Workshops
Uneven Characters: Filling in the Cracks
The Artist Cafe 1365 Main Street, Springfield, MA, United StatesWriting characters can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be! In this workshop, we will go over what makes a character three-dimensional, using inspiration from ourselves and the people around us to create realistic characters (positive and negative traits, dynamic vs. static characters, etc.), and dialogue vs. action and how to utilize both to Read More
Small Publishing in a Big Universe
zoomJoin Straw Dog Writers Guild for our May craft workshop "Small Publishing in a Big Universe" with writer Steven Radecki on Sunday, May 21, 4:00-5:30pm via Zoom. Between traditional publishing and self-publishing there is small publishing. We discuss the place that independent publishers play in the publishing ecosystem, comparing and contrasting the submissions processes, benefits, Read More
How to Become an Engaging & Dynamic Reader of Your Written Work and Wow Your Audience
zoomThis workshop is for anyone who wants to learn (and practice) reading the written word aloud (whether your own or that of others), with power, flair, and dynamism! Join Straw Dog Writers Guild on Wednesday, September 13, 6:00 - 8:00 pm for How to Become an Engaging & Dynamic Reader of Your Written Work and Read More
Let’s Make a Scene
Lilly Library 19 Meadow Street, Florence, MA, United StatesScenes are the building blocks of screenplays. Like Legos, each one is strong and intact on its own — but its purpose is to be part of a larger structure. This is a seminar for anyone interested in the many ways screenwriting differs from prose. To get the most from our time together, read a Read More
Every 4th Reader is Listening: Getting Your Book into Their Ears
Athol Public Library 568 Main St, Athol, MA, United StatesNarrator Scott Ellis shares, "As an audiobook narrator and retired teacher, I am always looking for ways to engage more people with audiobooks. I am looking forward to being with your group to walk through the entire process of audiobook production: from searching for the right narrator on the right platform, understanding the lingo used Read More
Chapbooks: Crafting a Collection
Join Straw Dog Writers Guild with presenter Adrie Rose on Sunday, February 11 via zoom from 3-5pm for this craft workshop. We will come together to work on pulling together poems into a chapbook collection. We’ll talk about what chapbooks are (and are not) and some strategies for arranging the poems in them. Participants are Read More
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Writing a Query Letter
zoomJoin Straw Dog Writers Guild with literary agent Cherise Fisher for an informative workshop about the often daunting task of writing a query letter. When you are ready to search for an agent, learn how to write the best query letter possible. Experienced agents like Cherise have received thousands of query letters and she has Read More
WriteAngles Conference
Northampton Center for the Arts 33 Hawley St., Northampton, MA, United StatesStraw Dog Writers Guild and our literary partners around western MA are re-imagining the WriteAngles Writers Conference, a local gem for over 30 years. Please save the date, April 6, 2024, for this day-long gathering of writers. That’s a long way away, you say? You’re right, but that gives us lots of time to brainstorm Read More
Dazzle an Agent: Pro Tips to Put the Polish on Your Manuscript
Make-It Springfield 286 Bridge Street, Springfield, MA, United StatesThe publishing market is brutally competitive. It’s not easy to get a query past the gatekeepers at publishing houses and literary agencies. You’re going to need an achingly good (and short) intro letter and an irresistible manuscript sample. You could pay an editor to buff up your prose, but with a little bit of elbow Read More
The Smell of Fear: Building Suspense & Tension with Subtext
Northampton Center for the Arts 33 Hawley St., Northampton, MA, United StatesJoin Straw Dog Writers Guild and presenters Elizabeth MacDuffie and Tamara Fricke for "The Smell of Fear: Building Suspense & Tension with Subtext" on Wednesday, May 22, 7-8:30pm, at the Northampton Center for the Arts,33 Hawley Street, Northampton, MA. In this craft workshop, writers will be guided in the art of creating suspense and tension Read More