Workshops / Details
❧ Beachside 101.
Next session: TBA.
Times: Friday 6:30 p.m.-Saturday 5 p.m.
Leader: Bob Welch.
Purpose: To affirm participants as writers and give them specific tools to improve that writing.
Focus: Leads off Friday with an inspirational discussion on the power of words, then segues Saturday into 10 nuts-and-bolts steps to improvement. Short writing exercises. No reading aloud.
Food: Friday night coffee and snacks, followed by traditional Beachside S’moresfest at session’s end, about 9 p.m. Saturday breakfast and Oregon Coast lunch.
Cost: $199. (Lodging on your own.)
❧ Beachside 201.
Next session: TBA.
Times: Friday 6:30 p.m.-Saturday 5 p.m.
Leader: Bob Welch.
Purpose: To affirm participants as writers and deepen their understanding of what makes a good story and what sacrifices writing requires.
Focus: Deeper exploration into tone, foreshadowing, showing instead of telling, etc. Looks at why and how some writers succeed and others do not. Discusses barriers to better writing and how to overcome. Short writing exercises. Group discussions. No reading aloud.
Food: Friday night coffee and snacks, followed by traditional Beachside S’moresfest at session’s end, about 9 p.m. Saturday breakfast and Oregon Coast lunch.
Cost: TBA. (Lodging on your own.)
Registration deadline: TBA
❧ Beachside 301.
Next session: TBA.
Times: Friday 6:30 p.m.-Sunday noon.
Leaders: Bob Welch and Jane Kirkpatrick.
Purpose: To affirm participants as writers, go deeper into the nuances of good fiction (Kirkpatrick) and good non-fiction (Welch) and develop confidence through reading stories aloud.
Focus: Inspirations from Bob and Jane Friday night in an all-group setting. Workshops Saturday and Sunday with a two-hour read-aloud session Saturday evening following dinner. (Note: Reading aloud is encouraged, not required.) Welch workshops: Writing the Alluring Essay, Self-Publishing and the Non-Ficition Book Experience. Kirkpatrick workshops: “Silencing the Harpies,” “Going with the Flow While Researching and Writing the Historical Novel” and “The Four C’s of a novelist: Character, Conversation, Conflict and Change.” (Note: Welch’s Self-Publishing and Kirkpatrick’s “Silencing the Harpies” are done twice so participants can hear both.) Group discussions. A half-hour writing project.
Food: Friday night coffee and snacks, followed by traditional Beachside S’moresfest at session’s end, about 9 p.m. Saturday breakfast and Oregon Coast lunch. (Dinner on your own Saturday night.) Sunday salmon brunch.
Cost: TBA. (Lodging on your own.)
Registration deadline: TBA.
❧ Beachside 401.
Next session: Feb. 19-21, 2010.
Times: Friday 6:30 p.m.-Sunday noon.
Leaders: Bob Welch and Jane Kirkpatrick.
Focus: Inspiration from Bob and Jane Friday night in an all-group setting. Workshops Saturday and Sunday with a two-hour read-aloud session Saturday evening following dinner. (Note: Reading aloud is encouraged, not required.) Welch workshops (subject to change): “Interviewing and Information Gathering.” “My Five Favorite Non-fiction Books and Why.” And “Writing the Meaningful Memoir.” Jane workshops: TBA. Group discussions. Extensive writing project.
Food: Friday night coffee and snacks, followed by traditional Beachside S’moresfest at session’s end, about 9 p.m. Saturday breakfast and Oregon Coast lunch. (Dinner on your own Saturday night.) Sunday brunch.
Cost: $299. (Lodging on your own.)
Registration deadline: Feb. 1, 2010.
What: Beachside Writers Workshops.
Who: Beginning & intermediate-level writers. 101 and 201 levels are limited to 25 students, 301 and 401 to 50.
When: Generally twice a year. February-April or February-November.
Where: Yachats Commons, Yachats, Oregon.
Why: To affirm you as a writer and give you tools to become an even better one.
Questions you might have if you’re considering Beachside
What if I’m not an accomplished writer?
Come. Beachside isn’t about status or resumes and such. We’re about sending you out the door ready to improve — regardless of your level. Many of our writers simply want to write a good family memoir. Or a more forceful letter to the editor. Those are worthy goals. You will find many people at your same level.
Will I have to read something I’ve written in front of everyone?
No, only if you want to. Beachside encourages reading aloud, particularly at the 301 and 401 levels, but your doing so is completely optional.
How much actual writing does it involve?
Minimal. The 101 and 201 levels offer a 15- or 30-minute assignment or two, the 301 and 401 levels longer assignments.
How do I register?
Online by filling out the form on the “Register” page. Or by filling out the registration form in one of our Beachside brochures and sending it to: Beachside Writers, P.O. Box 70785, Eugene, OR 97401. In either case, your spot in the class is secure with your payment by check, money order or Pay Pal.
What if I register but have to cancel?
We’ll be disappointed, for starters. We’ll refund your payment, minus $25 for processing fees, if you cancel at least 15 days in advance of the event, thus giving us a fair chance to fill your spot. But if you cancel within two weeks of the event, we don’t offer refunds. However, the registration fee can be applied to a future workshop for you or someone else.
Questions you might have if you’re coming to Beachside
How do you pronounce “Yachats?”
YA-HOTS. It’s an Indian name that means “at the foot of the mountain.”
When and where do we meet?
Registration starts at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Yachats Commons, 441 N. Highway 101. It’s on the coast side of Highway 101, a block north of the Yachats Village Market. (See map.) There’s parking on the north end of the Commons, which is an old, gray school that also houses City Hall. You may enter on the highway-facing north door or main door. We’ll start rolling at 7 p.m.
What should I bring?
Pen and notebook. Laptops are fine, too, though most folks prefer the former. If you plan on attending the campfire event after our Friday evening session, bring clothes appropriate for rain and cold, just in case. The picnic area is covered, but, hey, this is Oregon. Rain can go sideways here.
What kind of weather can we expect?
We’ve had Beachsiders from Massachusetts, Michigan, Texas and California, so this is a good question. In our four years. we’ve had everything from sun and 65 degrees to that sideways rain we mentioned. In short, prepare for anything.
What if I’m a vegetarian or have special food needs?
Notify our chef or chefs. We’ll take care of you. And you’ll still walk out full.
Can I bring a guest to workshops or meals?
A single guest is welcome at the Friday night campfire s’mores event under the covered picnic area behind the Commons. And at the Saturday lunch in our “food court,” for $5. (Note: If you plan on a guest for lunch, please notify us at info@bobwelch.net so we can plan accordingly.) Sorry, but guests aren’t allowed at workshop events or at the Saturday breakfast or Sunday brunch.
Can I bring a pet?
Guide dogs, obviously, are welcome. But, sorry, no pets at the workshop. House rules.
Can I bring someone to “audit” one or more sessions?
Sorry, only paid registrants may attend.
What if weather conditions make roads unsafe to travel on and I can’t make it?
We will happily apply your money to another workshop and if a number of people missed an event for that reason, will do all we can to reschedule the same-level event as soon as is practical.
If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to e-mail us or phone me at 541-517-3936.
Jane Kirkpatrick