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Workshop Descriptions & Instructors


Marilyn Abildskov
Mary Allen
Kate Aspengren
Thomas Fox Averill
Nancy K.Barry
Timothy Bascom
Kyle Beachy
Karen Bender
Linda Bendorf
Maudy Benz
Venise Berry
Bruce Bond
David Bouchier
Michael Dennis Browne
Maggie Conroy
Mary Cross

Thomas K. Dean
Amber Dermont
Janet Desaulniers
Kelly Dwyer
Hope Edelman
Josh Emmons
Jill Esbaum
Sarah Fay
Hugh Ferrer
Katie Ford
Geoffrey Forsyth
Cecile Goding
Douglas Goetsch
Sands Hall
Christine Hemp
Jim Heynen
Rick Hillis
Charles Holdefer
Richard Jackson
Rebecca Johns
Cheryl Fusco Johnson
Wayne Johnson
Daniel Khalastchi
Carolyn Lieberg
BK Loren
Peter Markus
Fritz Mc Donald
James McKean
Gordon Mennenga
Sharelle Byars Moranville
Michael Morse
Barbara Robinette Moss
Marc Nieson
Shannon Olson
Diana Ossana
Lon Otto
Juliet Patterson
Kiki Petrosino
Mark Jude Poirier
Leslie Carol Roberts
Anjali Sachdeva
Sarah Saffian
Sam Samuels
Sandra Scofield
Mary Kay Shanley
Robert Anthony Siegel
Carol Spindel
Karen Subach
Mary Vermillion
Kris Vervaecke
Ashley Warlick
Michelle Wildgen
Bart Yates

Charles Holdefer

Novel Fundamentals
One-Week Workshop
June 7–12

Focus on Character
Weekend Workshop
June 20–21

Biography

 

 

 

 

 

Novel Fundamentals
One-Week Workshop
June 7–12

You have the story in your head—but why isn’t it working on the page? Why do those chapters continue to languish in a drawer? What’s missing? This workshop, for novelists of all levels, operates from the premise that the spark of inspiration is all very fine but doesn’t take us far without a firm grasp of fundamentals. There are plenty of writing manuals which talk about plot and character, for instance, but none of them specifically addresses your work, as we will in this workshop and in conferences. I won’t prescribe formulas, but I’ll encourage frank assessments.

In this workshop, we’ll pay considerable attention to language (I’ll give your sample pages a very vigorous close reading). As a group, we’ll discuss common pitfalls that occur when writing about familiar subjects, e.g., family, mortality, faith or sex. Participants will be encouraged to bring short samples of work from home, and also to do writing exercises during the week. Ideally, you will go home with practical revisions, new material, and a firmer understanding of your options for your novel.

Focus on Character
Weekend Workshop
June 20–21

It is common to speak of “rounded” or “fleshed-out” characters, but what does this mean exactly? How does a writer conjure up these people?

This intensive workshop, which welcomes both short story and novel writers, will address the techniques of characterization. My approach will not be theoretical or psychological, but rather nuts and bolts—with close attention to language and narration. You will be encouraged to bring short samples of your work and subject them to exercises and revision. Readings of published writers will also be offered as examples. Practically, your characters should be a size or two larger, or an emotion or two deeper, after this weekend.

Biography

Charles Holdefer (M.F.A., The University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop; Ph.D., Sorbonne) is the author of The Contractor (2007),an American Booksellers Association “Book Sense Pick.” His other novels are Apology For Big Rod (1997) and Nice (2001). His short fiction has appeared in numerous magazines, including the New England Review, North American Review, Paris Transcontinental, and Yellow Silk. He has also published essays and reviews. Visit Charles at www.charlesholdefer.com.


 

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Sponsored by the Division of Continuing Education
Iowa Summer Writing Festival
C215 Seashore Hall
The University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242

Phone 319-335-4160
FAX 319-335-4743
iswfestival@uiowa.edu

Last updated on February 10, 2009