Past Special Events

2012 National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)

Come write in! Field's End is pleased to co-sponsor the 2012 National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) write-in at the Bainbridge Public Library.

NaNoWriMo is an annual (November) novel writing project that brings together professional and amateur writers from all over the world. The goal is to write a novel in a month!

To sign up with NaNoWriMo or to find out how it works, visit their website.

NaNoWriMo participants, get your word counts up at the library. Coffee will be available--we know you might not be sleeping much this month!

Drop in at the library from 4:00-8:00 p.m. every Monday in November except Monday, November 12 when the library is closed for Veterans Day.

We hope to see you there. And good luck with your novel!

Co-sponsored by Kitsap Regional Library, Field's End, and the West Sound Region of NaNoWriMo.

"You Know You've Got a Story: Steps Toward Getting It Told"
(A Two-Part Writers' Workshop)

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Part One: Author George Shannon will explore the basic steps in transforming initial ideas into a story, choosing the best genre for your story, actually getting that story on paper, and current publishing options.

Part Two: Participants will select one of four genre breakout sessions where they meet for Q & A with an author who has already published in that genre.

 * Memoir/Autobiography * Warren Read

* Fiction * Sheila Roberts

* Nonfiction/Biography * Robin Simons

* Essay/Journalism * Ann Lovejoy

Please note: This event is free. There is no registration, but space is limited.

Saturday, August 13, 2011
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Bainbridge Public Library, Large Meeting Room
1270 Madison Ave. N., Bainbridge Island

"Booksellers for an Evening"

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Join Field's End and Eagle Harbor Book Company for a special event celebrating writing for all ages, by writers of all ages! Local authors Kathleen Alcalá, Carol Cassella, David Guterson, Jonathan Evison, Suzanne Selfors, George Shannon, Kristin von Kreisler, Susan Wiggs, and Barbara Winther will take over the store, recommending their favorite books on writing as well as their favorite books to read. With a special storytime for kids and plenty of time to chat with authors, it's an event for the entire family. What better way to pick out your stack of books for summer reading. 

Eagle Harbor Books sponsored this event as a fundraiser for Field's End.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Eagle Harbor Book Company
157 Winslow Way East, Bainbridge Island

From Dust to Diamonds: Building the Skill of Revision

with Elizabeth Lyon

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Every writer desires publication. To achieve this every writer needs revision. Elizabeth Lyon will delineate four steps to polish and perfect our work. In her first session she will discuss the many ways to honor our writing and see it published, both traditionally and non-traditionally. During the remainder of the morning and in the afternoon her focus will be on revising for voice and style and creating movement through effective characterization and plot. These strategies will help us create prose with the fresh, original voice that editors and agents seek, as well as crafting effective characterization and plot to keep readers engaged.

Saturday, October 23, 2010
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Bainbridge Public Library, Large Meeting Room
1270 Madison Ave. N, Bainbridge Island

Fueling the Creative Mind

with Jurgen Wolff

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Featuring world-renowned creative writing expert Jurgen Wolff, author of Your Writing Coach. In a presentation by this popular writing coach, writers will be led through a series of connected seminars to explore four innovative, right-brained ways they can prepare their creative minds for the acts of writing and revising. The seminars include:

I. Alter Ego Strategies

II. Right Brain Visualization

III. The Q Method of Analyzing Text

IV. The Transformation of the Inner Critic


Saturday, October 17, 2009
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Bainbridge Pavilion Cinemas
403 Madison Ave. N., Bainbridge Island

Uniting Story Structure and Character Arc

with Michael Hauge

Saturday, October 11, 2008

This is a special event for writers of all kinds—authors of fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir—anyone who has a story to tell. In the best novels, movies, and short stories, the heroes must achieve two compelling goals: an outer journey of accomplishment; and a deeper, inner journey of transformation and fulfillment. In this special, all-day seminar, Hollywood script and story consultant Michael Hauge, best-selling author of Writing Screenplays That Sell and Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds: The Guaranteed Way to Get Your Screenplay or Novel Read, presents his unique approach to mastering these two essential components of your story. Topics include: the primary goal of all stories; the single key to creating character arc and theme; creating believable and fulfilling love stories; the essential conflict all characters must face; and turning plot structure into a simple, powerful tool you can apply to every story.


Saturday, October 11, 2008
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Bainbridge Pavilion Cinemas
403 Madison Ave. N., Bainbridge Island

The Fire in Fiction

with Donald Maass

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Author and literary agent Donald Maass presented a day of writing exercises and offered practical methods to bring passion to your fiction writing every day. Maass’s talk was based on his forthcoming book, The Fire in Fiction.  


Saturday, October 13, 2007
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Bainbridge Pavilion Cinemas
403 Madison Ave. N., Bainbridge Island

On Sunday, October 14, 2007, Lisa Rector-Maass conducted a Fiction Workshop to help writers with their sagging middles—at least the ones in their novels.

The Writer’s Journey

with Christopher Vogler

Saturday, October 7, 2006

Field’s End was delighted to welcome Chrisopher Vogler, script consultant and author of The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, to the Northwest. Over 130 people came from four states and Canada to attend this valuable seminar in applying the elements of myth to narrative of all kinds.

Saturday, October 7, 2006
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Bainbridge Pavilion Cinemas
403 Madison Ave. N, Bainbridge Island

Scaring the Horses: Writing Those Big, Mean, Hard Stories

with Dorothy Allison

Saturday, January 28, 2006

Award-winning novelist Dorothy Allison, author of Bastard Out of Carolina, presented a talk on “Scaring the Horses: Writing those Big, Mean, Hard Stories.” This event was supported by Eagle Harbor Book Company.

Saturday, January 28, 2006
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Bainbridge High School LGI
9330 High School Rd. NE, Bainbridge Island

November 2: Writers’ Workout - Novelist Anjali Banerjee led a Workout in East Bremerton focusing on using details from all five senses.



June 6: Writers’ Workout - Writer and editor Mark Trahant coached a Workout in Poulsbo centered on daily writing.



April 30: Lecture - 
Award-winning novelist Ivan Doig spoke on “Makings: Putting This House of Sky Together,” at Island Center Hall on Bainbridge Island.



March 23: Question and Answer on Craft - Bestselling mystery novelist Elizabeth George talked about her creative process.



March 2: Writers’ Workout - Poet Sharon Svendsen coached a Workout in Kingston with exercises using metaphor.



January 10: Lecture/Workshop - 
Memoirist Natalia Rachel Singer spoke on “Living History: How to Use Your story to Tell the Story of the Times.”

November 3: Writers’ Workout - Novelist Debbie Macomber led a Workout in Bremerton about plotting.



October 16: Lecture
- Award-winning author and historian Andrew Ward spoke on “Backing into the Past: An Essayist’s Journey into African American History” at Island Center Hall on Bainbridge Island.


July 1: Writers’ Workout - Poet and nonfiction author Sheila Bender coached a Workout of writing exercises.


May 16: Lecture - Award-winning author and New York Times reporter Tim Egan discussed “The Power of Place: Finding a Literary Voice in the Land.”



March 9: Lecture - Acclaimed Michigan poet and professor Diane Wakoski revealed “Secrets and Revelations: How Poems Use Trope to Store Secrets.”


March 1: Writers’ Workout - Poet Kelli Russell Agodon coached a Workout using exercises on simile and metaphor.

February 4: Lecture - Dr. Alice Weaver Flaherty talked about “The Midnight Disease: Drive to Write, Writer’s Block, and the Creative Brain.”

October 17–19: Northwest Bookfest - Field’s End participated in Northwest Bookfest 2003. On October 17, the UW Writers’ Extension Program (morning) and Field’s End (afternoon) offered a Writers’ Workshop. On October 19, Nancy Pearl of the Washington Center for the Book moderated a panel featuring Kathleen Alcalá, Michael Collins, and David Shields discussing “A Field ’s End Panel: The Writer in Public and in Private.”

October 8: Reading with Elliott Bay Book Company - Field’s End cofounder David Guterson read from his new novel, Our Lady of the Forest, at Town Hall in Seattle as a benefit for Field’s End.

October 7: Reading with Eagle Harbor Book Company - Field’s End cofounder David Guterson read from his new novel, Our Lady of the Forest, at Bainbridge High School as a benefit for Field’s End.

September 12: Lecture - Award-winning author Dr. Charles Johnson spoke on “What Makes an Enduring Story?” to a sold-out audience at The Playhouse on Bainbridge Island.

February 27: Open House - Spring instructors Michael Collins and John Willson joined Field’s End in an Open House and overview of Spring 2003 Classes.