David Farland’s WRITERS DEATH CAMP

Next Workshop: November 5-9 2012

Start National Novel Writing Month out right in this workshop exclusively for those who would rather be dead than unread!

The biggest problem that new writers typically face is that they don’t get the time that they need to focus on their work—either by brainstorming in the pre-writing phase or in the actual composing process. Let’s face it, you might be worrying about work, arguing with your spouse, dealing with phone calls from your friends, or facing any number of other distractions.

That’s why writers often try to “get away from it all” so that they can work. You see it in the movies all of the time. When Stephen King wants to write a book, he immediately looks for a cozy mountain cabin, one that is hopefully not haunted by his biggest fans. . . .

Faced with the inability to focus, the budding novelist often struggles to write the same scene over and over. He forgets entire scenes that he had planned, or loses track of where the story is going. The author may feel like he is moving along on in baby steps.

In time the distracted writer gets to feeling discouraged, and with discouragement comes the feeling that “maybe I’m just not cut out for this.”

Often the writer begins to believe that he or she has “writer’s block.” That’s silly, of course. Plumbers don’t get plumber’s block. Grocers don’t get grocer’s block. In reality, the writer just doesn’t quite know the next scene to write on his or her novel.

So in order to write profusely, a writer needs to understand what he or she is supposed to be doing, set goals, then relax, focus, play with story ideas, and put scenes on paper.

When you learn how to do it properly in a stress-free environment, it’s actually fun! (But don’t tell anyone. This is a “Writer’s Death Camp” after all!)

Now, we could talk about how to do this, but just talking about writing doesn’t get the novels on the editor’s desk.

If I just tell you how to do it, you probably won’t because you still don’t have the time set aside for it.

So in this workshop, I want to put you in an intellectually super-rich environment where the steps to creating your novel are fresh on your mind and you have instant access to the instructor—an award-winning, international best-selling author with fifty published novels under his belt and years of teaching experience.

In this environment, you are free to write as much as you want to. As you do, you’ll be surrounded by other people who share your dream, and who will give you encouragement and advice to help you along.

David Farland will teach writing classes each day for those who desire them, but these won’t be mandatory. If you’re on a roll, just keep writing. He’ll also be available at the hotel so that you can ask questions during two two-hour sessions each day, just in case you’re having difficulties. Or, if you get tired of writing, we can all just hang out together. But I’m willing to bet that once you feel excited enough about your novel, you’ll be running to your keyboard.

During lunch and dinners, authors will be able to set up appointments to dine with David in order to talk about specific concerns that they have with their writing, or to plan their careers.

Each afternoon, we’ll meet for a little debriefing. Prizes will be awarded to at least two participants each day. These might include books to read or study, food, professional critiques, writing supplies and attire, and so on.

In the evening, we will have brainstorming sessions, assignments to keep you focused on your work, readings on writing, movies (as part of our lessons on how to use plotting tools) and helpful critiques for those who would like them.

Note to Writers’ Death Camp Participants: You must bring a laptop computer with you. If you don’t own one, then borrow, rent, or buy one.

While the goal for this workshop is to allow the writer to have fun, to get inspired, to work in an intellectually rich and emotionally fulfilling environment, this really will be a lot of work. This will be David Farland’s most intensive class ever! It isn’t for people who are just serious about writing, you have to be deadly serious!

When and Where Will the Seminars Be?

November 5-9, 2012
Ramada Inn
1440 East Saint George Boulevard
Saint George, UT 84790
(435) 628-2828

What Does it Cost and How Do I Register?

The cost will be $600 for the week. I'm going to put a lot of focus on prewriting (outlining) and rewriting in this one.

As for how to pay, the preferred method is a check (see guarantee and refund policy below):

Dave Wolverton
335 Rocket Bar Road
Saint George, UT 84790

("David Farland" is Dave Wolverton's pen name)

Or you can register online

AFTER REGISTERING - email me and tell me your name, email address, snail mail address and phone number, as I will be contacting you with updates and further instructions.

If you need to contact Dave, do so at dwolvert@xmission.com

Refund Policy for Writing Workshops

At times, people need to cancel from workshops due to circumstances beyond their control. However, when this happens, it incurs certain administrative costs. Furthermore, if a student withdraws too close to the workshop, we may have seats that cannot be sold—seats that have been held for months—and this does real damage to our ability to continue these services.

Therefore, if a student needs to back out from any workshop, the student may opt to apply all of the funds to a future workshop,

The student may sell membership to another writer

If the student needs to withdraw in a timely fashion (60 days before the workshop) funds will be returned minus $25 for administrative costs.

If the student needs to withdraw within 30-60 days of the workshop, we will try to sell that student’s seat and still refund all monies, less $25 for administrative costs.

If the student needs to withdraw within 30 days of a workshop, in most cases it becomes too late to open a slot for another student, due to the time that is required for students to prepare. In these cases, only 50% of the funds will be returned.

Are You A Writer or Have You Even Thought of Becoming a Writer?

Register for David Farland’s free “Daily Kick In The Pants” and get insights on writing, plus motivational tips and news.

You’ll be the first to learn about David’s interviews with other authors, and maybe even be invited to a free live teleconference from time to time.

To top it all off, join now and you’ll immediately receive a free report entitled, “Why There’s No Recession for Fiction Writers!”

What Are People Saying?

Brandon Mull
Author of the New York Times bestselling Fablehaven series

"Aside from being a talented writer, David Farland is an excellent writing teacher. Hearing him teach live and reading his written advice has helped me focus many of my own thoughts about the writing process.

Those who would like to learn more about the craft of writing would be wise to pay attention."

Carolyn Greene
Carolyn Greene is a multi-published, award-winning author of romance and mystery novels. When she's not writing, she teaches plotting workshops and is known as The Plot Doctor.

"After publishing a number of stand-alone novels, I decided to create my first mystery series. Fortunately, before getting too bogged down in the details, I heard about David Farland's intensive week-long writing workshop. Hey, why not learn directly from the world-building genius himself? Dave turned out to be a delightful mix of analytical teacher and creative explorer. The information he imparted was challenging enough for the published authors in the class, but presented in a way that newbies could learn from it as well. I'll definitely be refreshing my writing with more classes from David Farland."

John Brown
Prize-winning author of Servant of a Dark God

"I first met Dave when I was in college. I was lost, wandering around in the literary bushes, and saw he was giving a writing workshop with Shayne Bell.

I'd read Dave's ON MY WAY TO PARADISE and loved it, so I signed up. I learned more about story telling in that three-session workshop than I had in years of creative writing classes. Dave's instruction led directly to me writing a story that made the quarter finalist cut in the Writers of the Future contest--and then another that won a quarterly first prize (which also meant $2,000 in prize money plus a paid trip to Cocoa Beach, Florida where I got to see the space shuttle launch and participate in a week-long workshop with various writing professionals. Two years later I took Dave's novel-writing workshop which led to more critical insights.

Dave's instruction has been invaluable. It not only started me on the path to writing stories I cared about and believed in (and which editors were eager to buy), but it also helped me along the way to write the novel that landed me an agent and then a three-book contract with Tor."

Jessica Day George
Bestselling young adult author of the Dragon Slippers trilogy and Princess of the Midnight Ball.

"Invaluable! This workshop kicked my writing into high gear"

Brandon Sanderson
Author of the Mistborn trilogy and the upcoming A Memory of Light, book twelve in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series

"I took David Wolverton's workshop when he was offering it as part of coursework at Brigham Young University. It was a low level creative writing class at the time, and I took it out of curiosity. That single semester's worth of teaching opened my eyes to publishing and taught me what it's really like to think like an author. I still use the writing techniques he discussed, and constantly reference him and his instruction when I teach creative writing myself. In addition, Dave taught me how to actually approach breaking into the business of writing. He proved through example that it IS possible to make a living as a writer, and showed me how to approach networking as a writer. His explanations led me directly to getting an agent and, subsequently, my first book deal."

Day Leclaire
Day has published more than fifty novels, and has been nominated for Romance Writers of America's most prestigious award, the RITA, an impressive 10 times!

"Dave Wolverton's workshop is a hands on Master's Course in developing all aspects of your novel. Whether you're interested in making the transition to professional author or are already published and wish to facilitate your move to the next level, Dave will give you the skill set necessary to make it happen. It is rare to find such an in-depth analysis of both craft, as well as a thorough examination of the publishing business, offered with such frank generosity. This class will motivate you to reach higher and dig deeper. I highly recommend it."

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