Should Authors Write Characters Different From Themselves? Webinar 2023
Though framed as a yes or no question, the answer to this is complicated and complex. In this 4 hour webinar we’ll give you the answer.
[...]
AuthorWtO Admin
NaNo Prep 2022: The Friend, The Lover, and The Enemy – Mastering Key Relationship Arcs
Join author Piper J. Drake for an exploration into the relationships between principal characters and how those relationship arcs can be developed into dynamic and evolving connections to engage readers and drive plot forward.
[...]
NaNo Prep 2022: Worldbuilding Workshop
In this workshop, authors Piper J. Drake and Alethea Kontis will guide you through short writing exercises that will help you dive into aspects of your world that writers often overlook, but that impact your story and characters in major ways.
[...]
NaNo Prep 2022: Character Workshop
Gearing up for NaNoWriMo 2022? Before you put words to page, get to know your main character/s better in this Preptober workshop with authors Piper J. Drake and Alethea Kontis.
[...]
Research Skills for Fiction Writers
Whether you’re a writer who creates whole new worlds or futures, a writer who uses historical settings or events, or a writer crafting characters whose identities or cultures are very different from your own, you need to learn effective research skills.
[...]
Diverse Narrative Structure with Henry Lien
In this course author Henry Lien will demonstrate that elements that we consider staples of European/Western storytelling–such as the three-act story structure, the empowerment arc, and individual heroism–are not universal across all cultures.
[...]
Deep Dive Intensive: Description and Language
When writers get to the point of describing people from marginalized groups they’re sometimes filled with anxiety over the words and phrases they should use.
In this craft-focused class, authors Nisi Shawl and K. Tempest Bradford dive deep into these language and description pitfalls and how to avoid them.
[...]
Panel Discussion: Death to Show Don’t Tell!
In this panel, authors Rebecca Makkai, Cecelia Tan, and K. Tempest Bradford will explore the idea that “show don’t tell” is an outdated and inherently colonialist piece of writing wisdom and offer different frameworks for analyzing how and why exposition works in narrative and tools for determining what to tell, what to show, and how much space should be dedicated to both.
[...]
Crafting Diverse Relationships: Family and Friends, Lovers and Life Partners
Relationships between characters are key to character development and plot progression in every genre, not just romance. Family bonds, friendships, and lifelong partnerships create support networks around characters in every narrative. Writers often struggle to represent the connections and bonds between people that are outside their experience.
[...]
Diverse Narrative Structure | May 2021
In this course author Henry Lien will demonstrate that elements that we consider staples of European/Western storytelling–such as the three-act story structure, the empowerment arc, and individual heroism–are not universal across all cultures.
[...]