Writers’ Workshop Sailing off the Turkish Coast

February 7th, 2008 | By Larry Habegger | No Comments »

Learn How to Craft a Travel Article, Write a Memoir and Publish Your Book

I’ll be leading a seven-day writers workshop on the personal travel narrative aboard a traditional 82-foot gulet (a Turkish yacht) September 20-27, 2008. Come join me!

On this seven-day intensive workshop sailing on the Aegean Sea you’ll learn the ins and outs of crafting a superb story and how to bring your work to print, whether it’s a short essay or a book-length memoir. I’ll help you develop powerful stories with simple tools and plot the course to successful publication.

For information about sailing along the ancient shores of Turkey with me, contact Robin Sparks at robin@robinsparks.com.

In this workshop you will learn how to:
• Unearth kernels of inspiration
• Find the right way in
• Create the ideal structure to give a story maximum substance and meaning
• Access memory to add depth and texture
• Use techniques of fiction to add drama and suspense
• Craft the perfect ending
• Edit to make the story a page-turner
• Develop the kind of book proposal publishers are eager to see
• Create the perfect marketing plan so your book will sell
• Write like a poet but think like a publicist

Daily writing exercises will help you find the focus of your story, and discussions will provide guidance for shaping and polishing. Participants will gain confidence about what makes a story work and how to make it shine in the marketplace. (more…)

One Spot Open in Advanced Travel Writing Workshop in San Francisco

October 10th, 2007 | By Larry Habegger | No Comments »

I have one spot remaining in my advanced personal travel writing workshop that starts tonight in San Francisco. The class is a series of seven meetings, all but one on Wednesday nights, beginning Oct. 10. Instead of meeting on Halloween we’ll meet that week on Thursday, Nov. 1. We’ll also postpone our meeting on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (Nov. 21) and instead have our final meeting on the following Wednesday, Nov. 28. All meetings run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 4th and Townsend Streets across the street from the Caltrain station, a short block away from the Muni Metro stop and several bus lines. For those who drive, there’s ample free parking. The group will be a minimum of six people and a maximum of ten. Cost will depend on group size.

In the first session we’ll get to know each other, talking about your experience, your goals, what you’d like to get out of this class, and, of course, the material you’re working on. We’ll also read and discuss some examples of superb writing. In the six subsequent sessions we’ll work on your stories in depth. Each week half the group will send a story to everyone for all to read in advance so we can be prepared for discussion in class. This way, each of you will get three of your stories worked on over the seven weeks, and you’ll have the benefit of critiquing everyone else’s pieces.

Once we’ve finished our seven weeks together this class could transform into a master class that meets monthly or twice-monthly indefinitely, but that will depend on interest. I have had two ongoing monthly classes and one ongoing twice-monthly class that began as weekly sessions like this. One is still running and it’s worked out nicely for all.

If you want to join me, or have questions, email me at larry@LarryHabegger.com

Crafting the Personal Travel Story with Larry at Book Passage

May 31st, 2007 | By Larry Habegger | No Comments »

One-Day Writers’ Workshop — Saturday, June 2, 2007
This Saturday I’ll be conducting my popular one-day workshop, Crafting the Personal Travel Story, at Book Passage in Corte Madera, CA from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hundreds of writers have taken this course over the years and many have gone on to publishing success.

We’ll spend the day exploring techniques that help you unearth kernels of inspiration, find the right lead, create the ideal structure to give a story substance and meaning, access memory to add depth and texture, use techniques of fiction to add drama and suspense, and much more. In-class writing exercises help find the focus of the story and discussions provide guidance for shaping and polishing. You’ll gain confidence about what makes a story work and the value of your own stories, and you should come prepared with ideas you want to explore. I’ll also include advice on how and where to get your stories published. Join me at Book Passage for an inspiring day. There’s still time to sign up.

New Year, New Class

January 2nd, 2007 | By Larry Habegger | No Comments »

We’ve rolled into a new year and I’ve got a couple of slots open in my ongoing Advanced Travel Writing workshop that meets the second Thursday of each month in San Francisco. The group has been meeting monthly for about two years with a maximum of ten participants. If you’re interested, let me know.

I’ve also been planning a new workshop this winter, but will probably start it in February instead of January. For information, see the description on my “Teaching” page.