NOTE: Registration for the workshop is now closed. This page is left up as an archive of the event.
The Speculative Literature Foundation is pleased to offer a creativity / publishing workshop this September. Novelist Mary Robinette Kowal, New York SF/F editor Diana M. Pho, and author / professor Mary Anne Mohanraj will guide you through a writing-focused day designed to unlock your creativity and ground you in publishing basics, hosted at beautiful Pleasant Home.
Pleasant Home is a Prairie Style house museum located in the heart of Oak Park, and is accessible via public transit (Green line or Metra).
SCHEDULE:
9:00 – 11:30 – Creativity Workshop – Unlocking the Writer Within. A series of exercises and conversation designed both for beginners and more experienced writers looking to jump-start their writing. A great way to get out of the summer doldrums and start writing! Fiction, poetry, and nonfiction are all welcome; no experience necessary.
Intros and Language Warm-ups — A series of language exercises, from Le Guin’s Steering the Craft_ (Presented by Mary Anne Mohanraj.)
Spoken and Non-Verbal Dialog — When people converse, they do so with more than just words. Body language, tone of voice, and societal context all play a role in understanding what a person really means. In this workshop, we’ll use in-class exercises to explore how to get the most out of dialog when you are confined to text on the page. (Presented by novelist Mary Robinette Kowal)
11:30 – 12:30: Lunch break — bring your own brown bag lunch, or step out to one of the many local cafes and restaurants.
12:30 – 3:00: Publishing Boot Camp — an overview of self-publishing (Kickstarter, Indiegogo, Patreon, and more), small presses, big presses, literary agents, and more. Learn what your options are, and how to best approach different avenues for publishing your work.Publishing Boot Camp: Science Fiction & Fantasy
A discussion about the current rise of science fiction and fantasy in popular culture, what tools a writer can consider when delving into the speculative world, and an editorial perspective on strong storytelling from Diana M. Pho, editor at Tor Books.Pitches 101
For writers of all experience levels, a run-down on what an author pitch is and how to create an effective one for your book. Presented by Diana M. Pho, editor at Tor Books.Publishing Panel: Q&A with Mary Robinette Kowal, Diana M. Pho, and Mary Anne Mohanraj***
Morning session: $50 ($30 student / senior)
Afternoon session: $50 ($30 student / senior)
Full-day: $85 ($50 student / senior)