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Saturday Workshop: “Style” Takes Your Writing From Good to Great

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“From Good to Great” was a highly-acclaimed management book in the 1990s. But advancing your business or your writing from good to great takes a lot of work.

A LOT of work.

We writers don’t talk about style much – but we should. All things being equal, writing style is what separates good writing from great writing. Whether it’s prose or poetry, writing style is the Great Differentiator. Your theme, plot, setting, characters can all be perfect and complementary even – supportive of one another – but without an almost invisible “assist” from the Writing-Style gods as well, you can have a good but mediocre result instead of a heart-stopping, bone-chilling, throat-gagging, head-pounding, breath-taking great result.

Defining exactly HOW writing style achieves this “over the top” push is a little like that well-worn definition of pornography: “I’ll know it when I see it.” But not quite. Come explore and analyze examples of where writing style makes all the difference — with Gary Lawrence, short story author and GCC creative writing instructor. Identify and take away a handful of writing style tips and techniques that can make or break your writing – whether you’re a beginner or a pro.

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Gary Lawrence teaches composition and creative writing at GCC and Cochise College. His short stories have been published in The Rockford Review, Short Story America anthologies, Four Chambers (Phoenix Community Arts magazine), Mirage (literary arts magazine of Cochise College) and Canyon Voices (literary magazine of ASU West). He is a frequent workshop leader at GCC and in Sierra Vista AZ, where he lives now with wife Linda. Gary has been interviewed by NPR for his short story collection Baffled (2013), and in 2016 won first place in Cochise County for his flash fiction piece “BJ.” He has a BA in English from Rockford College and an MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts (Montpelier).

  • What & Who: Achilles Heel? Or Sweet Spot? Or, The X Factor? “Style” Takes Your Writing From Good to Great will be conducted by Gary Lawrence
  • When: Saturday, April 8th from 9:30AM to 11:30AM.
  • Where: GCC Main Campus, LA-141
  • Why: Because looking good is half the battle.
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Saturday Workshop: How to Write a Sexy Sentence

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If you don’t think that the way an adjective pairs perfectly with a noun is erotic, then you have a thing or two to learn…

This workshop focuses on developing prose, word by word, sentence by sentence, with agonizing attention to detail. Whether fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or lyrics, at the foundation of nearly any exquisite piece of writing is a grammatically sexy sentence in which every piece of it works together harmoniously to perfectly express its meaning.

Semi-colon or period? What associations does this word carry with it to the page? What is a synonym for synonym? These questions and more will be explored during our workshop as we discuss diction, connotation, denotation, punctuation, and other –tions while we practice crafting the most perfect, most fluid, sexiest sentences we’ve ever seen.

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This workshop is free and open to the public. Breakfast-y refreshments will be provided, but bring your own caffeine!

  • What & Who: “Syntax: How to Write a Sexy Sentence” will be conducted by Jayme Cook.
  • When: Saturday, March 25th from 9:30AM to 11:30AM.
  • Where: GCC Main Campus, LA-141
  • Why: Because sex sells.

Writer’s Craft Conference

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ASU’s MFA students are providing a free one-day writer’s conference focused on Craft & Community this Saturday, January 28, 2017. Poets and Fiction writers will offer craft talks applicable to anyone writing fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. There will be a keynote from Cynthia Hogue, ASU’s Maxine and Jonathan Marshall Chair in Modern and Contemporary Poetry. Light refreshments will be provided for a lunch break with a panel discussion (attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunch/snacks also). The conference will close with a Q&A and a chance to participate/cultivate a monthly workshop. ASU’s MFA students hope to converse with and help build a community of diverse writers.

This event is FREE and open to everyone. FREE parking is available. Details are included in the registration & Facebook links below & the pdf containing Program & Schedule.

 

Still Some Classes Open for Spring!

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As you finalize your schedules for the Spring, know that there are still seats available in some creative writing offerings at GCC in 2017. You can find out more information about the courses below by heading to GCC’s Find-a-Class or looking at our extended course descriptions here on the CRW blog. Register quickly or we might come to your house, pull up the shrubs, empty all the condiments from your refrigerator. Stuff like that, yeah.

  • CRW120: Introduction to Writing Children’s Literature. #13368. Renee Barstack.
  • CRW220: Intermediate Writing Children’s Literature. #13453. Renee Barstack.
  • CRW150 (at GCC North): Introduction to Creative Writing. #28938. Mark Broeske.
  • CRW160: Introduction to Writing Poetry. #13276. Kimberly Mathes.
  • CRW260: Intermediate Poetry Writing. #13327. Kimberly Mathes.
  • CRW251: Topics in Creative Writing (Prose, Poetry & Flash Fiction). #28975. Kimberly Mathes.
  • CRW272 (Online): Planning and Structuring the Novel. #13314. Jeff Baker.

 

 

Last Call(s) for Submissions!

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Quick reminders with no funny business:

Later this week (Friday, December 2nd) is the final opportunity to submit your work to GCC’s Traveler Writing Competition. Submit right here on the GCCAZCRW blog: https://gccazcrw.com/traveler/submissions/

(This deadline has passed.) Monday, November 28th is the final day to submit your work to Maricopa’s District Writing Competition. Head here for guidelines and submission forms: http://bit.ly/2g4v7rL

 

The Slam!

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stage-microphone

Join GCC students, faculty, and staff, along with numerous talented writers and performers from across the valley, for 2016’s Poetry & Prose Slam. Whether you want to participate, or if you simply wish to listen, the slam always proves to be a great time.

  • What: GCC’s Annual Poetry & Prose Slam
  • Where: GCC Main, SU104
  • When: Wednesday, November 16th from 7PM to 10PM, but arrive early to register if you want to participate (Hint: You want to participate!)
  • Why: Cash Prizes!

Obligatory disclaimer: We accept all performers’ rights to express their creative works and art freely, so we do not censor subject matter or content

New Venue for Open Mic in Glendale!

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 AZ-Steam-Shop

14075 N. 59th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85306

Information about the Steam-Shop:

We are Happy to bring FREE OST Programs and STEAM Events to The City of Glendale, AZ. STE[+a]M is Science Technology Engineering Art and Math in an inclusive K-12 Tech-Heavy Environment. Please share the experience with us as we showcase our FREE OST (out-of-school-time) programs with Music and Poetry SLAM sessions most Friday Nights. Alternate Wednesdays are reserved for Women in Science. We have a lot to offer kids, Young Adults and Parents who want and need a STEAM Education setting.

We offer a full multimedia Stage, computer center, Makerspace, Robotics and Workplace development with the help of local area Professionals. AZ-Steam-Shop and MakerSpace

Contact Martin Wesolowski for more information:
623 240-2206
Info@MartinArtCenter.org
www.AZSteamShop.org

A Pair of April Readings!

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Social Justice Poetry Event & Open Mic

The week of April 17th through the 23rd brings with it wonderful opportunities to share your writing and listen to the fantastic work of your peers at GCC and across the district. First, on April 20th, GCC will host the final open mic of the Spring semester. The even will begin at 7PM outside the east entrance of GCC Main’s Student Union. This is a special open mic for it brings together multiple organizations on campus in order to focus on Social Justice. See the flyer below for more information.

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Emerging Writers 2016

The second reading is hosted by our friends at Scottsdale Community College on Thursday, April 21st. This, too, is a special reading. Each college across the district will have two representatives, nominated by faculty, who will read their work. This year, GCC’s own Jamie Heath and Taylor Robinson will regale the audience with their work. The reading is open to the public at Scottsdale Community College, Two Waters Circle, at 7PM. Come, support your fellow Gauchos, and listen to a wonderful night of readings.

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Open Mic Event! — Two days away!

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Before some of you head off into what’s sure to be a luxurious Spring Break, mark your calendars for the next open mic event at GCC.

  • When: Wednesday, March 23rd at 7:00PM
  • Where: GCC Main – Student Union, Room 104E
  • Why: It provides your daily dose of vitamin C.
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The event is free, open to the public, but not recommended for children. So, bring what you’ve been working on and regale everyone with your talent. Hosted by Shawnte Orion, the open mic portion of the evening will begin at 7PM, and the night will conclude with a reading from featured guest, Joel Salcido.

Born a Los Angeles cockroach and smuggled to the Westside of Phoenix, Joel Salcido translates the poetry of the barrio pigeons into surrealist prophecies. He is blessed with a beautiful wife and two sons as well as a cadre of talentedly mad brothers, friends, coconspirators and fellow hood radicals. He writes poetry and prose and is working towards a mastery of arts while building a boat out of editor’s rejection letters to float back to the moon. Joel is an MFA candidate in poetry at Arizona State University.

District Writing Competition Winners!

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This week, the winners of MCCCD’s writing competitions were announced, and GCC is proud to see that four GCC students have been selected by the the judges. We are also thrilled that there is such a healthy crop of writers across the district, and we want to offer special congratulations to GCC’s own:

  • Phillip Boddy Jr. for winning 1st Place in the Essay category!
  • Eric Bond for winning 1st Place in One-Act Plays/Scripts!
  • Raymond Nokes for winning 2nd Place in Fiction!
  • Jamie Lee Heath for winning 3rd Place in Fiction!

We hope to see an even greater GCC presence with these awards next year. For a full list of winners, see below.

Essay:

  • Phillip Boddy Jr., GCC, “Our Summer of Love with the Goddess”, 1st Place*
  • Amanda Burns, SMCC, “The Frozen Chosen”, 2nd Place
  • William Alewyn, MCC, “Lucy’s Nick”, 3rd Place
  • Stephen Byrd, CGCC, “The Smell of Freedom”, Honorable Mention

Fiction:

  • William Alewyn, MCC, “And in Purgatory”, 1st Place*
  • Raymond Nokes, GCC, “New Home”, 2nd Place
  • Jamie Lee Heath, GCC, “Fag Country”, 3rd Place
  • Spencer Litman, PVCC, “The Monster”, Honorable Mention
  • Chaudhry Vidhushi, SCC, “The Shawl Seller”, Honorable Mention
  • James Wright, PC, “Ironic, Ain’t It”, Honorable Mention
  • John Chakravarty, PC, “Brake Lights”, Honorable Mention

Poetry:

  • Valerie Neal, MCC, “Carousel Transitioning into Stage Three”, 1st Place*
  • Matthew Hoober, SCC, “Perigee”,  2nd Place
  • William Pluchel, SCC, “The Rattle”, 3rd Place
  • Howard Gershkowitz, MCC, “A Survivor’s Story.  A Railcar’s Introduction”, Honorable Mention
  • Kylyn McCarty, MCC, “On the Third Street”, Honorable Mention
  • Joy Bickman, MCC, “Hid in a Soft-Sided Suitcase”, Honorable Mention
  • Charlotte Coburn, MCC, “Relative Distance”, Honorable Mention

One Act-Play/Script:

  • Eric Bond, GCC, “Potted Plants”, 1st Place*
  • Caleb Asay, MCC, “A Moment of Clarity”, 2nd Place
  • Ariel Tomb, RSC, “Before You Go”, 3rd Place