Option #2: All-Day Saturday  Novel Writing Made Simple - The Seminar $35  (a la carte - preregistered).

Option #3: Saturday Evening  Novel Mechanix Critique Session $10.

Option #4: Sunday Morning Writers MS Word & Computer Workshop $20.

Kansas City - this isn't your average, everyday, boring lecture with lengthy, do-little writing exercises, folks. It's an interactive weekend, guaranteed to supercharge your writing, get your prose flowing and your passion burning. Come join us!

*Special room rates available until October 18:

 Call Crowne Plaza Reservations at 913-217-1000 

The Storyteller!

Writers Mini-Retreat Schedule:

Friday  Evening 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Buzz Session  -  What’s hot/happening in the publishing business! 

(free with full registration)

All-Day Saturday (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

Novel Writing Made Simple - The Seminar!

Interactive & fun - the most informative writers seminar you’ll ever find!

($35 preregistered/$45 at the door)

Saturday  Evening 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. 

Novel Mechanix Critique Session

Bring your own writing, hear constructive criticism of your work as well as others and learn!  ($10 separately)

Sunday  9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Writers MS Word & Computer Workshop

Filing, Navigating & Shortcuts: You love writing, but the computing and word processing drives you nuts? This is the workshop for you!

($20 separately) 

(Option #2: Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. - $35 preregistered/$45 at the door)

Gordon A Kessler's

Novel Writing Made Simple - THE SEMINAR! 

Get your story started, write it effectively from beginning to end, and get it published!

Topics will focus on understanding, developing and using key writing techniques, in order to write dynamic:    

• Characters and Characterization--Drawing 3D characters that seem to live and breathe, and that readers will remember; 
• Conflict, Action, Suspense and Plot--What's enough, what's too much, what'll keep 'em turning pages and leave 'em talking about it to their friends; 
• Setting, Imagery and Description--Why, when and how to describe and use similes and metaphors that set your story in a real world readers will easily visualize and love; 
• Dialogue and Internalization (Thought)--What's real, and what's too real. Dynamic dialogue and intelligent, observant point of view is what great storytelling is all about; 
• Narration and Exposition--Psychic distance, author intrusion, clarity, foreshadowing and interesting perspective can make or break a great story; 
• Queries and Synopses--Who, where, when and how do you let the publishing industry know you've got a story they'll want (getting your story in the editors' hands can be 90% of the battle).  

Bring your notebook and story samples (if you have them);  Exercises to gain practical writing experience will be conducted!

  Novel Mechanix Critique Session 

Critiques the way they’re supposed to be:  constructive; not patronizing but never vicious!

Bring a few pages to be reviewed, or just listen and learn as others’ work is constructively critiqued! Critical fiction-writing aspects will be discussed and examined.

This is the night before Halloween - costumes/disguises are optional.

  Writers MS Word & Computer Workshop

Filing, Navigating & Shortcuts: You love writing, but the computing and word processing drives you nuts? This is the workshop for you! Our focus will include:

• Navigating your computer desktop; 
• Shortcuts and tips to make filing your stories, researching the Internet and using your computer easy and fun; 
• Basic MS Word for writers: creating, using and saving your documents and finding them the next day; 
• Shortcuts and tips in formatting, copying, pasting, fonts, editing and emailing your files. 

(Included, Free with full registration: Friday, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.)

Buzz Session

What’s Hot/Happening in the Publishing Business, and what it means to You!

We’ll discuss the issues most important to writers, including:

• Current trends in the traditional publishing industry; 
• What’s new with small publishers, Print on Demand and self-publishing; 
• What’s happening with epublishing (electronic, Web-based); 
• How the Internet can help any and all writers. 

Where do you sign up, you ask? Well, right here, silly! 

Option #1, Full Registration: The  Storyteller! Writers Mini-Retreat

Friday evening, Saturday all-day and evening & Sunday morning = only $50  (does not include meals or rooms*)

*Special room rates are available until October 18 from Crowne Plaza Registrations at 913-217-1000 

^    ^    ^

Don’t want the full deal, you say: just pick and chose from the options below:

Option #2: Novel Writing Made Simple-the Seminar! Only (a la carte).

Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. = $35 (separate preregistration-will be $45 at the door, space available)

Option #3: Novel Mechanix Critique

        Saturday, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. = $10 (separately)

Option #4: Writers MS Word & Computer Workshop 

        Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. = $20 (separately)

If sending a check (Please include name and contact info), USPS, mail to:

Need more info? Email:

* Here we go -- Let the Fu-un Begin! *

What people are saying about Novel Writing Made Simple-the Seminar!

“Excellent seminar. Entertaining and informative with pertinent information. Thank you, Gordon!”

“I liked the discussions on characters--also, the Kessler challenges!”

“Gordon covers writing from the novelist’s first idea through finding an agent or editor, as well as getting the words on the page. I’m ready to write!”

“Gordon Kessler provides a whirlwind lesson on how to entice, grab and keep a reader. I’d recommend this seminar for the novice or for the scribe.”

“All of it was exciting and educational.”

“Even if you have no intention of writing fiction, you will enjoy this seminar. You’ll gain a greater appreciation for, and understanding of, the fiction you read. If you plan to write fiction, this seminar will help you write it better!”

“Character sketching was fun--so was clustering.”

“Gordon Kessler offers helpful information and an array of great tips in an entertaining manner.  Valuable insights are given with humor and approachability.”

“Gordon is informative and uses an entertaining approach to make the information clear and understandable.”

“From scene construction to point of view, to finding a publisher, this seminar is helpful to beginning as well as intermediate writers.”

“Gordon gives a fast-paced, yet laid-back and relaxed workshop.  You're having so much fun you forget you're being taught.  The interactive style he uses makes everyone feel included and welcome.  Fun, fun, fun!”

“Gordon covers writing techniques in a new and interesting way.  The discussions are lively and full of laughs.  I had a great time and learned so much!”

“I loved the blindfold exercise--I can't wait to see how it'll help me improve the imagery in my stories.”

The seminar was: “…a bargain!”

“…enjoyable and informative!”

“…very useful!”

“…practical, direct and engaging!”

“…laidback and fun.”

Gordon: “…shows the steps to a well-paced and richly written story without forcing any one formula.”

“…is very articulate, educational and humorous.”

“…is fantastic!”

“…is fun, friendly and knowledgeable.  I really enjoyed myself and learned a lot!”

“…is informative and entertaining--he made me feel comfortable!”

“…is excellent-entertaining and informative!”

“…is an amiable host.  He did very well!”

“…is wonderfully casual and relaxed.”

“…is very encouraging.”

“…is excellent--fun, relaxed and very knowledgeable.”

“...delivers an informative and fun workshop. I would recommend it to any beginning writer or to someone who hasn’t been writing for a while.”

“…has a passion for writing, and an interesting way of teaching. Thank you, Gordon!”

“…has a relaxed teaching technique.”

“…created a relaxed atmosphere, made excellent comments-is someone who knows. Thank you!”

“…is very good--he has an easy-to-follow style.”

“His style of facilitating the class is very easy going. He made the subject very interesting for someone who is not an English major or who has any experience in fiction writing. Thanks for a great session!”

“His enthusiasm and passion for writing gives hope to those of us looking to better ourselves as writers.”

Would you recommend this seminar to your friends? The answer was a resounding and unanimous “YES!”

What you can't see won't hurt you?

It's amazing what even a cheap pair of sunglasses can do to make just about anyone look cool--especially when everyone else is blindfolded!

A Few of Our Friends at the Lincoln Seminar--July 31, 2010