Quebec Writers' Federation Workshops

Fall Session 2011

WRITING YA: MAKING THE "A" STAND FOR "AWESOME"

Eight Mondays, 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. (October 3 to November 28 – no meeting Oct. 10)

1200 Atwater Avenue, Suite 3
Workshop leader: Jill Murray
Workshop fee: $175; $155 for QWF members.
For more information, or to register: 514-933-0878 or julia@qwf.org

Young Adult literature is a growing market, and for good reason. Encompassing great diversity in the genres it includes and the types of stories it tells, it attracts teen readers and adventurous adults alike.

Whether you aim to tell contemporary stories rooted in the issues that matter to teens you know, or pen the world’s first eight-volume blockbuster dystopian alternatereality zombiemermaid epic, you’ll need the same basic building blocks of the writer’s craft—brains, yes, and coffee, but also memorable and lucid plots, well-developed characters, dialogue that rings true, evocative  settings, finely-tuned voice and point-of-view, action and pacing that keep the pages turning, and of course, heart.

Using writing exercises and examples from current YA literature and notable blogs, this eight-week workshop will cover all the basics, as well as important issues in the YA writer’s life, such as How To Write While Everyone Else is On the Internet, Your Options for Publication, and Trends & How to Ignore Them Without Panicking. The format will be a studio workshop, with a lecture, writing time, and weekly critique sessions. Each participant will submit a 10-20 page  short story or chapter of a novel-in-progress for in-class critique.

In Week 7 (Monday, November 21), Cecil Castellucci, author of, at last count, seven acclaimed works for young adults, including graphic novels, The Plain Janes and Janes in Love, will drop by to discuss the ins and outs of writing graphic novels for teen audiences. There will be a  related writing exercise, and fun will be had.

Jill Murray is the author of two YA novels published with Doubleday Canada, Break on Through, and Rhythm and Blues, fifty percent of which have been selected as Best Bets for Kids and Teens by the Canadian Children’s Book Center. She has toured schools, libraries, and festivals talking about YA literature and independent book promotion. This past spring, she participated as a YA mentor in the QWF’s mentorship program, and wrote a short YA political play for The Wrecking Ball. She blogs about writing and YA at BookMadam.com, and writes for video games at Ubisoft.

 

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