Events.
Here's what I'm up to. Let's hook up.
OF KINGS, QUEENS AND COLONIES
November 16, 2021
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Book Signing
Saturday, December 11 – 2:00-4:00 P.M.
Barnes & Noble (Orem)
330 East 1300 South
Orem, Utah 84058
Wordcraft League of Utah Writers Chapter Meeting
Tuesday, January 4, 2022
1:00 pm
Holladay Library
Mental Health and the Writer
2150 E Murray Holladay Rd.
Holladay, UT 84117
Lifelong Learning - University of Utah
IN PERSON CLASS
(we hope)Continuing Education Building
540 Arapeen Drive (Research Park)
Salt Lake City, Utah 84108
Creative Writing 1 (LLWRC 780)
Tuesday Nights (6 sessions)
Jan. 11 - Feb. 15, 2022
6:30-9:00 p.m.
Creative Writing (LLWRC 780): How do we tell stories? What do we include in writing, and what remains unsaid? Build your voice as we focus on a group of specific techniques for shaping and informing your creative skills, including character, plot, point of view, description, dialogue, and setting. In class, we will read short selections of writing to see what techniques we can beg, borrow, and steal from them. We will experiment with in-class writing exercises and read and discuss each other's work. Writing can be inventive, illogical, chaotic, unexpected, strange, and wonderful. In this class, we will practice seeing the world in new ways and then recreating that experience on the page.
Book Signing
Layton Barnes & Noble
Saturday, January 15, 2022
1:00 - 5:00
Market Center
1780 Woodland Park Dr
Layton, UT 84041
Book Signing
West Jordan Barnes & Noble
Saturday, January 22, 2022
12:00 - 4:00
Jordan Landing
7157 Plaza Center Drive
West Jordan, UT 84084
LTUE
Thursday through Saturday
February 17 - 19, 2022
Provo Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
101 W 100 N
Provo, UT 84601
Thursday, February 17, 2022
1:00-1:45 pm. Zion Room
Panel: The Book Was Better
Why great books don’t always make great movies and vice versa, and how stories change based on the media they use.With: Emma Heggem (m), Kristy S. Gilbert, Dan Haring, Sammie Trinidad, Johnny Worthen
3:00-3:45 pm. Maple Room
Panel: Level Up Your Character Development Using Role Playing GamesNeed good three-dimensional characters? Take advantage of gaming systems that have already mastered the process. Talk with the gaming system experts about taking control of your own hero's journey in writing (and even playing) epic characters.With: Anna F. Marasco (m), Quiana Chase, Ravyn Evermore, Janci Patterson, J. D. Raisor, Johnny Worthen
6:00-6:45 pm. Cedar Room
Workshop: Improv Workshop: Tools for Creative Freedom and Great StorytellingJoin us as narrative improv expert Jenna Allen works you into the act. You'll learn tools from improv to help you play your way free of creative blocks and access greater creative freedom. You'll also learn tips for telling a great story when you're not sure where to go, gained from years of experience making up entire dramatic plays on the spot. This is a combination workshop and presentation--we will be playing basic improv games, but don't worry, they're no scarier than group children's games.With: Jenna Allen (m), Kaylee Casutt, Quiana Chase, M. Todd Gallowglas, Stephen Gashler, Johnny Worthen
Friday, February 18, 2022
11:00-11:45 am. Canyon Room
Panel: How to Fix Passive Voice (And How to Use It Correctly)
Passive voice can make your writing and characters seem weak. Come learn when and how to change it to active voice.With: Chris Jones (m), Michaelbrent Collings, Anna F. Marasco, Johnny Worthen
7:00-9:00 pm. Zion Room
Book Signing
Saturday, February 19, 2022
12:00-12:45 pm. Cedar Room
Panel (Moderator): The Art of Failure
How the greats kept going, and how even the best writers have books that are less successful.With: Johnny Worthen (m), Lance Conrad, Ali Cross, Stephen Gashler, R. M. Scott
4:00-4:45 pm. Elm Room
Presentation: Deeper Reading for Deeper Writing
An exercise in literary criticism/deconstruction.
Lifelong Learning - University of Utah
IN PERSON CLASS
(we hope)
Creative Writing 2 (LLWRC 825)
Tuesday Nights (6 sessions)
Mar. 1 - Apr. 5, 2022
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Creative Writing 2 (LLWRC 825): Taught in a workshop format, this course will get your creative juices flowing as we expand on topics covered in Creative Writing: voice, tone, point of view and use of tense along with journeying into literary elements such as metaphor and simile, symbolism, structure, and others. This class is a fun way to build and develop the skills in an encouraging and supportive environment. Come prepared to read, write, and talk. This course is designed and required to be taken following Creative Writing (LLWRC 780).
Lifelong Learning - University of Utah
IN PERSON CLASS
(we hope)Continuing Education Building
540 Arapeen Drive (Research Park)
Salt Lake City, Utah 84108
Creative Writing Bootcamp (LLWRC 842)
2 Saturdays
Mar. 12th & 19th, 2022
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Creative Writing Bootcamp (LLWRC 842) Have you always wanted to write creatively but never had the chance to start? Or is your writer-self blocked and unable to finish anything? In Creative Writing Bootcamp, we'll launch into a series of generative exercises designed to give you plenty of material for your own stories. In between exercises, we'll share our work in an open and joyous environment, discuss craft, and explore how to incorporate writing into daily life. You'll leave class with a series of flash fictions ready to be polished or expanded in your writing practices.
Pre-Quill Conference
Saturday, April 23, 2022
and Virtual all month
The Muddled Middle
Virtual (Recorded Presentation)
Basic Story Structure
Virtual (Recorded Presentation)
Pike's Peak Writers Conference
Friday through Sunday
April 29 – May 1, 2022
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Colorado Springs
1775 East Cheyenne Mountain Blvd.
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
Friday, April 29, 2022
8:30-9:30 pm. Pike's Peak
Panel Moderator with Hannah Andrade • Elizabeth Copps • Lucienne Diver • Alice Speilburg • Samantha Wekstein
Join the agents as they answer questions.4:45-5:45 pm. Royal Gorge Room
Presentation: The Faceted Story
A presentation about those elements of narrative fiction that lend depth, value and resonance to writing. Every story has some, the best have many. We’ll learn how to identify which elements to include in your story. Subplots and multiple stories, arcs, settings, themes, novelties, information and more. A little foresight, a touch of research and a clear goal can nurture the muse to bring out the strength of the form.Writers will be challenged to expand their fiction into elements beyond mere story and character. Emphasis will be placed on theme as well as history, education and entertainment qualities. Examples and techniques will be offered to help shape niches and expand any story into new areas of interest.
Saturday, April 30, 2022
8:30-9:30 am. Palmer/Academy Room
Presentation: Morning Zen and the Way of the Writer
Author Johnny Worthen shares his discoveries studying eastern philosophy during the pandemic and their surprising applications to the life of an author. Sessions include directed mindfulness meditation and lecture on basic Buddhist concepts explaining how they may be successfully applied to the journey of writing.9:45-10:15 pm. Bookstore (Three Creeks)
Book Signing
Come out and see me or I'll be so lonely... I'll be signing all my books.3:15-4:15 pm. Seven Falls
Panel Moderator: Adapt your Novel to the Screen With Ines Johnson
In this practical workshop, veteran television writer and screenwriter instructor Ines Johnson will guide novelists through a series of steps designed to take a manuscript from the written word to the visual world of the screen and teleplay. Using a number of books that have been adapted successfully, and some not so successfully, into movies and television series, Ines will show authors how to break their novels down to their story core of the word and logline, and translate their plot points into the beat sheet of the screen.
Sunday, May 1, 2022
9:00-10:00 am.
Presentation: Deeper Reading for Deeper Writing
Consciously or unconsciously meaning is hidden beneath signs and facades in literature, layered in word choice and focus. Through shared reading, discussion and meaning and themes, we will learn to consciously see what our subconscious feels within a text, those elements that unite and undercut, but always elevate craft into art. Once you understand deconstruction, your reading and your writing will never be the same.
StokerCon®
Thursday through Sunday
May 12 – 15, 2022
The Curtis Denver - a DoubleTree by Hilton
1405 Curtis Street
Denver CO, 80202 US
Saturday, May 14, 2022
11:00-12:00 pm.
Panel: Writing Routines and Schedules: Are They For You or Not?
With: Johnny Worthen (Moderator), Denise Tapscott, Jessica Ann York, Jessica McHugh, Sarah Langen
Most writers have day jobs. The world is a chaotic place. How do you realistically fit writing in this environment? Our panelists discuss various routines and habits they've developed to get your writing work done.1:00-2:00 pm.
Panel: Bringing All The Elements Together: What Works and Doesn't with Plot Structure?
With: Johnny Worthen (Moderator), Britannic Zane, Dr. Chesya Burke, Gregory Bastianelli, Jo Kaplan
Plot can be loosely connected or tightly wound, but in the end it completes your story. Our panelists discuss the different plot techniques they used, which ones worked, and what failed.
Idaho Writers Conference
Friday and Saturday
May 20 – 21, 2022
Boise Center, East
195 S Capitol Blvd
Boise, ID 83706
Friday, May 20, 2022
12:00-1:45 pm.
Lunch with Presenter
2:00-3:15 pm.
Workshop: Deeper Reading for Deeper Writing; An Introduction to Deconstruction
Saturday, May 21, 2022
2:00-3:15 pm.
Workshop: Writing to Theme
Quills Conference
Thursday through Sunday
August 18 – 21, 2022