When & Where:

Friday & Saturday,
August 10 & 11, 2012
Northland Public Library

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WORKSHOPS

All workshops will be held Friday at Northland Public Library and cost $35 per attendee per workshop. All workshops are open to everyone.

Linda Fang (9:00am-10:45am) "Words that Tell a Story"
The Chinese language is a story language. Many words and phrases and proverbs come from stories. Linda will demonstrate how Chinese symbols (characters) are formed by strokes and the stories behind them. The participants will learn to use a Chinese brush pen to write Chinese characters. They will be encouraged to tell a story from their own language that eventually have now become a phrase or proverb. There is an added charge of $2/person to cover the cost of materials. Participants will keep their brush pens.
(Meeting Room)

Michael Reno Harrell (11:00am-12:45pm) "What Makes a Good Ghost Story?"
What is the history of ghost stories? Why are they such good stories to tell? In picking a ghost story to tell, what do we look for? How long should a story be? How do I learn the story? Can you control the telling space? When is the best time to tell a ghost story? Can I write a story or find one and adapt it for my own? Plot twists. Atmosphere. Place. Realism. Your demeanor. Explosive events.
(Children's Program Room)

Andy Offut Irwin (1:00-2:45pm) "Creative Exaggeration"
Applying the rules of improv and old fashioned play to creative writing and storytelling, Andy will lead the participants in games and exercises that mine their own past for story fodder. Then everyone will explore that question that leads to almost all exaggeration "What if...?"
(Children's Program Room)

Bob Reiser (3:00-4:45pm) "Keep The Stories Alive!"
Uncle Joe's Bean Farm, Grandma's first job, cleaning house for a gangster, family stories connect one generation with the next. They show us that we are not the first in our line to face the wonder, the pain, the silliness of life! But who keeps these stories alive? Reclaim the tales that enriched you and learn how to be your family's own story-keeper. You children, your grandchildren, your great-grandchildren will thank you!
(Meeting Room)

Tickets for the workshops can be purchased at Northland Public Library

Andy Offut Irwin (Full Day Master Class - Sunday, August 12, 2012 10am-5pm) "The Sound of Comprehension: Using Humor and Wit for Serious Business in Original Stories"

Okay. I know this title sounds all academic-y, and there appears to be redundancy between the words "humor" and "wit" -and it all juxtaposes with the word, "serious." But all humor requires previous knowledge, and tapping into an audience's previous knowledge is required to get just about any point across.

With wit I refer to the part of the intellect that adheres to what was once called, common sense. When one is in touch with one's own wits - when one has one's wits about one -then the ability to be heard and understood increases.

In the workshop, we will explore humor theory, comedy phrasing (yes it can be learned) wit and conversation and wit and conversion. Oh, yeah! And wit and pathos - how humor builds sympathy to character - when listeners learn to laugh at characters, they learn to love and know them. It's best if participants bring a favorite joke to tell (but, it's okay if they don't). As with all my workshops, interruptions are welcomed.

The Master Class is held on Sunday at Northland Public Library. The class is $75 and includes lunch. Space is limited. Tickets can be purchased at Northland Library.