The Writescape Companion

The Writescape

Companion Summer 2011

Sunday, Aug. 7 Summer writing Tasting the Page It looks like this summer is going to be a So what’s hot and what’s not? If you Taking description beyond hot one. I’m not complaining—I’ve been write for children, author Erin Thomas the five senses cold for far too long—but it got me can what’s cooking with a few Canadian ~~~ thinking about hot writing. publishers. She and Gwynn are teaming Saturday, Aug. 20 up to facilitate a six-week Writing for Woods, Water & Words Raw, first-draft writing is hot writing, Children course. A day of writing activities at writing straight from the creative brain, Glentula on Lake Seymour. writing more concerned with story than Then, there is the hot writing that comes ~~~ semantics. This summer let go with your when you are ‚in the zone,‛ when your Sunday, Aug. 28 writing: no internal editor; no telling characters are real people doing real Putting Flesh on the yourself it’s no good. Just write! Start with things and words are just pouring onto Bones the hot prompts in this issue, or check out the page. Ah, bliss! The secret is, this Building strong characters Inspiration Station to keep you going all kind of writing only comes when you ~~~ summer long. write often, preferably every day. Find a Mondays, Sept. 12 – Oct. 24 quiet spot in your garden, pack the kids Writing for Children Hot writing can also conjure up steamy off to grandma or escape to write for a The ins and outs of children’s sex scenes. Afraid to write them? Find tips dedicated day of writing at Woods, writing and publishing in this issue from an erotica writer and ~~~ Water and Words. Give yourself a gift info on how Harlequin categorizes Saturday, Sept. 24 this summer and write, write, write. different levels of physical intimacy. It’s Not What You Earn, It’s What You Keep Hot writing topics also have their seasons. Ruth and Gwynn Tax tips for writers & artists Rev up your writing at Turning Leaves ~~~ Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011 2011 What’s new this fall at Turning Leaves fire; every room has a wood-burning Glentula Fall Getaway 2011? A new location and a new guest fireplace. Think about the delicious A one-day getaway at facilitator. Our all-inclusive fall writing meals you’ll share. (Ruth recommends Glentula on Lake Seymour retreat takes place October 28 to 30 at the chocolate and caramel brownie— ~~~ beautiful Fern Resort near Orillia (about yummy.) October 28 – 30, 2011 Turning Leaves 2011 1.5 hours north of Durham Region) on the Register today! Click here for details. Three days of workshops, shores of Lake Couchiching. discussions and feedback— We have exclusive use of the resort’s Who is our mystery and time to write! Fireside Inn. All meals and the extensive facilitator, you ask? ~~~ amenities are included: bicycles, tennis, Why, award-winning Mondays, Nov. 7 – Dec. 12 archery, walking trails, gym, indoor pool, Barry Dempster! Write Now An introduction to creative Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna and The GG-nominated writing lakeside hammocks. poet and author joins ~~~ us in a fireside chat on Imagine the writing you’ll do, with Wednesdays, Oct. 5 – Nov. 9 Friday evening and stimulating workshops and plenty of time Write On Intensive leads a Saturday workshop. to write. Picture yourself toasting by the Advanced creative writing

1 Writing at The Heathers in York Region Tasting the Page: Character Development: Beyond the Five Senses Putting Flesh on the Bones

Sunday, August 7 Sunday, August 28 10:00 pm to 4:00 pm 10:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Register online for Register online for Tasting the Page Putting Flesh on the Bones with Gwynn Scheltema with Ruth Walker

In this one-day workshop, we Is it the book you remember or the experiment with creative writing characters? A good storyteller fills exercises that make your writing live. the pages with people who linger We munch our way through a long after you close the book. smorgasbord of fiction foods from This one-day workshop focuses on image and emphasis, to movement, ways to develop your characters into theme, and syntax. memorable people. Innovative • Challenge your reader’s exercises and intriguing examples perceptions and assumptions help you create believable dialogue • Deepen your powers of description and fascinating fictional folks. • Learn new descriptive techniques Expand your writer’s toolkit with to give greater weight to your techniques that reveal your narrative voice characters’ deepest, darkest secrets. • Learn how to add description By the end of the day, you’ll know without slowing the narrative your characters so well, that you will Don’t leave your fiction on the plate. stay up nights watching them, Prepare it gourmet style and your listening to them and writing about readers will beg for more. them.

Fee for each: $90; $80 for WCDR/SOH/PWAC etc.

Spice up your sex scenes Sex is emotion in motion. ~ Mae West Writing sex scenes can feel like getting undressed in public; like your mother is watching; like everyone will think you do the things you describe. Get over it. If you write for adults—in any genre—at some point you will need to handle intimate scenes. Here are the top five mistakes authors make when writing sex scenes, according to Clare Langley-Hawthorne, author of Consciousness of Sin: 1. Things get hot and heavy in the most unlikely of moments and places. 2. Euphemisms rise to a whole new level, leaving the reader giggling or cringing. 3. Sex is always spectacular, never boring, mundane or unsatisfying. 4. ‚No‛ doesn’t mean no; it means I will eventually give in and have earth-shattering sex. 5. Characters are never just ordinary people, but bigger-than-life Adonises/Aphrodites.

2 One-day Retreats at Glentula on Lake Seymour

Woods, Water & Words Glentula Fall Getaway Saturday, August 20 Sunday, October 23

If you can’t get away for a full weekend retreat, try one—or both—of these one- day getaways. Writing activities will enlist the woods, the wandering garden paths, the lake and streams for inspiration, as well as the energy of writing in a community of other writers.

The day will be a mix of group-led writing exercises, situation-themed writing prompts and time to write and reflect. Gwynn will 10 am – 4 pm be available at several points in the day to Writing activities answer any questions you may have about 5 pm – 8 pm your personal writing project. Optional campfire reading and If you wish to stay, we’ll finish the day discussion around a cosy campfire to read and share, The tragedy of sexual and discuss writerly things. A light lunch and intercourse is the perpetual buffet dinner will be provided, as well as an all-day virginity of the soul. beverage station. ~William B. Yeats

Check www.writescape.ca for details on day and evening options

‚Hot‛ shows up everywhere in idiom in our language. Here are ten common phrases. Use one or more to jumpstart a piece. talking hot air in hot water hot under the collar hot off the press hot on her heels in the hot seat hot as Hades touch a hot button blow hot and cold she thinks she’s hot stuff

3 It’s Not What You Earn, It’s What You Keep: Taxation Tips for Writers Saturday, September 24 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Location: TBA in Durham

Being a writer means more than coming up with great plot lines and sizzling dialogue – if you get paid for your writing, it also means dealing with Revenue Canada and taxes. Participants will learn the answers to questions like: · How does Revenue Canada define ―freelance‖? · If I win a writing contest, is that money considered income? · Can I deduct research expenses? · How do I value a work-in-progress? · Do I have to register for GST? Fee: $90; $80 for WCDR/SOH/PWAC etc.

Not all kisses taste like Hershey’s Kissing uses all five senses. Kisses come in so many forms: passionate, wet, teasing, rough, slow… Remember how you felt when you first discovered that French kissing involved touching tongues? As a teen, did you practise on your arm or the mirror? What about your first If my doctor told me I had kiss? only six minutes to live, I Write about a kiss—fun, disgusting, chaste or steamy. wouldn't brood. I'd type a little faster. ~ Isaac Asimov Sweet, saucy or sizzling?

Writing a romance? Harlequin, the world’s largest publisher, provides clear, detailed guidelines on their website for every imprint, from the word count to the level of sexual content. For example, Blaze editors ask for ‚sensuous, highly romantic, innovative stories that are sexy in premise and execution. The tone of the books can run from fun and flirtatious to dark and sensual. Writers can push the boundaries in terms of explicitness…an emphasis on the physical relationship…fully described love scenes along with a high level of fantasy, playfulness and eroticism.‛

Their eBook sexy short story program—Historical Undone—is looking for ‚a high level of sensuality that flows naturally out of the plotline… hot, sexy and subtly explicit without the lovemaking being vulgar or gratuitous.‛ Pssst…you can submit these 10,000- to 15,000-word shorts without an agent!

Go to www.eharlequin.com and click on the writers’ guidelines under Harlequin Extras.

4 Writing for Children

Mondays, Sept. 12—Oct. 24 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm Trent University, Oshawa Campus

Do you love children’s books? Do you still remember the characters that you cared about as a child? Have you ever wanted to write a picture book or novel that kids will read over and over again? Writing for Children introduces you to the basics of writing for young readers. Come find out what publishers look for, and what makes writing for children different from writing for adults. You’ll learn how to write for different age groups and different reading levels within those age groups. You’ll discover the importance of engaging dialogue and find out how to make your characters come alive. You’ll see how plot and scene structure can strengthen your story, and you’ll explore ways of finding inspiration. This hands-on workshop series is packed with activities, opportunities to practise your new skills, and written and oral feedback on your work from two powerhouse facilitators. Fee: $125; $110 for WCDR/SOH/PWAC etc.

Child’s Play

HOT POTATO—Remember games from your childhood like hot potato; jacks; red rover; hopscotch; duck, duck, goose. Write a scene that takes place during a game, or write a poem incorporating as The art of writing is the art of many games as you can remember. Forget how to play? Watch discovering what you believe. this video: www.videojug.com/film/how-to-play-hot-potato. ~ Gustave Flaubert

HOT DOG—Hot dogs have been a favourite summer food for kids for generations. Tell your ‘hot dog’ story.

5 Write Now: An Introduction to Creative Writing Mondays, Nov. 7—Dec. 12 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm Trent University, Oshawa Campus

Want to write, but don’t know where to start? Finished a story and don’t know what to do next? Want to learn more about writing creatively? Want to get published, but don’t know how? If your answer is ―yes‖ to any of the above, this course is for you. Join Ruth and Gwynn for six evenings of exploring creative writing.

Classes include fun and innovative hands-on exercises, engaging group discussions and feedback opportunities. Take-home assignments will guide and motivate you. We will explore both fiction and non-fiction, and you’ll go away with all you need to start on your writing journey. find inspiration and ideas develop characters and setting establish plot and theme practise freefall writing While linear thinking goes polish work to submission standards. from A to B to C to D, non- Open to any level of experience in fiction, non-fiction or poetry, Write Now is an adult linear thinking, or creative program for ages 16 or older. thinking, goes from Q to Venus to Peacock by way of Fee: $125; $110 for WCDR/SOH/PWAC etc. glitter and winds up on your front doorstep at midnight with a bottle of champagne.” ~Jill Allison Bryan

6 Write On Intensive Wednesdays, Oct. 5—Nov. 9 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm Trent University, Oshawa Campus

This class takes the intermediate or advanced writer into rich and challenging creative territory. Figurative language, experimental texts and focussed critique (both giving and receiving) will be explored through a variety of hands-on in-class exercises, activities and advanced take-home assignments. Further refine your editing skills and use new techniques on works in progress while experiencing the benefits of creating new work in a community of writers. Be prepared to go deeper and further with your writing and take some interesting risks with your approach to creativity. Gwynn and Ruth create a comfortable space for all genres and types of writing. Feel free to query if you are not sure if this is the class for you. Fee: $125; $110 for WCDR/SOH/PWAC etc.

Without change, something sleeps inside us and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken. ~ Dune (1984)

Beauty is only skin-deep

7 Gwynn and Ruth “Out and About”

Writescape’s Spring Thaw 2011 at ‚Spring Thaw 2011,‛ a poem Ruth Elmhirsts Resort became the hot wrote while on that retreat, placed topic on CHEX Newswatch in April. fifth in Robert Lee Brewer’s Big 10 Watch this video clip to see what a poetry challenge for Writer’s Digest. Writescape retreat is all about. Ruth spent an action-packed week Utne Reader featured Ruth’s intense Writescape’s retreat facilitators with 500 kids at DIAC—Durham postcard story ‚Death in the Family‛ recently enjoyed the luxury of Integrated Arts Camp in May. It was in its Library Crawl series. The story participating in a week-long retreat exhausting, but Ruth was blown scored an HM in Geist‘s postcard led by Pat Schneider, founder of the away by the promising young story contest before joining lofty Amherst Writers and Artists group. writers and poets. The future of writing company: essays written by Thanks to Sue Reynolds and Ink- literature is in good hands. both Alberto Manguel and Stephen slingers for the fantastic opportunity. Henighan as well as a postcard story Gwynn and Ruth were both busy at by Ursula Twiss. Ruth was named WCDR’s Member the OWC on April 30. Ruth’s skit of the Year in June. Way to go, Ruth! was performed at the plenary Gwynn was delighted to learn that session, and Gwynn facilitated a her entry in Creativity Portal’s The Focus On section on Markham workshop on setting. Both enjoyed Lengthy Sentence Contest is among Village Writers website featured welcoming curious writers to the winners! Click here to read it. Ruth in May and Gwynn in June. Writescape’s trade table.

Writescape Alumni Announcements Congratulations go out to Connie Di Ingrid Ruthig launches two books Deepam Wadds is tickled that her Pietro-Sparacino who scooped the this September: Slipstream and story ‚Choose the Hammock‛ $250 3rd place in WCDR’s Wild Richard Outram: Essays on His Works. appeared in carte blanche literary Words contest. Connie and Noelle magazine. Bickle (hurray!) each contributed a Tom Taylor’s book Brock’s Agent story to the Wild Words anthology. has hit the shelves and was Colour Yvonne Hess happy. Scugog reviewed in the Globe and Mail. Arts Council gave her story ‚The Elizabeth Tyrrell’s short story Bravo, Tom! Promise‛ 3rd prize at their Literary ‚What The Eye Doesn’t See‛ won the Awards. Found this on Stumble and thought it 2010 Markham Library short story Erin Thomas has a new book out. would be a great link for the newsletter - contest and appeared in Writing Raw Wolves at the Gate is published by Oshawa Seniors’ Centre has hired or the website. in May. HIP Books. Heather M. O’Connor to teach www.onesentence.org/stories/popular/all creative writing starting this fall. / Hip-hip-hurrah! Noelle Bickle, Sally Sally Moore’s poem ‚At Vimy Also, Moore, Christine Barbetta, Barb Ridge‛ appeared in the Sunnybrook Noelle Bickle heads up the new Stumble is a great way to find inspiration. Baker and Ruth Walker all won Veterans’ Hospital Newsletter, At Writers’ Community of Simcoe Hug-a-writer day is Jan 24 WCDR scholarships. Impressive! Home. County (WCSC.) Way to go, Noelle! http://www.hugawriter.com/ Experience a customized escape into the art and craft of writing with Writescape. From all- Want to contact inclusive weekend retreats to one-day workshops, Writescape focuses on your needs as a writer. us? Let award-winning writers Gwynn Scheltema and Ruth E. Walker help you escape to write. Writescape

C/O 101 Morningside Dr., Writescape retreats are a gift of time – time to recharge your creativity and listen to your muse. RR3 Havelock ON Writescape workshops inspire and challenge you to explore your craft in ways you might never K0L 1Z0 have imagined. Writers at all levels of experience find support and inspiration. [email protected] www.writescape.ca Escape to write … with Writescape (905) 728-7823