Summer Writers Weekend Workshop,

Marshfield, PEI

 

The Character Generated Story In Drama and Prose Fiction

 

I’ll be giving a two day workshop on August 24 and 25, 2013, at the family farm in Marshfield, PEI.

The craft of writing workshop is open to writers at all levels of their practice.

The workshop’s timed, multi-perspective free-writing exercises will focus on character creation as a

means of story development with specific emphasis on drama (film, television and stage) and prose

fiction (the novel and short story).

 

Poets, journalists, dramatists, novelists, essayists, neophytes and masters seeking new ways to approach

their craft… all are welcome.  The magic is in the mix!

 

The workshop will meet over two days, with periods of solo writing leading to work shared with the group

in a supportive, challenging atmosphere.

 

The workshop will be based on that given this winter as part of my tenure as Artist in Residence at 

McGill University’s Institute for the Life of Arts and Ideas. The two day intensive was the central

event of the inaugural residency, and was a terrific success.

 

Some of the participants, a terrific blend of faculty and students, advanced and/or clarified work already

in progress. Others make solid first steps in new writing projects. All were delighted to learn craft basics

in two challenging, supportive, stimulating days.

 

Here are participant comments:

 

“Everyone was given fair counsel and made remarkable progress. At the end, all the writers were elated

and this feeling permeated their soul, giving them a renewed confidence in being able to tackle whatever

writing emerged.”

 

“This is a true tale about a caring artist and professor who decides to host a character generated writing

workshop through the IPLAI at McGill University and by doing so, transforms his students. He was

endearing to all and all appreciated the fact that when he critiqued, he not only drew from his vast

analytical knowledge and life experience, but he also from his heart. During the course of the workshop,

there was a strong sense that the professor acted as a facilitator, a maestro, enabling students to face

and fight their technical foes while rising above their fears.”

 

“Thank you for your invaluable pearls of wisdom. The past weekend has given me so much to build on. I

have promised myself to get back into reading and writing as disciplines.”

 

“I would like to take a moment to tell you how much I enjoyed the Character Generated Story Workshop

this weekend. Kent is truly an inspiring writing instructor. He knows how to encourage the students to go

beyond the limits they might have set for themselves while at the same time never making anyone feel

diminished. It was a fantastic experience, even for a neophyte like myself. It is invaluable for anyone

interested in arts and ideas and willing to raise to the challenge.”

 

“I’m so grateful to IPLAI for asking Kent to do the workshop, if that’s how the occasion arose. It was

quite extraordinary, in my humble opinion. He is a very gifted teacher, really one of the best I’ve seen in

action over more decades than I like to contemplate. He’s clear, organized to a T, warm, friendly,

disciplined, and absolutely engaged in his subject. Having set the stage so well, he then dove into each

separate piece submitted, and made each student feel they were a welcome guest in his house. Of

course the response was relaxation, ease, thankfulness, a release from nerves, and in at least one case,

tears of joy and pleasure. That’s rare indeed!

 

It was a privilege for me to be part of the procedure, and I’m sure each one of us felt the same

way.  Many thanks for a truly wonderful weekend.”

 

Experience tells small is better!  My classes in the Creative Writing Department at Concordia University

are rarely larger than twelve in number.  I also keep my eight week on-line courses small.

 

In the same spirit, I’m limiting the number of participants in the first PEI Stetson Farm Writer’s Workshop

to ten. This is the perfect workshop number for people to learn new skills, develop their craft, to

contribute and receive useful insights from their peers.

 

I’m excited by this new adventure in the world of creative writing!  Check out MasterPlayWorks for

more general information about your’s truly, and get a sense of other workshops offered and how they

work. Drop a line if, after thoroughly checking the site, you’d like more information.

 

Dates and Times:

Saturday, August 23, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.  (6hrs)

Sunday, August 24, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.  (6hrs)

 

Location:

The Stetson Family Farm, Marshfield. Route 2 east. CN: 14136

 

To apply to participate, please send the following by 5pm Friday, August 16, 2013:

1) a writing sample (max.  400 words)

2) a statement explaining why you would like to participate in the workshop (max. 1 page)

3) a brief biographical statement (1 paragraph)

 

Cost of two day twelve hour workshop:

$145.50 plus tax, payable by check upon acceptance.

Can’t wait to get home, and lend a collegial hand.

Kent

 

* Kent’s e-mail address is kent.stetson@sympatico.ca.