Writers' Institute - University of Wisconsin Madison

I make a point of going to the Writers' Institute conference held annually in Madison, Wisconsin no matter what else is going on in my life. For ten years I have listened to the best and the brightest discuss various aspects of writing: making characters come alive, themes in writing, the business side of writing, marketing, fiction, screenplays, short fiction, writing humor, short stories, poetry and much more.

This year Linda Seger, a script doctor in Hollywood for many years, www.lindaseger.com spoke in various sessions. "Creating the Character Spine", "Creating Cinematic Images", "Creating the Transformational Arc" were topics she clearly explored not only as applicable to screenplay writing but to all writing. She has consulted on over 2,000 scripts, including 40 produced feature films and about 35 television projects. She is the author of 11 books, eight on screenwriting and three on spirituality.

Les Edgerton was there. He has published nine books and his fiction has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, O. Henry Award, Edgar Allen Poe Award, PEN/Faulkner Award and many more. He teaches creative writing online for the Gotham Writer's Workshop, for Vermont College, privides private coaching for a number of prominent Hollywood personalities and was the former head of Robin Williams production company. He gave sessions on "Story Beginnings", private workshops, "The Writer's Voice".

There were many other terrific lecturers: Victoria Goff on the business and marketing of your writing, Simone Elkeles on young adult fiction and many more. Agents fly in from New York as they always do and the place was alive with writer's adding and embellishing their knowledge.

Many of you know how wonderful Madison, Wisconsin is as a city that supports the arts and the individual entrepreneur. In the fall there is a book festival, in the spring a film festival, the wonderful farmer's market in the square surrounding the the Capitol during spring, summer and fall. The arts festival in the same square around the Capitol in July.

Best of all is the writing department with Chris DeSmet, Marshall Cook (now retiring) and Laurel Yourke. They sponsor Writers' Institute and give various writing classes during the year. What makes them different than other conference sponsors? They are available after the conference, during the year, to answer questions you might have or boost your ego. Other conferences I have attended don't do that. You walk out the door maybe learning something, maybe not, but generally speaking you don't have access to these speakers after the conference.

The conference is held at the end of March - next year check them out and try to make it to the conference. Not only do you get to enjoy the ambience of Madison but develop a network of friends and teachers who never let you down.