The Seven Magic Elephants of Creativity

Have you experienced writer’s block, felt like you wanted to work on a project but just couldn’t get it started? If you’re ready to open the doorway to your own imagination, here are some suggestions. This hands-on workshop is designed for writers who wish to jump-start the creative process. We will explore ways to tap into right brain thinking, using creative writing techniques, imagine and metaphor. This will work for writers of all genres, including poetry, creative nonfiction and fiction. Session will include writing and sharing newly created work.  WORKSHOP

Margo LaGattuta, 2005 winner of The Mark Twain Award for her contribution to Midwestern Literature, has her MFA from Vermont College and four published collections of poetry: Embracing the Fall, The Dream Givers, Noedgelines, and Diversion Road. Her poetry and essays have been published in many national literary magazines and anthologies. She has completed writer-in-the-schools residencies and teacher in-service sessions, both locally and nationally, for more than 20 years and edited eight anthologies for small presses. In 2002/2003 she received a Michigan Creative Artist’s Grant from ArtServe Michigan to complete her newest poetry collection:  Bears Are Taught To Use Cameras. She is a two-time winner of the Midwest Poetry Award, many National Federation of State Poetry Societies Awards, and was nominated by Naomi Shihab Nye for a Pushcart Prize for her work in small press publishing. Margo writes for Suburban Lifestyles in Rochester, MI, where she creates a weekly creative nonfiction column, articles and theater reviews. She teaches writing at University of Michigan-Flint, Baker College and Oakland Community College and conducts creative writing workshops both locally and nationally.

Writers’ Resources:  Tools to start and keep going

Whatever the genre, writing is a business and it should be treated as a business. As a part of this effort a writer must: Establish a work environment, gather and use tools, set goals, perform market analysis, collect research, create a business plan, establish support networks, and finally deliver and market their product. With the correct resources and plan, a writer now has the roadmap to success.  LECTURE

Evans Bissonette, produced everything from systems documentation to client training manuals during his career as a computer analyst.  Now retired, he has branched out from technical writing.  He is a regular contributor of health-related articles to local newspapers and a fiction writer.  Evans maintains his status with several area support groups for writers and understands the need to network.

Editors’ Panel for Freelancers

Southeast Michigan editors will be fielding questions from attendees about the current freelance marketplace.  PANEL DISCUSSION

Linda Lacina, is the Managing Editor of Signature Media, the magazine arm of The Detroit Media Partnership. She has produced a variety of specialty magazines in the last ten years, including the dearly departed Strut Magazine for women.

Joyce Wiswell, is the managing editor of The Chaldean News, a monthly magazine published in Farmington Hills. She also contributes freelance articles to numerous local publications including Strut, Signature, Senior Living, Ambassador and Metro Parent, and has written several travel guidebooks for Fielding Worldwide.

Writer’s Craft:  A Powerful Tool!

Writer’s craft is a powerful tool used by authors of children’s literature.  Participants will identify and discuss writer’s craft examples used in current children’s books.  Finally they’ll try them on for size in their own writings.  WORKSHOP

Mychelle L. Martin, facilitator and presenter, remembers her teenage days of keeping a personal diary. Mychelle has enjoyed journaling her thoughts about life and its experiences. She believes in the power of well-crafted words and presents workshops on teacher research, writing, and journaling. She is a National Writing Project Fellow. During the summer of 2006, she attended writing workshops with Natalie Goldberg in Taos, New Mexico, and Lucy Calkins at Columbia University in New York. She holds a Masters degree from Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Mychelle currently teaches a fourth grade classroom of aspiring young authors and conducts Writing Workshops for area teachers.

Publish to Make a Difference:  How to Write, Print, and Sell Your Own Book

Participants will gain knowledge about the various self-publishing methods, learn the advantages and disadvantages of this process, and they will understand that self-publishing is a business. It needs time, energy and nurturing to grow. They will learn how to generate saleable material (book covers and title), start their own company, and copyright their work.  As well as, how to get an ISBN and Library of Congress number, search for printers, and get book reviews.  Finally, promotion and distribution of the finished book will complete all the steps needed in order to successfully publish his or her work.  PANEL DISCUSSION

Mary Gibbons, holds a master’s degree in psychology and has facilitated The
Rochester Writers’ Group for 21 years.  She self published her first book, Shadows on My Mind: A Psychologist Explores Reincarnation and PSI, under Marie Gates.  Mary has been featured in newspapers and appeared on television.  She is currently working on We are Our Past Lives: Soul Patterns in Personalities and Relationships.

Weam Namou, is the author of three novels, a filmmaker and cofounder and president of IAA (Iraqi Artists Association). Her articles and poetry have appeared in a number of literary journals. Currently she is a columnist for The Macomb, Oakland and Metro Observer Newspapers and is working on a feature film.

Create a Successful Writing Career

Discover the true keys to success. Whether you want to write a book, a column, poetry, or music lyrics, you will need to identify and move past any doubts or negative thinking in order to achieve your goals. By being your wonderful real self and affirming positive goal statements, you will see how to create many opportunities for a successful writing career. To overcome any challenge, you will learn how to use the “Awakening Process” – a special, empowering approach from Sandra Agazzi Chimenti’s book, The Real Me: Awakening Your True Self – Positive Affirmations for Empowering Your Life. Through experiential exercises that tap into your creative potential, Sandra will guide you to go from where you are to where you want to be. Sandra will also share her real-life experiences as an author and publisher, guiding you past common challenges to achieve your dreams. You have the power to develop your writing passion into a successful career.  WORKSHOP

Sandra Agazzi Chimenti, M.Ed., is the owner of Creative Books and Music, L.L.C. and Growing Parents. She is a successful author, musician/pianist/composer, empowerment presenter, poet, artist, parent, and educator with a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She was the Growing Parents columnist for the Suburban Lifestyles newspaper for six years, sharing her parenting expertise and guidance. She was also a freelance writer for the Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, and Metro Parent Magazine. Now, as the owner of her own publishing company, Sandra shares her books, music, and other creations. Sandra is the host and producer of the cable show Discover Your Power to Succeed! which features guest presenters. She has also appeared as a guest on television, radio, and in newspapers, featuring her empowering book and inspirational messages. Sandra offers various presentations, consultations, book-signing events, and interviews. Visit her web site at http://www.CreativeBooksAndMusic.com.

Travel Writing 101:  The Basics

Publishing travel articles may seem like a dream job that only a few enjoy, but the truth is almost anyone can do it.  Learn the basics of travel writing from idea to print.  Explore what editors are looking for and how to approach publications.  We will discuss press trips and how to work with public relation people to get started in the fun field of writing travel stories.  LECTURE

Michael Dwyer, NATJA, is an award winning radio broadcaster turned travel writer.  He started writing travel pieces in 2001, landed his first regular column with Suburban Lifestyles in 2005, and was voted “Favorite Overall Columnist” for 2006 by reader survey.  His travel articles have appeared in local newspapers and national magazines, including:  Draft Magazine, Hilton Moments Magazine, and The American Senior Gazette.  Michael currently has regular travel columns in The Macomb, Oakland, and Metro Observer Newspapers.

The Importance of Having a Web Site

The Internet is an important tool to any writer, author, or freelancer.  You need to have a web site with a message and the focus of your writing.  PANEL DISCUSSION

Dora Badger, is an avid reader of genre fiction and an emerging writer of same. She is co-organizer of the Detroit area’s All Writers’ Group and one of the fiction editors for Third Reader, an online magazine. Her website can be found at http://www.atyourdoor.wordpress.com. Her most recently published story is at http://www.microhorror.com.

Sylvia Hubbard, Detroiter and independently published author.  Her foundation genre has always been romance. Always urban and contemporary styled, her writing is enjoyed all over the world by many nationalities. She has published four paperbacks and over 10 e-books. In the upcoming year, she will be featured in several anthologies and she will be publishing more e-books. For the past five years, Sylvia has taught writers how to sell products on the Internet at conferences, workshops and with her book, Internet Marketing for Writers & Businesses. Her website is: http://www.sylviahubbard.com.

The Inspired Essay:  A Crash Course in Short Inspirational Essays and Personal Columns

Editors are looking for first-person pieces with heart, soul, and universal truth. Learn the secrets of crafting life-affirming essays and marketing them to a variety of publications from local newspapers to national anthologies.  LECTURE

Cindy La Ferle, ASJA, is the author of the award winning essay collection, Writing Home. Her pieces have appeared in more than 50 national publications, including The Christian Science Monitor, Reader’s Digest, Better Homes & Gardens, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Catholic Digest, Guideposts, and Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion.  Locally, her lifestyle columns ran in The Daily Tribune of Royal Oak, The Daily Oakland Press, and Suburban Lifestyles.  She serves as Writer-in-Residence for the Royal Oak Public Library and blogs about the writing life at Cindy La Ferle’s Home Office: http://www.laferle.com.

Bringing Characters to Life:  The Fine Art of Dialogue

Do your characters talk too much — or too little?  This workshop provides strategies for creative dialogue that brings characters to life.  We will work with characters (furnished at the session) in a fun and informational forum on the finer points of dialog art.  Additionally, bring your questions and writing for discussion.  No matter if it is fiction, memoir, or script writing — dialog is easier than you think.  WORKSHOP

Beatrice V. Catherino, Ph.D. Reading and Language Arts. She is an editor for National Education Association, Thought and Action and the former editor and publisher of Speakeasy (a College Journal of the Creative Arts).  Bea is a writing instructor and essayist.