right here, write now

Get ready for a full slate of engaging and empowering workshops and sessions at the 2012 Write On The River Conference May 18, 19 and 20 in Wenatchee, WA.

We will be hosting a distinguished faculty of writers, teachers and agents who will offer something for everyone at the only writing conference in North Central Washington.  Whether you are novice or experienced, write memoir or thrillers, hail from Spokane, Wenatchee, Seattle, Moses Lake, Tri-Cities or anywhere in between, the Write On The River writing conference will move you further in your craft and passion.

Our 2012 writing conference will feature a full day of workshops on Saturday, a keynote address by acclaimed novelist Jonathan Evison, one-on-one agent pitch appointments, an additional three-hour intensive workshop on Sunday, and for the first time ever a special Friday evening pre-conference premium extended workshop.   You can see bios of our 2012 presenters by clicking here

Registration will open for Write On The River Members on January 20th.  General registration will begin February 3.

	FRIDAY (Members Only)
6:00 -8:00 P	C. C. HumphreysThe Hat Trick or: Why Shouldn’t Writing be Fun?
	SATURDAY
7:30 – 8:15A	Registration
8:20 – 9:30A	Opening Ceremonies and Jonathan Evison Keynote
9:30-10:00A	Jonathan Evison Book Signing
Session One10:15 – 11:30A	Steven Barnes  The Hero’s Journey	Doug HeckmanMessy Characters Make Immaculate Stories(short story)	Susan WingateBuilding an Author’s Platform in Today’s eWorld		Maureen Doyle McQuerry & Stephen WallenfelsMapping Your Story(Young Adult Workshop)
Session Two11:45 – 1:00P		Terry PersunGet Paid to Write: Freelance Article Writing	Ellie Mathews Memoir: Finding the Heart of Your Story
1:00 – 2:30	Lunch and Panel : Writing in a Do-It-Yourself Age - Evison, Wingate, Warnock
Session Three2:30- 3:45P	C.C. HumphreysSex and Violence: Character in Action!	Robert AnasiTelling the Story(nonfiction)		WingateReach for the Stars: Today’s Self-Publishing	Gordon Warnock Agent Pitch Group Session (limit 8)
Session Four4:00 – 5:15P	Gordon Warnock Breaking into the Marketplace: Insider Tips for Fiction & Nonfiction Writers	McQuerry, WallenfelsCharacter, Conflict, Change with a Side of Angst: Writing the YA Novel		Barnes Writing the Thriller
Guest Authors signing with reception5:15- 5:45
SUNDAY
INTENSIVE WORKSHOP9:00 – 12:15AC.C. HumphreysThe Mountain and How to Climb It: The Book as a Series of Ascents

Friday Members-Only Jumpstart Event – 6-8:00 pm

The Hat Trick or: Why shouldn’t writing be fun? – C.C. Humphreys

The Hat Trick: Party game and writing exercise combined. It’s a writing conference, so lets write! In one hat Author C.C. Humphreys will have some fun objectives for your characters to pursue. In another, what gets in their way. In bursts of free fall writing, participants will create the shortest of stories and explore how to develop character through action. We’ll read a few out loud, with Humphreys using them as a springboard for story insights. Walk into the room with a blank piece of paper. Leave with the beginning of your new book!

WOTR membership is only $35/year, but your membership will save you much more than that in discounts at the conference and at independent bookstores, and will allow you to attend several free member events throughout the year.  Click here to join.

 

Saturday – Session 1

The Hero’s Journey – Steven Barnes  (special double session)

In 1949, American mythologist Joseph Campbell published his seminal work, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, little known outside academia until George Lucas used its ideas to create a little movie called Star Wars. For over twenty years, N.Y. Times bestselling author and life coach Steven Barnes has taught this pattern to thousands of students worldwide, to guide both their writing and the process of writing itself. Unique among “plot structures” the Hero’s Journey speaks to the connection between art and consciousness, is a tool both practical and profound, and in this 2.5 hour workshop, will lead you step by step onto a path of better writing and more conscious living.  This special double workshop will fill both Sessions 1 and 2.

Messy Characters Make Immaculate Stories – Doug Heckman

Characters create story. Complicated characters create stimulating, powerful stories. The goal in every short story should be to surprise the reader, whether in plot, imagery and/or language. One way to find those surprises is by listening to our characters. Bland characters won’t tell us much; messy characters, however, won’t stop talking.

We begin by studying a few flash fictions (short-short stories) that present the messiest of messy characters. We’ll discuss how these complicated, three dimensional characters allow for such vivid stories. We’ll then talk about some strategies to help us create messy characters. One particular exercise is the character speed date – a quick way to poke into the nooks and crannies of several characters. We’ll finish the class talking about how to use these evocative characters in your next short story.  This workshop generously sponsored by Fred Melton, DDS.  Click here to learn more about how to sponsor or donate to Write On The River.

 Building an Author Platform in Today’s eWorld – Susan Wingate

Take steps in your writing career in this new eWorld of the publishing industry. You will learn methods to build a platform—that thing that will set you apart from all the rest and that can launch your work into publication. Susan Wingate will show you how to use social networking such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace in order to get your work noticed in today’s eClimate.You will learn tricks on how to point readers to your books while building your name as an expert in your field. Through linking and cross-linking, participants will learn the importance of building a solid spider web of online networking. And by utilizing all of the options within each site they will learn how to spend fewer hours online and get the biggest bang for their buck.  This workshop generously sponsored by John and Christina Albert.  Click here to learn more about how to sponsor or donate to Write On The River.

 

Saturday – Session 2

(Those taking Steven Barnes’ double session, “The Hero’s Journey,” will continue in that workshop during this second session)

Memoir: Finding the Heart of Your Story – Ellie Mathews

Reporting on things that have happened to us is not always enough to hold a readers interest. Telling about what we have become as the result of those things happening — now that’s a story. But where to start? Given that our lives are continuums (and often untidy and full of loose threads) the memoirist must learn to tease out a beginning, middle and end to create the bones of a narrative. Through example and discussion we will focus on exactly that.  This workshop generously sponsored by Paul and Kari Kube.  Click here to learn more about how to sponsor or donate to Write On The River.

Get Paid to Write: Freelance Article Writing – Terry Persun

There are magazines, newsletters, websites, and newspapers that cover literally every subject you can think up. These venues need material daily to continue publishing. Think of the magazines you read and love, and the subjects you know and understand, and start putting the two together. Whether your interest is in craft-making and fiber products, or electronics and software there are general and niche markets that need content. This session will discuss the details needed to enter into the market of writing for the many publications and websites looking for content: what they need, how you contact them, and how much they pay.  This workshop generously sponsored by Wenatchee Anesthesia.  Click here to learn more about how to sponsor or donate to Write On The River.

 

Saturday – LUNCH PANEL Discussion

Writing in a Do-It-Yourself Age – Jonathan Evison, Susan Wingate, Gordon Warnock

Don’t miss our lunch-hour panel, open to all in the Van Tassell lunch room.  Panelists will discuss 1. Does size matter? (of publishers) 2. Do I need to promote my book if it’s “all word of mouth?” 3. In the e-world age, will agents still have a role?  Enjoy your brown-bag lunch and hear our panelists discuss.

 

Saturday – Session 3

Sex and Violence–Character in Action! - C.C. Humphreys

It’s the old mantra: Show, Don’t Tell. Revealing character through action is the key. A character is what they do and say. This is as true for memoir as it is for science fiction. C.C. Humphreys will delve into how action scenes–especially sex and violence–can do that and the particular problems each have. Examples will be analysed and participants will engage in fun exercises–of a non-physical nature!  This workshop generously sponsored by Howell at the Moon Productions and North 40 Productions.  Click here to learn more about how to sponsor or donate to Write On The River.

Telling the Story – Robert Anasi

Everyone sees fascinating aspects of the world but sometimes we get so used to them we pass them by. In my workshop, we’ll identify clues that can lead you to a great nonfiction story, whether it be a personal narrative or one you find out there. We’ll also look at masters like A.J. Liebling and Joseph Mitchell who were able to turn a walk down a New York street into an engaging tale. The craft of writing is as important as inspiration and I’ll address important points on how to handle character, voice and plot.

Reach for the Stars: Today’s Self-Publishing – Susan Wingate

With the advent of e-reader devices and Amazon, the world of publishing is rapidly changing. Learn the pros and cons of self publishing both for print and electronic books. Become conversant in this new climate by learning about print and e-publishing platforms such as CreateSpace, Pubit and Smashwords. And learn the basics of preparing a manuscript to professional standards including cover.

Literary Agent Group Pitch Session – Gordon Warnock

This session will bring together a small group of writers to share their novel or nonfiction book concept with Gordon in a group setting. If you have a concept and perhaps a start on writing your novel or nonfiction book, but do not have a completed draft, you may sign up for this session. This sesson is not for screenplays, poetry, essays or short stories.   In the session, the attendees will each give a 3-4 line summary of the manuscript, including:

• Whether fiction or nonficiton
• For fiction: specify commercial fiction, literary fiction or, if genre, which one. Please know your genre.
• A very brief summary pitch telling the story concept.

Gordon will hear all the pitches and then make comments about each of them.  This is a unique opportunity to hear specific professional feedback on both your project and your pitch from a literary agent, and is designed for those whose manuscripts are not quite ready for a one-on-one agent pitch.  To read more about our literary agent and how to choose between this session or a one-on-one pitch appointment, click here.

 

Saturday – Session 4

Writing the Thriller – Steven Barnes

Genre thrillers comprise almost seventy-five percent of the top box office films of all time, and routinely dominate the bestseller lists. The art of hooking your audience and slicking their palms with sweat is probably the surest route to creating a literary…or cinematic…money machine. Author of twenty-four pulse-pounding novels covering science fiction, mystery, horror and adventure, this workshop taught by NY Times bestselling author Steven Barnes will teach you the secrets of nailing your reader’s pants to the chair…and sending her pulse through the roof!

Character, Conflict, and Change with a side of Angst: Writing the YA Novel – Maureen Doyle McQuerry and Stephen Wallenfels

Young Adult (YA) is the hottest market in publishing today and it’s not just being read by teens. What makes the YA novel? We’ll discuss the essentials: YA voice, character, pacing and theme. Dissect YA novels that do it all well. Examine crossover appeal and mine our own teenage insecurities so we can display them on the page. Sound appealing? Tap into your inner teen with two novelists who still carry their teen voices in their heads.

Breaking Into the Marketplace: Insider Tips for Fiction and Nonfiction Writers – Gordon Warnock

Learn how to generate the attention necessary to succeed as a new author with Gordon Warnock, Senior Agent, Andrea Hurst Literary Management. Topics include: what we look for in a client, what you should look for in an agent or a publisher, how to make your submission rise above the rest, where your project fits in the market, and what you can do as a first time author to present yourself as being easily publishable

 

 Special Saturday Session: 

Young Adult Writers: A Two-Hour Fiction Workshop (for grades 9-12 only)

Mapping Your Story – Maureen Doyle McQuerry and Stephen Wallenfels

This hands-on workshop will help teen writers map out the essentials for a compelling story. What has to happen at the beginning of a story or novel to hook readers and set up the journey? What does each scene need to move a story forward? How do writers create tension that keeps readers turning the page? The unexpected, but inevitable conclusion. Bring story ideas and /or a manuscript you’ve already begun and we’ll journey together. Or just come to explore and discover one way to structure a novel.  Saturday, 10:15-1:00.

Click here for more information about our Youth Workshop

 

Sunday – Intensive Workshop

The Mountain and How to Climb It: The Book as a Series of Ascents – C.C. Humphreys

This workshop’s aim is to demystify the process of writing, to break it down into a series of stages, each of which has its own advantages and challenges, each of which can be approached in in its own well-thought out way. To climb ‘the mountain’ of writing a book, one step at a time. It will help authors of whatever level of experience and whatever genre to minimise the self doubt that assails everyone and put themselves in control of the process. To set up the right conditions for inspiration to come and then to harness it. Topics will include:

- Defanging the Critic.

- Standing on the dock: Dreaming. Noodling. Playing.

- Research as Springboard for the imagination.

- 1st draft: Different ways up the mountain: Don’t look down.

- 2nd draft: Setting the route for someone else to follow

- 3rd Draft: Handling your editor/first reader. Using notes.

- Voice, Tone, POV. Your Objective: amuse or appal? Keep them reading!

- Structure: How much dictated by facts?

- The Scene as film: Movie shots: Master. Two shot. Close up.

The workshop will strike a balance between principles and applying them. There will be opportunities to write, develop stories you’ve been struggling with, or embark on wonderful new ones. Remember: “Don’t try to be better than the next person, or catch up with the instructor. Aim to be 10% better than when you walked into the room.” (Tom Leone, Sword Master.)