Month: May 2012

Creative Writing Workshops: Houston, Texas

/ dorothyhagan / 13 Comments

Come and join us for some informal creative writing workshops this June. These sessions will be Saturday mornings, June 2, 9, 16 and 23, from 9 am to 12 noon. Details below. Come to one workshop or enjoy all four. Each session will include writing activities, assignments and in-class critiques. Sessions promise to be informative, creative and boatloads of fun!

Session One: Are You a Writer and If So, What Kind?

Has the time come to embrace your inner writer?

Is it time to determine if there exists within you a novelist, a playwright, a poet, a biographer or a journalist? How do you get started? What is the process? Can you get published?

 

Session Two: Embracing Your Story

 

How do you begin the process? What’s the secret to writing? What are you going to write?

Do you need to do research? Where can you get information? What’s a copyright?

How many pages? What’s the structure? Should my family read it?

 

Session Three: Honing the Craft for Writing Excellence

 

What is your passion? Fiction? Non-fiction? Poetry? What are some types of each? What is point of view?

How are characters developed? How are settings created? What is denouement? What is a draft? How many revisions are necessary? What are critique partners? What about rejection?

 

Session Four: Can I Get My Work Published?

 

What are the avenues of publication? Do I need an agent? What is a query letter?

What is indie publishing? What is traditional publishing? What is an ebook and POD technology?

What kind of marketing will be involved? What is a serialization?

 

Time: Saturdays 9:00 a.m.-12 noon

Dates: Saturdays, June 2, 9, 16 and 23, 2012

Location: University of Houston-Clear Lake

Bayou Building: Room B1104

Cost: $20.00 per session, materials included

Note: These are non-credit, informal workshops. This program is not endorsed or affiliated with UHCL or the LITR program.     

 

Dorothy Hagan is the author of The Edge of the Grace Period, 2000, and its companion novel, The Offshore Triumphs of Karla Jean, 2012. Hagan earned a BA in the Humanities from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. She has taught Pre-K to 12th grade and is currently teaching GED and ESL classes to adults. To reserve your spot please send an email to: dothagan@aol.com

Take a Chance On Me

/ dorothyhagan / Leave a comment

Hi, friends!

A word about taking chances…

Way back last fall, as publication of The Offshore Triumphs of Karla Jean was coming ever closer, I wanted desperately to ask my women’s studies professor, Dr. Sharon K. Hall, from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, if she would read my manuscript and consider giving me a blurb for the cover of the book. I almost didn’t do it…that “oh, I’m not worthy, she’ll think I’m a goofus” mindset of old barked in my ears. But I sucked up my strength, told myself all she could say was No, and sallied forth. Well, may I say Dr. Hall very graciously agreed to read the book and offer some awesome words. In the process she introduced me to the fabulous people who work for the UHCL Alumni Association, and it was there I was asked “if I would consider launching my book at UH-Clear Lake?” Really? Really? I was absolutely blown away at the prospect of such an honor.

Needless to say, from this meeting things have marched ahead in ways unimaginable before that visit with Dr. Hall. So in the wild words from divine Abba, “Take a chance on me.” Or rather, perhaps I should say…come take a chance with me.

Hope you can come out and join us Tuesday evening at 6:30 pm for the official launch of The Offshore Triumphs of Karla Jean. See the Events page for all the details!

Thanks for stopping by!

http://prtl.uhcl.edu/portal/page/portal/ALR/Alumni_Events/AlumNight_May8