Writer in Residence offers free workshops at Mesa Public Library

January 29, 2020 at 1:30 pm

Mesa Public Library is excited to continue our Writer in Residence program in partnership with Arizona State Library. Dane McCaslin will be Writer in Residence through March.

She will be offering free writing workshops at the Main, Red Mountain, and Dobson Ranch Libraries.

Among the workshops she is hosting:

Crafting a Short Story that Isn't Short on Pizzazz
Feb. 13. 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Red Mountain Library, 635 N. Power Road
Sometimes a story doesn't need the wide open space of a novel, and that's where the short story format becomes the perfect frame. While the final product might seem easy in comparison to a full-fledged novel, there's still a lot of effort that goes into making the short story work. In this workshop you will learn the tricks behind the tiny tale.

Learning the Differences Between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Person Points of View
Feb. 22. 2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. Dobson Ranch Library, 2425 S. Dobson Road
There are two sides to every story...and sometimes three. I love to write. You love to write. They love to write. These are simple examples of the three points of view available to writers. If you struggle in choosing which would best suit your story, come join this writing workshop to get some tools to help make that decision.

How to Write Believable Dialogue
March 5. 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Main Library, 64 E. First St.
Have you ever read (or tried to read) a book that seemed full of endless description and little character interaction? While that method might have worked for the great writers of the past, today's readers want a realistic reading experience. In this writing workshop you will learn how to bring your characters to life through natural-sounding dialogue.

Reducing the Backstory and Jumping into the Action
March 19. 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Main Library, 64 E. First St.
Bad dates and poorly written books have something in common, believe it or not: too much backstory. Information overload can send even the most dedicated reader scurrying for the safety of hints into a character's life via dialogue and action, not their entire life story. If you'd like to know how to move from "show" to "tell", be sure to join us for our last writing workshop with Writer in
Residence Dane McCaslin.

McCaslin will also be holding one-on-one meetings with aspiring writers. Please check online at www.mesalibrary.org/writerinresidence to schedule a meeting or call (480) 644-3100 for questions.

Dane McCaslin is the bestselling author of the Proverbial Crimes series, including "A Bird in the Hand," "When the Cat's Away" and "You Can Lead a Horse to Water." She is a writer, workshop facilitator and former teacher with more than 20 years of teaching experience for students in middle school, high school, community college and graduate school. She is presently working on a new cozy mystery series and has two of the three novels in the works as well as a brand new suspense trilogy.

The Writer in Residence program is supported by the Arizona State Library, a division of the Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Library
Contact: Kevin Christopher
Tel. 480-644-4699
kevin.christopher@mesaaz.gov