Workshop Wednesday
Welcome to the debut post of Workshop Wednesdays! Every Wednesday Pubslush will feature a different Writer’s Workshop to inspire and inform our Slushers.
With that, we would like to introduce…
The Manhattan Writers Den
Contact: Mary Carter, nycwritersden@gmail.com
How often do your workshops meet?
We meet once a week for 2.5 hours for 6 weeks.
What resources and/or programs do you offer writers?
We follow the course book, Immediate Fiction by Jerry Cleaver. Students also receive a complete CD set of the course by the time they are finished. We also provide handouts on topics such as dialogue, flashbacks, story structure, etc. We have a library of books on writing. A marketing plan and 50 pages of outside writing critiqued are part of the course as well. Lastly, I am a working and published novelist so I know the issues writers face on a daily basis. We cover both the craft of writing and the creative process.
What do you think is the biggest struggle writers face when trying to get published?
Agents receive thousands of submissions a month. In order for a manuscript to stand out from the crowd it has to be well crafted. You don’t want to send in a “mediocre” manuscript, you want your readers to be gripped by your main character. First time novelists will want to create one main protagonist with a very big problem to overcome. Stories are about people with problems. Your main character needs to be someone the reader wants to root for as well.
What is your workshop’s focus?
We focus on telling a COMPLETE STORY. We hone in on the five elements of craft that we believe writers must master. Simultaneously, we deal with the creative process. How to develop a writing habit, how to overcome fear, anxiety, writer’s block, and the essential craft of rewriting.
What is your workshop’s greatest strength?
Students generate 30 minutes of in-class writing each week. The following week we take this unedited writing, read it anonymously, and learn how to rewrite it using the elements of craft taught in class.
Who is your workshop’s target demographic?
This is what i love about the workshop. We get all ages, genders, professions, races, and levels of experience. Telling a complete story works whether you are writing fiction, non-fiction, plays, or screenplays. The workshop is designed to meet writers at whatever level they are at. There is an advanced class as well, but even an advanced writer will progress in the initial 6-week course.
What purpose do you think workshops serve for authors trying to get published?
Many authors turn in their manuscripts way too soon. You only get once chance per manuscript to get an agent’s attention. After finishing this course, writers will know which core elements of craft must be present in every scene for their story to grab an agent or editor’s attention. They will learn common mistakes beginning writers make and how to avoid them. They will learn that it is essential to rewrite their manuscripts— the average number of rewrites per author is 5-10 drafts.
What is your advice for writers who have never attended a workshop?
I would definitely encourage them to take a workshop! If you’re in NYC, or Chicago, take this workshop. The first class is a TRIAL class so there is no obligation to pay or return if it’s not a good fit for you. Otherwise, I would encourage writers to read as many books on writing as they can. Obviously, I highly recommend Immediate Fiction by Jerry Cleaver who is the developer of this course. Lastly, I recommend developing a habit where you write every day, even if it’s only a page. Oftentimes the best advice for a new writer is simply to finish their manuscripts. Of course that’s just a first draft. First drafts should be celebrated, not submitted. Several rewrites are necessary to elevate your story to its highest level— at least to the best of your current ability. And most importantly, workshops should be fun and take place in a safe and supportive environment.
We follow the course book, Immediate Fiction by Jerry Cleaver. Students also receive a complete CD set of the course by the time they are finished. We also provide handouts on topics such as dialogue, flashbacks, story structure, etc. We have a library of books on writing. A marketing plan and 50 pages of outside writing critiqued are part of the course as well. Lastly, I am a working and published novelist so I know the issues writers face on a daily basis. We cover both the craft of writing and the creative process.
What do you think is the biggest struggle writers face when trying to get published?
Agents receive thousands of submissions a month. In order for a manuscript to stand out from the crowd it has to be well crafted. You don’t want to send in a “mediocre” manuscript, you want your readers to be gripped by your main character. First time novelists will want to create one main protagonist with a very big problem to overcome. Stories are about people with problems. Your main character needs to be someone the reader wants to root for as well.
What is your workshop’s focus?
We focus on telling a COMPLETE STORY. We hone in on the five elements of craft that we believe writers must master. Simultaneously, we deal with the creative process. How to develop a writing habit, how to overcome fear, anxiety, writer’s block, and the essential craft of rewriting.
What is your workshop’s greatest strength?
Students generate 30 minutes of in-class writing each week. The following week we take this unedited writing, read it anonymously, and learn how to rewrite it using the elements of craft taught in class.
Who is your workshop’s target demographic?
This is what i love about the workshop. We get all ages, genders, professions, races, and levels of experience. Telling a complete story works whether you are writing fiction, non-fiction, plays, or screenplays. The workshop is designed to meet writers at whatever level they are at. There is an advanced class as well, but even an advanced writer will progress in the initial 6-week course.
What purpose do you think workshops serve for authors trying to get published?
Many authors turn in their manuscripts way too soon. You only get once chance per manuscript to get an agent’s attention. After finishing this course, writers will know which core elements of craft must be present in every scene for their story to grab an agent or editor’s attention. They will learn common mistakes beginning writers make and how to avoid them. They will learn that it is essential to rewrite their manuscripts— the average number of rewrites per author is 5-10 drafts.
What is your advice for writers who have never attended a workshop?
I would definitely encourage them to take a workshop! If you’re in NYC, or Chicago, take this workshop. The first class is a TRIAL class so there is no obligation to pay or return if it’s not a good fit for you. Otherwise, I would encourage writers to read as many books on writing as they can. Obviously, I highly recommend Immediate Fiction by Jerry Cleaver who is the developer of this course. Lastly, I recommend developing a habit where you write every day, even if it’s only a page. Oftentimes the best advice for a new writer is simply to finish their manuscripts. Of course that’s just a first draft. First drafts should be celebrated, not submitted. Several rewrites are necessary to elevate your story to its highest level— at least to the best of your current ability. And most importantly, workshops should be fun and take place in a safe and supportive environment.
