Check out Sarah Wendell or Smart Bitches Trashy Books in this video.
Sarah will be leading this workshop on Writing the Romance Novel at the Summer Publishing Workshops:
Using excerpts, examples, and full-colour cover images featuring manly men and assertive women, this workshop will explore the romance genre: what it is, what it is not, and what it has not been for a long time, despite rumours to the contrary.
Romance is a multi-billion dollar industry, a narrative history of female autonomy and independence told through courtship rituals, and one of the few domains wherein female sexuality is portrayed in a positive manner. Romance is also among the most-maligned forms of fiction.
This exploration will discuss why, and how, romance is so popular, and will include the following topics:
• An overview of the structure of the genre
• The history of the romance genre in the contemporary definition
• The financial foundation of the industry
• The varying subgenres within romance, and how they operate independently of one another
• Hybrid subgenres (science fiction, fantasy, and thriller all find their way into romance)
• The absolutely essential elements of the narrative
• Doing it well, and doing it horribly (with fun examples)
• To have sex or not to have sex (a big question)
This workshop is ideal for anyone hoping to write a romance, particularly someone who is not as familiar with the genre. It will also serve as a history for those who read romance and would like to try their hand at writing one.
Bring a pen and paper, and leave your inhibitions about admitting that you adore romance novels at the door — in this workshop, we all love romance.
Faculty
Sarah Wendell, also known as “Smart Bitch Sarah,” co-founded and currently manages the romance blog Smart Bitches, Trashy Books. The site specializes in reviewing romance novels, examining the history and future of the genre, and exploring the largely-ignored market segment of the female fiction reader. Wendell and blog co-founder Candy Tan co-authored Beyond Heaving Bosoms: the Smart Bitches’ Guide to Romance Novels, published by Touchstone Fireside in April 2009. Wendell has spoken at Romance Writers of America’s national conference, Romantic Times BookLovers Convention, and several RWA chapter conferences and meetings across the United States. Wendell was invited to speak as part of the closing plenary panel at the first academic conference devoted to the romance genre, “Love as the Practice of Freedom? Romance Fiction & American Culture,” held at Princeton University in April 2009. She was also invited to speak about the effects of digital publishing advances on the female fiction reader at the Digital Book conference of the International Digital Publishing Forum in May 2009. She spoke at the O’Reilly Tools of Change for Publishing Conference in February 2009 and will return for two panels on digital reading and the female fiction consumer in 2010.
Great conversation via skype video with Michelle Benjamin from her remote island location.
Michelle talks about how necessary editors are in the collaborative publishing process and how students who want to be editors will walk away from their time at the SFU Summer Publishing Workshops with a deep appreciation for their colleagues in every department.
Michelle stresses the importance of working together and of keeping an open-mind toward all the other players in the publishing process.
Very much looking forward to hearing what she has to say at the Workshops this year – July 12 – 24 | 8:30 am – 10:30 pm.
Neelan Choksi Talks About Digital Delivery & Leveraging What You’re Already Good At For Future Success
Neelan Choksi was the COO of Lexcycle, creator of the Stanza iPhone app.
Neelan Choksi, former COO of Lexcycle – creator of the Stanza iPhone app – sat down with Sean Cranbury in the lounge at the Century Plaza Hotel in downotwn Vancouver to discuss ebooks, digital delivery, geolocation, territorial rights, the iPad, the future potential for digital books and the power of crowd sourcing for developers.
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A pretty wide-ranging and eye-opening conversation with one of the most influential people in the ebook conversation.
Neelan will be speaking on many of these same topics during the SFU Summer Publishing Workshops July 12 – 24 | 8:30 am – 10:30 pm.
In this video, Michael Slade, author of classic novels like Ghoul and Red Snow talks about the value of a name.
For characters and authors! Zinc Chandler, for instance, or say, Michael Slade.
Check out the SFU Summer Publishing Workshop: How to write a Thriller with Michael Slade
The three elements of suspense: fear, hope, and time. Five Ws and an H: Who is involved? Who is at risk? Where is it taking place? When will it occur? Why is it happening? How will it be resolved? Ten rules for a thriller: how to perch readers on the edge of their seats. Subgenres: soft-boiled, hard-boiled, and “Just the facts, ma’am.”
Which comes first, the plot or the sleuth? Whodunit tricks and traps: creating a riddle wrapped in a mystery wrapped in an enigma. Flatfoot and gumshoe: elements of the police procedural. How much sex and violence? Blood runs cold: shock and horror. Research: how to live your plot. Suspending disbelief: injecting verisimilitude. Skeletons in the closet: writing historical mysteries. Screaming pitch: building a story arc. Write the good fight. Genre bending.
Faculty
Michael Slade, in real life, is a criminal lawyer. He has acted for both the defence and the prosecution in more than 100 murder cases. He argued the last death penalty case in the Supreme Court of Canada. From Headhunter (1984) to Red Snow (2010), Slade is the author of 14 bestselling mystery thrillers. Visit the Morgue at his website: www.specialx.net. See also The Mystery Writers Retreat
Check out this audio interview with one of the book industry’s best designers, Peter Cocking.
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Peter will be leading the Book Design Intensive at SFU Summer Publishing Workshops from July 2 – 4.
Learn book design with an expert in this hands-on, project-driven course.
At first glance the book seems like such a simple object: an image and a title on the front, some words on the back, and a lot more words (maybe even some pictures) on the inside. But creating a well-made, well-designed book is much more complex than it appears. It is an art and a craft with a long history, and it forms the cornerstone of the world of graphic design.
This three-day intensive project-based workshop uses in-class, hands-on lab work and frequent critiques to teach the fundamental practices and processes that underly successful book design. Each participant is expected to complete a book design project, composed of both a cover and a series of interior sample pages. You are encouraged to bring your own book projects with you to the course; if you don’t have a specific project in mind, the instructor will provide one.
This workshop is not for beginners. You must have completed, or be enrolled in, a degree or certificate program in design, or have the equivalent amount of professional and/or educational experience. You must also have a good working knowledge of InDesign and Photoshop on the Macintosh platform.
In this video Moyra Tarling talks about why she decided to come to the 2010 SFU Mystery Writers’ Retreat on Salt Spring Island.
It’s very exciting to hear her speak. I hope that we get to hear from her later in the week, too.
Check out this great video starring aspiring writer, Charlotte Morganti, during the 2010 SFU Mystery Writers’ Retreat on Salt Spring Island.
Charlotte talks about her first meeting with her mentor, crime fiction editor for McClelland & Stewart, Dinah Forbes.
Digital Strategy: Designers’ Intensive @ SFU Summer Publishing Workshops
August 6-9 | Friday to Monday | 9 – 6 pm
Enhance your online and digital design skills
This is the decade that digital comes of age: designers need to be prepared, and publishers need to master content streams to be effective. Learn first-hand from leading designers and creative professionals what works: the processes, tools, ways of thinking, approaches, and techniques for expressing strategy in day-to-day practice.
We will go from requirements to user experience, master the tools of the digital trade, consider best practices, rationalize design decisions, design behaviour-accessible touchpoints, and document the design process.
This workshop is ideal for experienced designers who are required or who want to develop their skills designing for online and electronic publications.
Participants may (but are not required to) bring a working project to the workshop. Participants should also bring their own laptops with Adobe CS3.
For more information and to register: SFU Summer Publishing Workshops
Haig Armen, Director of Vancouver’s excellent Lift Studios, will be teaching Digital Strategy: Designers’ Intensive at the SFU Summer Publishing Workshops from August 6-9 | Friday to Monday | 9 – 6 pm.
Enhance your online and digital design skills by joining Haig and an impressive team of digital strategists, technologists & designers as they help you to understand designing interactions.
As the iPad emerges as a major game-changer in the digital media space companies and individuals will need to develop the skills necessary to understand the revolutionary technology and to exploit its potential.
Other mobile technologies are entering the market, too. This immersion is designed to help designers with some experience to understand the amazing changes occurring today that will impact tomorrow.
For more information and to register go here-> Digital Strategy: Designers’ Intensive.
Sarah Wendell, co-founder of the super-popular website, Smart Bitches, Trashy Books talks about the huge community of romance novel readers and how ‘petty larceny’ changed her life.
Sarah will be participating in the Book Publising Immersion and will be leading a workshop called Writing the Romance Novel: From Soup to Nuts. Should be amazing.
As you can see, Sarah is an electric, engaging speaker with infectious energy and passion for the romance genre.
I will post more of this interview later today.
