League of Utah Writer's Workshop

Just returned from a writer’s workshop that was sponsored by the League of Utah Writers. It was very enjoyable to hang with my ladies from my readers group, but it was also very informative and got the fire started again. I think that my biggest problem is feeling like a phony when it comes to my writing. I always think that I am not a writer I am just a wanna be. It made me feel so much better when Paul Genesse admitted to feeling the same way. I got a chance to speak to him and not only was he really cool, but a normal joe, just like me.

So here are a few of the things that really struck me. John Simmons spoke first. He said that when writing the story needs to start from a memorable place and move to an even more memorable place. Your writing needs to matter to you or it won’t matter. He also talked about balancing writing with the rest of your busy life and making it a priority.

Paul Genesse was the next speaker. My friend Kathy raved about his Iron Dragon Series. He had a great sense of humor and I enjoyed his presentation very much. He believes that characterization is the most important part of writing. If you don’t like the character you won’t like the story.  He also said that discipline and determination are imperative to writing goals. He suggested making time to write by cutting out things that are not important. For instance the internet and television can be pared down so that you can use that time to be productive.

I enjoyed his ideas on characterization very much. He recommended using situations in which characters must react to something or make a decision to show who they are and what they are about, instead of adding pages and pages of back story. He said to stay away from “info dumping”.

They also had Daniel Coleman speak. He talked about taking old ideas and making them new. His latest novels are based upon characters in Alice in Wonderland. He has just gotten published through TM Publishing with his Hatter and Jabberwocky books. Made me wonder, do I have an old story that I love enough to make new with a fresh idea or new spin?

So, while I do not write in the same genre as the gentlemen, I feel that I learned a great deal and I felt the creative juices flowing. I think I will go work on my newest project now!