July 26th, 2011
"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."
—Calvin Coolidge
Welcome to the latest installment of the Grub Street Rag, a newsletter of the Boston literary scene brought to you every Monday (except when we've jetted off to Philly) by the helium balloon a capella troupe at Grub Street's world headquarters. As always, if you are receiving this e-mail in horror, please advance to the bottom of the page to unsubscribe yourself.
What a fall! We have a record 100 evening, morning, afternoon, and weekend workshops to choose from, as well as all-new daytime seminars in every genre. Brand-new this fall are classes in self-publishing, haikus, the art of subtext, historical fiction, writing nonfiction books for a trade audience, and even literary translation. To see the complete list of fall offerings (and to search for the ideal class for you), go to http://www.grubstreet.org/index.php?id=402. The online registration process is very easy, but if you have questions or need help selecting a course, please call 617.695.0075 and any of our staff will be happy to assist you.
Interested in taking a seminar this fall? Become a Sustaining Member and get a FREE SEMINAR (a $65 value!) For only $10/month, you can support your favorite writing center and take advantage of all the great benefits of Grub Street membership.
Quick quiz: Whose favorite drink is Guinness, because it's both a drink and a meal? Who spends a self-described "embarrassing" amount of time making mix CDs, complete with obsessed-over song order and cover design? Who wants to have dinner with Truman Capote, even though she knows she'd have to endure his criticism on everything from her split ends to her table manners? Rowan Beaird, that's who! We are so pleased to welcome Rowan to the Grub staff as our new Administrative Coordinator. Rowan will be in our office weekdays from 10:30 to 6:30pm, attending to all your writing needs. When Rowan's not at Grub, you can find her reading Ploughshares submissions or tutoring at 826 Boston, and when she's not doing those things, you can find her in her new home in Somerville or possibly sampling the pancakes at local haunt Renee's Cafe. Please say hello and welcome when you stop by or talk to her on the phone! If you'd like to drop Rowan a note by email, her address is rowan@grubstreet.org.
Cheers,
Whitney, Sonya, Eve, Chris, and Rowan
In addition to our ongoing workshops, Grub Street offers numerous writing-related events around town. See our website for a long-term view of all we do.
GRUB STREET SOUTH SEMINAR: Tuesday, July 26th, 7:00pm, Everybody's an Expert: Writing the Nonfiction Book
It’s true. We’re all an expert in something. Maybe you’re the only one who knows the best places to go clamming on the Cape. Or perhaps you built your own boat and have a great tale to tell. Perhaps it’s your delicious baking experiences, that popular blog and how you did it all while raising a family on the South Shore. So, why not share your hard-won expertise in a book? After all, isn’t it time to share your genius with the world? In this lecture/workshop you’ll learn how to streamline your ideas, structure your book, create a writing schedule, finish your book within a year and finally how to get published and get the attention you so richly deserve.
Instructor: Jamie Cat Callan
FREE, Buttonwood Books.
WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Saturday, August 6th, 10:00am-5:00pm, Developing Family Members as Characters
One of the most difficult tasks of the memoirist is learning to see family members as fully developed characters. As writers, we must set aside self-interest to understand our characters' motivations and allow them to live on the page. Only then will our characters have as much emotional reality for our readers as they do for us as writers. This is as true when our characters are our family members as it is for fictional characters-- only sometimes more difficult (as writers are human, too)! Fortunately, writing exercises can help. In this class, we'll use writing exercises to develop the characters that just happen to be our family members. We'll also read and discuss exceptional examples of family member characterization in published memoirs, and use these examples as models for our own writing. Come prepared with family stories and ready to write! Please note that while this class is intended primarily for the family memoirist, it is also appropriate for the writer of autobiographical fiction, and all exercises will be adaptable for both.
Instructor: Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich
$115/$95 members, Grub Street HQ. Register Now.
WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Saturday, August 6th, 10:00am-5:00pm, Telling the Story: Perspective, Narration and Imagination
Point of view is one of the most vital aspects of writing fiction, yet it’s also one of the most overlooked. When it’s done well, it evaporates into the background, allowing the reader to be enraptured by the story. But when point of view is done poorly, there’s few things more destructive. In this seminar, we’ll tackle the strengths and weaknesses of various perspectives, determining which one best fits your story, and how to make the most of it. Additionally, we’ll illuminate broader issues of narration such as how to balance scene and summary, the role a good narrator plays, and the power of using your point of view character’s imagination.
Instructor: Cam Terwilliger
$115/$95 members, Grub Street HQ. Register Now.
WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Saturday, August 6th, 10:00am-5:00pm, Building Your Web PresenceReady to create a web site or blog that promotes your writing and/or services? Interested in learning how social media can lead new readers to your work? Students in this class will learn how to create attractive sites and blogs using free, simple, and professional tools. They will also learn how to purposefully expand their online presence, without being spammers. No previous tech knowledge required!
NOTE: Participants MUST come with a laptop capable of wirelessly connecting to Grub Street's network. No additional software is necessary. Everything will be accomplished via web based tools.
Instructor: Jorge Vega
$115/$95 members, Grub Street HQ. Register Now.
WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Saturday, August 6th, 10:00am-5:00pm, Jumpstart Your Writing-- Creative Nonfiction Focus
This one-day weekend version of one of our most popular courses has a very clear mission: spend the day writing. Through a series of fun directed writing exercises, we will explore the terrain of creative non-fiction (no five-paragraph essays here!) and some poetry: mining for material, constructing characters and settings, shaping vivid dialogue, understanding point of view, exploring the many forms of non-fiction today, and finding your voice. We will discuss the process of writing and the strengths and weaknesses of the work we produce in class. We will read and discuss some short published non-fiction pieces and poems in regards to craft, then write exercises inspired by the texts. A supportive and generative experience for both new and practicing writers.
Instructor: Jennifer De Leon
$115/$95 members, Grub Street HQ. Register Now.
WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Saturday, August 6th, 10:00am-5:00pm, Taking the Imaginative Leap
This seminar, open to fiction writers of all levels, will provide the chance to stretch your imagination and write outside your own experience. Many writers feel hesitant to take this leap, but whether writing historical fiction or telling the stories of characters from different identities, we often feel compelled to do so. After working through inspiring prompts and exercises and closely reading some outstanding excerpts by authors such as Anthony Doerr, Nam Le, and Toni Morrison, you will have the courage and skills to set your imagination loose.
Instructor: Adam Stumacher
$115/$95 members, Grub Street HQ. Register Now.
WEEKLONG INTENSIVE: Monday, August 8th-Friday, August 12th, 11:00am-2:00pm, Jumpstart Your Memoir
One of our most popular courses has a very clear mission: to get you started on your memoir. Through a series of fun directed writing exercises, we will explore the terrain of memoir writing: mining for material, constructing characters and settings, shaping vivid dialogue, understanding point of view, and finding your voice. We will discuss the process of writing and the strengths and weaknesses of the work we produce in class. We may read and discuss some short published texts in regards to craft, then write exercises inspired by the texts. A supportive and generative experience for both new and practicing writers.
Instructor: Michelle Seaton
$255/$230.00 members, Grub Street HQ. Register Now.
4-WEEK WORSKHOP: 4 Mondays, 11:00am-2:00pm, beginning August 8th, Monsters & Mayhem
Did your dragon break free? Is your superhero fretting? Did your fairy godmother forget to grant that wish? In this four-week course, you can either write a fantastical short-short, focus on a story or a section of a novel-in-progress, or a work on a poem. With visuals to inspire and a rich range of prompts, we'll consider how to make speculative writing vivid for the reader. No flat characters or two-dimensional baddies for us! At the heart of this course is the notion of fantastical truth -- the more we immerse ourselves in our imaginative worlds, the more rich and believable our stories will be. The course will also examine popular and literary publications, considering where, in the marketplace, our work would best fit.
Instructor: KL Pereira
$185/$165 members, Grub Street HQ. Register Now.
WEEKLONG INTENSIVE: Tuesday, August 9th - Friday, August 12th, 1:00pm-4:00pm, Crash Course in Writing for Kids
Spend a fun and challenging week turning that great idea for a young adult or middle-grade novel into the actual beginnings of an actual book. Over four days we will cover everything that makes compelling kid lit: from the zing-pow opening to the unique and relatable lead character to obstacles, conflicts ‘n’ stakes. Each day will be a busy mix of mini-lectures, reading and discussing excerpts, and in-class writing. Prepare to work hard, and to emerge with a full outline, a solid set of characters, and a marvelous opening squence for your soon-to-be classic.
Instructor: Ben H. Winters
$205/$185 members, Grub Street HQ. Register Now.
4-WEEK WORSKHOP: 4 Tuesdays, 3:00-6:00pm, beginning August 9th, Imagine This
Too often, students long to write, but fear they don't have anything to write about. Others have a story they want to tell, and no idea how to get started. Through exercises, class discussion, and personal observation, this class will focus on seeing and imagination--the fundamental what's that about? What's behind it? What does my character want/need, and what matters? that is the source of story. Six weeks of observing, wondering, and writing will lead to a portfolio of story ideas and a renewed connection to the writer's imagination.
Instructor: Kate Flora
$185/$165 members, Grub Street HQ. Register Now.
LEGAL ADVICE: Tuesday, August 9th, 2:30-5:30pm, Members-Only Offering: Free Legal Consultations for Writers
If you've been working on your manuscript for a long time, you probably have a million questions about the next steps to getting published and/or protecting your work. Maybe you want clarification on confusing clauses in publishing contracts, advice on whether to register the copyright in your latest piece, or a few basic tips on what legal issues exist for budding writers. While he may not be able to answer every question you have, Attorney Mitchell Bragg of Ascentage Law, PLLC will be offering free 30-minute consultations to help explain the law as it applies to aspiring, emerging, and established writers. This is meant to provide writers at all stages in their career with basic answers to legal questions and issues they may be facing. All sessions are by appointment only; to reserve a slot please email mab@ascentagelaw.com. Be sure to arrive early to your appointment and be prepared with specific questions. Only active Grub Street members may participate.
Instructor: Mitchell Bragg
FREE, Grub Street HQ. Register Now.
Be sure to check out our website for a comprehensive view of upcoming events.
Grub Street wants to promote YOU! Please send events for consideration to whitney@grubstreet.org. Bonus points and undying gratitude for submitting your event info in the same format as the events below. Our apologies in advance if we cannot fit you in. Please note that we do the best we can to evaluate requests, and do privilege requests from members, but cannot be held responsible for the quality of these events and programs or the legitimacy of contests. We expect that readers will do their own due diligence before sending their work or their money to any individual or organization.
--READING: Tuesday, July 26th, 7pm, Rooms Down the Hallway series: All-JP Showcase, the hallway gallery, JP
Rooms Down the Hallway presents an all-JP evening of fiction and poetry so local you'll think you saw it graffitied on the T. Featuring short stories by Grubbies and Jamaica Plain residents Ben Janse, Erin Kate Ryan,
Lisa Korzeniowski, Lesley Mahoney, Reyna Clancy, and Bill T. Moore, as well as the poetry of Grub instructor KL Pereira. Chocolate, nips of wine, hand-picked music. Come celebrate an evening of local voices and neighborhood culture. (Last event in the series on Dawn Dorland's watch, but look for more great hallway events in the fall!) FREE, the hallway gallery, 66a South Street, Jamaica Plain // thehallwayjp.com
--NETWORKING: Wednesday, July 27th, 6 - 8pm, Boston Book Builders Networking Event On The Common
BBB members, friends, and anyone interested in mingling with others in the book publishing industry are invited to a super-casual networking event on Boston Common (by the Soldiers & Sailors Monument--look for the BBB banner). It's from 6-8pm, and then anyone who wants can wander over to Parkman Bandstand and watch Shakespeare's "All's Well that Ends Well." The networking event is free. Anyone who wants can bring lawn chairs, blankets, yard games, what-have-you. Anyone interested in noshing is asked to bring a potluck dish or some favorite munchie to share. RSVP so the BBB can plan drinks, etc., All the details are at http://www.bbboston.org/calendar_Event.cfm?ID=178
FREE, Boston Common by the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, Boston.
--FUNDRAISER: Thursday, July 28th, 6pm, Revelation: Summer Fundraiser for the Boston Book Festival
It's a summer fundraiser to support the Boston Book Festival! Tom Perrotta will give a sneak peek of The Leftovers, his new novel about the Rapture, as well as a light-hearted Q&A with writer and comedian Steven Brykman. There'll be a beer and wine open bar, heavenly hors d'oeuvres, and the very first glimpse at our divine author lineup for BBF 2011. It might be the end of the world as we know it, but at least we'll be going out in (literary) style!
$35,
Middlesex Lounge, 315 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA.
--LITERARY BENEFIT FOR CAPE REP THEATRE: Sunday, July 31, 3:30 p.m.
Edgar-award winner Thomas H. Cook (The Quest for Anna Klein: an Otto Penzler book) and novelist Daphne Kalotay (Russian Winter) discuss the writing, editing and publication process with moderator Julie Allen Hamilton. http://www.caperep.org
$15 (includes a Bloody Mary or glass of wine and light refreshments), tickets available in advance or at the door, 3299 Rte. 6A, P.O. Box 1305, Brewster, MA 02631 | Box Office: (508) 896-1888 | info@caperep.org
Welcome to the end of the e-mail, where like the whispered code at the door of a speakeasy, we offer you the chance to win a prize. As a young cadet, this American writer was expelled from a military academy for reporting to a march unclothed. Email your answer to whitney@grubstreet.org. The first correct respondent wins a Starbucks gift card for a coffee treat.
Last week's answer: Voltaire used to pretend to faint in order to get rid of boring guests. Winner: Penny Joy Snider-Light.