Gaithersburg Book Festival to Present Free Workshops on Bilingual Creative Writing, Getting Published, Writing Love Poems and More
May 20 Workshops Open to Participants 16 and Older
Gaithersburg, Md. – April 13, 2023 – Aspiring writers and poets can learn tricks of the trade during the Gaithersburg Book Festival. Free writing workshops for adults (ages 16+) will be offered during the Festival, taking place Saturday, May 20, at Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm (506 S. Frederick Ave.) in Gaithersburg, Md. Workshops are available on a first-come, first-served basis and will be held in the Adult and Teen Workshops Tent.
Attendees are invited to participate in any or all of these workshops:
The Importance of Editing – Michele Chynoweth
10 a.m.
The saying “you never get a second chance to make a first impression” is absolutely true when it comes to a book. Many writers don’t take the time to polish their book before they publish or submit to agents. Enter the editing process and its vital role in publishing. Learn crucial editing tips that will help create the best version of a book, including advice on style, dialogue, description, organization, proofing, formatting and more.
Research and Write Your Memoir – Roni Rosenthal
11 a.m.
Many people want to tell their stories, but wonder if anyone will even care. Plus they may worry it’s too much of an effort or don’t know how to begin. People don’t need to be old or famous to write their story. Everyone has something to say, and wants someone to listen. Writing a memoir will connect writers to their heritage, traditions and family. Memoirs also help writers understand their identity better, and will also help preserve the writer’s life among loved ones for generations. In this workshop, participants will learn how to begin their memoir journey and conduct family research.
Using Setting to Increase Mood and Suspense – Eva Langston
Noon
Scene-setting is often considered long, descriptive and even boring. But setting can be a great way to establish the tone of a story and increase page-turning suspense for readers. Learn tips, read examples and complete exercises, all designed to help dial up the suspense in a story through setting, whether writing a mystery/thriller or any other genre.
How to Publish a Book – Emily Barrosse
1 p.m.
With all of the options available to authors today, it can be overwhelming figuring out the best option for publishing a book. This workshop will focus on the different types of publishing options: traditional, hybrid and self-publishing, and their differences, and how to choose the best publishing option.
Bilingual Creative Writing – Ofelia Montelongo
2 p.m.
Join the bilingual creative writing workshop and learn to write stories in any two languages using code-switching. This type of writing makes our stories unique and reveals the authenticity of our characters.
Retelling Classic Stories in Young Adult Fiction – Kelly Ann Jacobson
3 p.m.
In this workshop, author and University of Lynchburg professor Kelly Ann Jacobson will help participants create their own reimaginings of classic literature stories. After a brief discussion on retellings, Kelly will give prompts, and then participants will have time to write their own works. After allowing time to share, Kelly will lead a Q&A session for questions about being an author.
Writing Love Poems – Kim Roberts
4 p.m.
The oldest known written poem was a love poem. “The Love Song of Shu-Shin” was found in excavations of the city of Ur in ancient Mesopotamia, and probably written in the 20th Century BCE. If love is the original subject, how can there possibly be anything new said about it? In this workshop, participants will look at model poems and discuss how contemporary writers have handled the most tender emotion—and why new love poems continue to be necessary.
No pre-registration is required for these free workshops. Participants should plan to show up at the time their preferred workshop is scheduled to start. Workshops are generally limited to 20 participants, but individual presenters can expand the workshop at their discretion.
For the workshop schedule and more information about instructors, visit the Adult & Teen Workshops page of the Festival website. There will also be Children’s Workshops geared to young writers, ages elementary school through high school.
About the Gaithersburg Book Festival
The Gaithersburg Book Festival is an annual all-day celebration of books, writers and literary excellence. One of the premier literary events in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, the 2023 Festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 20, at Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm (506 S. Frederick Ave.) in Gaithersburg, Md. Activities will include author appearances, discussions and book signings; writing workshops; a Children’s Village; onsite sales of new and used books; literary exhibitors, food, drink, ice cream and more. FREE admission and accessible shuttle will be available from Shady Grove Metro, Lakeforest Mall, Quince Orchard Park and Ride, and Walnut Hill Shopping Center. The Gaithersburg Book Festival also hosts author events in Montgomery County throughout the year to encourage continued appreciation for all things literary. The Gaithersburg Book Festival is sponsored in part by its official bookseller, Politics & Prose, and title sponsor, The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center. For more information please visit www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org, follow us on Twitter @GburgBookFest or like us on Facebook and Instagram.
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