SCREENWRITING TECHNIQUES FOR NOVELISTS:
HOW THE SEVENTH ART CAN RAMP UP YOUR PROSE

INSTRUCTOR: Deanna Carlyle
WHEN: Feb 4 to Feb 15, 2008 (6 lessons posted over 2 weeks)
WHERE: Online

WORKSHOP:

Do you want to write more visually? Want to make sure your novels lend themselves to screenplay adaptation? Are you curious about how cinematic techniques can improve your fiction’s point of view and pacing? Screenplay techniques are easy and fun to apply to narrative prose, and the results will make your work more marketable. Each lesson in the workshop includes a homework assignment, so you can practice on your own story ideas.

COURSE SYLLABUS:

1. Story development. Learn how to pre-plot your story like a
screenwriting pro does with a development executive.

2. Teamwork. Even if you write alone, you can benefit from the way
screenwriting teams divide and conquer tasks.

3. The show-don’t-tell rule writ large. Learn how screenwriters have
perfected the art of choosing the most “telling” image and story
situation.

4. Transitions. Learn practical tips on how to move smoothly from scene to scene with techniques such as match cuts, aural transitions and montage
sequences.

5. Storyboarding and scene beats. Learn practical tips on how physical and psychological distance can be manipulated to affect your readers.

6. Dialogue. Learn how and why dialogue and subtext often come last
in the screenwriting process.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:

Deanna Carlyle began her full-time writing career several years ago
and hasn’t looked back since. She has a master’s degree in applied
linguistics and certification in screenwriting from the year-long
program at Interspherial Drehbuchschule in Germany, where she also writes for the comic TV series, “Abgedreht in Stuttgart” (http://www.abgedrehtinstuttgart.de).

Deanna’s young adult fantasy novel, The Last Virgin at St. Gilles Charm School, recently garnered American agent representation and an extra ten pounds on her hips. Her teaching experience includes freshman English at San Jose State University and English as a Second Language at Berlitz, but nowadays she prefers teaching online from the comfort of her own pajamas.

Check out Deanna’s website at http://www.deannacarlyle.com to find
out more about her writing!

REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

Cost for the workshop is $15 for NEORWA members, $20 for all others.
You do not have to be an RWA member to take our workshops!

Please email Rhonda Stapleton at giftedrhonda@yahoo.com or rhonda.stapleton@sbcglobal.net with any questions. List the title of the workshop in the subject line.

Visit http://www.neorwa.com/workshops.htm for more information.