Writers:

We have a really great opportunity being provided to us by a former member and successfully published author, Ruthanne Reid.

She just launched her book last Tuesday, and it’s doing really well – as of today, it’s the #15 bestseller in contemporary fantasy. To celebrate the success and give a nod to a group for which she has fond memories (she doesn’t live in the valley any more). She offering a bonus for writers: a 28-minute video crash-course on world-building: http://ruthannereid.com/bonuses She said, “I loved SnoValleyWrites – to this day, it’s the only in-person writing group I attended – and I’d love to offer them this resource. Normally, I’d ask that they buy the .99 book first, but you guys really meant a lot to me at a time I needed the support, so I’m willing to just share the video.” The particular video link is here:  https://vimeo.com/ruthannereid/worldbuilding2017

Do PM me for the password to get in so you can use it. If you’re interested, please act fast. But do work with me — Casz — to troubleshoot any issues. It’s a really great video chock full of great information and brings a bit of a tear to my eye so that one of our authors is kicking so much publishing booty!

Next, don’t forget the writing cafes…tonight at Little Si Cafe beginning at 6 p.m.. in North Bend and at The Black Dog in Snoqualmie on Friday morning beginning at 9:30 a.m.

One note about our upcoming April workshop before I get into the follow-on from last Saturday’s workshop — most of those in the class, as well as myself, will be at NorWesCon on that Saturday. When I booked my pass for the Con, I thought it was the week prior. Oopps! I’m trying to come up with a special guest speaker for that day, so stay tuned. If anyone knows of someone who might want to take the class period and speak, that would be great. But for those not going to the convention, my goal is to have some writing programming regardless.

Alright, to the workshop and homework. Below is what we covered in the workshop on Saturday. It was a really great workshop and I know that everyone really got lots out of it. If you missed, please see the worksheet (both attached and below my signature line for your convenience) and work through it. Feel free to email me with questions. That’s your prompt this week — do the attached homework and maybe send me leads for a substitute for April 15th’s workshop.

Now your moment of Writing Zen: “There are 30,000 days in your life. When I was 24, I realized I’m almost 9,000 days down. There are no warm-ups, no practice rounds, no reset buttons. Your biggest risk isn’t failing, it’s getting too comfortable. Every day, we’re writing a few more words of a story. I wanted my story to be an adventure and that’s made all the difference.”~ Drew Houston

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What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

SnoValley Writes!

March 18, 2017

Level Up Your Writing (Class 3)

 

Continuing the DeConstruction Process — Reading Like a Writer

 

1. Time to clear the cobwebs. Writing warm-up (Casz will provide prompt)

 

2. Discuss last month’s homework. What did you learn? Where did you struggle?
3. Share the one most interesting line from your conversation observation.
4. Read your piece.

 

3. Time to think about the book your dissecting.

 

1. Now think about the description in the story. Where is it best to you? Pick out one scene and share with the group.
2. Where does the description struggle? Discuss.

 

4. How do we make our description better?
5. Know the key 5 components:  Sensory Details, Figurative Language, dominant impression, precise language, and Careful Organization

*Sensory Details

*Figurative Language

*Dominant impression

*Precise language

*Careful Organization (sentence structure to chapter structure)

 

5. Homework: Creating your own description worksheet. Get your chosen work text and find a section of descriptive writing. Retype it or rewrite it on a document that you may mark up (track changes in word or a red pen on paper). Highlight which key component was used in the description, or find five different places where the key components are used in your text.

 

6. Rewrite those sentences in your own voice or find five key components in your own work and compare them to the author of the text you’ve chosen.

 

7. Find a place in one of your own stories or the story of your text and rewrite it with your new knowledge.