Francesca Lia Block’s monthly workshops generate powerful inspiration and creativity in a safe, supportive environment.
Discovering Your Novel, Discovering Yourself
Sunday March 6th 1-4
Culver City, CA 90230
$100.00
For more information or to sign up, send me a message.
Many writers have an idea for a novel inside. Maybe you’ve even begun to write it but you are stuck in some way. In this one day intensive I will help you find the path to finishing your novel by looking closely at some of your pages and helping you develop a solid outline. We will cover plot, theme, character development, setting and dialogue as well as discussing the emotional components needed to finish and market your work.
Cash is preferred. In order to reserve your place please contact me at the above email address!
Please bring snacks to share with ten other women, paper, pen (or laptop). You may take home the extra snacks you bring that aren’t eaten
Please submit up to 5 pp. double-spaced 12 point, regular margin of your novel and a working outline of the finished bookl via email to the workshop list for notes from everyone. Put your name and page numbers on the submission.
Please print out everyone's submissions, make notes on them, write your name at the top and return them to the author on the day of the workshop after we have discussed the pieces.
I will also give you my detailed notes.
Please send these pages asap but no later than one week before the date of the workshop.
The pages can be from a novel in progress or something new.
We may also do some free-writing exercises in class and share them in a very supportive environment. These are meant to stimulate creativity and need not meet any special standards other than expressing your most spontaneous, honest response to the exercise.These exercises will not be critiqued.
Francesca Lia Block has been writing and publishing since 1989. She has received numerous awards and her books have been translated into many languages. Her monthly workshops generate powerful inspiration and creativity in a safe, supportive environment.
Work-Shopping Guidelines
Sharing our manuscripts can be a very emotional, exposing experience. Please, above all, be kind and respectful of one another. Try to focus on the technical aspects of the writing and not judge or critique the writer as a person.Be specific and constructive in your criticism. In other words, don’t just say, “That was great,” or “I didn’t like that” but express exactly why something worked or didn’t work for you. Always try to start with positive, honest feedback. If something does not work for you, use the principles we have learned in class and your own knowledge of literature to express specifically why it might not work. You may offer suggestions as to how to solve the problem but it is not necessary to do so. Try to avoid being overly didactic if you do suggest specific changes. A calm, neutral and observant tone is best. Stay focused on the work at hand and do not divert onto unrelated topics. It goes without saying that you should avoid personal attack or insults of any kind.
