Events Search and Views Navigation
April 2021
(Zoom) Writing as Activism with Robert Stubblefield
Writing is like many things in this world. It is a tool and not an end-all be-all solution to everything. However, words, especially that of the written word, have power and can help motivate and inspire those to speak up and demand change as well as use their voice in different ways. From ancient times to the present, writing has been a tool to help capture and describe the winds of change and provide a blueprint for future generations in…
Find out more »May 2021
(Zoom) Songwriting with Edward Sparks
Memorable songs don't write themselves. This week, Edward Sparks, talented musician, songwriter, and maker of fine instruments, will talk about the art of writing songs that speak to the heart. A lot of songs have great instrumentation, musical hooks, vocals, and harmonies, but the lyrics fall flat. Ed believes in lyrics that mean something to the audience: telling a story or conveying a message. He will share his songs and writing process with us and will be happy to take…
Find out more »June 2021
(Zoom) Writing Behavior & Psychology Accurately with Loriann Oberlin
The process of developing characters can be a complicated one, after all, three-dimensional characters have numerous qualities and experiences that make them unique. Having a firm grasp of the psychology behind a character enables a writer to provide more context to their behavior and depth to their personality. Loriann Oberlin, a licensed clinical professional counselor and blogger for Psychology Today, is an expert on many topics regarding psychology and behavior. She is an accomplished writer, having authored eleven non-fiction books,…
Find out more »July 2021
(Zoom) Dynamic dialogue: A writer’s guide with Shelly Desjarlais
Dialogue can be one of the trickiest components to any piece. It can easily become stilted, jumbled, or just plain boring. How can we add a decent flow and a touch of zing to our characters’ conversations? Shelly Desjarlais has a few tips and tricks that will make your dialogue sing. To register for this online Zoom meeting, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtcuCgpz8jE9EpbkrjLEjaRCD2QlHOJ62q Shelly Desjarlais knew in first grade that she wanted to be a writer. By the age of fifteen, she was…
Find out more »August 2021
(Zoom) Mapping the Territory with Jean Diehl
At the heart of a novel are essential questions, emotions, and relationships that a writer may be drawn to – consciously or unconsciously – to explore over the course of more than one story. The writer’s territory is a place you have to draw your own map for. Award-winning author J.H. Diehl discusses her writing travels, from a childhood love of maps in fantasy novels to a life lived on four continents, including behind the Iron Curtain, and how mapping…
Find out more »