writers workshop

Writing Workshop – “Writing the Wrongs: How Experiences Create our Stories”

September 23, 2023 By Elaine Ambrose

A writing workshop titled “Writing the Wrongs: How Experiences Create Our Stories” is available on October 27 and will be repeated on November 3 in Eagle, Idaho. Bestselling author Elaine Ambrose will facilitate the morning sessions, and a panel of Idaho authors will end the workshop with a discussion and Q&A session. Participants will be encouraged to volunteer to read their works aloud to the group. The cost for the workshop is $80 and includes continental breakfast, lunch, all materials, and books. A Zoom option is available for $40.

The focus of the event is to encourage writers to recall memories of personal angst, fear, or sadness. These raw emotions can create dynamic stories to heal the wounds of past trauma and drama. The Workshop includes continental breakfast, lunch, and materials.

The event is in a private home, so the address will be emailed after receipt of a paid ticket.

AGENDA

9:00 AM – Continental Breakfast

9:15 AM

Welcome and Introductions with Elaine Ambrose

9:45 AM

“Music as Muse” Exercise and Personal Writing Prompts will inspire participants to recall latent memories to spark emotions to enhance an original story.

10:30 AM

Participants Volunteer to Read

11:00 AM

“How to Discover and Improve Your Authentic Voice” – Interactive Exercises

12:00 PM

Break for Lunch and Personal Writing

12:45 PM

“How to Find Positive Affirmation as a Writer” – Panel of Local Authors

1:45 PM

Open Discussion and Readings

2:00 PM

Adjourn Workshop

Eventbrite link with more details and registration options: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/writing-the-wrongs-how-experiences-create-our-stories-tickets-723702753417?aff=oddtdtcreator

Writer’s Workshop Explains How to Go from Loser to Leader

September 26, 2019 By Elaine Ambrose

The Writing Workshop for Losers on October 4-5 will be the 16th writing retreat I’ve organized and hosted. The first writing retreat occurred at my cabin in Garden Valley, Idaho in 2008 and was called “Write by the River.” My guest speaker was Jennifer Basye Sander, a New York Times bestselling author and book packager.

Jennifer Basye Sander returns from Sacramento, California to speak at the October workshop. She’ll lead participants through various exercises to address their biggest fears, share their painful failures, and list their bravest actions throughout their writing careers. Using her personal motto of “Fail Fast, Fail Often,” Jennifer will show writers how to learn from and destroy their rejections and become part of a Rejection Club. She believes that the only real way to fail at writing is to stop writing.

Jennifer teaches three writing courses a year for the Arts and Humanities department at University of California Davis. The books she has developed have achieved in excess of forty million dollars in retail sales. As the senior editor for Prima Books (a now defunct division of Random House) she developed more than seventy new titles. A recognized expert on Ernest Hemingway, one of Jennifer’s most popular speeches is titled, “Could Hemingway Get a Book Deal Today?”

Donna Beckman Tagliaferri and Elaine Ambrose

After Jennifer’s session, Donna Beckman Tagliaferri will share her workshop about overcoming self-doubt and explore how to survive personal catastrophe. She writes a popular blog titled My Life from the Bleachers and is the voice of compassion and reason in a vitriolic world of social media. She writes about having great expectations and what to do when hopes and dreams don’t occur or turn out differently. She’ll discuss how we use our challenges, trails, and tests to help and encourage each other and do our most creative work. Her workshop will focus on finding the sunflowers because they face the sun but on cloudy days, they turn toward each other to share energy. Donna is the ghost writer for a famous personality, and she’ll discuss how to respond with others are recognized for her talent.

The workshop will end with my “Music as Muse” exercise designed to prompt positive creative energy.

The Saloon at Spurwing. Photo by David Day.

This will be the first writing workshop at the Saloon at Spurwing. Previous workshops in Garden Valley, Eagle, Meridian, and Sun Valley have featured dynamic speakers, including Pulitzer Prize Winner Anthony Doerr, Alan Heathcock, Amanda AK Turner, Liza Long, Gretchen Anderson, Ken Rodgers, Doug Copsey, Christy Hovey, Emily Nielsen, Drew Allen Brown, Lance Olsen, Stacy Dymalski, and Stephanie Worrell.

Anthony Doerr and Alan Heathcock speak at the Write by the River retreat.

Speakers Christy Hovey, Amanda AK Turner, and Elaine Ambrose

Writers at the 2017 workshop at Spurwing.

Participants for the October writing workshop are coming from Arkansas, California, Nevada, and Idaho. We have two places open, and tickets can be purchased here.

“Your Journey is Your Story” Writing Workshop in April

January 30, 2019 By Elaine Ambrose

Are you ready to explore and write about your journey? Cl.ick on this link for registration details:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/your-journey-is-your-story-writing-workshop-with-elaine-ambrose-tickets-55620139334

Facilitated by bestselling author Elaine Ambrose, this workshop is designed for intermediate writers who want to expand their work in the areas of non-fiction, personal essay, and memoir. Using creative techniques, musical prompts, and targeted anecdotes, Ambrose will guide participants through a review of their own experiences to enhance their ability to “Write what you know.” The workshop includes the empowering experience of reading aloud to a group. Registration is limited to 20 people.

Saturday’s events will be in the Board Room at The Club at Spurwing in Meridian, Idaho. http://www.theclubatspurwing.com/the-club-house

The $150 fee covers Friday’s reception, Saturday’s workshops, all materials, refreshments, and lunch.

Elaine Ambrose is an award-winning, bestselling author of 10 books. Four of her recent books won six national writing awards, and her memoir Frozen Dinners ranked #23 out of 60,000 memoirs available on Amazon. Ambrose presents writing workshops at conferences across the country, including the prestigious Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop. Read about her books, blogs, and events at ElaineAmbrose.com.

Guest speaker AK Turner will present her fail-proof formula for how to establish a writing routine. She is the New York Times bestselling author of the Vagabonding with Kids series (Brown Books) as well as This Little Piggy Went to the Liquor Store, Mommy Had a Little Flask, and Hair of the Corn Dog (Fever Streak Press). Her works have received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, IPPY Awards in Humor and Travel, a Foreword Indies Award, an Independent Press Distinguished Favorite, and listing in BookLife’s Top 5 Indie Books of 2014. http://vagabondingwithkids.com/

Agenda

Friday, April 5, 7:00 – 9:00 pm – Private reception at the home of Elaine Ambrose at Spurwing. Details provided upon paid registration.

Saturday, April 6, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

9:00 am – Board Room at Spurwing Country Club

Coffee, Tea, and Introductions

Writing Workshop: The Delicious Art of Word Stew

Writing Workshop: Your Journey is Your Story

Writing Workshop: Music as Muse

Writing Workshop: Fail-Proof Formula to Establish a Writing Routine – presented by AK Turner

Assignments

Lunch – Meals will be ordered from the Spurwing Menu.

Workshop: Reading and Speaking

Participants Read Their Work

2:00 pm – Assignments and Adjourn

Participants can remain on site until 4:00 pm to write and socialize.

Bring samples of your writing, paper, pen, and/or computer for writing and reading assignments.

No refunds after April 1.

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