Kamloops author shares seven-step story-writing strategy

Multi-published Kamloops author Elma (Martens) Schemenauer will present a seven-step strategy for story-writing Wednesday September 9 at 7 p.m. at the Kamloops Library, Victoria and 5th. This free event is suitable for anyone writing or thinking about writing a story.

Steps in the strategy are:
1. Consider your reasons for writing.
2. Profile your characters.
3. Make time-management decisions for your story.
4. Plan conflict and suspense.
5. Write scenes your readers can see.
6. Glue your scenes together with transitions, narrative summaries, and internal reflections.
7. Make your title a lure, not just a label.

Elma is the author of numerous books, most recently the 1940s-era Mennonite novel Consider the Sunflowers, set in Vancouver and her native Saskatchewan. She worked in publishing in Toronto for many years before moving to Kamloops in 2006.

Elma has spoken to groups including the Federation of BC Writers, Interior Authors Group, Canadian Authors Association, and Dr. George Johnson's novel-writing class at TRU. Elma has also addressed writers' conferences in Saskatoon and Toronto, and spoken to Mennonite organizations in Toronto and Winnipeg.

In Kamloops her novel Consider the Sunflowers is available in the libraries, Chapters, and the University Bookstore.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Elma Schemenauer, Kamloops, BC, Telephone: 250 374-1750, E-mail: elmams@shaw.ca  Web sites: http://elmams.wix.com/sflwrs http://elmams.wix.com/elma