This writing workshop is suitable for ages 16+. All workshops in this series are suitable for new and emerging writers.

Creating compelling characters

A novel lives or dies on the strength of the characters who populate it. But characters don’t just appear on the page fully formed. Certain techniques are required to bring them to life. This course gives you the knowledge and skills to create fully embodied and engaging characters who resonate with readers and who readers care about long after they’ve finished reading. Through a series of practical exercises and discussion, you will learn how to flesh out major and minor characters and create a fictional cast that is realistic and compelling.

Participants will gain an understanding of how to:
1. Gain a complete awareness of your characters’ goals and desires
2. Encourage readers to embark on a character’s emotional journey with them
3. Ensure that the journey is woven seamlessly into the structure of the novel and balances with the demands of plot and conflict.

About Jenny Bond

Jenny Bond believes every person has a story to tell, but only a few are actually great story tellers. Jenny is a former English and history teacher with more than a decade of experience in Australia and the UK. Inspired by an off-hand comment from her husband five years ago, she decided to pursue a lifelong dream of becoming an author. She has subsequently had two major fiction novels, Perfect North (2013) and The President’s Lunch (2014), published via Hachette Australia, and Dumont Buchverlag in Europe. Jenny has also co-authored two non-fiction books, 100 Great Icons and Who The Hell Is Pansy O’Hara?, published by Random House in Australia/NZ and Penguin in the USA. She is currently working on the second draft of her fourth novel. Passionate about the written word, Jenny hopes to motivate others to harness their creativity.

Please note:

• Bookings are essential for this program as places are limited. We are unable to accommodate participants who have not made a booking.
• Please contact the library if you wish to amend or cancel your booking. This will enable others to participate in the program.
• Please arrive 10 mins early to allow time to check in; this assists the program to run on schedule.