WIFYR 2014!

The view from the Waterford School, site of the WIFYR workshops

Cyn and I are just back from WIFYR 2014 -- the Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers conference run by the awesome Carol Lynch Williams, where we each led an Advanced Novel workshop.

My workshoppers took me out to lunch

 In the mornings, we led workshops, critiquing manuscripts, and giving and reading writing exercises.  The afternoon was filled with speeches by various faculty members, panels of authors, editors, and agents, and a keynote (this year, by James Dashner). 

Cyn and I taught it two years ago and we were delighted to be asked back -- it's one of our favorite events of its kind and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in working on their craft.  This year, workshop faculty included Ken Baker, A.E. Cannon, Cheri Pray Earl, Lisa Mangum, J. Scott Savage, Shawn K. Stout, Carol Lynch Williams, Cyn, and me.  Editor/agent faculty included John Cusick, Kristin Ostby, Michelle Witte, and Amy Jameson.

Here are some pics of the event:

Me and food at Barbwire and Lace

John and Kristin

Me during one afternoon session on Voice

Cyn and I during the signing

Ken, John, Jeff

Carol and Cyn

Cyn and me and the goat that tried to eat her dress

My assistant -- Stephanie the Awesome -- decorated the room with dinos and lgm

Some of my class

Me and Allosaurus.  Because we had to go to the Natural History Museum of Utah.

WIFYR 2012

Last week, Cyn and I taught workshops at the Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers Conference in Sandy, Utah. Organized by award-winning author Carol Lynch Williams, the conference is now in its thirteenth year and brings together published authors, agents, editors, and eager-to-learn beginning and advanced writers and illustrators.

Faculty members for the morning workshops included Cynthia, Carol, A.E. Cannon, Ann Dee Ellis, Mette Ivie Harrision, Matt Kirby, Trudy Harris, Julie Olson, and Tim Wynne-Jones.  We also all did afternoon presentations on aspects of craft.  In addition, Trent Reedy delivered the keynote.  The King's English book store conducted the book sale.  Editors Ruth Katcher and Alexandra Penfold and agent John Cusick also critiqued, spoke, and did in-class Q&A's.


Carol Lynch Williams at King's English Book Store

I had the pleasure of teaching an absolutely terrific and awesome-to-work-with group of twelve students in the Advanced Writing Workshop.  We read and critiqued thirty pages of manuscripts and synopses for each student, and did writing exercises in support of the particular manuscripts (based in part on the prompts Cyn and I used for Writefest back in '04 and '05).  

The grounds of the facility

My assistant, Tiff, in full dino regalia, with Neil, Chris, and Beth seated.

Most of the class and me.

In the last picture, clockwise from top left: Bruce, Herb, Me, Laura, Neil, Tiff, Liz, Jonene, Tessa, Chris, and Beth.  Not pictured: Noelle and Mike.

Thanks, everyone, for all the hospitality and hard work, especially Carol and the assistants!  Particularly, Tiff, who was also juggling her full-time job with the BLM fire service!