Professional Writers’ Workshop

Have you started to write a book and wonder what to do now? Would you like help in editing the book to make it as good as it can be, or help finding an agent or publisher? Would you like to get a better grasp of how to make a living as a writer, or how to launch your new career? Then this workshop might be for you. It’s designed to help teach you the kinds of things that you can’t learn in most colleges—the ins and outs of the writing business.

The Professional Writers’ Workshop is strictly limited to 18 participants, people who have both some training as writers (in that they’ve attended writing classes at a university level or have equivalent experience) and have shown a longstanding commitment to writing (in that they’ve normally finished at least one novel). To join, you will need to contact David and be prepared to talk a little about your training as a writer and your experience. You’ll also need to provide a writing sample.

The cost of the Professional Writers’ Workshop is $500 for the week. Deadline for Registration is June 6—or until the class is full. (Note that we only have a couple of slots left open.) You will need to be willing to do the following to attend: 1) Read several textbooks on writing before coming to the workshop. 2) Finish the first 30 pages of your novel, along with a 5-page outline before coming to the workshop. 3) Read and critique others' work during the course of the workshop. 4) Be prepared to complete writing assignments during the course of the workshop (which means that you will need a computer or typewriter, and access to a printer).

Where Are the Workshops Held?

July 6-11
La Quinta Inn
7815A LBJ Freeway
Dallas, TX
(972) 616-2400

You may register online, or contact Dave – Email, or phone Dave at 435-986-3858

Who Is Teaching and What Credentials Does He Have?

Dave is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling writer in two fields—science fiction and fantasy. He has written or edited nearly fifty novels and anthologies for adults, young adults, and middle-grade readers. Beyond that, he has worked as college creative writing instructor, a fiction editor, a videogame designer and scripter, as a movie producer, and so on.

As Dave Wolverton, he began his writing career in 1987 when he won the Writers of the Future Gold Award for his short story, “On My Way to Paradise,” and shortly afterward was given a three-novel contract by Bantam Books. His first novel spent several months on the Locus Science Fiction Best-seller List, and won a Philip K. Dick Memorial Special Award as one of the best science fiction novels of the year. Dave continued writing science fiction for the following ten years, writing several bestsellers among his own novels along with tie-in novels for major franchises like Star Wars and The Mummy until at the end of ten years he decided to follow his childhood dream of writing fantasy, and began writing also in that genre.

With the move to fantasy, he changed his writing name to David Farland, so as not to confuse his audience. His first fantasy novel, The Runelords, became a runaway hit around the world and has millions of readers. The third book in the Runelords series, Wizardborn, hit the New York Times best-seller list. Dave is now completing the ninth—and last--book of the series.

Over the years, Dave has won numerous awards for his short fiction in particular, and set a Guinness Record for the world's largest book signing–a record that he still holds.

In 1991, Dave became a judge for one of the world's largest writing contests, the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest, and for the next several years he read thousands of stories each year, edited an annual anthology, and taught writing classes to new writers.

As an instructor, Dave has taught workshops in conjunction with the Writers of the Future, has taught upper-division classes in science fiction and fantasy writing at Brigham Young University, has appeared as a guest lecturer and instructor at dozens of conventions, and has taught many other workshops at various universities. Some past students who have recently published include New York Times bestselling YA author Brandon Mull, New York Times bestselling fantasy author Brandon Sanderson, hot new thriller writer Virginia Baker, the talented new fantasy author John Brown, and hot new children's fantasy author Jessica Day George.

Dave has also worked as a designer on such international hits as StarCraft's Brood War, and as a video game scripter.

In 2002 Dave went to work as a movie producer in Hollywood, raising millions of dollars for independent films. There he worked with screenwriters, directors and various studio heads. He is currently the Director of Storytelling and the head of the Publishing Department for a new animation studio called CNW, Crocodiles Not Waterlilies.

You may register online, or contact Dave – Email, or phone Dave at 435-986-3858

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."