Journey through the five senses as you search to open doors to free your imagination and find your greater creativity within. This five week workshop will examine the various ways to use the five senses to unlock new attitudes and fresh opportunities for your work. Learn to silence your inner critic and acquire ways to open your eyes to the possibilities and options for your artistry. While this is a writing workshop, there will be some activities based on other artisitic media as well. This course is suitable for all writers including poets.
Maximum enrollment: 8
Cost: $105 (includes ths cost of supplies)
Time: 6:30 - 9:00 pm Tuesdays April 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2014
Place: TBA ( in the Surrey/North Delta region)
Instructor: David Blinkhorn
Wednesday, 26 February 2014
Fiction Workshop
In this six week course, writers will examine issues surrounding character and plot development, setting, and conflict and tension in their writing. This is a workshop course relying heavily on discussion, in-class writing exercises and critiquing. Students will be expected to workshop their short stories or scenes from novels in progress. Each student will receive a one hour one on one meeting with the instructor to discuss issues particular to their work as part of this workshop experience.
Maximum enrollment: 8
Cost: $120
Time: 6:30 - 9:00 pm Wednesdays April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and May 7, 2014
Place: TBA (in the Surrey/North Delta region)
Instructor: David Blinkhorn
Maximum enrollment: 8
Cost: $120
Time: 6:30 - 9:00 pm Wednesdays April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and May 7, 2014
Place: TBA (in the Surrey/North Delta region)
Instructor: David Blinkhorn
Monday, 26 August 2013
Some Writing Tips from the Late, Great Elmore Leonard
Found these little gems in a Writer's Digest email and thought they should be shared:
“… The writer has to have patience, the perseverance to just sit there alone and grind It out. And if it’s not worth doing that, then he doesn’t want to write. …” (1982)
“A writer has to read. Read all the time. Decide who you like then study that author’s style. Take the author’s book or story and break it down to see how he put it together.” (1982)
“The main thing I set out to do is tell the point of view of the antagonist as much as the good guy. And that’s the big difference between the way I write and the way most mysteries are written.” (1982)
“It is the most satisfying thing I can think of, to write a scene and have it come out the way I want. Or be surprised and have it come out even better than I thought.” (1997)
“Write the book the way it should be written, then give it to somebody to put in the commas and shit.” (my favorite) (1997)
Saturday, 6 July 2013
An Exciting Line-up of our Fall 2013 Classes
Fall 2013 Courses
The Fraser Valley Writers' School is excited to offer the following courses for the Fall of 2013. Register for a course by contacting David Blinkhorn at fvwschool@gmail.com
A. Introductory
Classes:
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.
Cost:$170
Instructor:
David Blinkhorn
Time and
dates: 8 Thursdays 6:30 – 8:30 pm, September 19 – November 14, 2013 (no class on October 31, 2013)
Introduction to Creative Writing:
It’s time to start writing: your life story, the novel you’ve dreamed about,
the poetry and songs that are in your heart, the article you want to write, or
perhaps a stage play. No more excuses. Learn the techniques to conquer
your inner critic. Now is the time.
The subjects covered will include: ways to unleash your creativity,
character, plot, poetry, article writing, novels, short stories, marketing, and
the rules of writing. Student work will occupy one half of class time.
Cost: Contact
Ed Griffin at ed@edgriffin.net to discuss cost and to arrange your fee. Course manual required and available from the instructor for $18.00.
Instructor: Ed Griffin
Time and date: 6 Mondays 10:00 am – Noon, September 16 – October 28 (no
class on October 14)Place: The Phoenix Building, 13686 94A Avenue, Surrey, BC
Limit: 15 students
B. The Writing Craft:
Fiction Workshop
This workshop is a combination of lecture,
discussion, and exercises for the first hour followed by work-shopping of your
writing with your peers and instructor over the final one and one half hours.
Topics for lecture and discussion are theme and premise, scene transition,
suspense, tension and conflict, imagery, and foreshadowing. Students are
expected to submit work and critique other students’ writing each week.
Included in this workshop is a 60 minute one on one with the instructor to
discuss issues of concern in your writing.
Instructor: David Blinkhorn
Cost: $235.00
Dates: Wednesdays, September 25, 2013 – November 13, 2013 10:00 am
to 12:30 pmPlace: Mel Edwards Center, Centennial Park, White Rock, BC
Plotting Workshop Dates to be rescheduled for October or November, 2013
Plot is one of the cornerstones of
great fiction. This two day workshop covers the following topics through
lecture, discussion,,
and in-class exercises: plotting techniques and story generation, tools for keeping your reader
spellbound with your story, scene creation, prologues, epilogues,
cliff-hangers, scene thrusters, epiphanies and revelations. Each day includes
lunch.
Instructor: David Blinkhorn
Cost: $125.00
Dates: Sundays, September 15 and 22, 2013 10:00 am to 4:00 pmPlace: Mel Edwards Center, Centennial Park, White Rock, BC
Memoir, from the French memoire meaning memory or reminiscence, is
a genre narrowed in focus from the autobiography. It is a story told from life.
According to Gore Vidal, a memoir is how one remembers their own life. Join us
for an intimate class as we look at the art of memoir through poetry and
creative non-fiction. This six week class will be split equally between the two
methods of story-telling and taught by two instructors specializing in each
form. The class consists of lecture, discussion, exercises and critiquing weekly
writing projects. Students will be expected to submit work each week for
comment and evaluation.
Cost: $135
Instructors: Prose portion: Lois Peterson Poetry: Ben Nuttall-Smith
Dates and times: 6 Wednesdays, 7:00 – 9:00
pm September 25 - October 30, 2013 Place: Mel Edwards Center, Centennial Park, White Rock, BC
Take your
writing to the next level in this unique course where students workshop their
works in progress with each other and the instructor. Each week, there will be
instruction and discussion about some aspect of the writing craft.
Instructor:
Ed Griffin
Dates and
times: 6 Mondays 10:00 am – Noon, November 4 – December 16, 2013 (no class on
November 11, 2013)Place: The Phoenix Building, 13686 94A Avenue, Surrey, BC
Limit: 15 students
Exploring Ekphrastic Poetry
Ekphrastic Poetry is the technical term for poems
that have been inspired by other art forms. This six-week session will see
writers creating work from various inspirations and workshopping these new
poems in a supportive atmosphere. While the first weeks will focus on writings
inspired by a range of arts, including music, the last half of the course will
see writers working from paintings on exhibit at Semiahmoo Arts. Final sessions
will shift to preparing for a celebratory reading in the midst of a gallery
full of the art that has inspired the evening’s poems.
Cost: $145.00
Instructor: Heidi GrecoDates: Mondays, September 30 – November 4, 2013 with the exception of Tuesday October 16 in lieu of Thanksgiving class on October 14, 2013), 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Place: Mel Edwards Center, Centennial Park, White Rock, BC
Character is
one of the cornerstones of great writing. Characters reveal themselves in the
way they act, speak, think and look. In this twelve hour course learn how to
bring your characters alive, create believable and interesting actors for your
story through the uses of senses and emotions. Topics will include credibility,
purpose, complexity, methods of character presentation, and development of
secondary and minor characters. This course consists of lecture, discussion,
writing and critiquing.
Instructor: David Blinkhorn
Dates and Times: Four Mondays, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm September 16 – October 7, 2013
Place: Mel Edwards Center, Centennial Park, White Rock, BC
C. Publishing Courses
E-Book Publishing:
Cost: $65
Instructor: George Opacic
Date: October 6, 2013, 10:00 am – 4:00 pmPlace: Mel Edwards Center, Centennial Park, White Rock, BC
Do you want to earn money as a freelance writer?
In just six
weeks, full-time freelance writer and editor Leslie Dyson will take you through
all the steps you need to become a paid writer. By the end of this class,
you will have a submission-ready article.
Course Description:
Getting your
magazine or newspaper article published can be the first step in being able to
make a living as a writer. Getting your work out there is not as difficult as
you think. All you need is a few basic skills and to know a few tricks of the
trade.
This
fast-paced class, will cover:
Effective
interviewing skills—how to get thoughtful, insightful information from people
and still make your deadline!
Finding
credible sources—the research skills necessary to find trusted information.
Putting the
“creative” in your non-fiction—techniques to turn your article into an engaging
story.
What editors
want and expect and what drives editors crazy—what makes them want to work with
you.
Where to
publish—there are many places looking for good copy. Find your niche.
This course
will be a combination of lecture, exercises, and workshop. By the end of this
class, the students will submit an article for publication to a magazine or
newspaper of their choosing.
Cost: $135.00
Instructor:
Leslie Dyson
Dates and
Times: Saturdays, 10 a.m. – noon, October 5 to Nov. 16, 2013 (no class on October 12)Place: Mel Edwards Centre, Centennial Park, 14600 North Bluff Road, White Rock, BC
No classes until the Spring
program
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. The student will be required to submit her work (maximum of twenty-five pages, typed, 1.5 spaced) one week prior to the date arranged for the session between the instructor and student. All sessions must be completed by December 15, 2013.
Cost: $250
Dates and
times to be arranged by the student and instructor
F. Performance and Readings
The Dynamic Presentor: Engaging a *Listening*
Audience with Your Written Words:
This voice and
performance skills workshop for writers and poets is divided into two parts.
You will be taught techniques and enjoyable exercises that will allow you to relax,
develop your voice and increase your power of projection making you a more
dynamic speaker.
The
second part of this two week workshop
will focus on how to read your written words in an engaging way to transform
your poetry/book reading into an event to be remembered. The workshop will
present many different strategies and practical advice on: selecting the best
poems/stories to read out loud, breaking through nerves/anxiety and
knowing/targeting your audience. There will be an opportunity for everyone to
practice, and share their readings with the group.
Cost: $ 60
Instructor: Ben Nuttall-Smith
Date: Saturdays, September 28 and October 5, 2013, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Saturday, 18 May 2013
Some New Fall Courses
Over the next few weeks, the site will be unveiling some new and some old courses for the Fall Term. We are excited to tell you about two new courses being brought to you by instructor, David Blinkhorn. The course descriptions are:
Place: Mel Edwards Center, Centennial Park, White Rock, BC
Place: Mel Edwards Center, Centennial Park, White Rock, BC
Come back to the site win the coming days to see course descriptions for a new poetry class from Heidi Greco, an article writing class from Leslie Dyson, a memoir class, and two other offerings from David Blinkhorn, recently elected the 1st Vice-president of the Federation of BC Writers.
Fiction Workshop
This workshop is a combination of lecture, discussion, and
exercises for the first hour followed by work-shopping of your writing with
your peers and instructor over the final one and one half hours. Topics for
lecture and discussion are theme and premise, scene transition, suspense,
tension and conflict, imagery, and foreshadowing. Students are expected to submit
work and critique other students’ writing each week. Included in this workshop
is a 60 minute one on one with the instructor to discuss issues of concern in
your writing.
Instructor:
David Blinkhorn
Cost:
$235.00
Dates:
Wednesdays, September 18, 2013 – November 6, 2013 10:00 am to 12:30 pmPlace: Mel Edwards Center, Centennial Park, White Rock, BC
Plotting Workshop
Plot is one of the cornerstones of great fiction. This two
day workshop covers the following topics through lecture, discussion, and in-class
exercises: plotting techniques and story generation, tools for keeping your
reader spellbound with your story, scene creation, prologues, epilogues, cliff-hangers,
scene thrusters, epiphanies and revelations. Each day includes lunch.
Instructor:
David Blinkhorn
Cost:
$125.00
Dates:
Sundays, September 15 and 22, 2013 10:00 am to 4:00 pmPlace: Mel Edwards Center, Centennial Park, White Rock, BC
Come back to the site win the coming days to see course descriptions for a new poetry class from Heidi Greco, an article writing class from Leslie Dyson, a memoir class, and two other offerings from David Blinkhorn, recently elected the 1st Vice-president of the Federation of BC Writers.
Monday, 31 December 2012
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
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
Monday, 19 November 2012
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.
Cost:$170
Instructor: David Blinkhorn
Time and dates: 8 Wednesdays 6:30 – 8:30 pm, April
3 – May 15, 2013Place: Mel Edwards Center, Centennial Park, White Rock
The Writer’s Toolbox: Part Two: I Need a Bigger Toolbox
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 17Place: 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 pmDates: Mondays, January 28 – March 4, 2013
Place: Mel Edwards Center, Centennial Park, White Rock
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)