Schedule

The schedule for the 2010 Alpha workshop is as follows:

Wednesday, July 14 – Day 1

10:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.       Arrival, Franklin Hall is our dorm this year
5:00 P.M.  – 6:00 P.M.          Dinner
7:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M.         Official welcome, short manuscript format presentation, evening social – Village Hall

Thursday, July 15 – Day 2

8:00 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.           Breakfast
10:00 A.M. – 11:15 A.M.       Michael A. Arnzen lecture – Village Hall
11:20 A.M. – 12:00 noon     Explanation of writing assignment
12:00 noon – 1:00 P.M.        Lunch
1:00 P.M. – 1:45 P.M.           Michael A. Arnzen lecture – Village Hall
2:00 P.M. – 3:45 P.M.           Writing studio– Village Hall
4:00 P.M. – 4:45 P.M.           Go over initial story ideas with the whole group.  Get feedback on how to trim or expand the chosen idea into something that will sustain a short story. – Village Hall
5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.           Dinner
6:00 P.M. – 7:45 P.M.          Writing Studio – Village Hall
8:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.           Presentation – “How Not to Critique a Story” followed by reading practice for those students who will be reading at the bookstore this week – Village Hall

Friday, July 16 – Day 3

8:00 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.           Breakfast
10:00 A.M. – 11:15 A.M.       Michael A. Arnzen lecture – Powers Hall Lounge
11:20 A.M. – 12:00 noon     Writing studios – McKenna Hall Room 136
12:00 noon – 1:00 P.M.        Lunch
1:00 P.M. – 1:45 P.M.           Michael A. Arnzen lecture – Fireside Lounge
2:00 P.M. – 4:45 P.M.           Critique of the Beta stories – Fireside Lounge
5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.           Dinner
6:00 P.M. – 7:45 P.M.           Writing Studios.  Students should have a good start on the story.  Go over the work done so far in small groups.  Any questions?  Problems?  Is it a good start? Is there a good narrative hook? – Village Hall
8:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. Writing Studios – Village Hall

Saturday, July 17 – Day 4

8:00 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.           Breakfast
10:00 A.M. – 11:15 A.M.       Timothy Zahn lecture – Village Hall
11:20 A.M. – 11:50 noon     Beta Presentation – Jackie (Characters) – Village Hall
12:00 noon – 1:00 P.M.        Lunch
1:00 P.M. – 1:45 P.M.           Timothy Zahn lecture – Powers Hall Lounge
2:00 P.M. – 4:45 P.M.           Writing studios – Village Hall
5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.           Dinner
6:15 P.M. – 6:45 P.M.          Beta Presentation – Tina (Worldbuilding) – Village Hall
7:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.          Writing studios – Village Hall

Sunday, July 18 – Day 5

8:00 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.           Breakfast
10:00 A.M. – 11:45 A.M.       Timothy Zahn lecture – Village Hall
12:00 noon. – 1:00 P.M.       Lunch
1:00 P.M.           Travel to Barnes and Noble
2:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.          Timothy Zahn, David Barr Kirtley, and student reading and signing – Barnes and Noble
5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.          Dinner
7:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.          Presentation – Cassie – Village Hall

Monday, July 19 – Day 6

8:00 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.           Breakfast
10:00 A.M. – 11:15 A.M.       Holly Black lecture – Powers Hall Lounge
11:20 A.M. – 11:50 noon     Beta presentation – Allison (Science and Handwaving) – Village Hall
12:00 noon. – 1:00 P.M.       Lunch
1:00 P.M. – 1:45 P.M.           Holly Black lecture – Village Hall
2:30 P.M. – 4:45 P.M.           Writing studios – McKenna Hall Room 136
5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.           Dinner
6:15 P.M. – 6:45 P.M. Beta Presentation – Cate (Relationships) – Village Hall
7:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.          Writing Studios – McKenna Hall Room 136
8:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.           Presentation -Dave – Village Hall

Tuesday, July 20 – Day 7

Before 8:00 A.M. Turn in first draft!!!
8:00 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.           Breakfast
10:00 A.M. – 11:15 A.M.       Holly Black lecture – Fireside Lounge
11:20 A. M. – 12 noon          Writing studios McKenna Hall Room 136
12:00 noon – 1:00 P.M.        Lunch
1:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.           Holly Black lecture – Fireside Lounge
2:00 P.M. – 4:45 P.M.           Writing studios – McKenna Hall Room 136
5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.           Dinner
6:30 P.M.                               Travel to Barnes and Noble, Greensburg, for the readings and signings
7:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.          Tamora Pierce, Holly Black, and Michael A. Arnzen reading and signing
9:30 P.M.                               Return to UPG

Wednesday, July 21 – Day 8

8:00 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.           Breakfast
10:00 A.M. – 11:15 A.M.       Tamora Pierce – Fireside Lounge
11:20 A. M. – 12 noon          Writing studios McKenna Hall room 136
12:00 noon – 1:00 P.M.        Lunch
1:00 P.M. – 1:45 P.M.           Tamora Pierce lecture – Fireside Lounge
2:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.          Critique of first draft – Powers Hall Rooms 117, 118, 119, 120
5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.           Dinner
6:00 P.M. – 7:45 P.M.          Writing studios – focus on revision – McKenna Hall room 136
8:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.           Presentation – Thomas – Village Hall

Thursday, July 22 – Day 9

8:00 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.           Breakfast
10:00 A.M. – 11:45 P.M.       Tamora Pierce lecture – Village Hall
12:00 noon – 1:00 P.M.        Lunch
1:00 P.M. – 1:45 P.M.           Tamora Pierce lecture – Village Hall
2:00 P.M. – 4:45 P.M.           Writing studios: pointed focus on second draft. – McKenna Hall Room 136
5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.           Dinner
6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.          Writing Studio – Village Hall
8:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.          Presentation -Rachel – McKenna Hall Room 136

Friday, July 23 – Day 10

8:00 A.M. – 8:30 A.M.           Turn in polished, printed copy of second draft suitable for mailing.
8:00 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.           Breakfast
9:30 A.M. – 12:00 noon        Pack
12:00 noon – 1:00 P.M.        Lunch
2:00 P.M.                               Leave for Confluence

Story milestones:
Before coming to Alpha have at least one, but preferably more, story ideas prepped with characters, setting, and, perhaps, an outline.  Do not bring an already-written story to revise during the workshop. You will need to work on a new piece during the course of the week.

July 15 – Thursday – Day 2 –          Have at least 2-3 story potential story ideas.  Start writing a first draft
July 16 – Friday – Day 3 –                Continue working on the first draft
July 17 – Saturday – Day 4 –           Continue working on the first draft
July 18 – Sunday – Day 5 –             Continue working on the first draft
July 19 – Monday – Day 6 –            First draft should be finished and turned in before retiring
July 20 – Tuesday – Day 7 –           Read first drafts for critique
July 21 – Wednesday – Day 8 –     Critique first drafts, revise
July 22 – Thursday – Day 9 –          Turn in second drafts
July 23 – Friday – Day 10 –             Polish and mail, if you wish

Writing Studio
Writing Studio can be and is a many colored thing.  It can be:

  • “Go write”
  • Dissect story ideas
  • Examine story problems
  • Critique an in-progress story

or all of the above.  If there are specific plans for a Writing Studio time slot it will appear on the schedule.  Otherwise it means “go work on your story”.

Computing lab hours
8:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.                    Monday – Thursday
8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.                      Friday
Closed                                               Saturday
Closed                                               Sunday

Note:
Many of the evening activities, with the notable exception of the trips to Barnes & Noble, are optional.  If you need the time to write or sleep then do so.