TeenSpeak Novel Workshop Presents

A Multimedia Extravaganza

March 26-29, 2015 • Coastal Santa Cruz, CA.

  Do you love to see stories spring to life? Are you writing one that does—or would you like to?

Our multi-pronged approach to STORY combines fiction and film—sprinkled with drama, word music (writing, jamming), and optional videography. Intrigued? Join like-minded friends in a cozy beachfront condo. The weekend starts with Thursday dinner and creative warm-up activities. “Sea” you there!

CRAFT SESSION HIGHLIGHTS

• Hollywood Hit List: How to Integrate Film Techniques in Fiction. Chances are, you’ve quit reading a novel that didn’t grab you for long—but it’s far less likely that you’ve walked away from a movie before it ended. Why? The movie industry knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat! What are these film techniques, and how can you adapt them in writing your novel, short story, or script?
• Take the tour with us! (a) Make your main character a star—one who takes action, powered by emotion. Do fun improv and interviews. (b) Reveal your story promise—create text for a movie poster. Can you boil your story down to its core? (c) Set your story’s pace; turn it into a page-turner. The three-act concept developed by Aristotle is widely used by screenwriters and novelists today. (d) Discover the Top Ten Uses for an Action Scene—
  these will propel you through the sluggish parts of your story!
• Movies: Do you know how scripts deliver “Show, don’t tell” (and other effects) where novelists may fall short? We’ll compare screenplay and novel scenes, using actual scripts from film adaptations of novels by bestselling authors such as John Green. We’ll also watch movie clips—complete with popcorn.
• Drama: Write a two- to three-minute script adaptation of a pre-approved scene from your story. We’ll discuss crossover techniques. Choose your cast; rehearse it as a Reader’s Theater. A teen enrollee will videotape your scene, and give you optional videography instruction. Try it! If time, we’ll make a DVD collage of scenes with a copy for you to keep.
• Word Music: Which elements of music are found in strong writing, and how can they enliven yours? Also: peer tips for writing lyrics—rap and more.

Plus, enjoy:

• Roundtable Critiques: Savor your moment in the Author’s Chair. Explore tips for giving and receiving useful feedback. It’s an art!
• Stuck? Block Writer’s Block! What happened to the great ideas and energy in your earlier writing? Our “Block Busters” are sure to get your creative juices flowing again.
• What’s Next? How to approach revision after peer and faculty critiques—and set achievable writing goals.

SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS

Mornings: Breakfast (one is “Come as Your Character”), integrated with The Morning Muse. That’s relaxed free-writing time, essential to creativity; optional prompts and guidelines are offered. Then 30- to 60-minute interactive storycrafting sessions until picnic lunch.

Afternoons: More focus sessions, self-structured writing time (choose your script or prose), beach sports and other recreation.  

Evenings: Make pizza and/or dessert; rehearse and film your scene; listen to peer music and/or jam, do Word Music; view and discuss movie clips… all capped with bonfire s’mores!

FACULTY: Sheryl Scarborough, author of a two-book YA mystery-detective series (release date 2016); former TeenSpeak teacher and enrollee in our adult PCCWW workshop; MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts in writing for teens; award-winning TV writer for 20 years (250 episodes); comic books, cartoons, graphic novels. See her interview. Plus Nancy Sondel and other faculty TBA.

Little prep; big benefits.

Limited to 10 teens. Enroll before we fill!

Contact Director Nancy Sondel to request an application today!

« Previous page

  Check out our photos and enrollees’ feedback. Enroll before we fill, then enjoy our March 26-29, 2015 workshop at the beach!