DFW Writers’ Workshop is very proud to announce that the Euless Public Library will be hosting the 2015 DFW Teen Writers' Workshop on Saturdays from 2 until 4 (ish). The program starts on June 13 and enrollment is limited, so don't delay.

This program is 100% free and at least twice your daily recommended amount of fun. We've got a great line-up of speakers - this year we will even cover comics and graphic novels - and we are working on some fun extras to make this a summer to remember.

All participants must:
* Be between 13 and 18 and not yet graduated high school
* Commit to regular attendance (audit/drop-in spaces are available-- see registration page)
* Pre-register (Click here to register)

For more information, be sure to check out our Facebook page as well.

Schedule and Speakers:
June 13  The Art of Critique taught by Melissa Lenhardt
June 20  Narrative Non-Fiction taught by Pamela Skjolsvik
June 27  Comics & Graphic Novels taught by David Doub
July 4     No Class
July 11   Self-Publishing taught by Russell Connor
July 18   World Building taught by Tex Thompson

July 25   TBD

Aug 1     Dialogue taught by Kat Cook
Aug 8     Hands-on Anthology Work

See you then!

Two of DFW Writers' Workshop's own -- Rosemary Clement-Moore and Jenny Martin -- will join with 40+ other authors at this year's North Texas Teen Book Festival on March 7th, 2015 at the Irving Convention Center.



"The NORTH TEXAS TEEN BOOK FESTIVAL strives to connect our reading community, adding dimension to the reading experience through diverse author panels and dynamic discussions in a safe and fun environment."

Visit Rosemary and Jenny and the rest of your favorite YA and Middle Grade authors for a day of panel discussions and book signings*.

(* Click to see the festival's signing policy.)

**UPDATE -- This workshop is FULL.  We are no longer accepting applicants.  Please email us at dfwwritersworkshop(at)hotmail to reserve your space for the next event.**

DFW Writers’ Workshop is very proud to announce the schedule for the 2014 Teen Writer’s Summer Workshop!  The best part of this announcement is….the workshop is completely FREE.

The scheduled events will take place at The Egg & I on Hwy. 26, from 12:30 to 2:30. Below are the dates and the list of speakers, who are all DFWWW members and traditionally published authors.  The sessions will include instruction and critique time.

 

With registration, teens will get a binder full of helpful advice. At the end of the workshop, an anthology will be created with their work. It will include a short story, excerpt, or poem that is polished during the six-week session. Each student will get a printed copy and may purchase as many additional copies as they’d like.  AND there’s a t-shirt, designed by our very own Sally Hamilton.

In short: THIS IS GOING TO BE AMAZING.

To register you must meet these requirements:

1. Be entering 9^th-12^th grade.

 

1. Be able to commit to at least 3 of the 6 Saturday sessions.

 

1. Email your name, age, the dates you expect to attend, and the type of writing you enjoy to the following address: dfwwritersworkshop(at)hotmail. Please make the subject: TEEN WORKSHOP

The schedule is as follows:

July 12 -- The Written World taught by Del Cain (a general overview of fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, songwriting and screen/playwriting)
July 19 -- The Critique Process taught by Tex Thompson (beginning with her 11th grade first draft through production of her book, One Night in Sixes)
July 26 -- Story Structure taught by Kat Cook (using the hero's journey)
August 2  -- Voice taught by Jenny Martin.
August 9 -- Character Development taught by Rosemary Clement
August 16 -- Publishing taught by A. Lee Martinez (how the publishing world works, different avenues to publication)

Spring break, college basketball, St. Patty’s Day, Mardi Gras....

 March is a busy month, but don’t let it keep you from some amazing literary goings-on in the metroplex.

 On March 11, The Dallas Museum of Art is hosting B.J. Novak (most notably from the show The Office).  He’ll be presenting his topic “Crafting Comedy,” and will also read from his debut short story collection.  Did you know he graduated from Harvard?  Neither did we.  Tickets are $35.  Click here for more info.

 SMU is hosting a LitFest March 18-22. The annual three day event is to be held on the SMU campus, and will include author readings, student conferences and book signings. All events are free and open to the public.  Click here for more info.

 Wordspace and Poetry Slam is hosting Brando Chemtrails in Dallas on March 21. He has an eclectic resume (Slam Nuba National Championship team member, author, performer).  For $5, you can hear his genius in person.  Click here for more info.

 Finally, the piece de resistance, on March 27^th    Carve Magazine  puts on the Dallas Literary One Night Stand.  From 7-9 pm you can mix, mingle, listen to some readings from local literary magazines, and participate in Q&A.  Best part – it’s free (excluding the spirits).  Click here for more info.

photo credit: thefoxling 

Phew.  It’s hard to keep up with DFWWW member Jenny Martin and her crazy schedule.  But if you try, you’ll be better for it.

In the near future, you can catch her at the YAK Fest (Young Adult Keller Book Festival) on January 25^th.  It will feature over two dozen YA authors, including our very own Jenny.  Details can be found on the website, and it looks like it will be a fabulous event.

If that date doesn’t suit you, then swing by and see her speak on Monday, January 27, from 7:00 to 8:30 at the Richardson Public Library.  The Texas Writer’ Guild of Texas is hosting her, and she’ll be talking about finding and strengthening your writing voice.

If all else fails, and you can’t make any of those offerings, just swing by her blog and read her latest musings.  This will have to hold all of us over until her book’s much anticipated release!

If you write poetry, wish you did, or just like it--don’t miss the 22^nd annual Austin International Poetry Festival on April (poetry month) 3-6, 2014.

From Thursday through Sunday there will be open mics, workshops, special readings, and a continuous stream of all things poetry.  All registrants are given a ten minute time slot to read their own work.  (Go to the slam if at all possible!)  Fellow attendees, numbering in the hundreds, are from both coasts and across the pond.  The cost is $45 or, for students and retirees, $30.

Register before Jan. 15th to submit up to three poems for consideration for the formal anthology, di*verse*city.  If one is selected, it will be considered for possible prizes as well.  Watch the website- www.aipf.org -for more information.

[Underage?  Check the "youth" tab on the site.  Poetry doesn’t discriminate.]

Email DFWWW lifetime member Del Cain at del.cain(at)sbcglobal.net with any questions.  If you ask them nicely, he might even answer you in a haiku.

Most writers know Anne Lamott because she wrote one of our most sacred documents, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. If you haven’t gotten around to reading it, do.  Just perusing a few quotes from the book will convince you that she has something to offer you as a writer, we promise.

At any rate, Anne is coming to town to promote her new book, Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair.  And though this is not necessarily a writing event, we’re dropping a line about it here because it’s probably (definitely) worth it to go hear her talk and let her sign your old (or new) Bird by Bird copy. All for free.

Details below.  See you there.

“Popular author Anne Lamott will be speaking at Fort Worth’s Arborlawn United Methodist Church on Thursday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m. The author will be talking about her new book, Stitches. Anne will sign books during a reception following her talk. The event is free and open to the public.”  For the flyer, click here.

We’ve sniffed out another free education opportunity, this time presented by Scriptscene RWA.

Instructor Sheila Clover English--the woman who coined the word “book trailer”--will discuss their merit on a marketing level.  She’ll also talk about making your own book trailer, and once you have one, how to wield its power.  And she would know, because she’s been responsible for producing over 1000 of them for the likes of Random House and similar.

The course takes place on September 17 at 6:00 p.m. via a LIVE 60-minute Blog Radio Talk session.  This means in addition to being free, you can attend class in your pajamas.

For more information and registration, click here:  http://www.scriptscene.org/fasttrack-classes/

Can't wait for DFWCon?  How's about another one in the meantime?

SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators) is hosting its regional conference here in the Dallas Metroplex.  If you write YA, middle grade, or children’s books, look no further than Arlington (first they get the Cowboys stadium, now this…) to get some top tier education.

What:  SCBWI North Texas 2013 Regional Conference

When:  September 21, 2013

Cost: Early Registration (by Aug.  24) $165 for nonmembers

The day is full of breakout sessions and great classes.  There’s even a cocktail reception in the evening which will allow you to rub shoulders with YA author Jill Alexander, Delacort Press executive editor Krista Marion, children’s book author Lin Oliver, and a Nancy Gallt Literary Agent, Marietta Zacker.  Enjoy.

DFWWW member Rosemary Clement Moore is hosting a class which can take your query letter and pitch to the next level.

If there's a secret formula to a winning logline, Rosemary would have it.  She sold the very first book she ever wrote.

The class is all online and runs June 17-24th.  You can register at yarwa.com/programs.  (This program is through the Romance Writers of America Young Adult Special Interest Chapter.  If you don't write YA or romance, don't let that stop you from registering.  Rosemary's invaluable advice doesn't discriminate.)

The cost for non-members is $20, and Rosemary promises a ton of interaction and feedback.

Happy log-lining!