Greetings from the world’s worst self-promoter!
You know, one of the first things you’re supposed to learn as a freelancer is how to bring attention to yourself and your work. Big surprise, that’s always been the most difficult part of this job for me. It’s those little things, like tweeting, Facebooking, blogging, et cetera.
So because I’m long overdue on this front, I hope you won’t mind an entire post dedicated to the Things I Should Have Been Telling You About All Along, But Haven’t Been. To wit:
Workshops:
I’m happy to announce that I’ll be continuing to teach a series of nonfiction workshops at Lighthouse Writers Workshop, an insanely cool salon/refuge/conclave of local writers, both professional and beginner, in Denver. On Monday, I’ll wrap up my first eight-week offerings and I’ve had the time of my life. Not only is the setting in a beautifully restored turn-of-the-century mansion superb, but so too is the level of fun and camaraderie among those in my workshops.
It works like this: I facilitate the discussion of various nonfiction forms, styles and techniques with a group of 10 writers, each of whom are working on their own projects. We read my chosen examples of narrative nonfiction illustrating certain aspects of the discussion, talk about them and then we critique one another’s works, with an eye toward providing feedback, support and suggestions for making them stronger. This is done in a real spirit of fun and cooperation, usually (OK, always) over a glass of wine and some h’orderves.
The critiques are the best part of it and I invariably learn as much from the feedback as I hope to teach. I’m thrilled to have been asked to continue with it.
So, I will be teaching the following beginning on March 19:
• Intermediate/Advanced Narrative Nonfiction on Mondays from 4-6 p.m.:
A workshop for people interested in taking their research-based narrative or literary journalism to the next level. This workshop will focus on such topics as the art of interviewing, using journalistic techniques to add detail and nuance, scene construction, arc development, pacing, the appropriate use of first person, and writing with authority. Through class discussion, exercises, and critiques, the class will help you continue to develop the narrative aspects of nonfiction and to turn otherwise dry reporting into well-paced page-turners. Because each class is tailored toward the needs of the group, actual assignments and topics will vary.
Prior to taking this class, student must take: Intro to Narrative Nonfiction, Intro to Writing Memoir or Personal Essay or have permission from the instructor.
• Introduction to Narrative Nonfiction on Mondays from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
An introductory workshop for people interested in crafting personal or research-based narrative, literary journalism, or memoir. This workshop will help you understand how to turn personal experiences or nonfiction reporting into riveting stories with universal themes. Through class discussion, exercises, and critiques, the class will help you continue to develop the narrative aspects of nonfiction. We’ll cover such concepts as writing dynamic scenes, recounting dialogue, building tension, developing “characters,” and how to mine your experience for deeper meaning. Because each class is tailored toward the needs of the group, actual assignments and topics will vary.
• Introduction to Narrative Nonfiction, online class:
Same description as above, but this takes place online! Meaning you can attend from anywhere on the globe.
And I know this will sound like a self-promotion marketing gimmick (the kind I’m terrible at), but these classes DO fill up quickly and there are only 10 slots available in each. Please don’t put it off if this is something you’re interested in because not only will you miss out on a lot of fun for the next eight weeks, but you won’t be able to take another until August, when the workshops resume.
Go here to learn more and enroll.
Jerseys on sale:
As part of our continuing effort to raise money for the completion of our film “Recovering,” Michael de Yoanna, the director, has scored a really cool coupe: Primal Wear, one of our sponsors, has designed and is selling the film’s official biking jersey. Wearing this on your next ride will show your support both for the film as well as for the soldiers to whom it is dedicated. Visit our website to order yours, as well as advance copies of the film on DVD (in full HD or Blu-ray.)
(And if you have no idea what I’m talking about, click here to learn all about the film and to watch the trailer.)
Books:
Last but not least, there’s a slew of book news:
• As previously announced, Road to Kosovo is finally available for e-readers. It’s available for Nook, Kindle, iPad (through the iBookstore app) and any other e-reader you might have.
• Blood Diamonds is ready to hit the shelves in its new and improved version. This 10th anniversary edition includes an additional 15,000 word coda based upon my visit to Sierra Leone last summer.
• Flawless is available in paperback.
• And last but not least, Pot Inc., my personal adventure into the world of medical marijuana, will be on sale on April 3, but is available for pre-order now through Barnes & Noble.
What else? Surely I’m missing something, but for the moment, I think this will suffice. Thanks for letting me do some house cleaning to bring you up to speed. Expect these info-items more frequently in the coming days … April and May are bound to be filled with appearances, readings and other events around the release of Pot Inc. I’ll keep you updated as the schedule starts to fill up.
Mahalo.