Build a Better Author Bio
June 13, 2023 – Sponsored by the Central Oregon Writers’ Guild
Trish Wilkinson “Build a Better Author Bio: A Powerful Tool to Attract Readers”
Your author bio often determines whether an editor, agent, or prospective reader will read your work. Come find out what to include—and exclude—in a strong author bio, practice what you learn, then give and get feedback for polishing.
You’ll leave the June COWG meeting (live or online) with a clear understanding of a bio’s objective across media and how to craft one that entices people to engage—for example, to get an agent to click the Reply button to request pages of your work.
Patricia (Trish) Wilkinson is an editor, workshop facilitator, and author of Readers’ Choice Award Winner Brain Stages: How to Raise Smart, Confident Kids and Have Fun Doing It. Since 2010, Trish has coached many writers to publication, several of whom have written bestsellers and developed successful writing careers.
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 5:30-7:30PM
In Person at the Downtown Bend Library (Brooks Room) 601 NW Wall St.
Or Remote on ZOOM
Story Structure
Learn the secret to freedom in creativity, and write your best story.
Once you truly understand how blockbuster stories are put together, you’ll not only never see a movie or read a good book the same way again, but you’ll be free to create, knowing how to create an engaging story.
You will:
- Learn the components that make some stories more successful than others
- Discover why timing is everything and how to use that to your advantage
- Receive a graphic organizer that summarizes story structure a la Larry Brooks’ Story Engineering: Mastering the Six Core Competencies of Successful Writing. (Trish has studied many, but Larry’s is her favorite explanation of story structure. It has worked best for her and her clients. She’ll show you why at
the workshop and thinks you’ll agree.)
- Fill in your own story elements during the workshop on a blank graphic organizer for a new project or work in progress—step by step.
- Have the opportunity to share your structure and get feedback from others for fine-tuning
- Be ready to go home and write or revise your best story yet
- Leave the workshop with a clear understanding of story structure and how to apply that knowledge to any length piece, from flash fiction to a full-length book
The workshop will be at the Aspen Ridge retirement community conference room on the second floor, Saturday, May 19 from 10:00 to 2:00. Hope to see you there!
Write Short Stories and Get Them Published!
In beautiful Bend, Oregon, come join Trish on Saturday, March 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for a short story workshop sponsored by the Central Oregon Writers’ Guild.
1. Learn what makes a compelling short story.
2. Pick up tools you’ll get to practice at the workshop to take your writing to a new level.
3. Find out how to query editors to consider your work for publication, and
4. Go home with a list of publications to submit your work.
Memoir: How to Write a Salable Personal Story and Enjoy the Process
(It’s the same as the one I taught last February with some new material and a bit more streamlined, so students will have more time for hands on practice and to ask questions about their personal projects)
Using Setting: The Delicious Tool to Connect Readers with Your Story
(This workshop is sort of an exercise in the How-To for showing rather than telling. Often writers think we’re showing when we’re just telling a little fancier than the average person. This workshop will give you hands on experience and feedback, so you’ll go home with tools you can use right away in your next short story, memoir revision, or whatever project you’re working on!)
The June 10th workshop at Barnes & Nobel for the Teen Book Festival was such a success, the students and staff asked Linda Berry and me to do another one on Story Structure on July 17, 2016 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
If you want to save yourself a TON of time in the rough draft and revision phases of writing a novel, narrative nonfiction, or short story, come join our FREE workshop on Story Structure, featuring the genius of author Larry Brooks. You’ll get a graphic organizer for easy reference and instruction that will leave you saying, “Dang! Where have you been all my life?” Seriously, you won’t believe how much this workshop will make your writing life easier, for both “pantsers” (those who write by the seat of their pants – no planning, just clicking keys to see what comes out) and “plotters” (those who start with a plan, whether quick notes or a full outline). And you’ll never read a book or watch a movie the same way again. This hour at Barnes & Nobel could be the most valuable hour you’ve ever spent in your writing life!
That’s: July 17 from 2-3:00 p.m. at Barnes & Nobel in Bend, OR, 2690 NE Highway 20.
COME JOIN US!
Attention Teen Readers and Writers: If you live in Central Oregon, or you can figure out how to get to the Barnes & Nobel in Bend, join author Linda Berry and me at B&N’s “First-Ever Teen Book Festival”! Linda and I will be giving a workshop on story structure and tips for how to show rather than tell on Sunday, June 11 at 2:00 p.m. See you there!
On June 16, 2016, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. , come join the Central Oregon Writers’ Guild for a workshop I’m giving on “SETTING: HOW TO OPTIMIZE THE ENVIRONMENT, IN BOTH FICTION AND NONFICTION, TO ENRICH YOUR STORY”
The workshop will be at Aspen Ridge, 1010 NE Purcell Blvd. – Bend, OR. 97701. Admission is FREE. Bring a pen and paper for hands-on practice.
If you can be in the San Diego area on Tuesday, February 9 or Presidents’ weekend, come join Howard and me as we give you all the tools you’ll need to write a compelling memoir and learn immediately doable techniques for improving your writing!
Three-hour workshop: Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at San Diego Writers’ Ink from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Memoir: How to Write a Salable Personal Story and Enjoy the Process with Howard Shulman and Trish Wilkinson
Southern Calif Writers Conference Feb. 12-14, 2016
Learn about the craft of writing, come see Howard and many other amazing speakers, meet agents, publishers, social media experts, lots of authors, bloggers, journalists, and writers at all levels. Make this Presidents’ Weekend one you’ll never forget in beautiful Mission Valley in San Diego, California.
Howard and I will be teaching one of the many workshops full of humor, camaraderie, and valuable information you can use. Come join us!