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.
