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CLASSES BY DATEClick “Buy Now” Under Each Class to Enroll. Email info@writingpad.com or call 323-333-2954 if you have further questions or want to ask about payment plans.
YOU IN 1200 WORDS: WRITING AND PUBLISHING THE PERSONAL ESSAY (5 Week)Have you always wanted to write a personal essay but you don’t know where to start? Or have you dreamed of seeing one of your essays published in the New York Times or Salon? Then this is the class for you. Published journalist, Taffy Brodesser-Akner will help you transform your bad blind dates and visits from unruly parents into insightful, compelling revelations. She'll show you how to make your essay relatable, targeted for the right publication, and tantalizing to readers. You’ll learn about the structure of personal essays, and the different types of personal essays. We’ll workshop one of your essays until it’s perfect. By the end of class, you'll have a kick-ass essay that is ready to be submitted for publication and a plan of where to submit it. Your goal will be to sell your essay within a couple of weeks after the class ends! Taffy has helped 26 students get paid and published for their work in publications such as Self, Marie Claire, LA Times, Salon, Spirit Magazine, and New York Magazine. You can read some of them here: Boston Globe, LA Times #1, LA Times #2, LA Times #3, Marie Claire, Nerve, Self, Salon #1, Salon #2, Salon #3, Salon #4, Salon #5, Salon #6, Salon #7, Salon #8, Salon #9, Salon #10, Whole Life Times, xoJANE)!
About Taffy Brodesser-Akner:
From FIRST LOVES To Tales Of Teenage Woe: Writing For Young Adults
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Instructor: Lauren Strasnick June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 (5 Sat. a.m.'s) |
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About Lauren Strasnick:
Lauren Strasnick's debut novel, "Nothing Like You" (Simon Pulse/S&S, 2009), was a RWA RITA award finalist in two categories, Best First Book and YA Romance. Her second novel, "Her and Me and You" (Simon Pulse/S&S, 2010), was a 2012 ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. "Then You Were Gone" (Simon Pulse/S&S), Lauren’s third book, was published in January 2013. She holds a BS in Film and a Minor in Creative Writing from Emerson College and an MFA in Writing from California Institute of the Arts.
A NOVEL APPROACH: TACKLING THE LONG FORMAT WRITING PROJECT (5 WK)
Is it your dream to write the great American novel? Finishing a book is a tough thing to do even for the seasoned professional. In this class, successful novelist Lauren Strasnick will help you nudge your book to the finish line! She’ll also teach you techniques for creating a thrilling story arc, irresistible dialogue, characters and conflict. With the aid of fun, hands-on exercises and balanced workshopping sessions, you will have completed at least one act of your brilliant book by the last session of this class. Before you know it, Random House will be banging on your door!
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Instructor: Lauren Strasnick June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 (5 Sat. a.m.'s) |
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About Lauren Strasnick:
Lauren Strasnick's debut novel, "Nothing Like You" (Simon Pulse/S&S, 2009), was a RWA RITA award finalist in two categories, Best First Book and YA Romance. Her second novel, "Her and Me and You" (Simon Pulse/S&S, 2010), was a 2012 ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. "Then You Were Gone" (Simon Pulse/S&S), Lauren’s third book, was published in January 2013. She holds a BS in Film and a Minor in Creative Writing from Emerson College and an MFA in Writing from California Institute of the Arts.
Writing In Series: Crafting Stories That Keep On Telling
Have you ever wondered how bestselling writers create stories that deliver book after book? In this one-day class, successful novelist Zoe Archer will show you how. Through a focused craft talk, she’ll share techniques for creating multi-novel narratives, giving your characters room to grow, and finding compelling series-long arcs. You’ll create a clear roadmap for your own project through targeted in-class writing exercises, and hone it through a balanced group workshopping session. By the end of the class, you’ll have everything you need to launch your own series. Magic wand not included.
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Instructor: Zoë Archer Sunday, June 2, 2013 Location: Writing Pad West (Westwood) |
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About Zoë Archer:
Zoë Archer is a RITA award–nominated author who writes genre-bending novels chock-full of adventure, sexy men, and bold women. She has published 11 novels and has book deals for 3 more novels and 1 digital novella. lHer books include the Hellraisers paranormal historical series ("Devil's Kiss,” "Demon's Bride" and "Sinner's Heart") and the acclaimed Blades of the Rose paranormal historical adventure series ("Warrior", "Scoundrel", "Rebel,"and "Stranger"), published by Kensington/Zebra. “Sweet Revenge,” the first book in her new historical romance series for St. Martin’s Press, received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. She is also the author of steampunk romance for Avon Impulse and science fiction romance for Carina Press, the digital imprint of Harlequin. A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, Zoë holds Masters Degrees in Literature and Fiction.
It's PLAYTIME: Writing for KIDS (5 WK)
Is it your dream to write the next “Where The Wild Things Are” but you’re not sure where to start? Or are you already working on a picture book, but you want to learn how to make it a bestseller? In this class, award-winning children’s author Antonio Sacre will show you how to structure a children's book, how to write appealing characters for your target age group, and how to navigate the complexities of the publishing world. He'll also give you the tools to come up with a number of additional picture book ideas so you're not tongue tied an agent asks you what else you have up your sleeve. With the aid of fun, hands-on exercises and balanced workshopping sessions, you will have completed a draft of a stellar children’s book by the last session of this class. You'll even have the chance to test it out on a small audience of kids at a reading at Writing Pad!
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Instructor: Antonio Sacre June 2, 9, 23, 30 (4 Sun. afternoons, 1 optional reading to kids) |
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About Antonio Sacre:
Antonio Sacre is an award-winning storyteller, author, and solo performance artist. Abrams Books for Young Readers have published two of his picture books: “La Noche Buena, A Christmas Story” and “A Mango in the Hand, A Story Told Through Proverbs” (2011) which were both chosen for inclusion in the prestigious California Readers Book Collections for School Libraries. His retelling of the story “The Barking Mouse” was published as a picture book by Albert Whitman and Company in March 2003. Antonio’s new short story collection “My Name Is Cool” (Familius, 2013), humorous tales inspired by Antonio’s Cuban and Irish-American heritage, will be released this summer. “My Name Is Cool” is a multi-chapter read-aloud for children that both adults and children will love. As a storyteller, he has performed at the National Book Festival at the Library of Congress, the Kennedy Center, the National Storytelling Festival, and museums, schools, libraries, and festivals internationally. His stories have appeared in numerous magazines, journals, and on National Public Radio. His storytelling recordings have won numerous awards, including the American Library Association’s Notable Recipient Award, the Parent's Choice Gold and Silver Awards, and the National Association of Parenting Publications Gold Award. As a solo performer, he has won a Best in Fringe Festival award for Excellence in acting, and a Best in Fringe Festival award for Excellence in Solo Performance At The New York City International Fringe Theater Festival. Antonio was also awarded an Ethnic and Folk Arts Fellowship from the Illinois Arts Council. Since 1994, he has led many teacher in-services and district-wide trainings, sharing his knowledge of drama, storytelling, and writing in student workshops nationwide. He earned a BA in English from Boston College and an MA in Theater Arts from Northwestern University.
DREAM IT, WRITE IT, PITCH IT: SCREENWRITING BOOTCAMP
The spec script market is hot right now, but to play the game, you have to have a finished script. In this five-week intensive, veteran screenwriter Robbie Fox ("Playing For Keeps", “So I Married An Axe Murderer”) will help you shepherd your amazing screenplay from concept to outline and teach you how to sell it. We'll explore your ideas, beat out your story and solidify your theme. Robbie will share his personal techniques for crafting an irresistible script and give you a lot of individual help on your story. He'll help you avoid the rookie mistakes and show you how to create engaging characters and tantalizing scenes. By the end of this class, you'll have a fully developed outline and drafted a chunk of your screenplay. In addition, at the end of the class, you’ll have the chance to pitch your idea to an A-list producer or creative exec! Before you know it, you’ll be following the Red Carpet Road all the way to Sundance.
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Instructor: Robbie Fox Mon. June 3, 10, 17, 24, 2013 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Cost: $695 for class only (includes snacks and tea, class meeting with A-list producer or creative exec) Location: Writing Pad West (Westwood) Note: Class limited to 8 students. |
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Cost: $525 for one-on-one consultation and full script reading and feedback with Robbie Fox (only open to students who take the Bootcamp) Location: Writing Pad West |
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About Robbie Fox:
Robbie Fox has sold over 60 pitches to the major studios and has written over 12 produced films. His entree into Hollywood was writing and directing "The Great O'Grady", an award- winning short for Columbia Pictures and Showtime. His original screenplays include "So I Married An Axe-Murderer" with Mike Myers, "Shooting Elizabeth" with Jeff Goldblum and "In The Army Now" with Pauley Shore. Upcoming scripts include "Lost In Coachella" (writing and directing for MPCA), "Still Life" to be directed by Bruce Beresford. His original script "Playing For Keeps", starring Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Dennis Quaid, Catherine Zeta Jones and Uma Thurman, will be released worldwide December 7th, 2012. Robbie also has done rewrites on films including "My Girl" with Macauley Culkin" and the Disney animated Mickey Mouse short "Runaway Brain". For theater, he wrote the book for an original musical "The Gift" (Tiffany Theater, Los Angeles.) His TV work includes the pilots "The Bobby & Larry Show" (co-writer/co-director), "The Wife & Times Of Teddy Berman" (writer, star), and "Devilish", a Nickelodeon Channel original film for Victoria Justice. He studied theater at Northwestern University and screenwriting at NYU.
IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU: A One-Person Show Intensive
Are you an actor or a comedian yearning for your 15 minutes of fame? A solo-show could help launch your career and get you the attention that you deserve. But you’re not the type that does anything half-assed, you want your show to have stories so hysterical and moving, your audience is putty in your hands. Have no fear! Actor and writer Antonio Sacre will help you wow them on the stage. In this two-day intensive, you'll learn how to transform personal experiences into compelling stories that everyone can relate to. We’ll experiment with the different flavors of one-person shows (storytelling or dialogue) and do fun, improvisational writing exercises that will make it easy to mine your life for entertaining stories and engaging characters. Antonio will even share his secrets for making your show come to fruition. By the end of class, you’ll have written the beginnings of your show and have the chance to perform it at Writing Pad! Soon, Off Broadway will be calling!
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Instructor: Antonio Sacre Tuesday, June 4 and 11, 2013 (2 Tues. eve.'s, optional rehearsal and performance) Cost: $180 (Includes snacks and tea) |
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About Antonio Sacre:
Antonio Sacre is an internationally touring, award-winning solo performance artist based in Los Angeles. A two-time Best In Fringe Festival winner at the New York International Fringe Theater Festival, Antonio has created eight solo shows, performing them to critical and popular acclaim at the New York International Fringe Festival, PS 122 and PS NBC in New York City; the San Francisco Fringe Theater Festival in San Francisco; the HBO Workspace, The Comedy Central Workspace, the Knitting Factory, Edgefest, and Area 51 in Los Angeles; the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Rhinoceros Theater Festival in Chicago; the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian in Washington DC; and various festivals internationally. He also won both the 2012 and 2011 United Solo Award for Best Storyteller Off-Broadway. His solo show "The Next Best Thing" was nominated for an LA Weekly Theater Award and chosen as one of their Top 10 L.A. Theater Experiences in 2011. The Village Voice calls Sacre “Remarkable . . . a serious artist” and Backstage says Sacre is “powerful, hilariously honest . . . the man is an out and out genius.” His shows have garnered numerous Critics’ Choices in San Francisco, LA, New York, and Chicago. In addition, Antonio is a member of The Solo Collective. He is also an award-winning author. Abrams Books for Young Readers have published two of his picture books: “La Noche Buena, A Christmas Story” and “A Mango in the Hand, A Story Told Through Proverbs” (2011) which were both chosen for inclusion in the prestigious California Readers Book Collections for School Libraries. His retelling of the story “The Barking Mouse” was published as a picture book by Albert Whitman and Company in March 2003. Antonio’s new short story collection “My Name Is Cool” (Familius, 2013), humorous tales inspired by Antonio’s Cuban and Irish-American heritage, will be released this summer. “My Name Is Cool” is a multi-chapter read-aloud for children that both adults and children will love. He earned a BA in English from Boston College and an MA in Theater Arts from Northwestern University.
From Pitch To First Draft: Writing the Television Drama (7 Wk)
Do you have a great idea for HBO's next hit series? Let successful TV writer Jason Grote (“Mad Men”, “Smash”) help you transform your brilliant premise into a page-turning script! You’ll sample the different genres of TV dramas, plan a season arc that keeps the audience hooked, and break your pilot story just like they do in the writer’s room. Jason will show you how to dramatize your life’s details, create realistic dialogue, and sprinkle in the right amount of plot for a 30 min. or 1 hour show. You’ll clarify your tone, voice and world. As well, Jason will help you craft a captivating story from outline to first draft. He’ll even read a draft of your pilot and meet with you to give you feedback! By the end of this class, you’ll be on your way to an executive producer credit faster than you can say “Lena Dunham.”
About Jason Grote:
Jason Grote's television writing credits include "Mad Men" and "Smash." As a playwright, his work has been produced and developed at Lincoln Center, Sundance, The O'Neill, Playwrights' Horizons, Woolly Mammoth, New York Theater Workshop, Soho Rep, Clubbed Thumb, The Denver Center, ACT, Portland Center Stage, The Civilians, Baltimore Centerstage, Salvage Vanguard, and elsewhere. He is a member of New Dramatists and the 2006 P73 Playwriting Fellow, and his plays are published by Samuel French. He has taught writing at Rutgers, Carnegie Mellon, The National Theater Institute, LAByrinth Theater Company, The New School, The University of Wisconsin, Queens College/CUNY, Hollins University, Whitman College, The University of Rochester, and elsewhere. He holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from NYU.
#FameSuccessLove: Harnessing The Power of Twitter
You have your thing: a book, blog, or business. But you have no idea how to put it out there. A Twitter handle is the key, and author and social media expert, Rob Gokee will show you how to extract its superpowers. Rob currently gets 90% of his freelance work from networking on Twitter. He even met his wife on Twitter! In Part I of his two-part class, Rob will share his secrets to Twitter success seminar style. He’ll teach you essential twitter etiquette and explain how to use hash tags, searches, links, Hootsuite and TweetDeck to become a promotional pro. Part II is an opportunity to put Rob to work on your problem. His targeted brainstorming exercises and helpful feedback will help you best utilize Twitter to engage your cyber audience. By the end of this class, you’ll have crafted an irresistible twitter persona, found your twitter voice, and have solid a plan for building a tribe of devoted fans! Hashtag that!
About Rob Gokee:
Rob Gokee is the author of the "In the Belly of the Fail Whale: How Twitter Changed My Life In One Year" an autobiographical account of his life as a film and television composer, and how drastically his life changed over a 12 month period by marketing on Twitter. Rob currently gets 90% of his freelance work from networking on Twitter and met his wife on Twitter. He is also an award-winning film and television composer. Rob has scored over a hundred films, shows, and webseries in the last 7 years. Rob is working on his second book, "Fighting For Sonic Space", about composing music in the indie film and TV world. Rob holds a BA from the University of New Mexico in Music Theory and Composition.
MEMORABLE MEMOIR: WRITING A COMPELLING PAST (1 DAY)
Have you ever thought about turning your life's trials and tribulations into a NY Times bestseller? In this one day class, bestselling memoirist Brett Paesel will share her secrets for turning your life's twists and turns into lively drama! Her fun, all new in-class exercises will help you infuse your most fascinating memories with authenticity and personality. She’ll cover crucial topics such as how to craft a compelling emotional journey for your main character, digging deep, and writing with vivid, compelling detail. By the end of the class, you’ll have written a couple of moving scenes and have blended imagination with history to craft a draft of a memoir piece that is uniquely yours! Experienced and beginning writers welcome.
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Instructor: Brett Paesel Sat., June 8, 2013 Cost: $80 (incl. snacks and tea) |
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About Brett Paesel:
Brett Paesel is the author of the Los Angeles Times bestselling memoir, "Mommies Who Drink: Sex, Drugs, and Other Distant Memories of an Ordinary Mom" (Warner Books) and the blog, "Last of the Bohemians". "Mommies Who Drink" was selected as an Elle Magazine Must Read, a hot summer pick in Entertainment Weekly, and one of "Summers' Hottest Reads" in People Magazine. The Boston Globe proclaimed the book "honest, affectionate, and smartly written. . . real, and laugh-out-loud funny." Brett has also written television pilots for HBO, ABC, Fox, WB, Lifetime, and Nick at Nite. Her stories, essays, and articles have been published in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Salon.com, More magazine, Self, Family Fun, amongst other publications. In addition, she was a contributing editor to Parents and Wondertime (where she was also a beauty and wellness columnist). Her comic essays have been included in several collections including "Lights, Action, Travel" and "Behind the Bedroom Door". Brett has taught screenwriting and sketch at Second City and nonfiction writing for The National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts. Brett is currently writing two other books, one a novel and the other a collection of autobiographical stories.
Story Time Plus: A Performed Essay Workshop (5 Wk)
Performance essays are all the rage, and in this five-week class, master storyteller Brian Finkelstein will teach you how to be a yarn-spinning pro. You'll do fun, improvised storytelling drills, learn about the structure of performance essays, and explore ways to use your pieces to boost your writing career. Brian will show you how to transform relationships gone bad, family feuds, and life’s minutia into two riveting five-minute pieces. He’ll even teach you how to expose your narrator’s flaws while also persuading the audience to root for you. By the end of the class, you'll have written two submission-ready essays, and you’ll even get to test your material by reading one of them at our very own venue: Writing Pad!
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Instructor: Brian Finkelstein June 10, 24, July 15, 22, 29 (5 Mon. p.m.'s, 1 performance) |
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About Brian Finkelstein:
Brian Finkelstein is a regular performer at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles, as well as the host of the LA Moth Story-slams. He has performed his solo shows in a variety of venues from the HBO/US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen to the 2012 Summer Nights Festival in Perth, Australia. He's also an Emmy-nominated writer for his work on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Currently his screenplay, Good Grief is being produced by 72 Productions and he's touring with The Moth.
MINI WRITING PAD BOOTCAMP
Put the bounce back into your writing practice! Athletes exercise every day to keep their muscles in shape. Writers should too. The more you write and use your imagination, the better your writing becomes. This class will give you tools for inspiration and motivation to work out your writing muscles. The Mini Writing Pad Boot Camp includes fun but intensive in-class writing workouts and a smorgasbord of daily 10 minute writes to keep you busy for a whole week. You’ll even get a writing buddy and instructor support to keep those fingers bench pressing your keyboard. The time will fly by, and you’ll generate so much new material for revision and publication, you’ll feel pumped. Post-class, you will also receive instructor feedback on a draft of something you wrote in class to motivate you to get a short story, essay, or a screenplay scene done. Experienced and beginning writers welcome.
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Instructor: Brett Paesel Sat., June 15, 2013 |
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About Brett Paesel:
Brett Paesel is the author of the Los Angeles Times bestseller, "Mommies Who Drink: Sex, Drugs, and Other Distant Memories of an Ordinary Mom" (Warner Books) and the blog, "Last of the Bohemians". "Mommies Who Drink" was selected as an Elle Magazine Must Read, a hot summer pick in Entertainment Weekly, and one of "Summers' Hottest Reads" in People Magazine. The Boston Globe proclaimed the book "honest, affectionate, and smartly written. . . real, and laugh-out-loud funny." Brett has also written television pilots for HBO, ABC, Fox, WB, Lifetime, and Nick at Nite. Her stories, essays, and articles have been published in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Salon.com, More magazine, Self, Family Fun, amongst other publications. In addition, she was a contributing editor to Parents and Wondertime (where she was also a beauty and wellness columnist). Her comic essays have been included in several collections including "Lights, Action, Travel" and "Behind the Bedroom Door". Brett has taught screenwriting and sketch at Second City and nonfiction writing for The National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts. Brett is currently writing two other books, one a novel and the other a collection of autobiographical stories.
TalES FROM THE CARPOOL LANE: WRITING THE PARENTING STORY
Your kids give you enough laughs and heartache to generate infinite stories. Whether you are ready to write an essay about your personal adventures in parenthood, or just want to get motivated to journal and capture your precious and often hilarious moments on paper, this is the class for you. Published essayist and expert Momoirist (Mommy Memoirist), Sarah Maizes, will help you uncover your story, and show you how to transform it into a relatable, moving tale in your own voice. We’ll sample some of the parenting essay styles out there and determine which approach will allow your unique perspective to shine through. By the end of class, you’ll have channeled some of your wonderful and infuriating parenting experiences into a draft of a gripping story! Both Moms and Dads welcome. Play date not included.
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Instructor: Sarah Maizes Sat., June 15, 2013 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Cost: $80 (includes snacks, mimosas, and tea) Location: Writing Pad West (Westwood) |
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About Sarah Maizes:
Sarah Maizes is the founder of MommyLiteOnline.com - a parenting humor blog - and author of “Got Milf? The Modern Mom’s Guide to Feeling Fabulous, Looking Great and Rocking a Minivan!“ Her work has appeared in Los Angeles Magazine, on The Huffington Post, Today.com, TodayMoms.com, JMag.com, More.com, HybridMom.com, DivineCaroline.com, TheNervousBreakdown.com, Shine.com (by Yahoo!), TheWellMom.com, and Autisable.com (a website for parents of children with Autism). She is a regular contributor to CBS/LosAngeles.com (Best of LA/Families), Momtourage.com and HybridMom.com. She has appeared on “The Today Show”, KTLA News, NBC, and NPR. In addition, she is the creator and co-author of The Bridesmaid’s Guerrilla Handbook (published by Berkley), a Borders Bestselling Trade Paperback. Sarah is a former Literary Agent with the William Morris Agency in NYC representing the following children's book authors: Dav Pilkey, Cynthia Rylant, Paul Zindel, Bill Cosby, amongst others. She is also a former TV development executive for kid's television, and the author of three books for children including"On My Way to the Bath" - a Children's Book of the Month Club Main Selection and Children's Book Committee "Best Children's Book of 2012," and it's upcoming sequels, On My Way to Bed," and "On My Way to School, published by Walker Books/Bloomsbury.
WRITING A PILOT THAT CAN FLY (WEEKEND INTENSIVE)
Do you have a great idea for TV's next "Mad Men" or "The Walking Dead"? In this class, showrunner and TV writer William Rabkin ("Psych", "Monk", "Writing The Pilot") will show you what you need to do to bring your brilliant concept to the screen. Bill will teach you how to plan a riveting series and give your pilot a unique voice and a specific world view. You’ll learn how to breathe life into your characters , break your pilot story, and write an original plot. He'll share his personal techniques for crafting an irresistible series and give you a lot of individual help on your story. By the end of this weekend, you’ll have developed the formula for your show and defined your main characters. Bill will even give you feedback on your outline before your set off to write, read a draft of your pilot, and meet with you a month after this class. You'll be on your way to an executive producer credit faster than you can say "Breaking Bad.”
Note: Class will be limited to ten students.
About William Rabkin:
William Rabkin has written and/or produced hundreds of hours of dramatic television. He served as showrunner on the long-running Dick Van Dyke mystery series “Diagnosis Murder” and on the action-adventure spectacle “Martial Law.” His many writing and producing credits include “The Glades,” “Monk,” “Psych, “Nero Wolfe,” “Missing,” “Spenser: For Hire,” “seaQuest 2032,” “Hunter” and “The Cosby Mysteries”. He has also written and sold a dozen network TV pilots. His work has been nominated twice for the Edgar Award for best television episode by the Mystery Writers of America. He has written two books on writing for television, Successful Television Writing (2003), with Lee Goldberg and Writing The Pilot (2011). Bill is also the author of the novels “A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Read,” “Mind Over Magic,” “The Call of the Mild,” “A Fatal Frame of Mind” and “Mind-Altering Murder.” He is the co-creator and co-editor of “The Dead Man,” a monthly series of supernatural action thrillers published by Amazon’s 47North imprint, and has written two installments. He is part of the core faculty of the University of California, Riverside-Palm Desert’s M.F.A. in Creative Writing & Writing for the Performing Arts, and has lectured on television writing and production all over the world.
Writing the Marketable Picture Book
Want to write the next “Where The Wild Things Are?” Let picture book author Sarah Maizes show you how to craft a story so good it will actually make children look forward to bedtime. She'll cover crucial topics such as tone, target age, marketability, and much more. Sarah will also help you avoid the rookie mistakes, make your work stand out, and benefit from her years of experience as a literary agent for William Morris. By the end of class, you’ll have gotten valuable feedback from her on your story, suggestions of publishers to target, and a solid plan of how to proceed. Footie pajamas not included.
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Instructor: Sarah Maizes Tues., June 25, 2013 Cost: $90 (includes snacks, wine and tea) Location: Writing Pad West (Westwood) |
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About Sarah Maizes:
Sarah Maizes is the author of three books for children including"On My Way to the Bath" - a Children's Book of the Month Club Main Selection and Children's Book Committee "Best Children's Book of 2012," and it's upcoming sequels, On My Way to Bed," and "On My Way to School, published by Walker Books/Bloomsbury. She is also a former Literary Agent with the William Morris Agency in NYC representing the following children's book authors: Dav Pilkey, Cynthia Rylant, Paul Zindel, Bill Cosby, amongst others and a former TV development executive for kid's television. Sarah Maizes founded MommyLiteOnline.com - a parenting humor blog - and author of “Got Milf? The Modern Mom’s Guide to Feeling Fabulous, Looking Great and Rocking a Minivan!“ Her work has appeared in Los Angeles Magazine, on The Huffington Post, Today.com, TodayMoms.com, JMag.com, More.com, HybridMom.com, DivineCaroline.com, TheNervousBreakdown.com, Shine.com (by Yahoo!), TheWellMom.com, and Autisable.com (a website for parents of children with Autism). She is a regular contributor to CBS/LosAngeles.com (Best of LA/Families), Momtourage.com and HybridMom.com. She has appeared on “The Today Show”, KTLA News, NBC, and NPR. In addition, she is the creator and co-author of The Bridesmaid’s Guerrilla Handbook (published by Berkley), a Borders Bestselling Trade Paperback.
YOU in 1200 Words: WRITING AND PUBLISHING THE PERSONAL ESSAY (3 WK)
Have you always wanted to write a personal essay but you don’t know where to start? Or have you dreamed of seeing one of your essays published in the New York Times or Salon? Then this is the class for you. Successful journalist Taffy Brodesser-Akner will show you how to make your essay relatable, targeted for the right publication, and tantalizing to readers. We’ll workshop one of your essays and by the end of class, you'll have a kick-ass essay that is ready to be submitted for publication. Your goal will be to sell your essay within a couple of weeks after the class ends! Taffy has helped 26 students get paid and published for their work in publications such as Self, Marie Claire, LA Times, Salon, Spirit Magazine, and New York Magazine. You can read some of them here: Boston Globe, LA Times #1, LA Times #2, LA Times #3, Marie Claire, Nerve, Self, Salon #1, Salon #2, Salon #3, Salon #4, Salon #5, Salon #6, Salon #7, Salon #8, Salon #9, Salon #10, Whole Life Times, xoJANE)!
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Instructor: Taffy Brodesser-Akner Wednesday, June 26, July 10, 31 7:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m. |
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About Taffy Brodesser-Akner:
Taffy Brodesser-Akner is a writer whose personal essays and reported personal essays have been published in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, Self, Salon, The Daily Beast, American Baby, Babble, Tablet, amongst other publications. Prior to becoming a full-time journalist, she began and ran Media Bistro's education program from its beginning until 2006. She holds a Bachelor's degree of Fine Arts in Dramatic Writing from NYU (Tisch School of the Arts) where she concentrated in screenwriting.
Literary Games: THE ART OF THE FOUND STORY
What if you could harness the detritus of your daily life to write a Pulitzer prize winner? In this one day class, successful writer Grace Krilanovich will set your mind ablaze with a wide range of fun literary games to do just that. Grace used these techniques to craft her successful novel "The Orange Eats Creeps." She'll show you how to generate new material by playing with text, magazine clippings and comic strips. These Surrealist games will take the pain out of the creative process, inspire unexpected stories, and inject your writing with surprises that you could never have dreamed up on our own. By the end of class, you'll be armed with a writer’s block busting toolkit as well as the beginnings of an new tale so imaginative it would have made Charles Bukowski jealous!
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Instructor: Grace Krilanovich Saturday, June 29, 2013 |
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About Grace Krilanovich:
Grace Krilanovich's debut novel "The Orange Eats Creeps", published by Two Dollar Radio, was a finalist for the or the Starcherone Prize, the Indie Booksellers' Choice Award and the Believer Book Award. The novel, called "One of 2010's small-press triumphs" by The Week, made year-end lists at NPR, BlackBook, Largehearted Boy and Shelf Unbound Magazine, and was named one of Amazon's Top Ten Science Fiction/Fantasy Books of 2010. Excerpts of "The Orange Eats Creeps" have appeared in Black Clock. Grace's stories and essays have also appeared in Puerto del Sol, The Comics Journal, The Rumpus, LA Review of Books, Nylon and other places. Grace is a MacDowell Colony fellow and was a National Book Foundation "5 Under 35" honoree for 2010. She is currently at work on a novel set in 1870s California. Grace holds a BA in American Studies from San Francisco State University and an MFA in Writing from CalArts.
Memorable Memoir Bootcamp: Make Your True Tales Thrilling
You know your story. It's about you, after all. But how do you make your tale so engaging that it pulls the reader in page after page? In this five week class, successful memoirist Brett Paesel takes you behind the scenes, exploring techniques for making the truth more compelling than fiction. Though in-class lectures, writing exercises, and targeted workshopping sessions, you'll explore the essential ingredients of memoir: voice, story structure, character, and conflict, and take writing “what you know” to the next level. By the end of the class, you’ll have crafted several chapters of your memoir and made them so intriguing, agents will return your calls! Experienced and beginning writers welcome.
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July/August Section July 9, 16, 23, Aug. 13, 20 (5 Tues. eve.'s) |
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About Brett Paesel:
Brett Paesel is the author of the Los Angeles Times bestseller, "Mommies Who Drink: Sex, Drugs, and Other Distant Memories of an Ordinary Mom" (Warner Books) and the blog, "Last of the Bohemians". "Mommies Who Drink" was selected as an Elle Magazine Must Read, a hot summer pick in Entertainment Weekly, and one of "Summers' Hottest Reads" in People Magazine. The Boston Globe proclaimed the book "honest, affectionate, and smartly written. . . real, and laugh-out-loud funny." Brett has also written television pilots for HBO, ABC, Fox, WB, Lifetime, and Nick at Nite. Her stories, essays, and articles have been published in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Salon.com, More magazine, Self, Family Fun, amongst other publications. In addition, she was a contributing editor to Parents and Wondertime (where she was also a beauty and wellness columnist). Her comic essays have been included in several collections including "Lights, Action, Travel" and "Behind the Bedroom Door". Brett has taught screenwriting and sketch at Second City and nonfiction writing for The National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts. Brett is currently writing two other books, one a novel and the other a collection of autobiographical stories.
What Do You Think? Writing the Op-Ed or Cultural Essay (5 WK)
Do you have strong opinions and no one to share them with? Write an op-ed and make some money off of your passion (op-eds are opinion essays with a strong personal point-of-view). The market for op-eds and cultural essays are huge right now, and there are plenty of places to break in. In this class, L.A. Times contributing op-ed editor Erin Aubry Kaplan will show you how to write an op-ed, make your argument as strong as possible, and pitch to the right editors. Newspapers and websites like the L.A. Times, New York Daily News, Salon and Wall Street Journal have blogs and pages that need op-eds and essays every day and Erin will cover the best way to approach all of them. By the end of the class, you'll have completed and polished two 800-word essays and be ready to send them out to be published! Voila, an essayist!
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Instructor: Erin Aubry Kaplan July 9, 16, 23, 30, Aug. 13 (4 Tues. eve.'s, 1 one-on-one consultation)
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About Erin Aubry Kaplan:
Erin Aubry Kaplan is an award-winning journalist and columnist who has written about African-American political, economic and cultural issues since 1992. She is currently a contributing editor to the op-ed section of the Los Angeles Times, and from 2005 to 2007 was a weekly op-ed columnist – the first black weekly op-ed columnist in the paper’s history. She has been a staff writer and columnist for the LA Weekly and New Times Los Angeles. She is a regular contributor for many publications, including Salon.com, Essence, Black Enterprise, BlackAmericaWeb, Ms. and the Independent. She is also a regular columnist for make/shift, a quarterly, cutting-edge feminist magazine that launched in 2007. Her LA Weekly feature, “Blue Like Me” won the PEN USA 2001 award for journalism. Erin’s essays have been anthologized in several books, including “Mothers Who Think: Tales of Real-Life Parenthood” (Villard, Washington Square Press), “Step Into A World” (Wiley & Sons) and “Rise Up Singing: Black Women Writers on Motherhood” (Doubleday). The last book’s contributors include Maya Angelou, Gwendolyn Brooks and Alice Walker, and won an American Book Award in 2004. Her own first book of essays and journalism, "Black Talk, Blue Thoughts and Walking the Color Line: Dispatches From a Black Journalista", was published Fall 2011 by the University Press of New England (UPNE) as part of its Northeastern Library of Black Literature. Erin teaches creative nonfiction at the Antioch University MFA in Creative Writing program and is a journalism advisor at University of Redlands.
Addictive Fiction: Writing The Knock Out Novel
Have you always dreamed of writing the Great American novel? Let writing craft master and author James Scott Bell teach you structure and plot techniques that will make your story write itself. In this one-day class, he'll show you how to craft unforgettable leads, raise the stakes of your story and build up to a knock out ending. James will teach you his patented LOCK system that’s guaranteed to create a novel so gripping, it’ll leave your readers breathless. He’ll also show you how to master plot and scene structure and trim the story fat. By the end of this class, you’ll have a solid outline for your story, some eye popping scenes and a set of diagnostic tools to cure any story woes. NY Times bestseller list, here I come!
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Instructor: James Scott Bell Sunday, July 14, 2013 |
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About James Scott Bell:
James Scott Bell is the #1 bestselling author of "Plot & Structure", and thrillers like "Deceived", "Try Dying", "Watch Your Back", and "One More Lie" (International Thriller Writers Award finalist). Jim attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he studied writing with Raymond Carver. He graduated with honors from the University of Southern California law school, and has written over 300 articles and several books for the legal profession. He has taught novel writing at Pepperdine University and numerous conferences in the United States, Canada and Great Britain. His short fiction has appeared in two anthologies and he is currently at work on two series: pulp style boxing stories featuring Irish Jimmy Gallagher and the vigilante nun series Force of Habit. Under the pen name K. Bennett he is also the author of the Mallory Caine zombie legal thriller series, which begins with "Pay Me in Flesh". Jim served as fiction columnist for Writer's Digest magazine, to which he frequently contributes, and has written four craft books for Writer’s Digest Books: "Plot & Structure", "Revision & Self-Editing", "The Art of War for Writers" and "Conflict & Suspense". A former trial lawyer, Jim now writes and speaks full time. He lives in Los Angeles. He blogs every Sunday at The Kill Zone.
Work The Room: Mastering The Power of The Cocktail Party Pitch
You run into a creative exec from a major studio while getting your morning cup of Joe. When he asks you about your brilliant script, your mind goes blank and you pass out on the sugar station. If you had taken this class, you’d have sold the pitch and have enough cash for a lifetime of latte's! Let industry veteran Robbie Fox guide you through the harrowing process of pitching your film or TV show idea on the fly. In the first meeting of this three day class, you’ll learn the structure of a pitch and its goals, craft a solid presentation, and work on teasing out the most easily digestible concepts from your project. In the second class, you’ll practice your pitch and get crucial feedback. During the third class, you’ll actually pitch your project to a room of creative execs! You bring the pitch, and we’ll make it rock.
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Instructor: Robbie Fox July 22, 29, 2013 (2 Mon. eve.'s, 1 meeting with creative execs) |
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About Robbie Fox:
Robbie Fox has sold over 60 pitches to the major studios and has written over 12 produced films. His entree into Hollywood was writing and directing "The Great O'Grady", an award- winning short for Columbia Pictures and Showtime. His original screenplays include "So I Married An Axe-Murderer" with Mike Myers, "Shooting Elizabeth" with Jeff Goldblum and "In The Army Now" with Pauley Shore. Upcoming scripts include "Lost In Coachella" (writing and directing for MPCA), "Still Life" to be directed by Bruce Beresford. His original script "Playing For Keeps", starring Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Dennis Quaid, Catherine Zeta Jones and Uma Thurman, will be released worldwide December 7th, 2012. Robbie also has done rewrites on films including "My Girl" with Macauley Culkin" and the Disney animated Mickey Mouse short "Runaway Brain". For theater, he wrote the book for an original musical "The Gift" (Tiffany Theater, Los Angeles.) His TV work includes the pilots "The Bobby & Larry Show" (co-writer/co-director), "The Wife & Times Of Teddy Berman" (writer, star), and "Devilish", a Nickelodeon Channel original film for Victoria Justice. He studied theater at Northwestern University and screenwriting at NYU.
