In the past few weeks, the writing community across the nation has been rocked by accusations of sexual harassment and abuse. Most of the allegations that I’ve heard don’t rise to the level of criminal behavior: After all, very few men are as vile as Harvey Weinstein. But many of those accused of improper conduct might best be called “creepy” or “repulsive.”
For example, my old writing student James Dashner was recently accused of inappropriate behavior toward new authors. His response was to apologize and promise to seek treatment. I respect that decision and do hope that he can overcome his problem.
This past week, Richard Paul Evans was also accused of kissing, hugging, and touching women inappropriately. Now, I don’t know him well. I’ve been on a couple of panels with him in the past, and I felt that he was a genuinely caring person who gave sound advice. But his bizarre denials and inability to take ownership of his problems both astonished and disappointed me. In the end, I have to conclude that, “Yes, you did do something wrong, and you’re doing a terrible job of covering it up.”
Now, this whole issue is deeply personal to me. I was once a police officer, and I try to be very protective of others. I don’t want to preach to you about how you should handle all of this, but I do want to state what I will call my Personal Harassment Policy.
1) Do no harm.
As a man, it is easy to forget that my size alone might intimidate a smaller person, so I want to struggle to make sure that by word, tone, or action that I never frighten another unintentionally. Also, remember that a lot of men out there are assholes, and you want to be better than them.
2) Since I’m married, never make sexual advances to others—even in a teasing manner.
Some people take teasing seriously. As a married man, I’m quite happy with my relationship and don’t want to jeopardize it or treat it lightly. So I try to avoid even the illusion of impropriety.
3) Stand up for anyone who is vulnerable or being abused.
If someone says that they are being abused, or shows signs of abuse, look into the matter as best you can.
Those who prey upon others very often feel a false sense of entitlement. So disabuse them of that notion. Abusers almost always try to work under a cloak of secrecy. Strip away the cloak and expose them. Speak up, and encourage others to do the same!
If pointing the abuser out to your peers doesn’t work, report them to the police.
If the police can’t help, calmly take matters into your own hands if you must, but do something!
Remember, the people being hurt are very often close to us.
Show zero tolerance for sexual abuse.
Live Writing Workshops
Fyrecon Master Class
Explore the writing process step-by-step over three days (four hours each day) and see exactly how it is done. Each hour we’ll cover a new step toward completion and beyond.
Hour 1–Brainstorming, “1001 Ideas in an Hour”
Hour 2–Brainstorming Settings
Hour 3–Create Your Characters
Hour 4–Weaving the Plot
Hour 5–Focus on Writing (Cleaning your palette, creating a writing space, focus)
Hour 6–Drafting Your Opening/Hooking Your Reader
Hour 7–Enchanting Your Reader Image by Image
Hour 8–Adding Complications
Hour 9–Powerful Endings
Hour 10–Editing to Greatness/Working with Editors
Hour 11–Sending it Out, Dealing With Editors and Agents
Hour 12–How to Make a Living as a Writer
12 Hour Master class $239
(includes general admission)
Sale $209
Class is limited to 30 students
Thursday, June 21st, 9am – 1pm
Friday, June 22nd, 9am – 1pm
Saturday, June 23rd, 9am – 1pm
Register or learn more here.
Quick Start Your Writing Career
Please join David for his new workshop, Quick Start Your Writing Career, held on June 30, 2018 at the the Provo Marriott Hotel and Conference Center at 101 W. 100 North, Provo, Utah 84601 USA. Ph. +1 801-377-4700.
The workshop will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a one-hour break for lunch. There are numerous restaurants near the hotel.
The workshop costs $99 for the day and lunch is not included. There is space for 80 attendees.
Dave will speak about the following subjects:
- Breaking onto the Bestseller Lists
- How to Get Discovered
- Defining Yourself As an Author
- Plotting Your Career
- Going Indie vs. Traditional Publishing
- Multimedia–Your Most Indispensable Asset
- How to Reach a Vast Audience
- Dealing with Agents, Editors, and Movie Producers.
Register here.
Fantasy Writing Workshop
YHA Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
August 22-August 28, 2018
Number of Students: Strictly Limited to 12
Number of Days: 7
Cost: $1,099 for the workshop. Lodging, food, and travel are all the student’s responsibility
TBD, Dublin, Ireland
August 7-August 13, 2019
Number of Students: Strictly Limited to 12
Number of Days: 7
Cost: $1,099 for the workshop. Lodging, food, and travel are all the student’s responsibility
Join us for our most magical workshop ever! In this workshop, David Farland will be focusing on writing fantasy—building powerful magic systems, cultures, and worlds, creating fantasy characters, plotting fantasy, and writing powerful prose.
Students will need to bring a laptop, an unfettered imagination, and a strong work ethic. Being half-mad would also be a help.
This workshop will last three days longer than most of Dave’s workshops so that you will be able to focus on writing each day but still have some afternoons free to do some sightseeing.
Oxford: We will spend time visiting nearby sites like Stonehenge, The Eagle and Child Pub (where Tolkien and Lewis met with the Inklings writing group), Warwick Castle, Shakespeare’s home, and we will be within easy striking distance of London.
Dublin: We will spend time visiting nearby sights like The Book of Kells, Dublin Castle, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Register here.
Advanced Intensive Writing Workshop
St. George, Utah
Ramada Inn
1440 E St George Blvd,
St George, UT 84790
Phone: (435) 628-2828
October 22-26, 2018
10 Attendees Maximum
$799. Room, travel, and meals are separate
Prepare for National Novel Writing Month right in this workshop exclusively for those who would rather be dead than unread!
Dave is ratcheting up his popular Writing Mastery camp and this will be an advanced workshop where we perform daily writing exercises, give daily critiques, and work to improve our writing craft.
During the workshop, instruction and exercises will cover such topics as:
Adding intrigue to your tale
Creating tension
Using the eight kinds of hooks
Using appeals to various senses to hypnotize your reader
Weak appeals versus strong appeals versus “failed” appeals
The music of writing–assonance, consonance, metaphors, etc
Developing and using both your voice and your character’s voices
Advanced descriptive techniques
And more!
We will have at least ten assignments over the course of the class, and Dave will review each assignment and offer critiques. We will also invite other writers to offer their own insights.
During lunch and dinners, authors will be able to set up appointments to dine with David in order to talk about specific concerns that they have with their writing, or to plan their careers.
Note to David Farland’s Advanced Intensive Writing Workshop Participants: You must bring a laptop computer with you. If you don’t own one, then borrow, rent, or buy one.
While the goal for this workshop is to allow the writer to have fun, to get inspired, to work in an intellectually rich and emotionally fulfilling environment, this will be David’s most intensive class ever!
Register here.
