Lauren leads monthly writing workshops, on the last Saturday of every month at Camillo’s Cafe in the Princeton Shopping Center on N. Harrison Street. We begin at 10:00 a.m. and end at 3:00 p.m. (If you’re interested in working with Lauren by email, please scroll down past the photos for details about her Workshops-by-Email!)
Click here to read an article about the workshops from the Princeton Packet, here, for an article about Lauren in Princeton’s Town Topics, and please click here, for an article in Mercer Space.
Whether you’re an absolute beginner, or a published professional, you will find supportive, encouraging writers with whom you can share your successes as well as your frustrations (and yes, the writer’s life always has a few of those!). We sharpen our skills and practice together. We critique our work and experiment with new styles. We learn the basics, discover our voices, refine our techniques.
In the morning we have a writing class on varying subjects. We’ll share a fabulous lunch prepared by Chef Camillo – an opportunity to network and build writing support. The afternoon session is devoted to critiquing. You are encouraged but not required to submit your work for critiquing. (Don’t worry, it’s gentle – all about making the work better. NEVER about tearing anyone down!)
The cost is $85.00, which includes lunch, coffee/tea and soft drinks. Here’s a sample menu (Allergies and food sensitivities are accommodated and Camillo surprises us with wonderful new dishes each month!):
Choice of Antipasti : Soup of the Day, Caesar Salad, Mixed Greens salad
Choice of Entrée: Penne Puttenesca, Chicken Parmesan served with Sweet Potato Mash and Spinach, Grilled Salmon served with Polenta and Ratatouille
Dessert, Tiramisu
Coffee or Tea
I hope you can join us! Future dates are: December 3 (to accommodate Thanksgiving and Christmas, we have only one class November/December), January 28, February 25; and so forth, on the last Saturday of every month.
Here are some photos from past workshops:
Writers in formal pose
Writers at work!
Perhaps most importantly, writers at lunch.
If, for some reason you can’t make it to an actual workshop, perhaps you’d like to try SHARPENING THE QUILL by email. If so, please contact me at lauren@laurenbdavis.com.
Perhaps talent can’t be learned, but how to skilfully use the writers’ tools can. SHARPENING THE QUILL is designed not only to inspire and guide, but also to hone the craft of fiction writing. You will learn about structure, conflict, point of view, voice, characterization, setting, language, narrative distance, critical analysis and more. For committed beginners as well as those who have been writing for some time. Students will be expected to practice free-writing, complete writing exercises as well as specific assignments and return them, via email, on a schedule for critical feedback. Each class will cover specific topics as well as practise writing about a different emotion. Designed to be taken chronologically, but students can begin at the start of any session.
Cost: $500 (US) per session
Timetable: Flexible — can be arranged between student and teacher
HOW IT WORKS
For five weeks, every Monday students will receive, via email, a new lesson, which includes exercises and an assignment. Students have until the following Monday to submit their work for comment. I will review the work and send feedback sometime during the next week. On the sixth Monday, students submit a short story of 2,500 words or less for critiquing.
COURSE OUTLINE
SESSION ONE: FOG AND FORM
Class 1
Generating Momentum. (Emotion: Excitement)
Class 2
Openings (Anxiety)
Class 3
The Folk Tale as Structural Model – Cinderella (Surprise)
Class 4
Getting someone in trouble: Continuing conflicts (Worry)
Class 5
Endings (Jealousy)
Class 6
Submission and Critiquing
SESSION TWO: CHARACTER
Class 1
Generating Momentum – recharge – (Longing)
Class 2
Characterization 1 – finding your character (Desire)
Class 3
POV, 3rd, 2nd, 1st/To whom is your character talking? (Loneliness)
Class 4
Methods of Character Presentation – Declaration, Description, dress, demeanour & dramatics (Anger)
Class 5
Methods of Character Presentation cont’d: Dialogue, deeds (Forgiveness)
Class 6
Submission and Critiquing
SESSION THREE: VOICE AND VIEW
Class 1
Generating Momentum – recharge (Hate)
Class 2
Significant Detail and The Active vs the Passive Voice (Revenge)
Class 3
Narrative Time – Summary and Scene; Flash back; slow motion (Despair)
Class 4
Interior monologues, monologues/ stream of consciousness (Shame)
Class 5
Distance/Unreliable narrator (Guilt)
Class 6
Submission and Critiquing
SESSION FOUR: TIME, PLACE AND FINAL TOUCHES
Class 1
Generating Momentum – recharge (Suspicion)
Class 2
Theme, dramatic monologues (Sadness)
Class 3
Setting & Atmosphere/Tone (Hope)
Class 4
Metaphor and Simile/rhythm and music in writing/action (Happiness)
Class 5
Editing and Revision (Restlessness)
Class 6
Submission and Critiquing
