| April 15, 2011 COPY BY: Rana McDonald, 806-651-2129, rmcdonald@wtamu.edu WTAMU’s Annual Writers’ Academy Planned for June CANYON, Texas—Aspiring novelists will learn everything from fiction writing to screenwriting when the Office of Continuing Education at West Texas A&M University conducts its annual Writers’ Academy “Writing to Sell: The Facts about Fiction” June 20-24 on campus. The five-day academy will offer four courses taught by four published authors along with the option of an in-depth manuscript critique by award-winning Texas author DeWanna Pace. Participants will attend daily classes and take part in afternoon critiques while learning the ins and outs of novel writing. Other activities planned for participants include a visit to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum and an outing to see the outdoor musical TEXAS. There also will be an opening breakfast and a writers’ roundup dinner. New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Jodi Thomas will teach “I’ve Completed My Manuscript—Now What?” This class is designed for writers who know the rules of basic writing and are actively working on a novel. Thomas’ class will look at how to craft a marketable novel. Students must bring 30 pages, in proper manuscript form, from the beginning of their novel. Class size is limited to 12 participants. Thomas, who serves as writer in residence at WTAMU, is the author of more than 30 novels and numerous short stories. She has won many honors and accolades for her work and was inducted into the Romance Writers of America’s Hall of Fame in 2006. Her book Welcome to Harmony is a finalist for a 2011 RITA award. Published playwright Tim Lewis will lead a class on “Tools of the Fiction Writer’s Trade.” This class will focus on specific fiction-writing techniques to strengthen a participants writing foundation. Lewis is a published author and co-founder of Old Tascosa Publishing. He has written more than 20 plays and musicals, including the Branson-style musical review Can’t Get Enough. He teaches basic novel writing courses each spring for WTAMU’s Office of Continuing Education. Angela Hunt, Christy Award winner, will teach “Putting Soul into Your Fiction.” The course will emphasize genre, plotting, characterization, setting and point of view. She is a best-selling author of more than 100 works, including nonfiction, picture books and novels. She is the author of the 2007 Hallmark movie channel Christmas hit, The Note, and was the 2006 Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Alexandra Sokoloff, a nominee for both a Bram Stoker Award and an Anthony Award, will teach “Screenwriting Structure for Novelists.” She will examine film pacing/suspense, character arc/drive, visual storytelling and structure for emotional impact. In addition to the four courses, this year’s Writers’ Academy also will offer an in-depth personal critique with published author Pace. The critique requires an additional $35 fee, and participants will receive a written evaluation of their partial manuscript. Those interested must submit by May 13 the first 35 double-spaced pages of their manuscript to the Office of Continuing Education. Submissions will be limited to 30, and only one manuscript per participant. For those who register for the academy before May 2, the cost is $450. For those registering May 2-23, the cost is $495. After May 23, the fee is $550. A non-refundable deposit of $50 is required to reserve a seat. For more information about the academy or to register, call the Office of Continuing Education at 806-651-2037 or visit wtamu.edu/oce. —WTAMU— | 