Join Cary Tennis as he returns to Atelier Clos Mirabel for an intensive workshop on the craft of fiction that will supercharge your story.
About this course:
Why do this workshop?
If you are writing fiction, this intensive workshop will give you tools to figure out:
- Which story is your story and yours alone
- How your story can grow organically, not mechanically
- Which character is your main character. Really.
- Which crucial story decisions to make early so the story doesn’t peter out later
- How to nail a character’s weakness, need and desire
- How those qualities are related but different
- How free-writing an ending can solve the beginning
- How to generate needed text by using prompts; that is: Free – writing can hit a target!
And finally:
- How to have fun and enjoy life by planning before writing! (even if the plan changes later)
That’s promising a lot for one short week. So after the workshop, I will continue our story conference online via Zoom with whoever wishes to continue. We’re in this together. We’ll make a community! Please note that the schedule that follows is tentative; the curriculum for this class is designed to be flexible and responsive to the needs and wishes of the participants.
Saturday May 16
4.00 – Check-in time.
Guests arrive, settle in and explore Atelier Clos Mirabel.
6.00 Welcome drinks and dinner, with discussion of the week to come.
Sunday May 17
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 11.00 Introduction, question and answer: What do you want to accomplish here?
11.00 – 11.45 Lightning Premise Brainstorming Game
11.45 – 12.00 Fifteen-minute Break
12.00 – 1.00 Draft premise readings
1.00 – 2.30 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
3.00 – 4.30 More draft premise readings
4.30 – 4.45 Fifteen-minute Break
4.45 – 6.00 A little about the John Truby method
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Monday May 18
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 11.00 What text does your story need now? (Write it from a prompt)
11.00 – 11.15 Fifteen-minute Break
11.15 – 1.00 Who is your main character? Is it you?
1.00 – 2.30 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
3.00 – 5.00 Discussion: Which story is your story?
5.00 – 6.00 Writing to Prompt: My story is …
6.00 – Tasting local wines
7.00 – Four-course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Tuesday May 19
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 11.00 Does your premise match your story?
11.00 – 12.00 Character need, character weakness, character desire: How are they different? How do they work together?
12.00 – 12.15 15-minute break
12.15 – 1.00 Writing prompt: From within the character
1.00 – 2.30 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
3.00 – 4.00 Making early story decisions
4.00 – 6.00 Making endings: writing to a prompt
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Wednesday May 20 – Free Day
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
9.30 – 6.00 Free Day: Morning and Afternoon: Free time to explore Pau or beyond. The Clos Mirabel team is available to provide suggestions and organize transport.
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Thursday May 21
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 11.00 Discussion: Is your story developing organically? Does it feel like your story?
11.00 – 11.15 15-minute break
11.15 – 1.00 Can you see the whole story? Tell us about it. (Writing from a prompt)
1.00 – 2.30 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
3.00 – 4.00 How to revise quickly: To the devil with perfectionism!
4.00 – 4.15 15-minute break
4.15 – 6.00 Seeing the story whole, skipping the middle: What’s the transformation?
6.00 – Aperitifs before 4 course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Friday May 22
8.30 – 9.30 Buffet breakfast of local and regional produce
10.00 – 11.00 Discussion: How did we get here? What are your next steps? Let’s write them all down so we know where we’re going…
11.00 – 1.00 Individual conferences and private writing time
1.00 – 2.30 Lunch at Clos Mirabel
3.00 – 5.00 Let’s celebrate a little. We read our favorite writing to each other – to rapturous applause!
5.00 – 6.00 Preparing material for Readings and Music Night
6.00 – Readings and Music Night: share your work over aperitifs and four-course dinner in the Manor House or on the terrace
Saturday May 23
8.30 Buffet Breakfast and earnest farewells
11.00 Check out
Non-writing guests: we are more than happy to welcomenon-writing guests, accompanying partners, family or friends. There are plenty of activities to experience around Clos Mirabel, that will make your holiday unforgettable Click here for more information.
The Creative Studio offers a spacious open plan layout of 75 m2. It is available at all times during your stay. Click here for more information.
