Genre-la Speculative Fiction Writers’ Conference

Education and Inspiration for Writers of Speculative Fiction

Next weekend (Jan. 27-29) is the 2017 Genre-LA™ Creative Writers Conference in Culver City, California, (location details) where more than 30 published masters of the genre, literary agents, editors, publishers, best-selling authors, industry experts, Hollywood veterans, educators, and publishing professionals will share their experiences and secrets to help take your writing to the next level and guide your career on the path to success.  Save up to $100 on a Single Registration: http://www.wcwriters.com/club.  

Now Write! Panel: Special Techniques of Expert Speculative Fiction Writers and Filmmakers

Get inspired and learn how to take your writing to the next level with this Now Write! Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror panel, Friday, Jan 27, 5:45-6:45 immediately followed by networking cocktail party at the Conference.  Have fun taking your imagination where it needs to go to write effectively in these mind-bending genres.

Filmmaker/educator/former studio exec and two-time Now Write! contributor Devorah Cutler-Rubenstein will discuss intriguing ways to give sentience to ordinary objects.

Acclaimed writer/producer/director Pen Densham (Outer Limits, Twilight Zone TV Show revivals) will talk about his unique approach to creative mashups “Writing Into the Spiritual Unknown.” (Check out Pen’s FREE Creative Person’s Success Manual and his awesome screenwriting book Riding the Alligator.)

Special guest Pamela Jaye Smith, award-winning producer/ director/author and mythology expert.  She will discuss how to use myth, magic and metaphysics in your stories.  Let her be your guide into the geography and psychology of these other realities and learn ways to use them to give your stories internal integrity and unique power.

Moderated by Now Write! editor Laurie Lamson.

10
Oct, 2013

International Screenwriters’ Association Podcasts with Now Write! Contributors

As the host/moderator for International Screenwriters Association for the last 2 years, I’ve had the pleasure to learn firsthand from some very talented and inspiring professionals.  Many of them were contributors to Now Write! Screenwriting, Now Write! Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror (Feb. 2014) or both.  Here I’ve compiled all the Now Write! contributor podcasts to share.  – Laurie Lamson

timthumb-1.phpThe Craft of Writing For TV and Film with Pen Densham (Now Write!  Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror.)

A lively conversation with two-time Oscar nominee Pen Densham about his experiences and the insights he’s gained from working in the entertainment industry as a writer, director and producer.  We also talk about the craft of writing for film and TV and take listener questions about Pen’s career and about his book Riding the Alligator: Strategies for a Career in Screenplay Writing.

christineconradtcuLife as a Horror/Thriller Writing Professional with Christine Conradt (Now Write! Screenwriting & Now Write! Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror.)

Learn what to expect once you make your way into the Hollywood trenches.  Christine discusses what it’s really like to be a working screenwriter in Hollywood, including the nuts and bolts of what to expect when you’re hired by a producer, how to manage the relationship and respond to script notes.

timthumb-3.phpFilm Genre for the Screenwriter with Jule Selbo (Now Write!  Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror.)
Film Genre is an important aspect of the film narrative. It is important for the screenwriter to understand film genre’s place in the story so that he or she can deliver on audience expectations – and maybe even move the screenwriting form forward.

timthumb-2.phpSeven Surefire Secrets to Breaking Into the Film Biz with Barri Evins (Now Write! Screenwriting.)

You’re hundreds of miles from Hollywood, California. Or maybe you’re just around the corner, but it seems far away. You want to break into the film business. But how? This class gives you a road map to get you from here to there. With Barri Evins. Barri has taught at Pixar, DreamWorks Animation, the UCLA Producers Program and the American Film Institute.

(Note: I personally took Barri’s seminar mentioned in the podcast and it was FANTASTIC! – Laurie)

timthumb.phpClear and Tight Writing with Will Akers (Now Write! Screenwriting.)

Crushing to learn:  nobody wants to read your stuff, unless it’s your mom.  You are duty bound to give the reader a document that is 1.) clear and 2.) easy to read.  Will Akers will show you how to clean up that first draft. Will has written scripts and series television for studios, independent producers, and television networks. He is Chair of the Motion Pictures Program at Belmont University.

timthumb-4.phpStorymapping THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION with Daniel Calvisi (Now Write! Screenwriting.)

Daniel Calvisi and William Robert Rich, hosts of the Story Maps Screenwriting Podcast, will break down and discuss THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION with a beat-by-beat structural analysis that explores its classical structure, as well as the non-traditional elements that break from the Hollywood norm.

DevorahRubensteinIs Your Script Ready? with Devorah Cutler-Rubenstein (Now Write! Screenwriting & Now Write! Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror.)

Devorah Cutler-Rubenstein breaks down her critical evaluation checklist geared towards helping you see if you are truly ready to put your story out there. Bonus discussion: Insider tips on getting yourself ready for that all-important meeting, pitch, and elevator moment.

Brad.thumbAdapting Articles, Books and Life Rights to TV and Film with Brad Schreiber (Now Write! Screenwriting & Now Write! Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror.)

Brad has written for all media, done consultations for worldwide clients when he was V.P. at Chris Vogler’s Storytech, and has been writer-producer for PBS. Brad created the series North Mission Road, which ran six seasons on truTV.

Free Teleconferences from I.S.A.

Now Write! Screenwriting and Now Write! Mysteries co-editor Laurie Lamson has been moderating teleconferences for the International Screenwriters Association for the last 7 months.  These are wonderful conversations with a lot of food for thought both for screenwriters and authors in general.

William-AkersWill Akers is the author of Your Screenplay Sucks! 100 Ways To Make It Great and a contributor to Now Write! Screenwriting. He’s had many writing assignments from producers taught screenwriting at Vanderbilt University for 19 years and is now Chair of the Program in Motion Pictures at Belmont University.  We had a very informative conversation about rewriting your script.  Listen now.  (Expires 8/31/13).

Adam Levenberg has worked as a development exec and shoots straight from the hip about the easiest way to break into the movie industry as a screenwriter – with a starter screenplay.  His candid advice is also available in a wonderful book The Starter Screenplay: An Executive’s Perspective On Screenwriting. Listen now. (Expires 6/30/13)

Jeffrey Gordon, the founder of the Writer’s Bootcamp, has developed lots of tools for writers.  We had a deep conversation and he also gave some tremendous advice to people on the call.

Listen now. (Expires 6/30/13)

Jacob Krueger was a wonderful guest with fantastic advice and encouragement about your creative flow and the essential drafts to take yourself through – starting from the ‘me’ draft where he encourages an unfettered outpouring without regard for structure.  Listen now. (Expires 4/30/13)

Another of ISA’s guest speakers was a Now Write! Screenwriting contributor – Devorah Cutler-Rubenstein.  We had a lively discussion about different ways to tap into the spiritual essence of your story and evaluate your own work for a deeper and more meaningful and focused rewrite. (Also a contributor to the upcoming Now Write! Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror.) Listen Now (expires 4/30/13).

Candace Kearns Read

What a lovely speaker!  Her background is as a story analyst for top agencies where she read scripts for some of the biggest movie stars. Her especial interest is true stories and she wrote a book called Shaping True Story Into Screenplay.    (Listen now). (Expires 3/31/13)

Earlier teleconferences moderated by Laurie.


The ISA Teleconferences are free so just sign up on the ISA website to stay informed about upcoming guest speakers.