Editor Adrienne Kerr will be joining us to discuss what she sees are the strengths and weaknesses she sees in manuscripts and also providing us with some insight into current market trends.
Adrienne Kerr is a successful freelance editor who has been serving agents, publishers, and private clients for several years. From 2009 to 2015, she was senior editor of commercial fiction at Penguin Random House Canada, working with John le Carré, Stuart McLean, Guy Gavriel Kay, Gail Honeyman, Fiona Barton, and A.S.A. Harrison (just to name a few).
]]>Let’s outline your novel!
In this workshop I’m going to share my system I’ve mashed together from learning from many of the GREATS in our industry, as well as my own experience writing and co-writing novels.
This workshop will work great if you already have a novel idea, maybe some characters and thoughts already in mind. Or, it will be fantastic if you have a novel that’s not quite working for some reason or a novel you’re stuck on. You can always save the information for once you have a novel idea. I would normally host this course over two to five days so to keep it shorter we won’t be doing the brainstorming exercises in this workshop.
We will be covering key considerations for your novel, different approaches to outlining (lots of options!) as well as a deep dive into storyboarding a three act structure and everything that goes in every section!
You will want a pen and notebook or device for note taking and filling in your own ideas and answers. You will also want some sticky notes (all colours, all sizes, whatever you like, the more fun the better) and either some wall space, closet door space, or a bristol board you can use for storyboarding.
The workshop will include a digital downloadable handout you can use to fill in and fully outline your novel!
This will be a Zoom Only Workshop. There will be NO in-person sessions at St. Mark’s manor.
]]>
C.J. Carmichael will be discussing how to Write a Christmas Story
USA Today Bestselling author C. J. Carmichael has written over 45 novels in her favourite genres of romance and mystery. She has been nominated twice for the Romance Writers of America RITA Award, as well as RT Bookclub’s Career Achievement in Romantic Suspense award, and the Bookseller’s Best honour.
]]>Laurie Johnson, Editor for Mills and Boon Medical (UK) will be discussing the industry and answering your questions on the Romance Genre in general and Medical Romances in particular. Please note that because of the time difference between Canada and the UK, this will be a pre-recorded session, but… you can participate live on Friday morning. Links to be sent out today.
]]>Speaker: Diana Cranstoun
I’m giving up eating chocolate for a month. Sorry, bad punctuation. I’m giving up. Eating chocolate for a month!
Join Diana for a discussion to figure out some school grammar and punctuation we seem to have forgotten about.
Oh… and the Oxford comma. What’s that all about?
In-Person Option
Thursday’s presentation will be live at St. Mark’s Manor. Diana is in town to give her workshop there. It will also be on Zoom, but everyone is encouraged to attend in person.
]]>Adrienne Kerr, freelance editor (ex Penguin) will be discussing the strengths and weaknesses she sees in manuscripts.
About Adrienne
Adrienne Kerr is a successful freelance editor who has been serving agents, publishers, and private clients for several years. From 2009 to 2015, she was senior editor of commercial fiction at Penguin Random House Canada, working with John le Carré, Stuart McLean, Guy Gavriel Kay, Gail Honeyman, Fiona Barton, and A.S.A. Harrison (just to name a few).
In-Person Option
Saturday’s presentation will be Zoomed in. If you are planning on doing in-person at St. Mark’s Manor, please let us know by Thursday night. If enough attendees are want to be there, we will hook up the big screen in the Tarves room for Zoom.
]]>For the first time since March of 2020, ARWA will be meeting in person at St. Mark’s Manor, 2612 14A Street, Calgary Alberta. It will be a hybrid meeting, with a Zoom element for our out-of-town members. Starting at 10:30 am, we will begin with a workshop.
Speaker: Wendy Griffiths
WENDY SAYS – Nonfiction is one of the only things I know of that is defined by what it is not, rather than what it is. This workshop will attempt to define what it is rather than what it isn’t. And will hope to encourage participants how to go about writing and selling this genre…
After the workshop, we will celebrate 35 years of ARWA with a party that will have no defined end time. It will be a catered event, courtesy of the ARWA board.
Watch for more details in an email on Friday.
]]>WWC is coming up fast. Learn how to navigate the online Festival and gain excellent lessons in writing.
There will be no workshop on Saturday as we don’t have one scheduled. The board meeting will discuss the coming year in programming and the upcoming WWC/35th anniversary celebration online.
Come and participate in the inner workings of ARWA.
]]>ARWA’s AGM is scheduled for Thursday, June 23 at 7 pm. The Zoom link will be sent out today and again on Thursday morning.
At the AGM, we will be voting for elected positions and filling non-elected positions for the board, and planning for the coming year, which includes our 35th anniversary party in September. Please plan to attend and consider bringing your talents to one of our board positions.
See you there
Bret Cousins
El Presidente, ARWA
]]>