NW Author Series: How to write for raves – this Sunday, Sept. 18

Jeff Baker

What’s the difference between a good book and a great one? How do editors select books for review, and how do reviewers combine enthusiasm and critical judgment to create a balanced review?

The Oregonian receives as many as 500 books per week and has the space and budget to review a small percentage of them. We will discuss the criteria for choosing which books to review and talk about what goes into writing a review. Examples will be discussed, real-world situations will be explored, and any and all questions will be answered. A quiz will be given with prizes for correct answers. If you love literature and have ever wondered what goes on in the book department of a newspaper, this is your chance to find out. 

Jeff Baker is the book editor at The Oregonian. He also writes about music and popular culture. He has won awards for criticism, feature writing, sports journalism, and arts and entertainment writing, most recently a first-place award in the Best in the West competition and two awards from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association.

For more information, please contact Christina Katz at christinakatz@earthlink.net.

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NW Author Series: How to Write for Raves
Sunday, September 18
3:30-5:30 p.m.
$5 at the door

Learn to write a short story in 90 minutes this Sunday, May 15

Practicing short fiction has many benefits. In this fun, fast-paced, audience-interactive seminar, popular writing teacher Eric Witchey will demonstrate brainstorming, outlining, and writing techniques that will result in a collaborative short story written on the spot. Attendees of any level of experience will walk away with handouts and techniques they can immediately apply to the development of new short stories, new novels, and existing work revision.

Eric Witchey has made a living as a freelance writer and communication consultant for nearly twenty years. In addition, he has sold more than fifty short stories and a novel. His stories have appeared in six genres on five continents, and he has received recognition from New Century Writers, Writers of the Future, Writer’s Digest, and other organizations. His how-to articles have appeared in The Writer Magazine, Writer’s Digest Magazine, and other print and online magazines.

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NW Author Series
The Short Story – Write It & Sell It In 90 Minutes
Presented by Eric M. Witchey
Sunday, May 15
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Cost: $5 at the door

Get your grants funded and your Shakespeare refreshed

Writing grants and plays . . . I do believe plays are easier.

Learn about two distinct art forms – the funding grant and the play – with these free upcoming programs:

This Sunday, April 17, at 3:30 p.m. the Northwest Author Series presents “Fund Your Projects: Grant Writing for the Literary Artist” with author Gigi Rosenberg. Get tips for writing grants in this hands-on workshop. Cost is $5 at the door.

Then starting on Wednesday, April 20, Brush Up Your Shakespeare! Prof. John Ehrstine presents his annual Shakespeare class featuring plays being performed at this year’s Oregon Shakespeare Festival, including Julius Caesar, Measure for Measure, Henry IV Part Two, and Love’s Labors Lost. The class will meet for 8 Wednesday days, 6-7:30 p.m., from April 20 through June 8. Cost is $35. Texts are available for purchase at a discount.

For more information, contact the Library at 503-682-2744.

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“Fund Your Projects: Grant Writing for the Literary Artist”
Sunday, April 17
3:30-5:30 p.m.
Oak Room
$5 at the door

“Brush Up Your Shakespeare”
Wednesdays, April 20-June 8
6:00-7:30 p.m
Oak Room
$35 for the class series. Texts available for puchase at a discount.