A Year in Review

Well, the first full year of FVWS draws to a close tonight with the end of 2012.

It was a memorable writing year with classes offered in Social Media, E-books, the Craft of Writing, Zine Creation and Writing, Poetry, Article Writing, and Techniques in the Art of Giving an Effective Reading. Lots of learning and gaining of confidence in our voices as writers. My personal favorite was the Chapbook Creation class taught by Heidi Greco in the Fall which was followed up with the successful reading and launch of the chapbooks in late November at the North Delta Writers' Reading Series at the George Mackie Library in North Delta.

The school presented a one day conference to critical acclaim in April and ran its first Annual Literary Competition with the successful entry coming from Krista Wallace of Port Coquitlam, BC.

Our instructors received their share of accolades as well. Ed Griffin was named Surrey Mentor of the Year and a Surrey Treasure in 2012. Heidi Greco was appointed to serve as Surrey's unofficial 'resident poet' and was commissioned by the City of Surrey to write a poem about Surrey and present the work to Council as part of National Poetry Month in April 2012. David Blinkhorn was the Semiahmoo Arts Literary Competition winner with his poem Vision/Re-Vision. Also, David was elected Fraser Valley Representative for the BC Federation of Writers in December, 2012.

The school thanks its instructors from 2012 and looks forward to working with you again. So thanks Ed, David, Caszie, Heidi, Ben, Leslie, and Andrea.

But the greatest accomplishment that the school can look to with pride is the number of students that trusted us with their writing education. We look forward to working with you on your writing projects and goals in 2013. Check out our blog over the next few days to see the excting changes that are coming to FVWS in the new year.

Happy New Year and may your find good things for yourself throughout the year,

David Blinkhorn

Winter/Spring 2013 Courses at FVWS

Winter/Spring 2013 Courses:

To register for a class contact our director, David Blinkhorn via e-mail at fvwschool@gmail.com

A.     Ed Griffin’s Two Week Classes:

The Fraser Valley Writers’ School is pleased to offer a collection of two week classes taught by the Surrey writing master, Ed Griffin.

Each class is at the Phoenix Centre located at 13686 94A Avenue.

Individual classes are $40. Sign up for two and you pay $75. Get three and you pay $99. All classes are on Mondays from 10 to Noon.

The class descriptions and specific dates are:

The Hero’s Journey

Learn techniques used by the ancient Greeks and modern Hollywood producers to create exciting stories. Take your hero or heroine on an adventure. The map is already there, developed by the work of Joseph Campbell. In this workshop you will learn the theory, but then apply it to your story.

Monday, January 14 and 21, 2013

The Archetypes:

Learn about the archetypes: the shape-shifter, the trickster, the shadow, the herald, the mentor, the threshold guardian and the hero and how to use them in your story. The class will cover other archetypes and their value in storytelling.

Monday, January 28 and February 4, 2013

Writing with Style

Review the rules of style, the finer points of style, and the use of figures of speech. Work together with others to examine your style and improve it.

Monday, February 11 and 18, 2013

Character Development

The most important thing for a writer to learn is character development. We all remember famous characters from movies and books. Learn the techniques, learn how to bring life to your characters and take them through the character arc. Bring your characters to class (at least the stories they’re in.)

Monday, February 25 and March 4, 2013

Slam Poetry

Tired of the rules with poetry? Try slam poetry, which is half poetry and half performance. Surprise yourself. Let yourself go. We’ll go over the idea of slam poetry in the first class and then in the second class, we’ll have our own ‘Slam Poetry Night (actually Morning)

Monday, April 8 and 15, 2013

Point of View

No subject in writing has more big words associated with it than point of view. Ignore the big words and see the amazing opportunities this subject can bring to you. Play with some un-thought-of perspectives.

Monday, April 22 and 29, 2013

Traditional Publishing/Self –publishing:

With the rise of E-books, the world of publishing is changing radically. It’s a great age to be a writer. With an E-book, there are no middlemen in the world of writing– it’s just you and the reader. Should you try the traditional market first or go right to an E-book? Come, learn, and develop your ‘business plan.

Monday, May 6 and 13, 2013

Writing Greeting Cards

Here’s a way to make some money and improve your writing style. Find out what greeting card companies are looking for. Practice in class with the help of your instructor and classmates and then – send your ten best to a company and see what happens.

Monday, May 27 and June 13, 2013

B.     Other courses offered by FVWS:

Introduction to Creative Writing: The Creative Process

Have you ever wanted to unlock your creativity? Uncover ways to unleash your imagination or find your path to your own great storytelling? This eight week course looks at techniques and tools to help you find your storytelling passion and silence the forces in your life that stop you from writing your novel, short story, poetry, magazine article, or play while providing an introduction to plot, characterization, setting, and dialogue.

 This course meets the requirements for the Intro course for your certificate.

Cost:$170

Instructor: David Blinkhorn

Time and dates: 8 Wednesdays 6:30 – 8:30 pm, April 3 – May 15, 2013
Place:  Mel Edwards Center, Centennial Park, White Rock

 

The Writer’s Toolbox: Part Two: I Need a Bigger Toolbox

 Every writer always needs more tools for a bigger toolbox. Join your fellow writers for the most adventurous offering to date by the school. This ten week course examines ways to create subtlety, suspense, and tension in your work. Take an in-depth look at characterization issues like credibility, purpose, complexity and presentation methods. Learn to work effectively with back story, flashbacks, revelations and subtext.

As part of this course, each student will receive an hour long one on one meeting with the instructor to discuss issues specific to that student’s writing. Students will be expected to work on a writing project for the duration of the course with an eye to polishing for submission. Please note the schedule for this course as there are breaks for writing and one on one meetings.

Cost: $250

Instructor: David Blinkhorn

Dates and times: 10 Wednesdays, 10:00 am – noon, January 16, 23, February 13, 20, 27, March 6, 13, and April 3, 10, and 17
Place: Mel Edwards Centre, Centennial Park, White Rock

 

A Poetry Tool Box: An Exploration of Devices and Forms

Try your hand at various forms of poetry. Experiment with new poetic devices that will bring life to your images. This six week course will strengthen your work through weekly critiquing in a safe and supportive climate. Exercises and weekly challenges will lead you to create new work. Feedback from group members will help you sharpen your work and provide a tune-up for all the tools you've developed for your writing arsenal. There will be an opportunity to do a reading on February 27, 2013 at the North Delta Writers’ Reading series.

Cost: $145.00

Instructor: Heidi Greco

Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Dates: Mondays, January 28 – March 4, 2013
Place: Mel Edwards Center, Centennial Park, White Rock

 Short Story Seminar

This six week class will examine the differences between the short story and the novel, the character arc for the short story, point of view and other issues in creative writing as they relate to short stories. Students will learn what this medium can and cannot do for the writer and reader. The class will be taught through lecture, discussion, writing exercises, and critiquing. Students will be expected to write each week and analyse one classic short story between classes. Students will be working on their own short story throughout this course with an eye to polishing for publication.

Cost: $135.00

Instructor: David Blinkhorn

Dates and times: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Wednesdays, January 23 – March 6, 2013 (no class February 27, 2013 for project preparation)
Place: Mel Edwards Centre

C.    Manuscript, Novels, and Short Stories

 

Manuscript Workshop:

Work with one of the school’s instructors one on one with your manuscript. This class includes one 30 minute introductory meeting where you’ll discuss your work with your instructor and four 60 minute sessions where you will discuss one on one your pages that you’ve submitted for review. Contact us at fvwschool@gmail.com for more info. Cost: $250

Instructor: various depending on your genre

To register for a course, email us at fvwschool@gmail.com

Poetry and Chapbook Creation

There are a limited number of spaces being offered for this unique class offering.

The course description is:

Join us for an unique class of poetry and chapbook creation with Heidi Greco. Learn what it takes to create a chapbook: the content of a chapbook: theme, order, concept, fit, style and title; the form and assembly of a chapbook as well as the marketing and launching of your work of art. There will be work-shopping of the poems in the classroom setting. Four 2.5 hour classes will lead you up to the launch and reading of your work on November 28, 2012. There will be one other date leading up to the launch to be determined by the class for additional preparation, critiquing and chapbook creation. 

Dates: Mondays October 15, 22,29, and November 5, 2012 Launch and Reading: November 28, 2012
Time: 6:30 - 9:00 pm

Place: Mel Edwards Centre, Centennial Park, 14600 North Bluff Road, White Rock, BC

Cost: $145 (cost of the chapbook materials and printing are extra and at the discretion of the participant)


Put your words into print. Create a record and memory of your art for others.

Sign up now by registering at fvwschool@gmail.com  There is a limit of ten seats for this poetry event. Don't be disappointed.

Sign up today for The Writer’s Toolbox and The Writer’s Toolbox Part Two: I Need a Bigger Toolbox

Here’s what the students said about the Winter 2012 class of The Writer’s Toolbox:

What did you like best about the Writer’s Toolbox?

So much! Notes are great. Examples from David’s own writing- great. I loved this course.

I liked that I learned so much- each session added to what I needed to know to improve my writing. The handouts are fabulous and David’s little tips are great.

The tools- gave me things to think about as I write and edit.

What would you tell prospective students about the class?

Absolutely take this class. You’ll learn everything you need to know to become a better, more readable, more sellable writer.

By all means take it. David’s a great teacher. You’ll learn lots and the notes he hands out are really helpful.

Sign up for these two great craft courses brought to by FVWS for the Fall, 2012

The Writer’s Toolbox:

Every writer needs the tools to make that story sparkle, to make the reader come back again and again. This eight-week course takes an in-depth look at the issues of conflict, pacing, plot, dialogue and setting through the use of lecture, writing exercises, critiquing and discussion.

 Cost: $165.00

Instructor: David Blinkhorn

Dates and times: Tuesdays 10:00 am – 12:00 pm September 18 – November 6, 2012 

The Writer’s Toolbox:

Part Two: I Need a Bigger Toolbox

Continue the journey you started with the original Writer’s Toolbox. Examine ways to create subtlety, suspense and tension in your writing. Learn to work effectively with back story, flashbacks, and revelations. This course is taught through lecture, discussion, writing exercises, and critiquing.

Cost: $130

Instructor: David Blinkhorn

Dates and times: 6 Mondays, 6:30 – 8:30 pm September 17 - October 29, 2012 (no class on October 8, 2012)

Front Load Your Conflict

Aristotle said that man is his desires.

Conflict is created when someone DESIRES something and someone opposes that desire. We read because we want to know who will win this battle.

The best stories introduce the main conflict within the first four paragraphs. By doing this, you grip the reader and she keeps reading. What is going to happen next? She keeps reading.

Have conflict of some form on every page. Start quickly with your conflict and never stop.

What Shall You Write?

What do you want to tell the world about? Is there a story bouncing around in your head that's trying to get out? Is there a special topic that you're passionate about?

There is truth in the old adage: Write what you know. The problem is that the new and emerging writer takes that statement literally. May Sarton says:

      "Anyone who is going to be a writer knows enough at 15 to write several novels."

You have a lifetime of experiences particular to you that provide you with fuel for a wealth of stories. You've had emotions that you need to grab hold of and place into your writing. You don't need to be a down and out doctor whose forced to confront his frustration and loss of control when he's required to perform emergency surgery in the outback in Australia. Heck, you may not know about doctoring or Australia. That stuff you can research but you do know about frustration, loss of control and facing those demons. You just give those feelings to your character. You write what you know. You write the emotions you know.

What do you want to write about today?



Join us at Fraser Valley Writers' School for one of our winter classes like Introduction to Creative Writing, Character Development, or The Writer's Toolbox. Our discounts for multiple class registration continue for the next few days.

It's All About the Action

Dean R. Koontz knows the need for action in everyone's writing. He says:

     "Authors of so-called 'literary fiction' insists that action, like plot, is vulgar and unworthy of a true artist. Don't pay any attention to misguided advice of that sort. If you do, you will very likely starve trying to live on your writing income. Besides, the only writers who survive the ages are those who understand the need for action in a novel."

  No better advice for the emerging writer. I remember back to when I started to write seriously. One of the seasoned vets of my critique group took me aside to tell me that the wonderful description of my tower high on the mountain wasn't worth a damn unless I had a fiery airplane break through the sun-soaked clouds. Readers want action not pages and pages of description. Something needs to happen, some conflict needs to appear on each page of your story. Action is what we play in our heads as we visualize the words of the writer. As readers, we want to turn the words into action.

Find a way to put action and conflict on every page and you'll find success. Your story will interest your readers and they will keep coming back for more. As Dean Koontz says you'll never starve.

Posted by David Blinkhorn, Fraser Valley Writers School's instructor for Introduction to Creative Writing and The Writer's Toolbox

Join us for a class this winter and spring. Take your writing to the next level.