Do you have a fascinating idea for a story? Have you always dreamed of writing a screenplay, a stage play or a novel, but you don’t know where to start or how to execute it? Do you have a work in progress but need to know how to finish it and bring it to market?
On Saturday, Jan. 11, from 10 a.m. until noon, local author Sarah Lawrence will present a seminar on how to bring your story to life. The free workshop is part of the Adult Education Program of the Ruby Sisson Library. All ages and experience levels are welcome.
The workshop is geared to those who want to write a full-length story told as a screenplay, stage play or novel.
Bring your wonderful idea or work in progress as we will have a number of hands-on activities to help you make your dream a reality. We will cover the basic story idea, story visioning, character development, plot structure, format, time management and marketing. You will leave with valuable handouts, a treasure trove of professional resources and the inspiration you need to finish your project in 2025.
Note: Although this workshop might be interesting to all writers, it is probably not suited to essayists, memoirists, poets, short story or nonfiction writers.
“Whenever I’m at a party,” said Lawrence, “people come up to me and, after I reveal my occupation, respond with, ‘Oh, you must write a screenplay about my life.’ Or, ‘I would be a fabulous novelist, but I don’t have the time.’ Or ‘I have a great idea, but need to wait for inspiration to strike.’ The best person to write your great story is you. Only you have the passion and knowledge it takes to finish a full-length project. All the successful working writers I know don’t wait for inspiration to strike them on the head. They set aside time to write and approach their writing as a sacred discipline. If you spent just an hour a day six days a week, you could easily finish that novel in a year, or write four screenplays or stage plays.”
Lawrence has written four published nonfiction books and numerous magazine articles, sold a novel, and has had plays produced from the Kennedy Center to off-Broadway to theaters across the South. She currently has two award-winning screenplays circulating in Hollywood. Her screenplay “Peace So Sweet” is ranked among the top 1 percent of all new Hollywood scripts. Lawrence’s most recent project, the musical “Yellow Rose,” is in development for a Broadway production under contract.
She holds an MFA in writing for stage and screen (2016) from the New Hampshire Institute and an MBA from the University of Texas.