Description
By parsing examples from literature, this workshop will go beyond the fundamentals to explore how dialogue can multi-task: convey speech, advance plot, reveal character, add atmosphere, and enhance setting.
This session will be closed-captioned. Closed captioning provided by Zoom auto transcription.
Webinar Host
Sharon Bala’s best-selling debut novel, The Boat People, won the 2020 NL Book Award and the 2019 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, was short listed for several awards, and is in translation in four languages. Sharon is a member of The Port Authority, a St. John’s writing group.
Upcoming Webinars
Building Characters with Anuja Varghese

Building Characters Using Role-Playing Games with Anuja Varghese
From bards and rogues to barbarians and wizards, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) offers a treasure-trove of character building tools, archetypes, and strategies that have unique potential to go beyond the gaming table and onto the page! Join author Anuja Varghese for a session on character development – including using character sheets, stats, classes, and more – based on the rich world of D&D.
A recording of this workshop will be made available on YouTube a week after the event. Please register for the workshop to receive an email with the YouTube link once it becomes available. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on notifications or follow us on Instagram for the latest updates.
This session will be closed-captioned. Closed captioning provided by Zoom auto transcription.
This session will be followed by a Q&A.
Registration opens February 21. Click here to register!
Historical Research for Fiction with Loghan Paylor

Historical Research for Fiction with Loghan Paylor
Newsreels & Nylons: Turning Historical Research into Fiction
Whether the thought of it fills you with delight or dread, research is an unavoidable part of writing historical fiction. From archival records to youtube channels and reddit threads to radio plays, this workshop will explore the weird and wonderful world of historical research. We’ll discuss when (or when not!) to do it, where to start, what to look for, and how to stay organized. We’ll also discuss incorporating research into fiction, including how to assess historical versus narrative value, nailing those details, and when to let it go. Participants will be given several writing prompts, and take home a template for organizing their own research.
A recording of this workshop will be made available on YouTube a week after the event. Please register for the workshop to receive an email with the YouTube link once it becomes available. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on notifications or follow us on Instagram for the latest updates.
This session will be closed-captioned. Closed captioning provided by Zoom auto transcription.
This session will be followed by a Q&A.
Registration opens March 21. Click here to register!