New York Times Bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole unravels the mysteries of creating compelling plots.
Description:
A novel is a huge undertaking, written over weeks or months, and the plot has to hold it all together. From creating an outline to maintaining flexibility, this seminar gives you the insider knowledge that will separate you from all of your peers.
Let Steve Troop help you transform your ideas into a fully-realized sketch of your puppet/character design. Participants will observe the design process and get tips on how to design better characters
Description:
This event is for anyone needing personalized assistance with character designs whether it be for puppetry or illustrations. Come with an idea, concept, or even a sketch, and professional designer/illustrator, Steve Troop will help you refine your idea into something fantastic! Designs may be provided on paper, or will be emailed to you after the workshop.
Play around with other puppeteers on-camera & get in some practice doing improv & camera work in a group-setting. Come to play or just to watch the fun, it's up to you! Bring a puppet!
Description:
Extra time goofing around with an audience & watching seasoned pros perform is one of the best learning opportunities--but even if you're not interested in learning, it's great fun to watch puppeteers improvise with puppets on camera. Whether you choose to watch from the audience, or get up on stage alongside seasoned professionals, you won't regret spending your evening at Monitor playtime! Bring your own puppets or use ours. Bring a puppet!
Reaching the End: Tips, Tricks and Inspiration to Finish Your Story
Summary:
Butt in chair. Laptop on. Words not flowing. What do you do when the muse seems to have deserted you? Marie Bilodeau
Description:
We discuss tips and tricks for getting past the dreaded writer’s block and keeping you engaged in your own story, and for finding and setting a routine that works best for you. (Hint: sheer determination is key here.)
Read the opening to your short story or novel and get feedback from a panel of our authors! Donald J. Bingle, Jerry Gordon, Jason Sanford, Gregory A. Wilson
Redesigning Board Games for Instructional Purposes
Summary:
We will play a well-designed game (e.g. Pandemic), study its mechanics, then design an instructional variant of that game. For educators, training managers, and learning game designers.
Description:
Are you a teacher, training manager, content designer or learning game designer? We’re going to play a well-designed commercial board or card game (e.g. Pandemic, Red7, Forbidden Island) for 45 minutes. Next, we will study reference cards I created that meticulously examine how the game might be modified to teach any school or workplace instructional goal (or to visualize a problem). Finally, you will pick such a goal, and together with the other smart people on your team, brainstorm a new learning game inspired by the game you just played. You will walk away with several ideas for enhancing your own instruction. Led by a professor of game-based learning pedagogy. (If you joined us last year, you will have first priority to try another game this time.) If you'd like to see pictures and info about this 3-hour event from previous years, visit our website.
Learn to draw expressive characters from basic shapes to make dynamic and fun drawings! Draw along with Steve Troop & learn to bring this skill into puppetry design, cartoon illustration, or comics.
Description:
Professional cartoonist, Steve Troop, will lead you through drawing basic shapes and transforming them into dynamic characters for illustration, puppetry, and beyond! Draw along with Steve for your Saturday Morning Cartoons!