We've both given workshops on various aspects of writing - at writers'
conferences, at creativity festivals, at adult schools, at conferences
where there are a variety of workships given, etc. There are also
workshops we give together, suitable for elderhostels, centers or retreats
offering general creativity/writing-related workshops, other adult groups,
etc. Our approach is low-key and non-threatening , but professional. There's
no heavy push to "produce" - it's fun while writing - how far anyone wants
to take what she or he learns is up to the individual. Described
below:
Memoirs Workshop
"Write It Short" Workshop
Self-Editing Workshop
Brief overview of credentials (more within the pages of this Website
as you browse the various categories; you may want to read the articles
in the two "About Writing" sections):
Gloria T. Delamar (Glo), author nine books, former columnist,
writer of published articles and poetry, adult-school writing teacher,
workshop leader at writers' conferences (ie. Philadelphia Writers' Conference,
State of Maine Writers' Conference, National League of American Pen Women's
Conferences (several branches: Philadelphia, PA; Wilmington, DE; Richmond,
VA), retreats (ie. Star Island, NH: Life on a Star I; Star Island, NH:
Life on a Star II) or special programs (ie. Marywood College, Scranton,
PA). Member of Author's Guild, Philadelphia Children's Reading Round-Table,
past-president and current member of Board of Directors of Philadelphia
Writers' Conference, Inc.
William T. Delamar (Bill), writer of published articles and poetry,
editor of professional papers, workshop leader at writers' conferences
(ie. Philadelphia Writers' Conference, State of Maine Writers' Conference,
National League of American Pen Women's Conferences (Wilmington, DE branch),
retreats (ie. Star Island, NH: Life on a Star II), or special programs
(ie. Marywood College, Scranton, PA); Bucks County Community College, PA),
senior centers. Past-president as well as current president of Board of
Directors of Philadelphia Writers' Conference.
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For those with a general interest in recording
family memoirs
or those who hope to have a memoir published.
WRITING MEMOIRS
There's a lot of interest in writing memoirs
today. Perhaps you've wanted to write yours, either for your family or
even for publication. This workshop will offer numerous ways of approaching
an organized memoir, prodding-techniques for remembering colorful or meaningful
moments of the past, and also suggest how to isolate incidents and events
that make narratives that your families will love to know, and editors
might buy.
Also presented will be some simple and inexpensive
ways of putting together or "publishing" memoirs for family distribution,
genealogies, family cookbooks, and simple booklets of essays or poetry.
Bring plenty paper (scrap paper is fine) and pencils.
* See sample of a family history below.
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For those who "have always wanted to write" but feel intimidated
and for writers who want to hone skills for publication.
"WRITE IT SHORT" WORKSHOP
Do you have insights or anecdotes you'd like
to develop into short written forms? Have you thought about writing
creative nonfiction (the contemporary buzz-word for essays), opeds, humor,
or general articles? Or would you like to hone fiction skills with
a focus on characterization and an understanding of viewpoint? Character
sketches, incidents with a point, or scenes that create a sharp sense-of-place
are good places to start (one contemporary buzzword is "flash fiction,"
but it's been a widely-misused term, and we feel that's only effective
if the writer exercises some control).
We'll discuss the basics and subtleties that
shape effective pieces, whether they're for publication or just the joy
of writing well. Will also include a smattering of easy and fun poetry.
Bring plenty paper (scrap paper is fine) and pencils.
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This is a more serious workshop,
intended for those who want to make their work publishable
and their manuscripts devoid of common errors.
Self-Editing Workshop
So, you've written or want to write a nonfiction book, magazine article,
novel, or short story. Before you send it off to an agent or editor, there
are a slew of tricks for self-editing that will help keep your manuscript
out of the "round-file" (trash-bin). Sending a carelessly-edited, or sloppily-typed
manuscript is to take serious chances with busy editors/agents who get
thousands of manuscripts, most of which get a quick once-over before any
serious reading is done. It's dangerous to your chances of acceptance to
take the attitude that "they can fix that stuff." "Fixing that stuff" is
the writer's job. This workshop hones in on the common mistakes writers
make. |
