Advanced Legal Fiction Writing

Advanced Legal Fiction Writing with Personal Attention

September 29-30, 2007
Chicago, IL

Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare

Executive Summary

This is an advanced writing program conducted in an intimate group setting. It is designed to give you the personalized attention and knowledge needed to help you break through and get published.

Registration is strictly limited to a maximum of 36 attendees. This weekend course is being held in an easily accessible, “fly in, fly out” location near Chicago’s O’Hare airport.

The course leader is New York Times best selling author Robert Dugoni, Jr., Esq. Bob is a superb teacher and will provide

the attendees with invaluable advice on how to take their writing to the next level and get it published. Each attendee will also receive substantial personalized attention, specifically:

» Written feedback on the first chapter of their work from accomplished novelist and writing instructor John Hough, Jr.
» A private 15 minute one-on-one coaching session with accomplished novelist and writing instructor John Hough, Jr.
» Written feedback on their query letter and synopsis from literary agent Sorche Fairbank
» A private 15 minute one-on-one coaching session with literary agent Sorche Fairbank

Faculty

Robert Dugoni, Esq. is the New York Times Bestselling author of The Jury Master and Damage Control (Warner/Hachette), as well as the critically acclaimed expose, The Cyanide Canary, (Simon & Schuster) a Washington Post 2004 Best Book of the Year Selection and the Idaho Book of the Year. The Jury Master was chosen by Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine as one of “The Best of the Best” first novels of 2006 and sold to publishers in twelve foreign countries. Bob is also a two-time winner of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Award for fiction. Bob graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University with a degree in journalism and worked briefly as a reporter for the Los Angeles Times before obtaining his doctorate of jurisprudence from the UCLA School of Law. He has practiced as a civil litigator in San Francisco and Seattle for twenty years. In addition to writing Bob is an accomplished speaker and teacher. Visit his website at www.robertdugoni.com.

Sorche Elizabeth Fairbank established Fairbank Literary Representation in 2002, when she first moved to Cambridge, MA. Since then, Ms. Fairbank has had the pleasure of working with a wide, dynamic, and varied list, representing multiple best-selling authors, Pulitzer Prize finalists and winners, Edgar recipients, award-winning journalists, and of course her favorite kind of client the first-time author. In addition to her agenting duties, Ms. Fairbank can be found teaching courses and giving seminars and lectures on the elusive art of the query letter. Updated information on Fairbank Literary can be found at www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/SorcheFairbank/.

John Hough, Jr. is the author of the novels A Two Car Funeral, The Guardian, The Conduct of the Game, and The Last Summer. He is also the author the non-fiction works A Peck of Salt, A Dream Season, and A Player For a Moment. He is a former speech writer for United States Senator Charles Mathias and a former writer for the New York Times while serving as the assistant to James Reston. John is an experienced writing teacher and coach. He resides on Martha’s Vineyard.

Click here for registration information.

Schedule

Saturday, September 29, 2007

7:00-8:00 Registration & Continental Breakfast

NOTE: Students should bring to class an additional copy of their presubmitted first chapter of their work and synopsis and be prepared to discuss them and accept and have their work critiqued.

8:00-8:30 Introduction of Instructor, Robert Dugoni, Esq. Bob will explain how he went from a journalist to a lawyer to a best-selling novelist. He’ll discuss the pitfalls along the way, living with and learning from rejection, and how he taught himself to write novels. Questions and Answers

8:30-10:00 Executive Summary of How to Write Publishable Fiction: Learn the fundamental relationship between good stories and journeys, as well as critical writing concepts such as to outline or not to outline, and using writer’s block positively. Bob will also teach his four stages to writing to help lessen anxiety, as well as discuss the qualities all good writing has in common. Questions and Answers

10:00-10:15 Break and Networking Opportunity

10:15 - 12:00 Advanced Story Structuring: From your initial query letter to your published novel, the writer must convey that she understands classic story structure. Using in class exercises and assignments, students will use story structure to understand the holes in their story’s plot and how to fix them. Students will also be better equipped to make educated choices on such things as prologues and opening chapters, and to make critical judgments about the middle of their book, and how to ensure that the ending brings into collision the forces the writer has set in motion to deliver an emotionally charged and intelligent ending. By the end of this portion of the class, students will have ideas for improving their synopses. Questions and Answers

12:00-12:45 Lunch with Faculty (provided)

12:45 -2:00 Advanced Character Development: Learn the basic character profiles, when and where these characters traditionally fit within classic story structure, and how the writer can use characters to create problems, solve problems, or impart information seamlessly. Better understand why your protagonist must evolve, and the stages of character evolution in traditional story telling. Questions and Answers

2:00-3:15 The Most Common Writing Mistakes The Class is Making and How to Avoid Them: John Hough, Jr. will present a succinct analysis, based upon the class’ submissions, of the most common writing mistakes the class is making. John will offer practical advice on how to eliminate these mistakes. Questions and Answers

3:15-3:30 Break and Networking Opportunity

3:30-5:00 Creating Memorable Characters: Learn techniques to creating memorable primary and secondary characters through the utilization of physical and psychological attributes, clothing, mannerisms, and dialogue. Using examples from well-known fiction and non-fiction, including authors Stephen King, Stephen Hunter, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the instructor’s own work, students will study the techniques for making:

1. Heroes not wimps. A well-rounded protagonist is heroic, yet still vulnerable and capable of change.

2. Villains not caricatures. An antagonist is frightening when he/she is real. That means creating well-rounded villains and avoiding cardboard stereotypes and clichés.

3. Sidekicks and mentors: Learn how to make a secondary character stand out using markers, without the character overtaking the story from your primary characters. Questions and Answers

Sunday, September 30, 2007

6:30-7:00 Continental Breakfast

7:00-9:00 The First Three Pages: Your first chapter should set the tone of your novel. Using examples and student work, Bob will discuss what makes a strong opening sentence, how to write a beginning that grabs the reader’s attention, and his do’s and don’ts of the first three pages. Questions and Answers

9:00-9:15 Break and Networking Opportunity

9:15-10:00 Prologues – Should I do it? And Second Scenes - Where Do We Go From Here? Learn to make educated decisions on prologues, and how to keep the story moving in your second scene. Questions and Answers

10:00-11:00 The Biggest Mistakes Attendees are Making in Marketing Their Work and How to Avoid Them: Literary agent Sorche Fairbanks will identify and explain the biggest mistakes the attendees have made in their submitted query letters and synopses and will provide suggestions to eliminate these mistakes. Questions and Answers

11:00-12:00 Creating and Sustaining Tension and Suspense to Keep the Reader Turning the Page: Bob will teach his technique for identifying the emotional highs and lows of your novel and how to build tension toward each by posing story questions, holding onto the answers to the questions posed, setting up the protagonist for failure, planting seeds of doubt, and building tension within and at the end of scenes. Questions and Answers

12:00 -12:45 Lunch with Faculty (provided)

12:45-1:45 Power Editing Your Manuscript to Make it Better: Learn Bob’s five steps to power editing your manuscript. 1) Making judgments about your protagonist and antagonist. 2) Evaluating secondary characters. 3) Tightening the manuscript by being relentless in moving the story forward. 4) Reviewing word and sentence choice - adjectives and adverbs vs. verbs, original similes and analogies; active vs. passive voice; and 5) Polishing your work to eliminate typos and misspellings, and other mistakes that make the reader lose trust. Questions and Answers

1:45 -2:00 Break and Networking Opportunity

2:00-3:30 Critique of Student Manuscripts & Concluding Remarks: Students should be prepared to share with the class their presubmitted first chapter introducing a protagonist, antagonist, or secondary character. The class will discuss techniques learned and offer suggestions to bring the students work more fully to life. Questions and Answers

What Bob’s Past Attorney Fiction Writing Students Have To Say:

“Very helpful and practical”
“Specific, not generalized”
“Extremely good – will help with my project”
“The written materials were excellent and the in class exercises were outstanding.”
“Very helpful and practical”
“Many, many substantive ‘how to’ tips”
“Can’t imagine being able to put more into one day”