NASW Fall 2005 Annual Meeting (archived)

NASW Science-in-Society
Introduction | Program and Schedule | Look Who's Coming | Register Here! | Hotel and Travel

CASW New Horizons in Science Briefing
Program and Schedule

This NASW conference, learn the art of good public readings

NASW organizers, moderators and general members have the opportunity to study with actor and author David Prete, a professional Readings Coach from New York City who teaches writers to bring their words to life for audiences. He trained under Academy Award winning director Mike Nichols and is a W.W. Norton published fiction writer offering a workshop: "The Art of Giving Good Public Readings."

Giving public readings is a crucial part of being a writer — regardless of whether you're a long-established author, someone going out on your first book tour, or a journalist reading an article — readings are a chance to talk with your audience face-to-face, a chance to show them how good your book really is and ensure that it gets the readership (and sales) it deserves. The problem is, giving readings is an art form that takes training and practice, but it's rarely discussed, and never taught.

In this three-hour workshop each participant will read aloud and the instructor will coach them individually. Writers will be given the tools they need to turn their readings into inspiring experiences for audiences and powerful marketing tools for themselves.

Expect to learn how to:

• Relax and be present in front of an audience
• Expand your vocal variation to keep listeners captivated
• Effectively express the emotional life of your characters and narratives
• Break habitual speech patterns and let the rhythms of your writing come alive
• Clarify the meaning of each sentence by choosing operative and inoperative words
• Create a personal connection to the audience, so listeners don't feel they're being read to, but being told a story one-on-one

"In a single visit to our writers' group, David helped us make remarkable improvements to the way we read aloud . . . I recommend him highly to any writer who wants to wow audiences with the spoken word." — Annie Murphy Paul, Psychology Today columnist and author of The Cult of Personality.

David will also be available for discounted private sessions throughout the conference. For more information visit his web site.

Please contact David directly at david@davidprete.com to sign up and arrange payment of $50.00.

Biography:

David Prete is a writer, actor and readings coach living in New York City. He graduated from the New Actors workshop where he studied with Mike Nichols (Tony and Academy Award winning director of "The Graduate." "Primary Colors," "The Birdcage," "Angels in America"). David Prete has appeared in theatre productions ranging from Shakespeare to adaptations of Leo Tolstoy to commedia dell'arte versions of Clifford Odets. He co-founded Water Theatre Company where he worked as an actor and producer. He has also been seen in independent films screened at the Santa Barbara film Festival, the Long Island Film Festival, and the International Film Festival of NYC. He teaches writers to read their work in front of audiences through classes taught one-on-one, in small groups, or at conferences and schools around the country. His first book, Say That to My Face, was published by W.W. Norton in 2003. He is currently at work on a novel entitled, Bones of His Bones, also to be published by Norton. For more information visit: www.davidprete.com.

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