September 2019
September Writing Show: People Skills For Writers (Path to Publication part 2)
In this second of a two-part series, Path to Publication, learn how to avoid some writer faux pas. What is sure to land you on an agent, editor, publisher’s bad side? Learn about event etiquette, how to meet your public, interact with your audience in person and online, receive tough feedback gracefully, and develop and maintain positive relationships with people who could advance your writing career. Date: Wednesday, September 25, 2019 Time: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm (Doors open at 6:00;…
Find out more »October 2019
Master Class: Making It Real: Breathing Life into Your Fiction with Marie Lamba
In this class, participants will receive with tips and techniques for making fiction feel real to readers. We’ll cover how to transform fiction from flat words on the page into a truly engrossing and realistic read. The real trick is to make the reader the co-creator of the fictional dream. With plenty of examples and revision tips, I’ll offer insight on how you can best shape a believable world. Marie Lamba is author of the picture book Green Green (Farrar Straus Giroux), of…
Find out more »Master Class: Write Your Way to a Career – Becoming an Authorpreneur with Stacy Hawkins Adams
Love to tell (write) a good story? If so, whether fiction or nonfiction, you have a skillset that’s constantly in demand. Just as readers are still devouring good books, businesses are seeking masters to help them share their mission and engage with clients or customers in authentic ways. Simply put, story matters; and as a master storyteller, you can be in the driver’s seat when it comes to creating a sustainable career.Participate in this class about the power of storytelling…
Find out more »Master Class: The Naked Truth: Memoir Writing with Marita Golden
The Naked Truth is a seminar to help those writing memoir to write without fear or shame (yes that can be done) and to develop the unique vocabulary and language to tell their story. Memoir that is compelling is defined by a story told with bravery and authenticity and a voice that captures and honors the specific and special qualities and nature of your experience. Lots of writing and discussion of your projects. Marita Golden is the award-winning author of…
Find out more »Master Class: The Craft of Character with Bruce Holsinger
This class will address the making of human characters in fiction. Characters–believable, authentic, sympathetic–are the lifeblood of story. Who wants to read or keep reading a novel if we don’t care about the fellow human beings inhabiting its setting and guiding its plot? We’ll look at several examples of great characters and try out some character-building exercises of our own. All levels welcome. Bruce Holsinger is a novelist and scholar based in Charlottesville, Virginia. He is the author of two…
Find out more »Master Class: The Oversight Draft, from Manuscript to Publishable Draft with Amina Gautier
What keeps a finished manuscript from being accepted for publication, or from catching a judge’s eye or attention, or from being read all the way to the end? How do you know when your manuscript is truly done? From flat plots to false dialogue and under-researched scenes, we will discuss the most common mistakes that keep a finished manuscript from being ready for publication and then offer suggestions about how to address these issues in an “oversight” draft. Dr. Amina…
Find out more »Master Class: Upping the Ante: Developing and Sustaining Conflict with Alma Katsu
Alma will help define what conflict is, describe the four different types of conflict and how to layer them in your novel and show you how to analyze your own writing. She will provide advice on how to create more suspense and tension that can be applied to all kinds of writing, not just mysteries and thrillers. Alma Katsu is author of The Hunger, a reimagining of the story of the Donner Party. The Hunger was on NPR’s list of 100…
Find out more »Waxing Poetic: A showcase of poets from the James River Writers Conference
This year's JRW Conference poetry reading on Saturday, October 12, 2019, will showcase several poets from the conference, including Mary Bonina, Michelle Dodd, Jon Pineda, and host Wendy DeGroat. For more information about these poets, visit: 2019 JRW Conference Speakers and Moderators. Admission to the poetry reading and exhibits at The Edgar Allan Poe Museum (during the time of the reading) is free and open to the public. JRW is proud to be a part of artoberVA.
Find out more »2019 James River Writers Conference, Oct 12-13, 2019
The James River Writers Conference is an annual gathering in Richmond, Virginia, that attracts prize-winning authors and highly regarded editors and literary agents from around the country to share their wisdom about writing and publishing. Since 2003, this multi-day event of 350 to 400 writers, has been known for its inspiring, collegial atmosphere and Southern hospitality. We hope you’ll join us this year. The conference is held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. For a complete list and full speaker bios,…
Find out more »See Richmond CultureWorks for other literary events in the area.