Meetings
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SWW receives a commission on all books ordered via this link.
Classes
SouthWest Writers offers classes to advance the skills and marketability of writers. Experienced instructors guide participants through lecture, example and, often, critique to increase the quality of their writing.
What is the difference between a class and a workshop? A class is more than one session and usually includes assignments to be completed outside of class. A workshop is one session, and any work required of the students is done during the workshop session.
Kirt Hickman
With all the books, talks, classes, and workshops out there on self-editing, a writer can be quickly over-whelmed by all the advice. There's so much to edit for.. How do you catch it all? How do you know when you've got it right? How do you even know where to start? Kirt Hickman offers a practical approach to self-editing that covers everything from planning your novel, to first draft, through revision, to final, publication-quality manuscript. Each class will include a lecture, discussion, prepared exercises, and work on your own writing projects. You’ll also receive a copy of the book Revising Fiction: Making Sense of the Madness, a list of recommended reading, and a self-editing checklist—resources you can use at home to improve your writing.
Part I: How to Write a Great Story
9/13: World Building & Characterization
9/20: Plot
9/27: First Draft, Research, & Gross Manuscript Problems
10/4: Chapter Breaks & Exposition
Monday evenings
Sept 13 – Oct 4, 6:30-8:30pm
$69 members, $79 non-members
Part II: How to Write it Well
10/11: Scenes
10/18: Prose
10/25: Dialog
11/1: Finishing Touches & Critiques
Monday evenings
Oct 11 – Nov 1, 6:30-8:30pm
$69 members, $79 non-members
SouthWest Writers Conference Room
3721 Morris NE, Ste A (northwest corner of Comanche and Morris)
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Classes Limited to 14 Students
Don't miss this! Sign up now online or register by calling SWW (505) 265-9485.
Sandra Toro
October 6, 13, 20, 27; November 3, 10
Wednesday Evenings - 6 sessions
7:00-9:00 pm
$85 members
$95 non-members
SouthWest Writers Conference Room
3721 Morris NE, Ste A (northwest corner of Comanche and Morris)
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Classes Limited to 14 Students
Writing Women’s Fiction will include the following sub-genres: Domestic realism, romance, romantic suspense, mysteries and thrillers with female protagonists, family sagas, historical fiction and memoir.
The first two classes will be lecture and discussion; after that the first hour will be lecture, followed by critique of two student works, a half-hour each. Each student’s work will be critiqued not only by the teacher but also by all the other students. Manuscripts will be exchanged by e-mail one week before they are to be critiqued.
The subjects covered will be point of view, setting, plot, the hook, conflict and tension, dialogue, characterization and manuscript presentation.
Sandra K. Toro is a published novelist with three novels to her credit, and a fourth scheduled for publication in the fall of 2011. She has also completed a book length memoir that won first place in the 2009 SWW contest. Sandra has taught creative writing, literature, composition, and business writing at the University of Nebraska and community colleges in Nebraska, and fiction and non-fiction at the University of New Mexico Continuing Education. She is the recipient of a Ford Foundation Grant, and her work has appeared in Redbook, McCalls, The Platte Valley Review, and Environment. Her book reviews have appeared in numerous newspapers throughout the nation. In addition, Sandra is the president of The Toro Literary Agency.
Don't miss this one! Sign up now online or register by calling SWW (505) 265-9485.
Learning to Write the Movie Way
Rick Reichman
Friday evening, October 15, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 16, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 17, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
$175 members
$185 non-members
SouthWest Writers Conference Room
3721 Morris NE, Ste A (northwest corner of Comanche and Morris)
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Classes Limited to 14 Students
"Learning to Write the Movie Way" is about understanding structure and approach and technique. The course is mostly designed for film writers, but is also helpful for writing any type of fiction.
There is a structure to film writing that anyone who writes can learn and use. In this weekend course "Learning to Write the Movie Way," we start with the construction of the basic element of the scene, then delve into character creation, move to the three-act structure and its major turning points, focus on movie speak (dialogue), and then learn how to write the great opening. Marketing and pitching are also taught.
Rick Reichman's students have sold screenplays to many Hollywood studios and have sold teleplays and been on writing staffs of numerous TV shows. One of his former students is currently Co-executive Producer for the CBS hit “The Mentalist.” In addition to his successful film students, a number of Reichman's students have used what they learned in his film writing classes and gone on to sell novels, short stories, and plays.
Rick has won several screenwriting contests. Also, his first book on screenwriting, Formatting Your Screenplay, has sold over 14,000 copies and his second book 20 Things You Must Know To Write a Great Screenplay--published in 2009--was nominated by Foreword magazine as best instructional book of the year and by the New Mexico Book Awards as best non-fiction book of year.
Don't miss this! Sign up now online or register by calling SWW (505) 265-9485.
Loretta Hall
Saturday afternoons
October 30, November 6, 13, 20
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
$65 members
$75 non-members
SouthWest Writers Conference Room
3721 Morris NE, Ste A (northwest corner of Comanche and Morris)
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Classes Limited to 14 Students
In this eight-hour series, you will learn how to design a web site that will be attractive and effective. Topics include domain names, web-site design concepts, hosting options, search engine rankings, and inexpensive (or free) site-building software. We will explore options for creating and maintaining your own web site without knowing any programming language. Using the types of template-based programs and reliable but inexpensive hosts we will discuss, the cost of your site can range from $0 to about $10 per month. If you decide to have someone build your site for you, this class will prepare you to talk knowledgeably with that person about what you want. In-class demonstrations and take-home exercises will get you started establishing your Internet presence.
Nonfiction author Loretta Hall has built four web sites using template-based software. Her current site, SubsurfaceBuildings.com, is the top search result for “underground buildings.” A Top 20 Architecture site and an Xmarks Top 10 Site, it also received a 2007 Regional Award of Excellence from the Society for Technical Communication. In September 2008, Loretta rebuilt the site using different software, and accomplished a smooth transition from the former version.
Don't miss this! Sign up now online or register by calling SWW (505) 265-9485.
