Iowa Summer Writing Festival


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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.

	Site Map \| Welcome \| Workshops by Session Date \| Workshops by Instructor Workshops by Genre \| Registration & Housing Information \| Registration Form 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