Sean Murphy

WRITING IN NEW DIRECTIONS: Los Alamos, NM
Saturday March 13, 2010.
10 am to 5 pm
With Sean Murphy

A day of creative inspiration to encourage fresh ideas for your fiction, memoir, non-fiction, poetry or journaling. Beginners and experienced writers equally welcome. We'll do lots of writing in a supportive atmosphere, experimenting with structure, style, and various techniques to kick-start your creative process. Although we'll cover key elements such as character, place, weaving a 'story', and the sensory details that bring our writing alive, this will all be grounded in practice. So just bring a pad, some pens, an open mind, and be ready to write!

For new writers, this is a great way to beat writer's block and get started on that story you've always wanted to tell, or just have fun trying out lots of ideas. (It's fine if you've never written before or don't even know what you want to write about - this workshop will get you started!) Experienced writers, you can use the exercises and craft tips to go deeper and find new direction on your current projects.

Weather permitting, some periods will be spent outside. A simple and delicious lunch will be provided. This workshop will be held in Los Alamos, NM. We'll email you the venue address and directions once we've received your registration.

Cost: $65 including home-cooked lunch (Buffet style, and adaptable for carnivores, vegetarians, wheat free/​dairy free.)

Two reduced rate places ($35) are available for low-income writers, first-come first-served, please inquire.

Space is limited, so please book early.

To Register:
Reserve your place with a deposit of $35 by credit card. The balance will be due on the day by check or cash.

Use the secure link below to pay either from your PayPal account, or by credit card if you don't have a PayPal account. Just follow the links.

NOTE: The $35 deposit is non-refundable if you cancel on or after March 8.
It is fully refundable if you cancel before March 8, or in the unlikely event that workshop is cancelled.

Payment of a deposit confirms your agreement to these terms.

Your name and phone number

* * * * * * * *All groups below led by Sean with Tania Casselle.

* STRAIGHT TO THE HEART - ONLINE SHORT FICTION AND FLASH FICTION GROUP. An 8-week workshop for short fiction writers, including feedback on your stories. Everything is done by email, so you can take part wherever you are. Next start date Summer 2010. Email me for info.

* WRITING GROUPS - We also offer workshops tailored to the needs of existing writing groups, either in person or long-distance by email/​phone conference. If your group is interested in working with us, get in touch and we'll talk about it.

Previous participants on Big Sky Workshops said:

"I loved, loved this course. I learned a tremendous amount, was extremely productive, and took courageous chances that paid off. One of the best courses I've ever taken."

"Tania and Sean are a great team: insightful, generous, funny and tough. This is one of the best workshops I've ever taken."

"This course far surpassed my highest expectations... organized to perfection and completely comprehensive. Tania and Sean provide a safe supportive environment for writers of all levels to work together, share ideas and help each other to grow. They are unbeatable. If you are looking for an extraordinary writing experience, you have come to the right place."

"I didn't want it to end. It was just such a remarkable and helpful experience… You challenged us, made us laugh and laughed with us, made us think, taught us ever new ways to feed the writing beast."

"At the start [of Write to the Finish] I had a hazy idea of what the book might cover. At the end, I had a 72,000 word first draft. The exercises, seminar weekends, advice from Sean and Tania, and support from the entire group, were the catalyst I needed. So thank you for helping me get there! I genuinely wouldn't have done it without you."

"Tania and Sean make an amazing team and it's wonderful to have both of their (sometimes different) perspectives on my work."

“You set such a supportive, fun, yet down-to-business tone for the course [Write to the Finish], that I'm not at all surprised that so many of us achieved all we had set out to do.”

"Your enthusiasm for writers is infectious."