Writers at Work—2009 KS SCBWI Event: Strong Words
Saturday, May 2nd, 9:30 to 3:30
Mardel Meeting Room, 119th & Blue Valley Parkway, Overland Park

Impressed by the word choice of other authors? Want your prose to stand out? We’ll work on how to make our words strong, plus you’ll have the opportunity for a short critique of your work. Here’s the lineup:

Sensory Solutions – Jennifer Bailey will share an extraordinary exercise from Sharelle Byars Moranville as we explore putting the 5 senses and memory into our work.

Zeroing in on Description – Getting the right balance of description in a story can be tricky. Too much, and readers are left bored and overwhelmed. Too little, and they’re disconnected and confused. Award winning author Elizabeth C. Bunce shares her tips for striking that balance by carefully choosing precise details to bring a scene to life. A lively writing exercise will help participants target the right details to propel a story forward without dragging it down. Want to know more about Elizabeth ? Check out her website: http://www.elizabet hcbunce.com/

Lunch Break at nearby restaurants—

Tight, tighter, tightest – Katie Speck will help us with cutting unnecessary words so our writing is tight! Mark Twain said, “Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very.’ Your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” We’ll talk about the urge to use words to decorate our writing, and focus on words as architecture instead. Read about Katie and her character Maybelle here: http://katiespeck. com

Roundtable Critique:  special opportunity to share your writing in small group sessions lead by our speakers and KSCBWI volunteers.

-Bring a 1 sentence description of your story (max 25 words), and
-2 pages of your manuscript (what you consider best or a favorite scene – or one you want help with) – this may be a picture book, early chapter book, middle grade novel, YA novel, nonfiction, magazine article or short story, or ?
-Groups will be assigned by genre as much as possible – first come, first served

Log into the website below with your email address. SCBWI Members: your initial password is the county you live in (normal capitalization) . Nonmembers: your initial password is nonmember.. Feel free to change your password.

Payments can be made via paypal or by mail. Go here for online registration: http://kansasscbwi. shuttlepod. org/ViewEvent. ashx?eventId= 47611. Registration forms will not be available on our main website. Sorry, no refunds after April 25th.