Aspiring writers will have an opportunity to hone their skills this winter through a series of workshops being offered by the South Shore Public Libraries during which they will gain advice and guidance from internationlly published author and teacher, Nina Munteanu.

 Ms Munteanu, a Canadian author of award-nominated novels, novellas, short stories, articles and essays with works translated into several languages, will lead three workshops through which local writers at all skill levels and experience will learn how to improve their work and, ultimately, get it published.

 Ms Munteanu regularly teaches writing at schools, colleges, writers' conferences and book clubs throughout North America and Europe. She writes for Suite 101, an international news magazine, and has served as assistant editor-in-chief of Imagikon, Romania's avant-garde speculative e-zine.

 She regularly publishes critical essays and reviews in magazines, among them The New York Review of Science Fiction and Strange Horizons. Her award-winning blog, The Alien Next Door, hosts lively discussion on science, pop culture, writing and philosophy. Her guidebook, "The Fiction Writer: Get Published, Write Now!" was released by Starfire World Syndicate in May, 2009 and provides a modular course for her lectures and workshops on writing in North America and Europe.

 Her latest novel, "Darwin's Paradox" published by Dragon Moon Press was nominated for the Aurora Prix, Canada's top prize for science fiction, and its prequel, "Angel of Chaos," is scheduled for release this year.

 Ms Munteanu says she is excited to share all the knowledge she has gained through her experiences in the publishing world and she is looking forward to the upcoming workshops that will be held at the Bridgewater library for three weeks.

 Appropriately, workshop No. 1 is titled Getting Started … and Finishing. In this session, Ms Munteanu shares the strategies and techniques she used to write, finish and successfully publish while serving as a full-time scientist, teacher and mother.

 The workshop will review common misconceptions in the writing and publishing industry and provide practical strategies to help aspiring authors succeed. This workshop is scheduled for January 23 from 2 to 4 p.m.

 Workshop No. 2, The Art and Science of Craft, will cover several models of storytelling, and examine the interrelationship of plot and theme, setting and character in a book's overall story arc. Ms Munteanu will explore the language of page-turning writing with examples on the use of the five senses, power verbs, use of dialogue and other writing techniques that will transform your page into a compelling read.

 The workshop includes practical exercises and discussions and is scheduled for January 30 from 2 to 4 p.m.

 Workshop No 3, The Science and Magic of Marketing, focuses on a different but critically necessary creative process in an author's writing and publishing career - revision, marketing and promotion.

advertisement

 Every finished work must first pass through the scrutiny of revision and editing before it is ready to market. Ms Munteanu provides writers with the basic essentials of revision and editing, addressing the question of how much is enough and when to stop. She provides essential instruction on how to write successful cover letters, queries and synopses (all necessary for novelists wishing to publish), how to interpret and handle rejection letters and more.

 She also shares current markets for writing of all kinds from memoirs and non-fiction to short stories and novels (genre to literary fiction) and poetry. This workshop will be held February 13, from 2 to 4 p.m.

 For more information on "The Fiction Writer" and its associated workshops and seminars, visit The Passionate Writer (www.thepassionatewriter.com).

 Ms Munteanu will have it, as well as "Darwin's Paradox" available for sale at the workshop.

 Space is limited for these workshops so for more information call 543-9222.

posted on 01/19/10