When A Workshop Works

A couple of weeks ago I went to a workshop - StoryMasters - that was one of the best I’ve ever attended. It was a four-day affair, run by three of the giants of the writing world: Christopher Vogler, James Scott Bell, and Donald Maass.

Vogler is renowned as the man who brought to the writing world the mythic structure identified by Joseph Campbell in Vogler’s fabulous book The Writer’s Journey. Bell, in addition to being an award-winning fiction author, is also author of a couple of my staples, Plot & Structure, and Conflict & Suspense. Maass, a high-powered agent, has written what I consider to be the best revision guide on the market, Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook, plus a couple of other great craft books, The Fire in Fiction and Writing 21^st Century Fiction.

I felt as if I’d ascended Mount Olympus. (I confess to having a fangirl moment meeting the very friendly and warm Vogler, whose book was the first I read when I began to write. And, by the way, all three of these guys were friendly and warm and totally accessible.)

Each of these masters of the craft took one entire eight-hour day to dissect and explain all aspects of story-telling. They used examples from books and movies – the entire fourth day was devoted to a scene-by-scene analysis of To Kill a Mockingbird. Their approaches were radically different and meshed perfectly (they’ve been friends for a long time, and Maass is Bell’s agent.) And they sprinkled, or in Maass’s case larded, their lectures with exercises.

It would be impossible for me to distill what I heard: I took forty-two pages of notes. I can only encourage you to check the schedule for a future workshop by one or all of these guys. The StoryMasters Workshop was sponsored through Free Expressions, and they host a number of workshops and intensives. 

This workshop resulted, once I returned home, in a frenzied revision of my WIP, and I couldn’t be more pleased.

Some workshops really do rise above. I’d love to hear from anyone who’s had a similar experience – let’s share!

FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND: An interview with Vicki Wittenstein

I'm delighted to be back on the blog to highlight this amazing non-fiction book by Vicki Wittenstein, FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND. It's a book that's scary, enlightening, and rich with detail. Here's Vicki:

Congratulations on the publication of FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND? Please give us a brief description of the book.

Thanks, Janet. Writing the book was a difficult and often emotional experience, and I’m thrilled that so many people are interested in the topic. The book traces the history of human medical experimentation from ancient times to the present through some of the greatest medical advances—but also its most horrifying medical atrocities.  Doctors performed thousands of experiments on orphans, prisoners, the mentally ill, and others with little power or voice, without consent. The subjects often suffered excruciating pain and humiliation, and some even died. And, as horrible as these experiments were, they were not comparable to the Nazi doctors’ torture and inhumane experimentation of concentration camp victims during World War II. Despite the laws and regulations in place today, problems continue with clinical trials, the pharmaceutical industry, genetic therapies, stem cell research, and DNA sequencing. The book raises many ethical questions, but primarily asks the reader how to fairly balance the rights of the individual versus the need for medical advancement. What price should we pay for medical knowledge and how can we learn from our mistakes in the past? 

I was pretty horrified as I read, learning about the number of experiments in which the subjects were uninformed. Was this a surprise to you as you did your research?

Absolutely. The U.S. government’s secret radiation experiments during the Cold War shocked me. I kept imagining how I would feel if I had been one of the 18 random hospital patients that doctors secretly injected with plutonium, or one of the 829 pregnant women at a Vanderbilt University clinic who drank a supposedly healthy drink doctors laced with radiation.

How much were you able to use primary sources? Did you meet many of the subjects and/or clinicians?

I used many primary sources, including articles written by a noted antivivisectionist in the early 1900s, material from the United States Memorial Holocaust Museum, the final report on human radiation experiments from the U.S. Department of Energy hearings, newspaper clippings about various experiments, and the laws and regulations promulgated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Office for Human Research Protection (OHRP). I also interviewed several experts and bioethicists in the field, including Jerry Menikoff, M.D., Director of the OHRP.  

One of the most difficult interviews was with Eva Mozes Kor, a twin and survivor of Dr. Joseph Mengele’s experiments on twins at Auschwitz. I was nervous. I had never spoken to a Holocaust survivor before, let alone someone who had been a victim of brutal experimentation. But Eva quickly put me at ease. Her story of survival is remarkable, and her honest voice provided an authentic way for me to discuss painful and inhumane experiments with young adults.

I also spoke to Joshua Shaw, the brother of Simeon Shaw, a four-year-old boy who was flown to the U.S. from Australia for treatment, but instead was injected with plutonium. Joshua Shaw told me that his family never recovered from what happened to Simeon. 

 

It’s clear that without some of these experiments we would not have made medical advancements, and you clearly felt torn at times between what is ethical and what is beneficial. Can you discuss?

I think people are uncomfortable with human medical experimentation. In general, we don’t like the idea of using people as guinea pigs. Yet, without a doubt, new medical discoveries and technologies require human experimentation. Although laws and regulations now govern appropriate human experimentation and the horrifying examples from the past would not occur today, violations still occur and people are injured. The difficult challenge lies in balancing the individual’s risk of injury with the needs of society.

Do you feel there is a line that should not be crossed, regardless of the results?

Definitely. The Common Law mandates three ethical principles:  respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. These standards basically mean that all subjects must give voluntary and informed consent; the harm to subjects must be limited; and subjects must represent a diverse group of people, regardless of race, economic class and ethnicity. Every researcher must strive to follow these laws.  

I think we must never let the ends (scientific advancement) justify the means. As Eva Kor wrote in a personal account of the Nazi experiments, “The scientists of the world must remember that the research is being done for the sake of mankind and not for the sake of science: scientists must never detach themselves from the humans they serve.”

Much of this is also the domain of science fiction and horror. I’m playing with that kind of scenario now in a work in progress. Can you talk to fiction writers about addressing these issues?

When you write about horror, whether truth or fiction, a close first person account can help draw the reader into your story. The brutal facts and emotions speak for themselves, and there isn’t much need for descriptive details. It’s ‘show don’t tell’ with a chilling and creepy effect. Good luck on your project!

Thanks so much!

Thanks for hosting me, and for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts.

VICKI ORANSKY WITTENSTEIN has always been curious about new ideas, people, and places. That curiosity has taken her life in many different directions.  So far, she has been a student, a criminal prosecutor, a writer, and an advocate for children and families.  She is the author of a number of science and history articles for young readers, as well as the book Planet Hunter: Geoff Marcy and the Search for Other Earths, which won the 2013 Science Communication Award from the American Institute of Physics.  She lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York. For more information, and for a free discussion guide, visit http://vickiwittenstein.com/.

Follow her blog tour!

date	blog	blog URL
Mon, Nov 4	proseandkahn	http://proseandkahn.blogspot.com/
Tues, Nov 5	The Prosen People	http://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/_blog/The_ProsenPeople/
Thurs, Nov 7	The Nonfiction Detectives	http://www.nonfictiondetectives.com/
Fri, Nov 8	Growing with Science	http://blog.growingwithscience.com/
Mon, Nov 11	Ms. Yingling Reads	http://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/
Tues, Nov 12	Through the Wardrobe	http://kidswriterjfox.blogspot.com/
Wed, Nov 13	Kid Lit Frenzy	http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/
Thurs, Nov 14	GreenBeanTeenQueen	http://www.greenbeanteenqueen.com/
Fri, Nov 15	The Fourth Musketeer	www.fourthmusketeer.blogspot.com

Busy, Busy, And Then Some

I love October. My very first published piece - a poem - was published in October. I was 8, and my poem ("October") appeared in the local newspaper. It wouldn't win me any awards, but I remember as if it was yesterday the joy I felt at seeing my name in print.

my "first" publication

Plus, October is visually a gorgeous month, and I love those first fires in the fireplace, those crisp cool nights, the first brush of snow on the peaks, the golden aspen and deep red cherry trees.

This October is crazy-busy. I have a ton of appearances. But I want to reflect a moment on what it means to be so busy.

It means I do connect with readers of all stripes. It means I might even make a deeper connection - encourage a young writer to continue, or pass on a piece of knowledge that helps a listener. It also means I don't have as much time as usual to write.

October snow with aspen

Yesterday at a school visit I was asked by a 7th grade student about my daily writing goals, and I answered, truthfully, that I try to aim for 2000 words or 10 pages each day. Under normal circumstances, that's no sweat for me. I write fast - I'm a "fat" writer in the jargon of one of my former teachers, Ellen Howard - and then I go back and edit like crazy. But this October it's proving to be difficult for me to reach any goals at all.

Now perhaps I should add that I have an additional distraction: my husband and I have a new puppy in the house, which is rather like having a toddler running around. Both a joy and a headache, and thank heavens he's cute.

And then there are some personal/professional distractions, the kind that call my dedication to my profession into question. No details here and now, but I have to square my shoulders and soldier on.

That's the key to being a professional author. Yes, I aim to create a steady stream of prose, some of it good and some not, but there are times when the distractions beyond my control. Those are the times when I revisit my dedication to and love for writing.

my new office assistant

For it all comes back to that: the writing. The stories. I must tell stories, and I will be writing until they have to pry the pen from my clenched fingers. Some days, some months, are better than others, but I know I'll be back in the mode of 2000 words/ten pages before much longer.

If you are having trouble with distractions - first weeks of school, kids, sports, preparations for the holidays (gah!) - I feel your pain. Don't lose heart; come back to the storytelling. That's what it's all about.

If you are in Helena, Montana, I'll be there October 24 as part of their Big Read this fall. Their book is THE GREAT GATSBY, and I'll be discussing "SIRENS In the Time of GATSBY" at the Lewis and Clark Library from 7-8:30PM.

On November 2, I'll be on a panel and giving a lecture at the Bozeman Children's Festival of the Book at the Bozeman Public Library.

Both will be fun events, and I hope to see you there.

Montgomery County Writer's Workshop Fundraiser

Last year I participated in a terrific event in Texas: the Montgomery County Book Festival. I met many fabulous authors but more importantly met many, many tween and teen fans who loved the opportunity to meet their writer heroes up close and hear us talk about our books. What a fabulous way to bring readers closer to writers!

This year, in order to host the Festival again, the librarians who sponsor it are offering a Writer’s Workshop Fundraiser, with bestselling authors providing a day of outstanding content (and donating their time!) for the low, low fee of $100.

Believe me, if I lived close by, I’d be there. 

Just check out the offerings! Whether you live in the Houston area or anywhere within range, please consider the great content – plus, you’ll be raising funds for an awesome event.

The Writer’s Workshop is being held on Saturday, November 16, all day; and registration ends on November 10. 

Mindy McGinnis' Debut Novel: NOT A DROP TO DRINK

Today I'm delighted to welcome Mindy McGinnis, who has written a dramatic story: "a survival tale set in a world with very little fresh water." A fabulous concept and I fear all too possible. Here's Mindy:

Congratulations on the publication of your novel, NOT A DROP TO DRINK. As a student of science, I'm fascinated by your topic, and think you may be prescient. Can you tell us a bit about the story and what inspired it?

Unfortunately, I think I might be too! A lot of people have asked me about the inspiration for the book, and the truth is that it came from a dream. But the scary truth behind it is that the dream occurred after I watched a documentary called BLUEGOLD, which is about the very real possibility of a freshwater shortage.

How long have you been writing for children/teens? Have you written other books or is this your first effort?

I actually began by writing for adults, and I wrote three books that weren't publishable. Serendipity landed me in a job as a YA librarian, after which I realized that I was surrounded by my audience and immersed in the market -- -why not write YA?

Can you describe your path to the publication of NOT A DROP TO DRINK? 

It was a ten year path, but mostly because I was starting in the wrong place. I landed my agent, Adriann Ranta, only after I realized I needed to do research and that just having talent wasn't the key. Even after having an agent, I was on submission for six months. Patience is key, in everything.

Do you have any advice for beginning writers?

Do your homework. Don't be afraid of the business side. You need to know what you're doing before you jump into this crazy game.

Can you tell us something about your personal life – inspirations, plans for the future, goals, etc.?

I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a writer, but I also knew better than to hang a shingle on it. So I found a day job that I knew I could be happy in first. I think that's key to being a happy person, regardless of whether you land the pie-in-the-sky writer gig.

Do you have any new writing ventures underway?

I recently signed another two book deal with Katerine Tegen books for two YA books to be released in 2015 and 2016.

Do you have a website where readers can learn more about NOT A DROP TO DRINK? 

Yes! My site is www.mindymcginnis.com and I blog at www.wrtierwriterpantsonfire.blogspot.com