by Suzanne Stengl | May 5, 2015 | Writing
It was one of those amazing weekends. On Saturday, May 2, 2015, the Calgary Association of the RWA held its Spring Workshop with guest speaker Debra Dixon. Debra is a writer and a publisher at BelleBooks.
Debra landed in Calgary on Friday. That night, the CARWA Board of Directors took her to the Sky 360 revolving restaurant at the Calgary Tower. Since I am the Membership Chair for the group, I was invited. And Amy Jo Fleming was invited since she was the critique winner. We enjoyed a lively conversation as we dined on menu items like Foie Gras and Goat Cheese Mousse, Wild Board Striploin and Wild Game Meatloaf Wellington. Then we headed up to the observation deck where we tested the glass floor.
Here’s the whole group.
standing L to R: Amy Jo Fleming, Treasurer Brenda Sinclair, Debra Dixon, President Shelley Kassian, Secretary Katie O’Connor, VP Communications Win Day, VP Programs Ellen Jorgensen. Kneeling: Membership Chair Suzanne Stengl
The next morning, I arrived at the Valley Ridge Golf Club at about 8:30. The workshop started with breakfast at 9:00. That’s a great way to get attendees there on time. Debra began her presentation at 10:00 sharp.
We learned about the Goal Motivation Conflict chart, Dominant Impressions and Tag Lines. The Valley Ridge Golf Club served up a delicious buffet lunch at 12:30 and we recommenced an hour later with Debra presenting her take on the Hero’s Journey.
About four o’clock, we started a “finding your voice” exercise and Debra passed the microphone around the room for members to read samples of their work.
After the formal workshop finished, about a dozen of us moved over to the onsite restaurant, Mulligan’s. Debra and Amy Jo stayed in the workshop room to review Amy Jo’s critique submission. And then they joined us at Mulligan’s. There was food and drink and Debra answered more questions and gave us more writing advice.
B. C. Deeks and I were the last to leave—about 8:30 pm. A twelve hour day and completely worth it. I’m still going over my notes and processing all this information.
If you can’t get to a Debra Dixon workshop, you must buy her book: Goal, Motivation, and Conflict. This is one of the most helpful resources a writer can have on the bookshelf.
by Suzanne Stengl | Mar 24, 2015 | Writing
Debra Dixon, author of GOAL, MOTIVATION & CONFLICT is coming to Calgary, Alberta, Canada on May 2, 2015 and I’m already signed up for the workshop.
This is my underlined, stick-it-noted, well-read copy of her book.
It was back in 2002 when I first heard Debra Dixon speak. I still remember that workshop, presented by the Alberta Romance Writers Association, otherwise known as ARWA.
That Friday night when she arrived, we immediately learned something about setting.
Alberta writers would never think of meeting someone outside the airport. You wait inside, right? That’s normal, isn’t it? It could be minus 30 out there. Who would ever wait outside at the airport?
Someone from Memphis, Tennessee.
Finding Deb Dixon at the airport on that Friday night was an example of romance writers creating a comedy of errors. But Jenn, diligently walking around with her sign, eventually found our speaker, and the Board took her out to dinner.
The next morning, I remember arriving about 8:30 to a room bubbling with conversation. The day was packed with information, much of the format was lecture and a good portion was “interactive”. We created the GMC chart for Sarah, the rebellious debutante in a Western. The trick with the exercise was to try it outside of our usual genre.
The GMC chart can be used to create a new story, to tweak an existing one, or to find out why you’re stalled. And it’s also useful for that query letter or editor interview. I believe GOAL, MOTIVATION & CONFLICT is one of the most important books you will ever put in your writing library.
We had such a good time that day and I can still remember going out for dinner after the workshop.
Trish and I walked into Madison’s at 5:15. It was a Saturday night. The maitre d’ looked a little worried when we said we had about 10 to 15 people coming over. And no, we didn’t have a reservation.
But she quickly sorted things out and found us a long table where we could all sit together. I told her we were the ARWA group.
“ARWA?” The maitre d’ clearly had not heard of us.
I spelled it out for her.
The waiter also looked a little confused. Trish told him, “We’re writers.” And then she quickly added, “But we have money!”
The service was excellent, the food was high cal and the talk was flowing. I was still trying to come up with my Dominant Impression for my heroine. So was Donna Wickens. We were making notes on the napkins. The waiter brought more napkins.
I love these post workshop debriefings. The chairs around Deb Dixon kept getting new people in them as writers came to her with their specific questions. This lady is like the energizer bunny. She just doesn’t stop. Finally at 9 pm, twelve hours after our official workshop start, we called it a day.
And now the Calgary Association of the RWA is presenting a Deb Dixon workshop. I have a chance to hear her speak again, to reinforce what I know and to fill in the blanks for what I don’t know. And, besides that, I get to spend some quality time with writers.
Here are the details.
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2015
9 am: Registration and light continental breakfast
10 am: Workshop starts
Noon: Buffet lunch
5 pm: Workshop ends
Buy your ticket here. Tickets will be on sale until April 24th.
If you’re a writer and you live in or near Calgary, I hope you will join me at the workshop.
One more thing:
Register by March 31st and your name will go in a draw for a 25-page critique by Deb Dixon.
Good luck!
by Suzanne Stengl | Oct 28, 2014 | Writing
Last Saturday, the Calgary Association of the RWA held its annual Fall Industry Workshop at beautiful Redwood Meadows, Alberta. CARWA President Moira Stelmack introduced our speakers: Victoria Curran from Harlequin Heartwarming and Jane Porter from Tule Publishing.
Brenda Sinclair, Ellen Jorgensen, Marlene Renee
Sherile Reilly and Jessica L. Jackson
Win Day and Alyssa Linn Palmer
With the fireplace blazing, President Moira Stelmack interviewed Jane and Victoria, and fielded questions from attendees. We learned about what’s new in the publishing world and talked about publishing challenges and opportunities.
A.M. Westerling and Jade Buchanan
Kymber Morgan and Lawna Mackie
Roxy Boroughs and CJ Carmichael
After a potluck lunch, Jane Porter presented her “Writing Well, Selling Well” workshop with additional insights from Victoria Curran and CJ Carmichael.
Shelley Kassian and Jane Porter
B.C. Deeks, Moira Stelmack, Victoria Curran
Next on the schedule, we had Manuscript Critiques. Members Jade Buchanan and Victoria Chatham read two-page manuscript samples to the audience, and then Victoria Curran and Jane Porter did their impromptu critiques. Victoria Curran assured us that this type of critique was more for entertainment value, and is not the usual process for critiquing a submission. Still, I think we all learned a lot, and we enjoyed each piece. Thank you to everyone who contributed a sample for discussion.
Alyssa Linn Palmer and Jennifer Howard
Suzanne Stengl and Victoria Chatham
With CARWA’s usual efficiency, the tables and chairs were soon put away and leftovers were packed up. Afterwards, a group of Carwackians (and one brave editor) headed over to the PowderHorn Saloon in Bragg Creek for debriefing and drinks.
B. C. Deeks, Victoria Curran, Alyssa Linn Palmer, Shelley Kassian, Kymber Morgan, Dara-Lee Snow, Jill Flanagan, Sherile Reilly, Roxy Boroughs
Victoria Curran and Cowboy at the PowderHorn Saloon
And a good time was had by all!
by Suzanne Stengl | May 27, 2014 | Writing
Last Saturday, the Calgary Association of the RWA (CARWA) held its annual Spring Craft Workshop. Our featured speaker was James Scott Bell. More than fifty writers attended from Calgary and beyond.
Jim is the author of thrillers such as: Final Witness, Don’t Leave Me, and One More Lie. Writing as K. Bennett, he is the author of the Zombie Legal Thrillers: Pay Me in Flesh, Eating Dangerously, and I Ate the Sheriff.
He has also written several books on the craft of writing including Plot & Structure, Conflict & Suspense, The Art of War for Writers, and his latest, Write Your Novel From the Middle.
On the Friday evening before the workshop, the Board took Mr. Bell up the Calgary Tower to the “Sky 360” revolving restaurant. Since I am CARWA’s Membership Chair, the Board invited me to dinner as well. (Yay!)
The sun does not set until about 9:30 and the evening was clear, so we had an excellent view of the city and the Rocky Mountains. Here are some of the board members on the observation deck of the Calgary Tower.
And here is the whole board with JSB in the “Sky 360” restaurant.
Back: James Scott Bell, Alyssa Linn Palmer, Roxy Boroughs, Shelley Kassian
Front: Moira Stelmack, A.M. Westerling, Brenda Sinclair
Jim is from Los Angeles and has lived there all his life. He was interested in trying something Canadian, so he ordered the elk. I mean, how often do you get to eat elk? He also asked the waitress to suggest a wine that was “conversational without being verbose” and she brought this. 
A Canadian wine from the South Okanagan, near Oliver, British Columbia. Apparently, it pairs well with the elk!
On Saturday, Jim presented his workshop called WRITING THE KNOCKOUT NOVEL. Some of the topics he covered were:
- What Plot is really all about
- Creating characters that “jump off the page”
- The fastest way to improve your manuscript
- The essentials of great dialogue
And he gave us the best interpretation of Casablanca I have ever heard. He also talked about his new craft book, Write Your Novel From the Middle. Click on the image at the beginning of this post and it will take you to Amazon where you can make the best “under $3 craft book” purchase of your life. Seriously.
After the workshop, we debriefed at the Toad ‘n’ Turtle. Jim chose the Big Rock Grasshopper Ale.
And, ever adventurous, he also tried that Canadian delicacy, poutine. 
Poutine is originally from Quebec, made with french fries, topped with a light brown gravy and cheese curds. 
He asked if it came with a cardiologist.
James Scott Bell with Suzanne Stengl
You can find Jim on his website and, on Sundays, at The Kill Zone—where he blogs about writing and writing related topics.
Have you been to a James Scott Bell workshop? Have you read one of his craft books? What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from JSB?
by Suzanne Stengl | Nov 20, 2012 | Miscellaneous Moments
I think it’s amazing—
- that Tawny Stokes started Bandit Creek at CARWA’s June 2011 AGM.
- that Bandit Creek has been putting up a new book on the 1st and the 15th of each month since September 15, 2011.
- that the series is winding up on January 1, 2013, with Jack’s story. You know him? The bum that hangs out in both Present Day Bandit Creek AND Historical Bandit Creek. How does he do that?
I think it’s amazing—
- that CARWA’s PRO and PAN groups are now combined and meeting for dinner every few months at the Danish Canadian Club. CARWA has many traditionally published authors in both print and digital format. And now, because of Bandit Creek, almost every writer in CARWA is indie published. Many of us are in that “grey area” where we can no longer enter the RWA Golden Heart Contest, but we still can’t enter the Rita. Oh well.
I think it’s amazing—
- that I have friends planning a new collective of about five authors. Unlike Bandit Creek (everything happens in Bandit Creek) this smaller collective will have a common genre.
I think it’s amazing—
- that my computer works again and that none of my files were lost. Well, except for those emails, which needed to GO. There are so many cloud backups these days, there’s no reason to ever risk losing your work.
And I think it’s amazing—
- that Calgary has already had temperatures in the minus twenties in October, and that now, on November 20th, it’s back to almost spring-like weather and I can walk on clear sidewalks.
Oops, spoke too soon, think it’s snowing again! But it doesn’t matter. I’ll be picking up my Sunshine Card soon. I hear the ski hill already has almost a meter of snowpack. That’s amazing.
I think everything is amazing.
How about you? What amazing things have happened to you lately?
Here’s a fun video, about amazing things. Enjoy!
