Upcoming Events for 2020


Winter Park Public Library, Orlando, FL  (Moved to online)

It’s Showtime! Show, Don’t Tell
Show don’t tell. At some point, every writer hears it. It’s critical to crafting a story that works, but what exactly does it mean? And more importantly, how do you make sure you’re using it correctly in your own work. In this workshop, writers will learn how to spot the common telling signposts, from motivational, descriptive, and emotional tells, to those frequent mental signposts that explain, not dramatize, and the always pesky adverbs. They’ll also learn how to spot common red flag words that often indicate told, not shown prose, and what they can do to fix them once they’ve found them.

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July 11: First Coast Romance Writers


West Branch Library in Jacksonville, FL (Moved to online)

Muddling Through the Middle

The “boggy middle” has claimed many a writer, but with a little planning and forethought, writers can sail right through it. In this workshop, you'll discover why the middle is such a troublesome chunk of the novel, and how it’s really where all the fun happens in a story. You’ll also learn how to avoid getting sucked into the mire, what to do keep your pace moving, and some nifty plotting tricks to help you create stronger story arcs and conflicts.

Finding the Plot in Your Premise

What starts out as an exciting premise can sometimes leave us banging our heads against a wall by page fifty, wondering what went wrong. But a little effort before we start writing can mean the difference between stuck and soaring. In this workshop, you’ll learn techniques to test your premise or idea and see if it really does have what it takes to fill an entire novel. Learn basic plotting tips for both pantsers and outliners, and discover what you need to start that novel and keep yourself on track. No matter what your process is, you'll learn ways to determine if that premise has the legs to carry the novel in your head. With hands-on exercises, so bring your laptop or pages!

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August 22: FWA Ponte Vedra Beach


Revision Readiness: How to Revise

Revision is part of writing, but sometimes knowing where to start can be overwhelming. It can be even harder if you need to trim down a large manuscript or change a major storyline. In this workshop, writers will learn how to approach their revisions with a plan, focusing on macro, medium, and micro issues to tighten their novel on a layer by layer basis. They’ll also learn how to mentally approach revisions, and how to strengthen their story from the top down.