Writers’ Retreat – Rosemary Heights, South Surrey November 14 to 17
Selections Sheet (Fill and return by email)
Name:
Email Address:
Home Address:
Telephone:
___________ Full weekend Smorgasbord / Retreat
___________ Friday
___________ Saturday
Please indicate your choice of workshops from the Menu below in order of preference
from 1 to 11 using the letters A thru K: We will do our very best to provide you with
your choice of workshop however, much will depend on numbers.
1. __________
2. __________
3. __________
4. __________
5. __________
6. __________
7. __________
8. __________
9. __________
10. __________
11. __________
Workshops will take place on the Friday and Saturday Each workshop 90 minutes.
Blue Pencil sessions will be available throughout the weekend with Lois Peterson and
Ben Nuttall-Smith. Those boarding over will be permitted one extra Blue Pencil session.
Presentations by Lois Peterson
All presentations – which are useful for writers of poetry, fiction, nonfiction and memoir
– include group interaction, in-session writing and useful handouts.
A.
We Have Ways of Making you Talk
Learn an ‘interrogation’ technique that helps you develop believable, compelling
characters who live on and off the page.
B.
The View From Here
Evaluate point of view options, and determine what works best for your story and your
reader.
C.
Voice Lessons
Explore five approaches to developing a distinctive voice in your writing – the first thing
many editors look for in submissions.
D.
All for Show
Get your head around the concept of Show vs. Tell and learn six strategies for engaging
your readers, rather than instructing them.
Presentations by Ben Nuttall-Smith
E.
The Dynamic Presenter
could be carried over two days with 90 minutes day one and another 90 minutes on day
two.
see http://www.bennuttall-smith.ca/BenNuttallSmith.ca/Voice_and_Performance_Skills_Workshop.html
F.
Steps to Publication
(Publisher or Self-Publish) with writing and handouts.
see http://www.bennuttall-smith.ca/BenNuttallSmith.ca/From_Scribbles_to_Publication_How_to_get_published.html
G.
Memoir to Novel
will involve hands-on exercises in writing scenes from personal experience and
translating them into story material.
http://www.bennuttall-smith.ca/BenNuttallSmith.ca/Workshop_From_Memoir_to_Novel.html
H.
Fun With Poetry
You too can write poetry. A series of fun exercises to awaken the poetic genie in each of
us.
Presentations by George Opacic
I.
Write To View

Using the basic elements of a film script, assess how that relates to prose

Visualization in your writing

Match the flow of the plot trajectory with your characterizations

Write what your readers want to read; skip what they will skip

Add evocative elements via character, rather than CGI or the basic 4 movie
emotions of lust, rage, greed and fear

What are the format requirements of a script?

Understand the three-act structure, and the reason it is used.
J.
Right Left Write

The analogy of the corpus callosum, as it relates to writing – right brain/left brain

Explore traits (versus states) to develop character consistency

Design a coherent character using behavioural psychology

Use logical facts to be more creative

Overview of aspects of behavioural psychology and how it can assist a writer
K. Digital Publishing

Benefits of digital publishing to an author

Technological constraints for an author and for readers

Types of devices that display digital content, and how their capabilities inform
the writing process

Cost, fees and price considerations of digital publishing

Examples of digital publishing sites – how do you feel you can best use one or
more of them?