Off to the AK Writers Guild Workshop…
It’s hard to stay inside during one of the last weekends of the summer, but I’m forcing myself--in order to be part of the second-ever Alaska Writers Guild Workshop. Not to play favorites, but the presenter I couldn’t leave summer without seeing was keynote Andrew Harmon. He’s described as a theater director, playwright, acting teacher, and improv specialist--as in IMPROV-isation. Reading about his improv connection made me too curious not to attend, since I’ve long respected the art. Improv is a form of “performance writing,” if I may coin a term. There’s a direct line between improv skills and making connections on the page. Beyond that, it just seems fun.
According to the schedule posted at alaskawritersguild.com, Harmon will lead a workshop on “The Four Crises of Authorship—Moments of Truth in the Creative Process,” and a breakout session called “Voices of the Change Journey—Plot, Character Function and Dilemma as Explanation.” (Is it too much to hope we’ll have a chance to learn some improv games, too?)
Also spied on the schedule: The book auction on the second day is being advertised now as a fund-raiser in honor of the late Lin Halterman, a member of the Guild who was for a time very dedicated to keeping up its website and who died suddenly this past year. The group intends to found a Lin Halterman Scholarship. More information on that as it comes.
The Alaska Writers Guild Workshop takes place Saturday and Sunday at the Coast International Inn, in Anchorage. See you there!
August 21, 2009
