Workshops

Half-day Workshops 2023

Ian Ferguson - Writing Funny

Registration Opens Soon

Fee: $80.00
Class limit: 10

Thursday, July 18th, 2pm - 5pm

Writing Funny – how to create humour from observation, everyday occurrences, and an outsider’s perspective.  Ian Ferguson will lead a workshop dealing with the effects of exaggeration, the importance of a well-constructed premise, and how different viewpoints create comedy.  In addition to learning a bit, participants will also laugh a lot.


Will Ferguson - Travel Writing & the Elements of Fiction

Registration Opens Soon

Fee: $80.00
Class limit: 10

Thursday, July 18th, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Travel Writing & the Elements of Fiction – Will Ferguson worked as a travel writer for 25 years, even after making the transition to fiction, and many of the same aspects are at play in both:  the artful use of the telling detail, character revealed through dialogue, establishing a consistent tone and voice, and crafting a sense of place.  In this workshop, he will outline the key differences between the two while zeroing in on the way the two forms of writing often employ the same techniques. 

For an example of Will’s travel writing, which he will reference in the workshop, participants can see his recent feature on Iceland for Zoomer Magazine:

https://www.everythingzoomer.com/travel/2023/07/04/discovering-the-warmth-of-icelandic-community-spirit-on-a-tour-of-the-arctic-circle/

 


Iona Whishaw - Writing Engaging Characters

Registration Opens Soon

Fee: $80.00
Class limit: 10

Thursday, July 18th, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

In this workshop, Writing Engaging Characters, we will explore together what an engaging character is.  What is that person like?  How do we know what they are like?  When we meet a character we feel engaged with in a book, what is the writer actually doing here?  You will have an opportunity to write a scene without the usual safety nets of pre-plotting, or ‘character development’ exercises.  Sharing could occur.  Come with writing materials and the willingness to take risks!


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