Harry Potter, Hannibal Lecter, Sherlock Holmes – why do readers connect with certain characters and how can we do the same? Explore some of the techniques successful writers use to develop the people in their stories. Through practical in-class exercises, group discussions and personal reflection, participants will experiment with different approaches to character development. Be prepared to discover new characters and enrich the ones you’ve already brought to the page. Open to all levels of experience and genres in fiction and creative non-fiction.

In this workshop, Ruth will review memorable characters and lead a group discussion on techniques of character development. Participants are encouraged to bring their character or character in progress and engage in exercises to enrich them. Ruth will discuss character partners (POV, plot, backstory). Q & A will follow.

The Facilitator

Ruth E. Walker is a partner in Writescape, delivering writing retreats and workshops for creative writers from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Moose Factory and places in between. As an author (LIVING UNDERGROUND, Seraphim Editions), she has travelled to dozens of book clubs and writing groups in Ontario as well as Michigan and Virginia. Her poetry and fiction are found in Prairie Fire, Geist, Event, On Spec and other Canadian magazines, and in various US and UK literary publications.

Ruth lives and writes in Oshawa, Ontario and at her riverside cottage in Minden Hills, Haliburton County. Her novels are represented by Ali McDonald, 5 Otter Literary: ali@fiveotterliterary.com

About “Living Underground” 

This wonderful novel will haunt me for some time, not for its trauma but its complexity, its layered plot and its nuanced characters. – Douglas Tindall, author of “Tales from Wine on the Porch”

Ruth Walker reveals the inner lives of her characters with a quiet and purposeful grace. An impressive debut. – Rabindranath Maharaj, author of “The Amazing Absorbing Boy”.

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Light refreshments will be served. Lug a mug. Bring a friend. Members $20 and not yet members $25.