, Gloria, and Stephen. I'll continue to monitor this board but will probably slide back into my non-posting mode. To continue posting here on a regular basis is far too much like capitulation from my point of view.
Thanks again to all of my real friends. You can always contact me off list.
Dennis Collins
Moderator
www.theunrealmccoy.com
http://theunrealmccoy.blogspot.com |
Nancy Mehl
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
2661
Registered: 08-2001
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 24, 2008 - 06:25 pm: | |
Dennis,
Not sure what I can do to help you, but anytime you need me, you know where to reach me. <s>
Nancy
MINDSIGHT MODERATOR
"The Ivy Towers Mystery Series" Barbour Books - 2008
www.nancymehl.com
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Bill Nelson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2894
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 - 08:33 am: | |
Good to hear from you, Dennis.
Good luck with your project.
I share your feelings of "capitulation". |
Willie Terrance Lewis
Awareness Member
Post Number:
6
Registered: 07-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 - 02:30 pm: | |
Hi, everyone, I just dropped by to speak and wish all the best!
Terrance |
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