October 23, 2004

National Writers Workshop: Telling Your Story, Selling Your Story (December 9-11, 2010)

The National Writers Workshop returns to its home base, The Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida!

Imagine a writing conference where everyone writes. Where all participants get to share their work. Where every writer gets small-group and one-on-one attention.

This is the mission of an intimate, innovative writing conference titled “Telling Your Story, Selling Your Story.” Register now for this inspirational and informative experience. Because only 100 writers will be accepted — on a first-come, first-served basis — it is important to reserve a place for yourself as soon as possible.

The conference, conducted by the influential writing teacher Roy Peter Clark, will be led by an all-star team of the region’s finest reporters, writers, and editors. Among those on hand to lend their tips and support are Pulitzer Prize winners Thomas French and Lane DeGregory. The renowned Poynter Institute faculty will be well represented, as well as present and former writers of the St. Petersburg Times including Ben Montgomery, Mike Wilson, Eric Deggans, Thomas Lake, Stephanie Hayes, Jeff Klinkenberg, and Tom Jones.

Special guests will include Atlanta author Michelle Hiskey, NPR’s Keith Woods, and representatives from literary agencies and publishing houses.

Among the topics covered:

  • Getting your arms around a big writing project.
  • Where do the best writing ideas come from? And how do you recognize one?
  • The key steps to reporting and writing a book or enterprise project.
  • Writing life stories � yours and those of others.
  • The 50 most important writing strategies for every writer.
  • Using non-fiction strategies to write your novel.
  • Using strategies of fiction to write your nonfiction narrative.
  • Reporting for story.

You will:

  • Have a chance to work on an existing project or to begin a new one.
  • Learn more about your writing process and how others do their best work.
  • Share your work with a small group in guided discussions by expert writers and teachers.
  • Have a one-on-one coaching session with an expert writer, who will evaluate your work and guide you through the next steps.
  • Identify writing resources that will help you continue your growth in the craft.
  • Develop a plan for pitching your work to a publisher.
  • Join a supportive community of dedicated writers in all genres.

We expect there to be great interest in this event, especially with the loss of the Nieman Narrative Conference. While Nieman attracted more than a thousand participants, Poynter will hold the line at 100, which means that if you want to reserve a place in the conference, you need to act now.  ALL WRITERS WELCOME!

REGISTRATION FEE:  $299 (discount available for the first 25 academic students)

REGISTER/APPLY NOW: http://livex.poynter.org/seminar/seminar.asp?id=5529

DEADLINE TO REGISTER/APPLY:  Novembe 12, 2010

LOCATION
: The Poynter Institute, 801 Third Street South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE


Thursday, December 9: Plenary session, “Creating Your Authentic Voice,” followed by small group sessions  from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Friday, December 10: Sessions begin at 9:30 a.m. and extend to 5:30 p.m.and include a working lunch. Emphasis on this day will be on “Telling Your Story.”

Saturday, December 11: This morning session begins at 9:00 a.m. and focuses on “Selling Your Story” as well as conducting one-on-one coaching sessions.

HOTEL
A block of rooms at a discounted rate in two of the nearby hotels will be available to those coming in from out-of-town. You will receive lodging information with your registration confirmation, payment for hotel room due at check-out. Available until November 26 or when block sells out, whichever comes first. There will be transportation to/from Poynter arranged with these two hotels.


PLEASE CHECK BACK TO THIS PAGE FOR UPDATED INFORMATION, i.e. complete list of speakers, schedule, session titles, etc.

Have a question?
Please contact Poynter NWW Coordinator Fanua Borodzicz at email seminars@poynter.org

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Bill Mitchell is the former CEO and publisher of the National Catholic Reporter. He was editor of Poynter Online from 1999 to 2009. Before joining…
Bill Mitchell

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