San Diego Reader

November is National Novel Writing Month, or NanoWriMo. Tammy Greenwood teaches A Novel Idea, hosted by San Diego Writers, Ink (710 13th St Studio 210), a workshop aimed at helping writers prepare to write the novel.

RT: How will the class assist writers in developing a plan for their novels?

TG: We will first articulate our premises and then examine them in terms of three key components: Character, Conflict/Crisis, and Conclusion. Understanding these fundamental components from the outset should, ultimately streamline the novel writing process.

RT: Does a workshop really help a writer complete a novel?

TG: Two of my own novels began as NaNoWriMo projects (The Hungry Season and the forthcoming Bodies of Water). However, I began each of these endeavors only after spending a lot of time (and effort) on these "3 Cs".

The one-day workshop will run on November 10 from 3 - 6 p.m. The cost for the workshop is $45 for members and $54 for nonmembers. Tammy Greenwood has written seven novels and is a recipient of grants from the Christopher Isherwood Foundation, the Sherwood Anderson Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.