Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY ... For the first time, graphic novels will be a genre taught in Hofstra University’s 36th Annual Summer Writers Program, July 6 to 16, 2010. This event is sponsored by Hofstra’s English Department, the Creative Writing Program and Continuing Education. To register and for more information call (516) 463-7200 or visit ce.hofstra.edu.

“Writing Graphic Novels” will be taught by Keith Dallas, author of the soon-to-be-released Ghostbusters: Con-Volution, a comic book featuring the characters famously portrayed by Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson in the 1984 Columbia Pictures movie release. Dallas is also the writer/creator of both Omega Chase, a science fiction comic book published by Th3rd World Studios, and The Argonauts, an adventure action comic book published by Timeless Journey.  His critically acclaimed The Flash Companion,  a comprehensive survey of the publication history of DC Comics’ Flash character, was released by TwoMorrows Publishing in 2008. His next project for TwoMorrows Publishing is American Comic Book Chronicles – a year-by-year account of the goings-on of the comic book industry during the 1980s.

A graphic novel is presented through dialogue, captions and a sequence of static images. Students in “Writing Graphic Novels” will learn that in a well-written graphic novel the words complement the images, and vice versa. Therefore, the approach and challenges to writing a graphic novel script are inherently different to writing prose, poetry or a screenplay. As they script a graphic novel, writers must be mindful of both the readers’ expectations and the artist’s abilities. This class focuses on how to appropriately outline, pace and lay out a graphic novel script. Effective panel perspective and dialogue placement are also discussed. By the end of this course, each student will have written a script for a 22-page graphic novel chapter as well as learn how to approach artists and prospective publishers with that script.

Hofstra’s Summer Writers Program operates on the principle that true writing talent may be developed, nurtured and encouraged by writer-in-residence mentors. Through instruction, discussion, criticism and free exchange among the workshop participants, writers begin to find their voice and their style. The workshops provide group and individual sessions for each writer. In addition to “Writing Graphic Novels” there will be courses in other genres, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, children’s literature, screenwriting, novels and sportwriting.  There will also be a special section for high school students.

Courses are offered 9:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day and may be taken on a noncredit or credit (graduate or undergraduate) basis. Non-credit participant tuition is $550 for the two-week, 9-session course. Students who want to take the program for undergraduate or graduate credit must contact Professor Richard Pioreck in the English Department at Richard.J.Pioreck@hofstra.edu or (516) 463-0258. A luncheon featuring author Alafair Burke on July 15 is included in tuition for program participants and priced at $45 per person for non-participants.

For registration and all other information on the 36th Annual Summer Writers Program call (516) 463-7200 or e-mail ce@hofstra.edu. Information and an online brochure are available at ce.hofstra.edu

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