Continuing my work with Orange County Library System, I’ve added another writing class to this year’s schedule. These classes are held over Zoom, so anyone anywhere may attend. The Library Card field on the registration form is optional. If you don’t have an OCLS library card, just leave it blank.
A New Perspective on Viewpoint — August 27 at 7 p.m.
Point of View is the channel through which the reader experiences a story, so getting it right is crucial. Yet POV slips are among the most common errors editors see. The root cause of this is confusion about the difference between person (e.g., first or third) and who carries the viewpoint (a character or a narrator). Freelance editor Kristen Stieffel will explain the difference between writing in character POV versus narrator POV, and how to choose which is right for your story.
Plot Pitfalls — September 17 at 7 p.m.
Plot is a crucial element of story, so it’s important for writers to know what weaknesses to look out for and fix before submitting or publishing a novel. Freelance editor Kristen Stieffel will review some of the most common plotting problems editors find and how to fix them. This class will help not only those who plot their novels before writing, but also discovery writers, who can use this information when revising their finished drafts.
Narrative Voice & Writing Style — October 29 at 7 p.m.
Part of the library’s First Draft Fall Writing Workshop Series. Agents and editors are continually looking for authors with unique voices, but what exactly is meant by “voice” can be confusing. In this session, Kristen Stieffel will teach about the difference between your writing style as an author and the voices of your characters. We’ll look at how the narrative voice can differ in omniscient viewpoint compared to deep character viewpoint, pitfalls to avoid, and how to find your unique voice.
If you register for one of these events, you will receive an email with a link to access the Zoom room before the event from the event host. Neither session will be recorded, so replays will not be available.
