July 2010 Orlando FWA Meeting:

The Importance of Being Descriptive

Gerald Schiffhorst, Ph.D., professor emeritus of English at UCF and author of nine books and numerous articles and reviews is our speaker July 7, 2010 at 6:30 PM at the Orlando FWA meeting at the University Club in Winter Park.  He will look closely at examples from recent fiction and non-fiction to see how important vivid, sensory details are to engaging the reader’s interest. The meeting is free and open to the public. For additional information, visit the FWA blog at www.fwa-orlando.org  or contact Rik Feeney, group leader UsaBookCoach@gmail.com.

 August 2010 Orlando FWA Meeting:

L.A. Screenwriter – Ron Riekki

My novel U.P. was nominated by National Book Award winner John Casey for the Sewanee Writers Series and two producers in L.A. have it in-development to turn it into a film.  I have an MFA in Theater Arts/Playwriting from Brandeis University, an MFA in Creative Writing/Fiction from the University of Virginia, and a Ph.D. in Literature &Creative Writing from Western Michigan University.  I’ve also been nominated for two Illinois Press Awards, have had my plays produced in seven states, and have had poetry in over about twenty publications.

September 2010 Orlando FWA Meeting

Julie Compton

Bestselling author of “Rescuing Olivia” and “Tell No Lies.”

Cup o Soul, a wonderfully cozy coffee house at 711-A Orange Avenue in Winter Park, Florida, will be hosting two events for local writers, one an old favorite recently revived, the other brand new. Many poets have lamented the loss of the Monday night poetry open mike, but it’s back(!), 7-9 p.m. every Monday.

The new event is the Second Saturday Pajama Party, 7-10 p.m. (to which you’re genuinely welcome to wear your PJs), featuring a different exceptionally talented local storyteller each month. This will be followed by an open mike. For both of these events, the format is family friendly and children are welcome, so we request that language and content be appropriate for all ears.

If you are interested in being featured on a Second Saturday, please contact Kathryn DiBernardo at kathryndibernardo@gmail.com  ASAP, because the schedule is filling fast. We look forward to seeing you at both of these events!

Check out Cup o Soul’s Web site at www.cuposoul.com .

WRITING WORKSHOP ON PROSE STYLE

with Gerald J. Schiffhorst, Ph.D.

Winter Park Public Library       July 8- Aug. 12, 2010            7-8:15 p.m.

This second annual workshop, on six consecutive Thursday evenings, is intended for both fiction and non-fiction writers who want to develop their prose style.

·        Learn how sentences and paragraphs work and how you can create more varied and interesting ones.

·        Learn how to construct expressive paragraphs, using description and other modes of writing.

·        Create your own one-page descriptions, stories, or articles and practice analyzing, revising, and editing them.

Dr. Gerald Schiffhorst has taught writing for more than 40 years, mostly at the University of Central Florida.  He is the author of numerous (non-fiction) books, articles and reviews as well as six editions of a college writing textbook (with Donald Pharr), Grammar, Etc.  Chris McClelland, a fiction writer who is assistant editor of Narrative magazine, will join in the presentations and discussions.

Registration:

The workshop is limited to 18 people, so register early. Non-residents of Winter Park are welcome!  The cost is $25 for members of the Lifelong Learning Institute of the WPPL, $50 for non-members.  The fee includes the cost of course materials. Call the Institute at WPPL at 407-623-3279 to register.  Or go online at www.wppl.org/institute.

The course will meet on the third floor (Melanson Room) of the Winter Park Public Library, 430 E. New England Ave., Winter Park.