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Young Adult Writing Conference 2013

01/26/2013 8:30 am
01/26/2013 3:00 pm
YA Writing Conference
Changing Hands Bookstore presents
YOUNG ADULT WRITING CONFERENCE
8:30am-3pm SATURDAY, JANUARY 26
Laura EllenLaura Ellen
James OwenJames A. Owen
Amy Fellner DominyAmy Fellner Dominy
Janette Rallison

C.J. Hill
(aka Janette Rallison)
Cecil CastellucciCecil Castellucci
Tom LeveenTom Leveen
Suzanne YoungSuzanne Young
Shannon MessengerShannon Messenger
Erin Jade LangeErin Jade Lange
Tom LeveenSuzanne Lazear

WRITING CLASSES, WRITING PANEL AND BOX LUNCH
Location: Dobson High School
1501 W. Guadalupe Rd, Mesa 85202 [map]

EARLY REGISTRATION SPECIAL: $75 (through Jan 13), $85 (Jan 14-26)

Register now! 480.730.0205

Ten authors of young adult fiction, including several New York Times bestsellers, share strategies, tips, and tricks for writing engaging work for tween and teen readers. You can choose three of four informative sessions to fill your three-session schedule, including "Unforgettable Characters," "Heroes vs. Villains," "Writing Realistic Dialogue," and "Essentials of SciFi/Fantasy." Please select your three sessions before calling to register by viewing class descriptions below.

Gift box Presenters include authors Suzanne Young, Shannon Messenger, Tom Leveen, Erin Jade Lange, Cecil Castellucci, Suzanne Lazear, Amy Fellner Dominy, Laura Ellen, C. J. Hill (a.k.a. Janette Rallison), and James A. Owen.

Conference fee includes box lunch from Dilly's Deli and three of four classes offered. Registration and pre-payment required at 480.730.0205.

GREAT GIFT IDEA for the writers in your life. Purchase a $75 gift card for early registration. We'll even gift wrap the card for you!

SCHEDULE:
  • 8:30am - Registration and check-in
  • 9-10:15am - Session 1
  • 10:30-11:45am - Session 2
  • Noon-1:15pm - Box lunch (free with registration) with panel discussion
  • 1:30-2:45pm - Session 3
  • 4pm - YAllapalooza 2013! Details here »

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:
Choose three
  • UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTERS | When it comes to creating a truly unforgettable character it's almost always because the writer knows the character intimately. Explore your characters with young adult authors, Shannon Messenger (Keeper of the Lost Cities), C. J. Hill/Janette Rallison (Erasing Time and My Unfair Godmother) and Amy Fellner Dominy (Audition & Subtraction). Together they will give you a slew of methods on how to develop strong, multidimensional characters, and create a deeper connection between your characters and readers.
  • HEROES VS. VILLAINS | "Percy Jackson vs. Gossip Girls" — The hero (protagonist) and the villain (antagonist) are the two most important characters in stories. They have opposing goals and are bound through conflict. Young adult authors Cecil Castellucci (Year of the Beasts) and James A. Owen (Dragons of Winter) will teach you how to develop compelling heroes and villains that will lasso your readers and never let them go!
  • WRITING REALISTIC DIALOGUE | "Write the Talk" — Anyone can write "dialogue" but writing good dialogue is not easy. Everyday conversations, in real life, don't necessarily work in a novel. Ironically, real life dialogue can be disjointed and boring at times. In this in-depth workshop, young adult authors Laura Ellen (Blind Spot), Tom Leveen (Party) and Erin Jade Lange (Butter) will give you techniques on how to create "artful deception"—writing dialogue that doesn't exist in nature, but gives the flavor or illusion of a real conversation.
  • ESSENTIALS OF SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY | "Developing New Worlds"— Science Fiction and Fantasy are popular genres, but it can be tricky for writers to create whole new worlds or fanciful creatures that readers will find believable. Young adult authors Suzanne Young (A Want So Wicked) and Suzanne Lazear (Innocent Darkness) give writers a look at the fundamentals of these two genres and share techniques on developing imaginative settings and winning story ideas.

BOX LUNCH
Provided FREE with registration
PANEL DISCUSSION: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUNG ADULT AND MIDDLE GRADE FICTION | It is often difficult for writers to determine whether they are writing for young adults (ages 12+) or middle grade (ages 8-12). A panel of librarians and booksellers will discuss the differences that define the two, and share how YA and middle reader novels are chosen for stores and libraries. Panelists include former school librarian Michelle Aron, Burton Barr Central librarian Elsa Black and Changing Hands kids buyer Brandi Stewart. Arizona State University Director of English Education James Blasingame (who is also a professor of method courses for teaching writing and young adult writing) moderates. Lunch provided by Dilly's Deli. Choose one of three sandwich options:
  • Dilly Bird: turkey, cream cheese, avocado, sprouts, mayo
  • Veggie Supreme (vegetarian): cream cheese, swiss cheese, tomato, cucumber, sprouts, lettuce, mushrooms, ranch
  • Italian: cappicola, salami, pepperoni, provolone, lettuce, tomato, mayo, italian dressing
Location: 
Street:
1501 W. Guadalupe Rd
City:
Mesa
,
Province:
Arizona
Postal Code:
85202
Country:
United States
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