Big Sur Fiction Writing Workshop

FACULTY:
Note: Additional faculty to be added as needed.

Special Guest Faculty:

Brandy Rivers is currently a literary manager/producer working in both film and television at Magnet Management. In that capacity, she is responsible for representing authors, screenwriters, and directors as well as developing underlying material including novels, articles, blogs, video games and life rights for production. Among her many clients, she currently represents: television writer Chris McKenna (Co-Executive Producer on NBC’s COMMUNITY), television writer Jeff Davis (showrunner for the MTV television series TEEN WOLF, and creator of CRIMINAL MINDS), screen and television writer Craig Titley (CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, PERCY JACKSON AND THE LIGHTNING THIEF, and NBC television series THE CAPE), author Robyn Harding (CHRONICLES OF A MIDLIFE CRISIS published by Berkley Trade and in TV development with ABC Studios), author and television writer Angela Nissel (Co-Executive producer on NBC and then ABC’s SCRUBS, as well as, Fox’s TIL DEATH, her book THE BROKE DIARIES is in development at Lionsgate with Oprah producing, and a MIXED is in television development at HBO with Halle Barry attached), and author Myra McEntire (HOURGLASS published by Egmont and in feature film development at Fox).

Editors:

Lisa Yoskowitz is an editor at Disney-Hyperion, where she works on fiction for the full range of ages. Her current projects include a picture book about a preschool rock band; an illustrated chapter book series about a group of middle school misfits; a middle grade action-adventure trilogy; and a time travel romance for teens. Lisa is looking to acquire fresh, exciting, and fabulously-voiced picture books and novels. She is most interested in short-texted, character-driven picture books that speak to children and wink at adults; humorous or action/adventure boy-oriented chapter books and middle grade; all genres of girl-oriented chapter books and middle grade; and all genres of literary YA, from historical to contemporary, angst-ridden to snarky.

Sharyn November is senior editor for Viking Children's Books and the editorial director of Firebird Books. She is a two-time finalist for the World Fantasy Award for her editorial work, and Firebirds Rising: An Original Anthology of Science Fiction and Fantasy , which she edited for the imprint, was a finalist for Best Anthology. Her personal website is www.sharyn.org

Julie Romeis, Executive Editor at Chronicle Books. Based in San Francisco, she is building their fiction list for middle grade and teen readers as well as publishing picture books and non-fiction. This follows six years at independent publisher Bloomsbury USA where she helped build its children’s list.

Authors:

Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of 16 published and forthcoming books. Her newest releases are Jumpstart the World (Knopf, Fall 2010) and Second Hand Heart (Transworld UK, Fall 2010). Forthcoming is Don’t Let Me Go (Transworld UK, Spring 2011) and When You Were Older (Transworld UK, Fall 2011). Newer novels are Becoming Chloe (Knopf, 2006), Love in the Present Tense (Doubleday, 2006), The Year of My Miraculous Reappearance (Knopf, 2007), Chasing Windmills (Doubleday, 2008), The Day I Killed James (Knopf, 2008), Diary of a Witness (Knopf, 2009), and When I Found You (Transworld UK, 2009). Older works include the story collection Earthquake Weather , and the novels Funerals for Horses , Pay It Forward , Electric God , and Walter's Purple Heart . Pay It Forward was adapted into a major motion picture, chosen by the American Library Association for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than 23 languages for distribution in over 30 countries.

Eric J. Adams is an author, film producer, screenwriter, and journalist. Eric co-wrote and produced the independent feature film My Suicide (www.mysuicide.net), starring David Carradine, Joe Mantegna, and Nora Dunn. My Suicide won the coveted Crystal Bear Award at the Berlin International Film Festival and was selected to screen at SXSW in Austin, Gen Art Film Festival in New York, and the San Francisco International Film Festival. With his new company, Sleeperwave Films (www.sleeperwave.com), Eric is in development on a number of film projects, including a co-production with Halle Berry’s management company on his script SUPREMACY, the true story of a black family held hostage by white supremacist fugitives. Eric is also the author of several books, including the suspense/thrillers Plot Twist(St. Martin’s Press), Birdland (Hodder & Stoughton), and the dramatic non-fiction Loss of Innocence: A True Story of Juvenile Murder (Avon Books). As a journalist, Eric has written for dozens of national and regional publications, including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Wired, and Salon. He twice won silver medals at the Houston International Film Festival for his screenplays True Crime and Desperate Night, and he was recently named a Djerassi Screenwriting Fellowship finalist by the San Francisco Film Society.

Agents:

Andrea Brown, President of Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc. (ABLA) since 1981, author of Writers' and Artists' Hideouts: Great Getaways for Seducing the Muse , published numerous articles for Writer’s Digest and other publications. She is the executive director of the Big Sur Writing Workshops.

Laura Rennert is a Senior Agent with Andrea Brown Literary Agency. She's been with the agency for ten years, and specializes in all categories of children's books, from picture books to young adult. Some of her noteworthy deals include deals for over half a million dollars to both Random House and Simon & Schuster; six-figure YA deals to Razorbill/Penguin, Knopf, Feiwel & Friends, Margaret McElderry/S&S, Scholastic, and Harper; and a film deal to Nickelodeon/Paramount. Laura is the author of a picture book, Buying, Training, and Caring for Your Dinosaur (Fall 2009, Knopf) and of two highly illustrated books for young readers, Emma, the Extra Ordinary Princess , forthcoming with Dutton. She has a Ph.D. in English literature from the University of Virginia and has nine years of experience teaching as a faculty member in the English Departments of the University of Virginia, Osaka University of Foreign Studies, and Santa Clara University.

Caryn Wiseman is an agent with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, she handles young adult and middle grade fiction and nonfiction, chapter books, and picture books. Recent deals include young adult fiction for Simon & Schuster; a middle grade/young adult three-book series to Parachute Publishing for sale to Penguin; picture books to Holiday House, Clarion and HarperCollins; and nonfiction to Charlesbridge and Houghton Mifflin.

Jaime Weiss Chilton, associate with Andrea Brown Literary Agency, represents children's books exclusively: teen novels, middle grade fiction, chapter books, picture books, and narrative nonfiction. Her specific interests include literary fiction with intense emotional content (character-driven, not issue-driven plots); smart thrillers and mysteries; science fiction; surreal stories and magical realism; sweet, funny, quirky chapter books and picture books.

Kelly Sonnack comes to the Andrea Brown Literary Agency after nearly three years with the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency where she agented children's and adult work. Prior to that, Kelly worked for the publishing giant Reed Elsevier, where she served as an Acquisitions Editor under the Academic Press imprint. As an agent, Kelly specializes in all types of children's literature (picture books, middle grade, young adult, and graphic novels). In picture books and middle grade fiction, Kelly looks for a good sense of humor, stories that stretch a young reader's imagination, and an authentic voice. In young adult, she appreciates literary voices and character-driven stories with heart. In non-fiction for children, she enjoys projects that inspire and stimulate the minds of our younger generations.

Jennifer Rofé, Associate agent Andrea Brown. A graduate of UC Davis with a degree in English and Social and Ethnic Relations, Jennifer also attended Dominican University for Education and taught middle school. Jen is interested in all areas of children’s books and especially looks for writers with a quirky sensibility, sense of humor, rebellious characters and a unique storytelling voice.

Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary Agency, is looking for YA and middle grade realistic fiction, science fiction, mystery, adventure and humor. She adores simplicity, but she is not interested in the conventional, predictable, mechanical, gimmicky or ordinary. She seeks books that have not only voice, but blood, temperature and a pulse--they can be messy and idiosyncratic, but never weak. If you need to be reassured that your writing is vital, you are probably not an author to interest her.

Jennifer Mattson comes to Andrea Brown Literary Agency after nearly five years of reviewing children's books (preschool through YA) as part of the Books for Youth staff of Booklist magazine. Roughly speaking, that adds up to close readings of around 1,000 books, lending Jennifer a wide-angle view of publishing trends and the tastes of individual houses. As a Booklist editor, Jennifer worked as a consultant to the Best Books for Young Adults and the Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers committees.

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PRICING :

• The entire weekend package is $ 720.00. This includes a shared room at the Embassy Suites, all meals (incl. Tax and grats), the entire workshop, and reception Friday evening.

• 'Shared' means that you will be with one other writer in one unit. You will have separate rooms, one with a queen size bed and the other with a comfortable bedsofa, and share the bath. Rooms are large and comfortable. Unless you have a special reason to be private we suggest this as your best alternative. There is an additional $150.00 cost for the weekend should you need a private room.

• For a guest not participating in the workshop, but sharing a room including all meals and the reception, the cost is $ 390.00

• For locals, not needing a room at the Embassy Suites, but attending the workshop including all meals and the reception, the price is $ 600.00.

• If you like to stay extra nights you need to make reservations directly with the hotel’s 'in house reservations department' in order to receive the extended discount. In house reservations: 831-393-1115. Open Monday–Thursday 7AM–4PM Pacific Time.

• Previous participants receive a 5 % discount.

• Cancellation policy: 75% REFUND IF CANCELLED THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO STARTING DATE.
AFTER THAT NO REFUND.

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• SUBMISSION and REGISTRATION GUIDELINES:

To register and submit your manuscript please follow the instructions below.

1. Download our registration form PDF or RTF - fill it in and send, or call 831-667-2574 with card, Visa/MC/Discover, to: "Big Sur Writing Workshop" Henry Miller Library, Highway One, Big Sur, CA 93920. Your submission will not be considered until payment has been received. You will receive immediate confirmation of registration upon receipt of payment.

2. Submit the first two pages of text, or up to the first 500 words or the entire picture book text, via email (pdf). Also send a query letter and, if you like, a synopsis of your work(s) as these will be dealt with during the course of the workshop to help writers make them as strong as possible.

Please email your submission to: magnus@henrymiller.org

Deadline for registration and submission February 10, 2012.

Note: In the past these workshops have sold out early, so we recommend that you register soon. Our policy is first come, first served. Works and writers may not be accepted if the content falls outside the faculty’s areas of expertise, or if the director feels the work and writer would not benefit from attending the workshops. You will be notified as soon as possible, with a full refund of registration fee, should your work not be approved. We suggest you hold off on making airline reservations until you receive notification of acceptance. Such notification is via email.

Plan to bring six copies of the chapters or parts of the manuscript you wish to focus on at the workshop. There may be opportunities to work on more than one project, especially with picture books so do bring a second manuscript, if you like, but then do remember to bring six copies of that as well. Do bring one full copy of each manuscript. Some writers work on one or two chapters in depth, some on many pages as each writer has a unique experience, so it is good to have extra copies just in case.

If you have any questions please e-mail us.

We will also e-mail the registration form to you if you like.

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• SCHEDULE (start time and end time is correct, all other items subject to change)

Friday, March 2:
2:00: Welcome, Introductions, Orientation
3:30—5:30: Critique Group 1
5:30--6:45: Complimentary cocktail hour in hotel lobby
6:45: Dinner
After Dinner: Magnus will give a presentation about Henry Miller, Big Sur and the Library
(incl. a song or two).
Following that 'First pages readings' — evaluations and advice from editors (and agents).
Please notify Magnus if you absolutely do not want your first page read,
Andrea will choose a few ahead of time.

Saturday, March 3:
7:30—8:30: Breakfast in hotel lobby
8:45—10:45: Critique Group 2
11:00—Noonish: Private meetings with faculty on query letters, synopsis or outlines
(Please bring to the private meeting, your sample query letter, a synopsis, ideas for titles, etc. to discuss)
Noon—3:30ish: Box lunch and rewriting time (Either lunch in hotel lobby, or use time to revise while lunching in your room)
3:45—5:45: Repeat Critique Group 1
5:45—6:45: Complimentary cocktail hour
7:00: Dinner and evening program with NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author, Barry Eisler

Sunday, March 4:
7:30—8:45: Breakfast in lobby
8:45—10:30: Repeat Critique Group 2
10:45—Noon: Agent and Editor Panel/Q & A
Noon: Farewell and check out

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• THINGS TO BRING:

Rooms have TV, radio, wi-fi, and alarm clocks. Despite those modern conveniences/distractions we hope you plan to write. Bring pads, laptops (personal printers is also good to bring).

What to expect: Full updated schedules will be going out soon for the workshop weekend. Meanwhile, the main format is small critique groups consisting of 4 to 6 people in each critique group with all or most writers writing in the same genre as much as is possible with the number of attendees and number of people writing in each genre.

Sessions are two hours each and you will meet with 2 different faculty members, twice. So, bring at least 10 copies each for the pages you want to concentrate on during the weekend. However, we want everyone to bring and work on the first chapter or first 10 pages in one of the critique groups. Then bring another chapter or parts of 2 or 3 chapters to work on.

Everyone is unique so some of you may work on several chapters, some will just spend the weekend polishing the first chapter. Bring at least one full copy of your manuscript. Also, bring a sample query letter and/or synopsis as we will have short sessions on writing your query letters or pitch letters.

Please let us know in advance via e-mail if you have had any previous contact with any literary agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc.

Besides the hotel business center there is a convenient Staples across the street from the hotel. At the welcome Andrea Brown will go through the entire schedule, what to expect, including all details, Q&A, etc. so please try to check in before 2 pm.

The hotel has an indoor spa/pool so bring your swimwear.

Dress code is casual and comfortable. We will have a couple of cocktail parties but it'll all be informal, casual and fun.

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HOW TO GET HERE

From: San Francisco to Embassy Suites, Seaside

From: Los Angeles to Embassy Suites

Closest airport is Monterey Airport

If you arrive to the airport in Monterey you can call the hotel and ask for the shuttle
831-393-1115. (it's 10 minutes away)

Check-in at the hotel is between 12 and 2 PM, however, due to the check-out time being 3PM there is no guarantee that you'll be accessing your room until 3. In the unlikely event you won't be able to access your room right away the hotel will be able to safely store your luggage until your room is ready.

If you are interested in staying extra nights before or after the workshop please call the hotel directly at 831-241-9116 and speak to Serena Huerta, (leave a message and she'll call back). Mention that you are part of the Big Sur Writing Workshop to get a discount on the room rate. If you need to speak with someone immediately during business hours you can also call Gretchen Andersen at 831-241-9133.

Airports within 2 hours driving time are San Jose, Oakland and San Francisco airports.

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The Big Sur Writing Workshops is happy to announce the following success stories:

We are proud of our over 20 success stories including Jeff Stone’s half-million dollar deal with Random House for the The Five Ancestors series.

Congratuations to Kim Culbertson, Big Sur Writing Workshop alumni, her YA novel Songs for a Teenage Nomad was recently picked up by Daniel Ehrenhaft, the senior editor at Sourcebooks, to be reissued in hardback under their new young adult imprint FIRE for fall of 2010. The imprint will also publish her second YA novel Traveling Instructions for the spring of 2011.

Jennifer Laughran from ABLA (and workshop faculty member) recently sold the middle grade mystery THE WIG IN THE WINDOW, by Kristin Kittscher, who attended Big Sur in 2010, to HarperCollins (to be edited by former Big Sur faculty editor Rosemary Brosnan!)"

The adult fiction workshop in March: Congratulations to Rebecca Wolf, attendee from 2005 on her sale of Rockabye to editor Brooke Warner at Avalon Books, sold by agent, Laura Rennert.

Congratulations to Christina Meldrum! After attending the Big Sur Writing Workshop a couple of years ago, Laura Rennert of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc. sold a two book, six-figure deal with Alfred A. Knopf for Christina! We can't wait to see the books and have Christina attend as faculty.

Also congrats to Harry Haines for signing a two novel deal with Mayhaven Publishing.

The children's book workshop from this past December, congratulates Elizabeth Shreeve who has now sold two picture book manuscripts to Front Street/Boyd's Mills Press, including Oliver at the Window.

We also congratulate Crystal Allen from the December 2008 workshop who just sold a two-book, six-figure deal to HarperCollins with agent, Jennifer Rofé, from Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc.

Who is the next success story?

If any other former attendees have sales as a result of attending the workshops, please let Magnus at the Henry Miller Library know as soon as possible so we can post it. Keep writing!

Thank you,

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Testimonials from participants in previous Writing Workshops:

"Andrea Brown literary agency is my favorite agency. I love the authors, titles, publishers, and after having met the agents, I was impressed by your passion for the craft, and the "no, we're not some snooty NY agency, but we're big players" kind of approach."

"The critique groups were amazing. The editors, agents, and authors were very approachable, and their comments/edits were invaluable. The writers in both critique groups shared fresh/unique perspectives, with an uninhibited ear/eye for what was and was not working. I stayed up nearly all night on both nights to create a revised first chapter that's both immediate and evocative...... kick your butt in a good way workshop. It was was inspiring."

"This is the first conference I have walked away thinking this was worth every penny. I actually feel like I have something of value, and I am a better writer for going."

"I loved the workshop and came home inspired. I hope I can go next year! Thanks for everything!"

"I really appreciated the low-pressure environment, because it was a workshop rather than a conference. I enjoyed just talking to people, faculty and conferees, without having to be “on.” The faculty were all so willing to share their knowledge and offer their help. It was really a unique experience."

"I was truly grateful for the time and thought they put into their feedback, which resulted in a stronger start to my book."

"Thank you so much for offering this workshop. It reinvigorated me and my book and allowed me to connect with other people, make new friends, and reconnect with old friends, all who love writing for children."

"I love the sense of community here. It reminds me of the level of professionalism that is needed, i.e. time to work: time to network, talk and enjoy the process of writing. Great! Great! Great!"

"The best part was the intensity! The editors/agents are so down to earth & accessible! I like that serious writers were here to discuss work. It raised the standards for people.”

“Diverse and insightful critique from colleagues and opportunity to meet and gather insights from people in the industry.”

“The best part is that you make us work!”

"Multiple critique sessions worked perfectly!”

"Having a professional in the field to ask questions of - very specifically - regarding how work fits in publishing world was the best part."

"I had an amazing weekend! I learned so much about writing and developing my work."

"Gee, do you think I will be back next year? You might as well sign me up now!"

"Loved every minute of it."

"Thanks. Great workshop."

"Great workshop as usual."

"Thanks for helping put on a wonderful weekend."

"All of us experienced the pleasure of praise for work well done and the pain of constructive criticism.

"Thank you for an encouraging and wonderful event."

"No wonder people are coming all the way from Brazil!"

"I was actually surprised that the rooms where so comfortable and the food was marvellous, The Best!"

"Superb - The absence of distractions make this conference so much more productive."

"This conference felt like family."

"I achieved what I came for - to solve story problems."

"Excellent."

"Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!"

"I'll be back!"

"Exceptional!"

"Awesome."

"Great."

"Lodging excellent, location spectacular."

“The food was great! I was completely, and pleasantly surprised.”