List of Conferences in the Central Utah Valley

Let me clarify - conferences that I have been to, or know well





League of Utah Writers / Monthly meetings at Provo Library
http://www.luwriters.org/
http://www.uvwriters.com/  Utah Valley Chapter






 Timpanogos Storytelling Midwinter Event / February
http://timpfest.org/midwinter-event


 
  
Life the Universe and Everything (LTUE) / February ($30-$45)
http://ltue.org/LTUE_2012.html


 
Writing for Charity / March ($45)
http://writingforcharity.blogspot.com/




Orem Writes / Events all month - March (free)
http://oremwrites.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/hello-world/
 

LDStorymakers / May
http://ldstorymakers.com/




Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers (WIFYR) / June
http://www.wifyr.com/


 

iWrite / online and an upcoming July workshop
http://iwritenetworkning.ning.com/


BYU Books for Young Readers, Symposium on Children's Literature / July
http://ce.byu.edu/cw/bfyr/




 
Timpanogos Storytelling Intensive Workshops
http://timpfest.org/
(watch for these week long retreats 1-3 times a year)

Conferences and Workshops

Maybe I'm addicted to conferences, symposiums and workshops. It's hard not to be.

Although, at this point, after so many, it's hard to not be slightly jaded. Of course, this means that I am always looking for something new, more advanced, of deeper meaning and of more value - -

One workshop on the horizon that I am MOST excited about is this one:

Thursday, February 9, 2012

9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.   Cracking the Story Code: How to Know if Your Story Has Appeal Pre-Conference Intensive Workshop* Featuring Katherine Farmer Pre-Conference Workshop will be hosted by the Orem Public Library at 58 N. State Street Orem, Ut. - Tickets/$50 (Separate ticket required. Includes lunch.) Attention writers, tellers, creators of story: This workshop is for you. Over the last thirty years Katherine Farmer has investigated stories that target audiences of different age and interest levels. She has tapped into the expertise of many different disciplines and perspectives in order to isolate key elements and dynamics in story that are linked to our perceptions of a work’s quality and appeal. Farmer has also developed structural models and analytical tools to help those who write, select, or enact stories understand these findings and apply them. You will come away from this workshop empowered to make your story appealing and relevant to your intended audience, having cracked the story code! *Registration for this pre-conference workshop is NOT included with regular conference tickets. To register for this special event, please click here.

When I took this workshop several years ago, it was a life changing event. My analytical skills have forever changed. Now, whenever I watch movie, see a show, read a book, or even look at what's been happening in my life, I can see the story behind it. I instinctively find myself mapping out the story cone. It's done wonders for my abilities to give kids the books that will work for them. It's heavily influenced the way I write. I cannot stress enough how important this kind of analysis is to the world of not only writing and producing but also agenting and editing.

If you had a key to knowing if the manuscript you hold in your hands had the potential to be not only a profitable piece of work, but one with bestselling potential... what would you do? Would you not move heaven and earth to incorporate this knowledge into the very fibers of your being? I would.

This workshop is only the tip of the iceberg, there is so much more than what can be covered in a few hours of workshop. When the text book comes out on this research, it will be nothing less than transformative. Be one who is 'in on it' before it's even available to the general public. Get that head start, one that is only available here in the Utah Valley, at the Orem Library, Thurs. Feb, 9.

The Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers Conference was absolutely invaluable! 

I got to spend a week working with a fantastic group of advanced novelists, led by Martine Leavitt, who is simply amazing. She is insightful and kind without being too kind--kindness in manuscript evaluation is death to a writer. I love that she was honest enough to sincerely point out my flaws (darn commas and the Alpine School District's experiment in the gifted and talented program back in 1979) but so wonderful that she could see what I could not see in myself and my writing.

Things I learned:

1- I CANNOT ever be a first draft and it's done writer - it's there that my comma, colon and fragment issues rear their ugly heads. Yeh, that G&T program that took me out of mainstream English and instead taught us world experiences. I'm not saying I wouldn't do it again, but just because I knew language, did not mean I could miss the basics of sentence structure.

2- I have voice in my manuscripts. I can write like a 11-13 year old boy. I always was a tomboy, add to that the raising of two boys and the living with one other 'boy' who lucky-for-me has not given up his silliness and boy humor.

3- I have 'fabulous' dialogue. Not my word. My manuscripts do all start as conversations (middle of the freaking night conversations) and all I try to do is catch up to my characters during the day, putting them in place and adding the bits between the quotes.

4- I have restraint, a good thing. Pauses make the moments. Let's hope I keep it.

In conclusion, I've learned that the things I lack are teachable. Sentence structure and all that very important stuff--you know, the English rules we were all supposed to learn in Elementary and Junior High--needs to be followed. Caveat: unless it's my character talking - characters can do what they want, they are, after all, characters.

The things I've got, the things I am good at, voice, dialogue, characters--the unteachables, the "you've got it or you don't"--are where I excel. 

Oh, and the biggie:

FREAKING WRITE - EVERY DAY - JUST WRITE!!!!!!

p.s. here's a video of clips from the  2010 conference - yes, I'm in it. Something I did not know until this last conference! Yep - blown away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kgQp9FocO4&feature=player_embedded

One last thing - a big shout out to everyone that was there - I'm amazed at how many of you were already my friends - it was awesome to spend some great time together! Come see me at the Orem Library anytime, let's talk shop ;)