Events 2008

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The 27th annual conference will be Saturday, July 19, 2008

A DAY FOR WRITERS
July 19, 2008
Our twenty-seventh annual event will provide a sharp focus within a short timeframe. Novices and professionals alike will enjoy experiencing the day's program in the old train depot's relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Sponsored by the Steamboat Springs Arts Council and Writers Group, this year's conference features fiction writers Robert McBrearty and Tom LaMarr. Since the number of participants is limited, early registration is recommended.

WORKSHOPS

USING HUMOR IN FICTION . . . Robert Garner McBrearty will teach a morning course in using humor in fiction, exploring situational humor, comic dialogue, comic action, comic introspection, and comic phrasing. Students will participate in some writing exercises to try their own hand at creating humor and will receive their diplomas if they make Robert laugh.

FINDING YOUR STRENGTHS . . .Tom LaMarr will talk about the importance of identifying your strengths as a writer. You may learn you're especially strong at plotting, or dialogue, or comedy. Not only will this knowledge help you connect with readers, but it can also provide the motivation you need to keep staring down that manuscript on an uncooperative day.

WRITING THE DRAMATIC SCENE . . . Robert McBrearty will turn, in the afternoon, to drama with a focus on using action and dialogue to create a sense of tension which will sweep over the previously laughing class.

HIDING YOUR WEAKNESSES . . . Tom LaMarr looks at the related matter of knowing your weaknesses and finding ways to address these. Where are you likely to lose your readers, and what can you do to lessen that risk? You'll learn it's okay —and fairly common— to have more than one limitation, provided you find ways to hide them during the revision process.

INSTRUCTORS
ROBERT GARNER MCBREARTY lives in Louisville, CO, and teaches writing at the University of Colorado. His short stories have been widely published in distinguished literary publications including The Pushcart Prize, North American Review, Narrative Magazine, Story Quarterly, and Missouri Review. His first collection of stories, A Night at the Y, was critically acclaimed by Publisher's Weekly and Chicago Tribune. He was recently featured in The Writer Magazine, and he was the 2007 winner of the Sherwood Anderson Foundation Fiction Award. He also serves as an Assistant Editor for Story Quarterly.

TOM LAMARR once hopped a freight train from Omaha to Los Angeles. He then got married, discovered cats, settled in Colorado, became a dad, and started planning more sensible vacations. His first novel, October Revolution, was widely reviewed and earned praise from noted authors Joseph Heller, Douglas Unger, and Thomas Gifford. His sophomore effort, Hallelujah City, appeared late last year, again to good reviews.

An optional pre-conference workshop with SUSAN DE WARDT is designed to jumpstart your creativity.
"Writing Around the Block"
Friday, July 18, 1:30 to 4:30 P.M. (requires additional fee)

SCHEDULE: SATURDAY JULY 19
8:30 Check in at the Depot
9:00 Introduction, Susan de Wardt
9:30 to 10:25 Robert McBrearty
12:00 Luncheon
1:00 to 1:55 Robert McBrearty
2:15 to 3:15 Tom LaMarr
10:45 to 11:40 Tom LaMarr
3:30 to 4:15 Conclusion, Susan de Wardt Participants are encouraged to submitwritten questions during the lunch hour. Then, before concluding, selected questions will be answered.
BOOK SALES: 4:15

TUITION: $50 early registration/ $60 after May 23 ($10 discount for Arts Council members)
Covers seminars and catered luncheon
REFUNDS: 90% refund for written cancellations received prior to June 13; 50% if received from June 14 through July 7; no refunds after July 7

POST-CONFERENCE GATHERING: 6:30 P.M. SATURDAY, JULY 19
A delicious catered barbecue at the home of John Grassby promises an opportunity to enjoy new and old friends. Directions will be furnished upon receipt of reservation. $25.00 per person, in addition to tuition. Wine/beer may be purchased at nominal cost.

TEN MINUTES OF FAME: 7:30 P.M. FRIDAY, JULY 18
An opportunity to share your work with the world happens at the Depot, under direction of Cesare Rosati, author of Prairie Dogs PPL. Reading time to be determined by number of participants. No additional fee.
Sign in for YOUR ten minutes at 7:15.

Additional information: SSAC, Box 774284, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 (Attn: H. Freiberger)  call 970-879-8138 or E-mail: sswriters@cs.com