In science fiction and fantasy, the strength and depth of the author’s world building can make the difference between a forgettable story and a classic. Join veteran SF writer James Cambias for a step-by-step breakdown of how to make convincing and interesting worlds for your stories, while still respecting realism and scientific accuracy. We’ll go
Writing may be a mostly joyful process, but the process of offering our work to journals and literary agents can feel terrifying, or simply like drudgery. This confidence-building workshop will help you increase your motivation for getting your work out into the universe, where it deserves to be seen. We’ll work on setting reasonable and
Join Straw Dog Writers Guild for WriteAngles, the only writers conference in Western Massachusetts. Choose from 20 different workshop and panels to attend during this full day conference, held at Greenfield Community College. Sign up to have an individual meeting with an agent. But most importantly, spend time with other writers in your community who
Your book cover is your most powerful marketing tool for your writing. Discover how great covers get made, and why you should judge a book by its cover. Focused on indie and small press authors, this workshop will cover which questions to ask, which design pitfalls to avoid, and how your cover can bring your
As writers, when we write about the grieving process, we need to acknowledge that grief is as individual as we are. Writers differentiate characters by giving them unique voices, gestures, and habits. How they love and how they grieve is yet another way of making your characters come alive and stay with your reader long
In this accessible and friendly presentation, Michelle will explain the basics of how generative AI (GAI) works, highlighting some of its limitations. From there she will discuss some of the potential (and ongoing) impacts of GAI for writers, touching on topics that include: AI generated cover art, GAI unauthorized use of creative works, and some
Congratulations! Your book is due for publication. Now what? Whether you have a publicist or you’re representing yourself, this workshop will offer tips and advice on how to increase your chances of having an author event at an independent bookstore, and making it a success. You will learn what to say and what to avoid
Historical fiction is having a moment again in the literary world. Join Straw Dog Writers Guild and writer Dean Cycon in this craft workshop “Historical Fiction Confidential” on Saturday, December 7, from 10:30am – 12:00pm at the Lilly Library in Florence, MA. This workshop will look at the different types of HF, discuss effective research
Upon first glance, “Hermit Crabs” (stories or poems or essays that borrow another “shell” or form, also known as the False Document or Trojan Horse poem or Constraint Essay) look like literary play (and they are fun!). But they’re also great tools to break through writers’ block or overcome resistance to topics that feel heavy,
Join Straw Dog Writers Guild and presenter Jesse Lee Kercheval for our (rescheduled) November craft workshop, “Translation: Reading the World” on Saturday, November 23 from 10:30am – 12:00pm via Zoom. This is a relaxed, open workshop about translating from any language into English for people just curious about translation as well as practicing translators of
