Please Note: this information is from last year's Institute. Save the date: the 2013 Writers' Institute will be held April 12, 13, and 14.

Schedule and Workshops

Friday, April 13, 2012

8:00 - 9:00 am

8:00-9:00 Registration (coffee, tea, juice, pastries)
The bookstore in Lee Lounge opens at 9:00AM and is open all day Friday and Saturday. Closed on Sunday.

 

8:30-9:00 New and Good with Writers’ Institute Director Laurie Scheer

The 23rd Annual Writers’ Institute promises to provide writers with the latest in craft, publishing, and marketing information.  This 3 day conference features the tried and true elements we’ve seen in the past years, i.e. pitching to agents, outstanding speakers, and informative panels and networking opportunities.  This year’s event will also bring back the ever popular practice pitch sessions and personal consultation opportunities.  Additionally, we are offering a new forum called Inspired Ideas-an hour and a half of back-to-back mini seminars-a total of 5 per session-featuring some of our exceptional speakers addressing hot topics in 15 minute sessions all united by the same theme. Be sure to check it out.  (This is a new version of How to go to a writers’ conference).

 

9:00 - 10:45 am

9:00-9:25 Introduction of Agents and Speakers

Introduction of speakers and announcement of contest winners.

 

9:30-10:45 Keynote Speaker- The Writer's Life with John Vorhaus
Having a productive, effective writing life is actually a lot easier than most people think. You just set a practical goal – seek to be closing the gap between the writer you are and the writer you intend to be – and then support that goal with simple, useful tools. This workshop is designed to help you establish that goal and master those tools, all in a supportive, informational and inspirational setting. Learn how to find and refine your voice, follow your muse, feed your passion, make your writing time productive, gain creative confidence and kill writer’s block for all eternity.

 

9:30-11:00 Private Pitches (8 minutes each)
1DC13-1DC21 Private Pitches with Linda Konner
1DD22-1DD30 Private Pitches with Laurie McClean
1DE22-1DE25 Private Pitches with Andy Ross
1DF22-1DF30 Private Pitches with Gordon Warnock

 

 

11:00 am - 12:20 pm

Concurrent Sessions: (choose one)
 
Take Your Characters to Dinner-and Dessert with Laurel Yourke
Characters turn novels into feast or famine. Yet considering character only in terms of plot can produce scrawny stick figures. The solution? Feed them. Hang out with your characters in your own world—the one outside your novel. Discover character secrets and successes while wining and dining your cast. In other words, take them to dinner. For dessert, treat your characters to Aristotle’s four C’s: Class, Credibility, Coherence and Causality. The session includes dinner and dessert—but for fictional characters only.

 

Publishing in the Digital Age with Agent Joelle Delbourgo

Some would argue that not since the invention of the printing press has “the book” undergone such a revolution. New technologies are changing everything about how we write, deliver, purchase, experience, and share books. As e-book sales rocket and the sale of physical books shrink, publishers are rethinking the model, making it harder than ever before to get published. What does this mean for writers and readers? Is the book as we know it dead? Why do writers need to think not only about the content of what they write but how it reaches an audience? What new forms are evolving? Where are the opportunities?

 

Why Critiquing is Necessary with Laurie Buchanan and Christine DeSmet
Have you ever been requested to rewrite a paragraph, page, or section? Have you ever been asked to turn a chapter inside out? In this 90-minute class Laurie shares her writing journey of working with UW Madison’s Christine DeSmet. A journey of accepting feedback in the vein it was given—to make my manuscript sell. From rewriting, rewriting again, query letter, book proposal, and submission, and having my feet held to the fire (so to speak) this was an experience of a lifetime; one that I cherish and will never forget.

 

Writing for the Religious Inspirational Market with Jim Papandrea
It you've always wanted to encourage the faith of people like you, and you think you have something worthwhile to say, this workshop will give you practical advice for everything from deciding what to write to find a publisher, to turning a book into a ministry. Writers will learn how to think about turning their own experiences into uplifting devotional reading. Author Jim Papandrea will also share his experiences publishing in the Christian market, as well as answer questions about inspirational literature and religious publishers.

 

Agent Private Pitch Times (8 minutes each)
1DA01-1DA09: Private pitches with John Bolger
1DC01-1DC09: Private pitches with Linda Konner
1DD01-1DD09: Private pitches with Laurie McClean
1DE01-1DE09: Private pitches with Andy Ross
1DF01-1DF09: Private pitches with Gordon Warnock

 

Practice Private Pitch Times (15 minutes each)
1CA01-1CA04: Practice pitches with Christopher Mohar
1CB01-1CB04: Practice pitches with Brian Christian

1CD01-1CD04: Practice pitches with Bridget Birdsall

 

Editor Private Pitch Times (8 minutes each)
1DG01-1DG09: Private Pitches with Terri Bischoff

 

Personal Consultations (30 minutes each)
1BA01-1BA03: Advanced critiques with Kimberly Aime
1BB01-1BB03: Advanced critiques with Jeanette Hurt
1BC01-1BC03: Advanced critiques with Tina Schwartz
1BD01-1BD03: Advanced critiques with John Vorhaus
1BE01-1BE03: Advanced critiques with Angela Voras-Hills

 

12:30 -1:50 pm

Friday Luncheon - Success Stories/Writers Networking/Genre Lunch

You’ll have the opportunity to be seated at designated tables featuring your writing genre, i.e. there will be tables for Romance, Mystery, Literary fiction, memoir, nonfiction, etc. There you can network with other writers writing in your genre.  Additionally, Writers’ Institute director Laurie Scheer will celebrate the writers who have had success stories in the past year. 

Please note: There is a separate fee for this luncheon.  If you choose to bring your own lunch, you are still invited. There will be seating available at the side of the room.

 

Friday afternoon, April 13, 2012

2:00 - 3:20 pm

Concurrent Sessions: (choose one)

 

How to Write a Dynamite Book Proposal and More with agent Linda Konner
Agent Linda Konner will share her thoughts regarding all of the components of a top-notch nonfiction book proposal (including things the proposal-writing books don’t tell you).  Other elements of book proposal writing including book collaborations and 7 ways to make your literary agent love you will be addressed.  She will also cover the tricks that may finally get your memoir sold for those memoir-writers in the audience. 

 

The Comic Toolbox: How to be Funny Even if You're Not with John Vorhaus
Even if you generally write serious stuff, it’s useful to know what makes comic ideas work, and how to make them work better. In this lively, invigorating workshop, international comedy expert John Vorhaus will give you the tools you need to understand the inner workings of the comic process – and perhaps discover that you’re a little funnier than you thought. Topics include the comic premise, the will to risk, common comic tools, creating comic characters, types of comic stories and a whole lot more. For those who are “naturally funny,” comedy seems like a gift bestowed by heaven. In fact, comic skills are accessible to everyone who has the ability to analyze, and the willingness to take small risks. It’s a guarantee: You’ll come out of this workshop exactly 90 minutes funnier than you were going in.

 

Panel-Blogging with Laurie Buchanan, Kimberly Aime, and Mary T. Wagner
From Nathan Bransford’s well-read literary blog to The Bloggess’ usual rants, blogging has become the new platform for writers to display their craft-and sell their work.  Join three talented, inspired, and seasoned writers who have successful blogs. Learn how they constructed their web presences and found the followers who read their blogs and their plans for the future. Their enthusiasm is fierce so beware; you’ll want to start your own blog also!
 

Inspired ideas – Finding the Right Words – for Fiction and Non-fiction writers
This is the first session of our new Inspired Ideas forum. We’ll hear from five speakers and their point-of-views regarding the topic of finding the right words for writers. You know what it’s like when you just cannot locate the exact word needed to describe a particular feeling or color of a dress…  Each speaker has 15 minutes to expound upon the subject matter.  Join us for one or join us for all of the sessions.  They are as follows:

  1. Writing Song Lyrics as a Narrative Exercise-J. Papandrea
  2. Poetry for Fiction Writers-Angela Voras-Hills
  3. Words-The secret is in the words.  Master the six-word memoir. Empower your writing-Bridget Birdsall
  4. Children and Teens’ nonfiction writing-when what you say REALLY matters-Tina Schwartz 
  5. Economic Use of Words-Why Writing Like a Screenwriter helps your writing-Laurie Scheer

 

Agent Private Pitch Times (8 minutes each)

1DA10-1DA18: Private pitches with John Bolger

1DH01-1DH09: Private pitches with Joelle Delbourgo
1DD10-1DD18: Private pitches with Laurie McClean
1DE10-1DE18: Private pitches with Andy Ross
1DF10-1DF18: Private pitches with Gordon Warnock

 

Practice Private Pitch Times (15 minutes each)
1CA05-1CA08: Practice pitches with Christopher Mohar

1CB05-1CB08: Practice pitches with Brian Christian

1CD05-1CD07: Practice pitches with Bridget Birdsall

 

Editor Private Pitch Times (8 minutes each)
1DG10-1DG18: Private Pitches with Terri Bischoff

 

Advanced Critiques (30 minutes each)
1BF01-1BF03: Advanced Critiques with Christine DeSmet

 

Personal Consultations (30 minutes each)
1BB04-1BB06: Advanced critiques with Jeanette Hurt
1BC04-1BC06: Advanced critiques with Tina Schwartz

 

3:20 - 3:40 pm

Break (Sodas, cookies)

 

3:40 Bookstore closes for the day

 

3:45 - 5:15 pm


Agent Panel – Q & A with Agents

 

Friday Evening, April 13, 2012

5:30 - 7:00 pm

Agent Private Pitch Times (8 minutes each)
1DA19-1DA21 Private pitches with John Bolger Pitch
1DC10-1DC12 Private pitches with Linda Konner
1DD19-1DD21 Private pitches with Laurie McClean
1DE19-1DE21 Private pitches with Andy Ross
1DF19-1DF21 Private pitches with Gordon Warnock
1DH10-1DH12 Private pitches with Joelle Delbourgo

 

Editor Private Pitch Times (8 minutes each)
1DG19-1DG21 Private pitches with Terri Bischoff

 

Critique Groups
1AA01: Critique Session-Christopher Mohar
1AC-01: Nonfiction Critique Group-Laurie Scheer
1AD01 Critique Session – Bridget Birdsall

7:15 - 8:30 pm

Critique Groups
1AA02: Fiction Critique Group with Christopher Mohar
1AD02: Critique Session - Bridget Birdsal