Going Beyond the Cookie Cutter Cowboy

Workshop Description:

Move past the perceptions of cowboys and cattle ranching. What’s wrong with using just a cowboy, a man who rides, ropes, loves hard, and fights just as hard? Nothing at all is wrong with using an old style cowboy. We all know and love that character. At the same time, it’s also a problem. We all know that beloved character to well. We’ve read about him in hundreds of books. It’s time to think outside the box. Throw that cookie cutter away and sculpt your new cowboy.

In today’s market the ability to write memorable and unique characters is more important than ever. There is no room for cookie cutter characters. This workshop is designed to show writers how to write cowboys who are unique and unforgettable. We will begin working on giving him a unique job, that isn’t just being a rodeo cowboy, ranch hand, or trail boss. This is a hands-on workshop where writers will be given the chance to draw their own unique cowboys based on personality traits given during the workshop.

Being able to write a memorable cowboy is also achieved by knowing his terminology and working environment. A writer needs to know the cowboy’s life inside and out in order to write about him and be believable to others. The second half of the workshop is devoted to teaching the, “what, why’s, and are they crazy?” of being a cowboy. At the end of the workshop, writers will have a better understanding of why it is so important to throw that cookie cutter away and be unique.

Presenter’s Description:

A native of South Alabama, Sayde Grace was raised among the cotton fields and dirt roads of the south. She has a deep love and appreciation for the rural communities and uses her experiences of small town life in her books. A lifelong story teller, Sayde began writing full time two years ago and has written five full length manuscripts which range from romantic suspense to young adult and even erotica. In each of her five books she uses her experiences in farming, ranching, or rodeoing to make the story setting believable. Growing up in the equine and cattle industry have given her a behind the scenes knowledge of the industry. She believes this workshop will assist others in their writing of western novels. As this is a popular sub-genre, Sayde believes her particular experience would be invaluable to writers trying to capture the “real west.”