Day 2 - Writers of the Future Volume 32 Workshop | Writers & Illustrators of the Future

Day two of the workshop began bright and early heading out at 9 AM. Once the writers were gathered in the hotel lobby, they were ushered down Hollywood Blvd and traipsed across the Walk of Fame. Rachel K. Jones paused to take a picture with Nicholas Cage’s star, and then it was onward to the writers’ first look at their classroom for the week – the Author Services building.

At five stories tall, Author Services is an imposing feature of Hollywood Blvd. Within its wood-paneled walls the writers were greeted by a stage and a quick trip up the stairs to the L. Ron Hubbard Library, the room that will be their classroom for the next week. After being given a tour of the Writers of the Future library, wherein the works of all past winners and judges are held, they settled in for their first day of lessons.

Dave and Tim kicked off the class by “twinning up” the writers, breaking them into pairs for closer collaboration throughout the week. Then it was into the nitty gritty of lessons based on articles on the craft of writing including “Suspense” by L. Ron Hubbard and “What a Story Is” by founding Contest Coordinating Judge Algis Budrys. And to set the stage for the workshop, winners were provided this as their first essay.

A NOTE ON APPRENTICE WRITING
by L. Ron Hubbard

Study of another’s technique and the dissection thereof into mechanical divisions and the attempt to adopt said divisions causes a writer to lose all feeling of his own art as such. He ceases recording things as he sees them because he has attempted to adopt the mechanical tools of another, tools which this other developed solely to portray the world and its people as he sees them. Few are the points of technique which can be universally applied by all writers to all types and styles of work.

As the workshop progressed, Dave enthralled the writers with his description of the KAV cycle, which is the process of structuring scenes so that that they touch on Kinetics, Audio, and Visual elements. Tim discussed ways to keep the reader immersed in the scene and the character’s emotions by showing the reader via the character’s actions what’s going on – no need to tell.

After a quick break, the writers reconvened to discuss the lure of suspense and the importance of beginning a story “in medias res.” Dave and Tim delved into the importance of sticking to your opening, and keeping plausibility up throughout a story. They stressed the importance of knowing more about your world than your reader ever will.

They then discussed the importance of specific verbs and nouns, and how they can ground the reader while also working to eliminate reader confusion. Words such as; “distance,” “meal,” “looked,” and “was” were given a thorough tongue lashing.

Tim then handed out objects for the class to use as inspiration for their 24-hour story, cracking jokes the whole time. Most of the items were objects he found on his desk before leaving for the workshop.

The writers returned from a hasty lunch break to glean some last minute advice about structuring their 24-hour stories for the greatest emotional impact. Then they were off to have their portraits taken and polish off their homework for the evening.

Day 1 – Illustrators of the Future Workshop

This year’s winning illustrators arrived in Los Angeles yesterday and had their first meeting with contest Director Joni Labaqui.

The illustrators and workshop instructors met in the lobby of the Loews Hotel for their first meet and greet and tour.

The illustrators were welcomed to an information session with Joni, Meliva, Ron and Val to discuss details and scheduling of the Illustrators Workshop week. Some of the events will include interviews and professional headshot sessions. The illustrators introduced themselves, shared a bit about their backgrounds and discussed future aspirations.

Stay tuned for the kickoff of the Illustrators of the Future workshop week!

Guest bloggers Megan O’Keefe on the Writers blog was Writers of the Future winner in Volume 30 and Irvin Rodriguez on the Illustrators blog was Illustrators of the Future grand prize winner for Day 1 – Illustrators of the Future Workshop

This year’s winning illustrators arrived in Los Angeles yesterday and had their first meeting with contest Director Joni Labaqui.

The illustrators and workshop instructors met in the lobby of the Loews Hotel for their first meet and greet and tour.

Stay tuned for the kickoff of the Illustrators of the Future workshop week!