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WOW! Women On Writing
Classes & Workshops
Spotlight Course: Literary Devices Workshop
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Greetings!
Are you working on a story that could benefit from an expert's critique? Instructor Gila Green is known for her unique way of reading work and her ability to pinpoint what is needed to make the story better. Her innovative techniques help her students see their own work differently as well--so much so that they register time and time again for her workshop. We just added her latest class to our schedule. It's her last class of the year. So if you need help with your works-in-progress (short story, novel, memoir, or essay--all are suitable for this workshop), consider registering for Gila's Literary Devices Writing Workshop. It starts November 14th and is limited to ten students. You'll love the format of this class and the workshopping element! If you don't know what literary devices are (or are having trouble remembering them all!), check out Gila's article below for a refresher and try the exercises to see if they improve your work. We also added a bunch of new classes for 2012! Be sure to visit the Classroom Page for a complete list. The start of the year is our busiest time for enrollments, so be sure to reserve your spot early. Happy writing! Angela & Marcia Angela & Marcia Classroom Managers WOW! Classes & Workshops
[email protected]
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| WATER INTO WINE - Beautiful image, but literary clich�. |
Remember Literary Devices?
By Gila Green
Many writers who come to me have little knowledge of literary devices or they simply put them out of their minds on the last day of high school. Google them. Learn them. Spot them while you read. Ask yourself why the writer chose certain literary devices and not others. Examine them for repetition throughout the text and their reinforcement of the theme. At the very least, this will enrich your reading experiences for the rest of your life.
I cannot tell you which ones to use where. No one can. Experiment with them by first examining how established authors have used them. Do some suit one genre better than others? No. You are only limited by the depths of your literary imagination. Do not be afraid to try a new genre. I balked at the idea of leaving realism behind and today I can tell you, there is something entirely freeing about this. For many just the leap from non-fiction, often memoir, to fiction is unbelievably liberating. Try something new; it might just fit. This is good advice if you are stuck in a story. Would the message come across if you borrowed a literary technique from fantasy, mystery or (gulp!) science fiction?
Random examples of literary devices: allegory, alliteration, allusion, ambiguity, anecdote, antagonist, aphorism, apostrophe, assonance, diction, euphemism, foil, foreshadowing, pathetic fallacy, personification, simile, symbolism, understatement.
NOTE: It should go without saying that you should avoid literary clich�s.
Take Action from this Article - Mark the devices you find in published works.
- Try using a few devices from this list in a one page story.
- Think about something you want to write and move it to a different genre in your mind. Why would that work or not work?
- Read one book from a genre you have never read. This is not about falling in love, but about borrowing tools from other genres.
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Literary Devices
Instructor: Gila Green
Workshop Length: 8 Weeks Price: $175 Start Date: November 14, 2011 Limit 8-10 Students
Course Description: In this course we will go beyond the simile and metaphor and learn how to layer our writing with literary devices. Through short readings and in-class assignments, you will learn how to create suspense, tension, change the pace, deepen and control your writing through the use of devices from repetition to personification. This class is suitable for anyone working on a novel, short story, memoir, essay or life story.
Course objectives:
- To add layers to your writing and take your work beyond a flat two-dimensional offering.
- To encourage you to expand your writer's toolbox beyond the simile and metaphor and become comfortable with repetition, juxtaposition, foreshadowing and more.
- To increase your confidence and skills as a writer.
- To understand the link between literary elements such as pace, tension and tone and literary devices.
Visit the Classroom Page for a complete listing (including her fabulous testimonials!) and what you'll be learning week by week. About the instructor: Originally from Ottawa, an excerpt from Gila Green's new novel "King of the Class" is short-listed for the Summer Literary Seminars Award (2011). Her stories have appeared in tens of literary magazines in the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, Israel, and Hong Kong. Her short story collection, White Zion, is a finalist for the Doris Bakwin Award (Carolina Wren Press, 2008). Her stories have been short listed for WordSmitten's TenTen Fiction Contest (2008); The Walrus Literary Award (2006/7); the Eric Hoffer Best New Writing Award (2008) and the Ha'aretz Short Fiction Award (Tel Aviv, 2006). Gila has an MA in Creative Writing from Bar Ilan University (Israel) and a Bachelor of Journalism degree from Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada).
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Upcoming Classes & Workshops
Below are some classes and workshops that are starting soon. Click on the links to be taken to a full listing that includes a week-by-week curriculum, testimonials, instructor bio, and more. Keep in mind that most class sizes are limited, so the earlier you register the better.
All the classes operate online--whether through email, website, chat room, or group listserv, depending on the instructor's preferences--so you do not need to be present at any particular time (unless a phone chat is scheduled and arranged with your instructor). You can work at your own pace in the comfort of your own home. If you have any questions, please reply to this email or email us at: [email protected] Enjoy!
October 14 Get Paid to Write! Become a Freelance Writer | 8 Weeks | $150 | Limit: 15 Students
October 21 Blogging 101 | 5 Weeks | $125 | Limit: 20 Students
October 28 Intro to Book Reviewing | 4 Weeks | $100 | Limit: 16 Students
November 7 Introduction to the Craft of Screenwriting | 6 Weeks | $150 | Limit: 10 Students
Introduction to Playwriting | 6 Weeks | $175 | Limit: 10 Students
November 14 Literary Devices | 8 Weeks | $175 | Limit: 8-10 Students
November 16 Social Networking for Writers | 4 Weeks | $100 | Limit: 20 Students
Bring Out the Story-Teller in You | 6 Weeks | $140 | Limit: 10 Students
November 30 The Unwilling Grammarian | 4 Weeks | $140 | Limit: 10 Students
January 4 Writing Your Novel From the Ground Up New! | 8 Weeks | $250 Introductory Rate | Limit: 20 Students
January 7 How to Write Children's Picture Books and Get Published | 6 Weeks | $175 | Limit: 15 Students
How to Write a Craft Book | 5 Weeks | $175 | Limit: 15 Students
January 9 Empower Your Muse, Empower Your Writing Self | 4 Weeks | $75 (New Year's discount of $50 off! Normally $125) | Limit: 25 Students
Querying and Writing Non-fiction Articles | 5 Weeks | $125 | Limit: 20 Students
January 10 Breaking Into Magazine Writing With Regional Markets | 5 Weeks | $125 | Limit: 10 Students
January 20 Spark and Sizzle: Crafting Flash Fiction New! | 5 Weeks | $170 | Limit: 10 Students
Click here to see all of our upcoming workshops |
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Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
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