9th Annual Fiction Writing for Physicians
October 24-26, 2008
Falmouth, MA
Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort
www.seacrest-resort.com
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Taught by NY Times best selling physician-authors:
Michael Palmer, MD
author of Critical Judgment, Silent Treatment, Natural Causes,
Extreme Measures, Flashback, Side Effects, The Sisterhood, Miracle
Cure, The Patient, Fatal, The Fifth Vial,
and The First Patient
Tess Gerritsen, MD
author of Body Double, Harvest, Life Support, Bloodstream, Gravity, The
Surgeon, The Apprentice, The Sinner, Vanish,
The Mephisto Club, and The Bone Garden
Featuring
THIRTEEN
Literary Agents looking for new physician-authors
Executive Summary
Make your writing dream a reality
at SEAK's
9th
Annual Medical Fiction Writing for Physicians Workshop. Medical Fiction
Writing For Physicians has been designed to give aspiring physician
authors what they have never before had: hands-on and practical training
on how to write medical fiction and get published.
The course is taught by two New York Times best-selling
physician-authors, Michael Palmer, MD and Tess Gerritsen, MD.
Like all
SEAK training, Medical Fiction Writing For Physicians will be hands-on,
lively, and interactive. Attendees will have the opportunity to get all
their questions answered. Attendees will also have an opportunity to get
their writing and query letters reviewed and evaluated. The
faculty also features numerous literary agents looking for new
physician-authors. Space is limited for this special workshop.
Early registration is highly recommended.
Seminar Preconferences
The Secrets to Writing a Best-Seller
October 23, 2008
How to Write Riveting Dialogue
October 23, 2008
Medical Fiction Writing That Sells
October 24, 2008
Non-Fiction Writing for Physicians
October 24, 2008
Creating Memorable Characters
October 24, 2008
How Physicians Can Get Their First Novel Published
October 24, 2008
Here's what past attendees have to say!
"I am just writing to let you know about some
success from a conference participant.
I attended your conference two years ago in medical fiction. Michael
and Tess were great, as were the other attendees. More than anything,
I took the valuable lesson of keep writing.
My first book, The Dilemma, released last Monday (1/28) is doing well
so far, but I don't know how many copies so far. I have gotten as high
as #15 on Amazon.com's bestseller list for medical fiction , which
seems kind of weird with all of Palmer's and Gerritsen's books
surrounding mine on that list.
Thanks again for the conference and its encouragement. And of course,
to help a starving artist (well, not quite starving) consider
forwarding my success so far to your other conference."
www.rowlandstewart.com
"I attended the Seak Fiction
Writing Conference in 2006. Partly as a result of the many excellent
ideas, hints and advice, I revised and finished Diamonds of Death, a
surgical thriller. [guts, gore, sex, surgery]. Five Star Publications
published it and it came out in February. It is in a way, a testimony to
the conference." John Raffensperger, MD
"Far exceeded my expectations. I'd
pay 3 times as much to attend!"
"Absolutely fantastic. Insightful.
Informative and detailed. Bottom line and essential information."
"Excellent and useful."
"Well done."
"Always interested in writing,
this was the push I needed."
"Perfect!"
"I appreciated all the anecdotal
material, you can't find this in books."
"Excellent, inspiring,
informative. I'm totally encouraged to write and will consider returning
to the conference."
"The seminar motivated me, and
leaves me feeling that a door has been opened."
"Outstanding, I loved it!"
"Excellent presentation, excellent
speakers."
"Very good."
"The speakers were great. My only feedback is
THANK YOU!"
Seminar Benefits
�
Learn to write
from your peers who have made the transition from practicing physicians
to international bestselling authors
� Gain
practical writing experience
� Get
written feedback from concise writing exercises
dealing with conflict, premises, dialogue, and writing action scenes
� Have a
portion of your manuscript (if you have one) reviewed and critiqued by a
faculty member at no extra charge
� Soup to
nuts fiction writing: from naming characters to getting an agent and
getting published
� Have
your query letter reviewed and critiqued (with suggested improvements)
by a faculty member at no extra charge
� Have
your query letter placed in the hands of numerous literary agents (if
desired)
�
Gorgeous location
�
Motivation to write - Others have made the breakthrough and so can you!
� Enter
the National Fiction Writing Competition for Physicians and help launch
your writing career
� Have
your books signed by two New York Times best-selling physician-authors
� Network
with agents and colleagues at the seminar meals and during the private
"book party" reception Saturday night
� Small
group breakout sessions with agents Sunday morning
�
Breakfast and lunch with Michael and Tess each day
� An
unforgettable, inspiring experience
�
Actually have fun at a conference for physicians!
Topics Covered
�
Personal Success
Stories: Michael Palmer and Tess Gerritsen
�
Mechanics of Writing: Premises vs. Plot, Ideas, Settings and Atmosphere,
Showing vs. Telling, Points of View
�
Character: Naming and Describing, Back Story, History, Motivation,
Relationships, Conflict, Dialogue, Minor Characters, Evolution of
Characters
� Plot:
Building Scenes, Pacing, Developing, Suspense, Crisis and Resolution,
Opening Hooks
� Getting
Published: Agents, Writing a Synopsis and Query Letter, Acquisition and
Publication Process, Manuscript Appearance, Ancillary Markets, Book
Tours
�
Writing
Exercises and Group Discussions
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do I need to have a manuscript to attend or benefit
from this course?
A. No. All you need is a desire or interest in writing.
Q. If I have never written fiction before, is this
course for me?
A. Yes. This course will help both the new and
experienced writer.
Q. Will this course help me get started?
A. Attendance is the first step to getting started.
Don't put it off.
Q. Will this course be work or fun?
A. It will be lively, interactive, and fascinating. You
will "work" as much as you want to.
Q. Will I get a chance to meet and talk to Michael
Palmer and Tess Gerritsen?
A. Yes. They will both be at the course for three days
and available to talk with you.
Q. Is CME credit offered in conjunction with this
course?
A. No. This is a fun and inspirational weekend, not a
CME conference.
Q. Can my spouse attend with me?
A. Your spouse is welcome to attend the Friday night
reception, the Saturday night "book party" and the last session on
Sunday dealing with writer's problems.
Q. Is this the same course featured in the New York
Times?
A. Yes.
Q. What types of feedback will I receive on my writing?
A. A written critique of concise writing exercises, a
written review of up to three chapters of your manuscript and a review
and critique of your query letter.
Q. Will I get a chance to meet and talk with agents?
A. Yes. There are small group breakout sessions with the
agents on Sunday morning specifically for this purpose. Additionally,
there will be agents in attendance at the seminar lunches and at
Saturday night's book party.
Q. Will I be able to ask questions?
A. Yes. There will be substantial time reserved for
questions and answers.
Q. Are there things for my spouse to do while I'm in
class?
A. Cape Cod is a great area for people of all interests
to spend time. We recommend that you have a car available and your
spouse will be able to enjoy many activities including: golf, museums,
touring the islands of Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket, whale watching,
kayaking, fine dining, shopping, historical sites, hiking, fishing,
bicycling, etc.
Q. Will you have Michael and Tess's books available for
sale?
A. Yes.
Q. If I submit a query letter to you, what will happen
to it?
A. We'll give you feedback on how to improve it and will
distribute it to all the agents on our panel if you so request.
Q. Can non-physicians attend?
A. The course is designed for physicians and the vast
majority of those in attendance will be physicians, however it is open
to anyone interested in writing.
Q. Will this course save me time?
A. Yes. Attendees avoid wasting valuable time by not going down blind
alleys.
Literary Agents
Donna Bagdasarian
joined Maria Carvainis
Agency in the fall of 2004, she represents well-known and published
authors, ranging from literary fiction to political nonfiction.
Regina Brooks
is the founder of
Serendipity Literary Agency LLC., a boutique agency representing a
diverse base of award-winning clients in the areas of adult fiction and
non-fiction, young adult, and children's literature.
Sheree Bykofsky
is the co-author of The Complete Idiot's
Guide to Getting Published and is a New York Literary
Agent who represents some 100 book authors in all areas of adult
non-fiction, literary and commercial fiction.
Ann Collette
has been an associate at
the Helen Rees Literary Agency in Boston, MA, since 2000. Her fiction
list includes mystery, horror, suspense and thriller authors.
Jennifer Decharia
formed her literary Agency
in 2001. A New York City-based writer, she has worked in the editorial
departments of Simon & Schuster and Random House and has been a writing
consultant to several major corporations.
Paul
Fedorko brings his wide
array of publishing experience and unique skills, plus a diverse list of
clients to Trident Media Group. Paul is currently looking for
commercial fiction, thrillers, mysteries, romantic suspense, business,
sports, celebrity and popular culture.
Evan Goldfried came to William Morris
Agency to the agent trainee program after an editorial internship at
William Clark Associates. He splits duties as both agent and foreign
rights coordinator, where in addition to developing his own client list,
he facilitates the sales of international translation rights for WMA's
literary clients.
Miriam Kriss
is a literary agent with
the Irene Goodman Literary Agency in New York. She is interested in
commercial fiction and thrillers. Her first solo sale was from a
first-time author and hit several bestseller lists.
Benjamin LeRoy
is the founder of Bleak
House Books, an independent publisher of crime and dark literary
fiction. He lives in Madison, WI, where he spends his free time working
on his own writing and being constantly fascinated by the history of
baseball and what it has meant to the fabric of America.
Paul S. Levine
opened the Paul S. Levine Literary Agency in 1996, specializing in the
representation of book authors and the sale of motion picture and
television rights in and to books. Since starting his literary agency,
Mr. Levine has sold over one hundred (100) fiction and non-fiction books
to over thirty (30) different publishers and has had several books
developed as movies-for-television.
Rita Rosenkranz
is a Literary Agent in New
York City. She specializes in all areas of non-fiction.
Katharine Sands
is a literary agent with
the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency in New York City. She represents
a wide range of authors in a broad range of categories including legal
non-fiction, literary fiction, and dysfiction.
Jon
Sternfeld
joined the Irene Goodman
Agency after a stint in both the creative and the development sides of
the film world. He worked extensively in the trenches of a production
company, culling through screenplays to find the rare nugget of gold,
while honing his pitching and negotiation skills to get these projects
'green lit'. Discovering new, hungry writers still remains his passion
to this day. Jon is looking for literary fiction and narrative
non-fiction that combines his love of literature with an adventurous
spirit. (He once canoed all twenty three hundred miles of the
Mississippi River to New Orleans!) He is proud to be the fastest
promoted agent in the thirty years of the Irene Goodman Literary Agency,
moving from assistant to agent in record time. He is open to all
writers with an original voice and a unique perspective. His current
client roster includes both literary fiction writers and narrative
non-fiction writers addressing social and cultural issues.
Steven Babitsky,
Esq.
Steven
Babitsky, Esq. was a personal injury attorney for twenty years. He is the
co-author of ten books and is the developer of SEAK's Medical Fiction
Writing for Physicians seminar.
Beth Wechsler, MSW
Beth
Wechsler, MSW brings a combination of writing and group facilitation skills
to the workshop. Nationally known for her books for high-risk youth, her
stories have been published in Yankee, eBay Magazine, the Boston Globe,
Consumer Reports and regularly in Cape Cod newspapers.
Tuition
The $1,195 tuition includes a continental breakfast,
breaks, lunch with faculty, a detailed manual which can be retained
as a bookshelf reference, and a dynamic learning experience.
Click here for registration information.
Schedule
- Saturday, October 25, 2008
- Sunday, October 26, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
*MAIN CONFERENCE
Friday Evening, October
24, 2008*
7:00 - 8:30pm Reception (Spouses Invited, Hors D'Ouerves
and Cocktails provided)
Personal Success Stories: Michael Palmer, MD and Tess Gerritsen, MD and
Group Discussion
7:30-8:00Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:00-10:00Mechanics of
Writing
Premises vs. Plot, Ideas and
Where You Get Them, Setting and Atmosphere, Showing vs. Telling,
Points of View, Writing Exercise, Group Discussion
10:00-10:15BREAK &
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
10:15-12:15Character
Naming and
Describing Your Characters, Back Story, History of Characters,
Motivation, Relationships, Conflict, Dialogue, Minor Characters,
Evolution of Characters Throughout the Book
12:15-1:30LUNCH PROVIDED
WITH FACULTY
1:30-2:30Character
(Continued)
Writing Exercise, Group Discussion
2:30-2:45BREAK &
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
2:45-5:15Plot
Building
Scenes, Developing Suspense, Pacing, Crisis and Resolution, Opening
Hooks, Writing Exercise, Group Discussion
5:15-6:30Book Signing
(Spouses Invited)
Tess Gerritsen,
MD and Michael Palmer, MD
- Bring your own books or purchase Tess and Michael's books at the seminar
8:00-11:00pm"Book Party"
Reception (Spouses Invited, Entertainment Provided)
Meet, mingle
and mix with fellow attendees, agents and faculty members at a
private reception in the hotel's Surfside Lounge.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
7:30-8:00Continental Breakfast
8:00-10:00Plot
(Continued)
Subplots, Handling
Transitions, Starting and Ending Chapters, Suspense and Surprise,
Themes, Flashbacks, Writing Exercises, Group Discussion
10:00-10:15BREAK &
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
10:15-11:15Getting
Published (Presented by SEAK's Panel of Agents)
Agents,
How to Write a Synopsis and Query Letter, Publication Process,
Manuscript Appearances and Mechanics, Ancillary Markets, Book Tours
11:15-12:15Small Group
Breakout Sessions with Agents
Each
agent on faculty will run a question and answer/interaction session
with a small group of attendees. Attendees should have their concise
pitches ready.
12:15-1:30LUNCH PROVIDED
WITH FACULTY
1:30-3:00Research,
Editing, and Revising
How to
Research Cost Effectively, Editing Process, When is Enough Revising
Enough
3:00-3:15BREAK &
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
3:15-4:00Writer's
Problems and How to Overcome Them (Spouses Invited)
Writer's
Block, Distractions, Fears, Leaving the Nest
4:00-5:15Concluding
Remarks