The 4th Annual Lewes Creative Artists’ Workshop

Saturday, August 20, 2011  at the

Lewes Public Library 

Sponsored by:

 The Lewes Public Library, The National League of American Pen Women, Diamond State Branch, The Delaware Division of Libraries, The Delaware Division of the Arts, The Rehoboth Beach Writers Guild & Sussex County Council.

Please click the following  links for: 

Registration Form

Workshop Presenter Biographies 

Schedule

SESSION I - Select One

9:00 – 10:55 a.m.

A. “Finding the Real Story Behind the Person”

      Victor Greto (Room 1)

No matter the reason for writing - feature story, short fiction, personal essay about yourself or a friend - the real story often begins not with chronology or biography but with a single detail that hints at conflict or tension.  Skilled use of this "back story" often makes the difference between "good enough" writing that conveys information and writing that allows readers to hear the heartbeat beneath that information.  Participants will, through discussion and interviews with other participants, complete this session not only with a solid introduction, but also with a clear sense of how to structure a story around a compelling start.

B. “Writing for Young Adults: Getting it Right without Chasing Trends”

     Lara Zeises  (Room 2)

In the past decade, the demand for young adult fiction has exploded.  With more and more people wanting to write for the young adult market, it's become increasingly difficult to stand out.  But you don't have to write post-apocalyptic vampire novels to get published; you just have to write a good story.  In this workshop, award-winning YA author Lara Zeises will talk about what makes a great YA novel, and how to succeed in this popular genre.

C. “A Masters Session in Poetry”  

      Gerry LaFemina, poet, short story writer, and director of the Frostburg Center for

      Creative Writing, Frostburg University  (Delaware Room)

Prospective participants are asked to submit two poems by July 15. Please email the poems to btravalini@aol.com for forwarding. Notification of acceptance into the workshop will arrive via email August 1, or before.   If accepted, participants will be asked to email their poems to the other members of the workshop for courteous, and (hopefully) helpful comments.

*Workshop is limited to eight participants

SESSION II

11:00 – 12:50

A. “The Novel: How to Create Characters Readers Can't Resist”

      Maribeth Fischer, essayist, novelist, and founder and executive director of the Rehoboth Beach Writers Guild (Room 1)     

In this workshop, novelist Maribeth Fischer will explore with participants a range of techniques that writers use to develop - sometimes in a matter of pages - the kind of characters we feel we've known all our lives, and want to know all our lives.  What is it that lets some characters feel so fully alive within a matter of paragraphs, while others, no matter how well described, never seem quite real.

B. “Seeing Business as Art  and Art as Business Makes Good Cents”

      Gordon DelGiorno, a filmmaker and promoter, co-owns the Film Brothers Movie Co-op and runs the annual Film Brothers Festival of Shorts (Room 2)

Producer and promoter, Gordon DelGiorno, will share his experiences as a filmmaker and self-taught promoter with a focus on why every artist must learn to practice self-promotion.  In this session you will learn simple, practical steps -- traditional and non-traditional -- to help you achieve and maintain a successful career in the arts.  This will be an interactive session with mostly Q&A.

C. "The Music of Poetry"

      James O'Neill Miller, poet and editor  (Delaware Room)

This workshop builds off the notion that finding your own music is necessary before you can write your best poetry.  Participants accepted into the workshop will examine how famous poets have used different forms of rhyme, meter, free verse.....etc. to share their own unique observations of the world.  The focus will then shift to participants' poetry with a slant towards understanding how musical cadence helps to create original verse.  Prospective participants will be asked to email one or two poems by July 15, to btravalini@aol.com for forwarding.  Notification of acceptance into the workshop will arrive via email August 1 or before.

*Workshop is limited to eight participants

 LUNCHTIME:  See Registration Form for lunchtime options

1:00- 1:55 PM  

A. “Division Grants and Opportunities for Artists - Step by Step”

Kristin Pleasanton, Art & Artist Services Coordinator, DE Division of the Arts  (Room 2)

The Delaware Division of the Arts has funding available to help Delaware artists create, share, and grow.  The Division is the one-stop resource to do all these things and more.  This session will provide an overview of the services available to artists, including who's eligible and what's involved in the application processes.  All services are free, and there is no application fee for any grants and marketing vehicles.  Learn how much the Division has to offer you and how easy it is to participate.

B. Book Sales & Signings, Open Chat
Workshop presenters will have books available for sale.

SESSION III – Select One

2:00 – 3:55 p.m.

A. "Poetic Technique in Fiction"

     Gerry LaFemina, poet, short story writer, and director of the Frostburg Center for Creative Writing, Frostburg University    (Room 1)

 This session will discuss how to use some of the elements of poetry (for instance, incantation, extended metaphor, and lyricism) in the crafting of fiction - from short shorts to novels.  We will look at excerpts from short stories and novels as well as do a few writing exercises to help you enhance the poetry of your prose.

B. "Unleash Your Inner Genius”

     Dr. Annie Norman, State Librarian, and N. Taylor Collins, Delaware Author & Artist (Room 2)

   Dr. Annie Norman and N. Taylor Collins will present a lively discussion and demonstration full of tips, tools, and techniques - for almost any art or writing projects - to inspire and unleash your inner genius.  Previous Learning Journeys participants are urged to share where their talents have led them, as well as network with new "geniuses!"

C. "How to Write a Personal Essay Publishers Can't Resist"

      Lisa Graff, Essayist (Delaware Room)

 The personal essay is more popular than ever.  Potential participants are asked to send by July 15, an original 800-1500 word, double-spaced essay (any topic, any style) to lgraff1979@yahoo.com or mail to Lisa Graff, 22475 Holly Oak Lane, Lewes, DE 19958.  Notification of acceptance into the workshop will arrive by July 18.  Participants accepted into the workshop will be asked to email by August 1, their essays to the other members of the workshop.  Participants will also be emailed brief questions about each essay to facilitate discussion.  * Workshop is limited to eight participants. 
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This program is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.