Whether you know a lot or a little about Tarot it can help unblock your writing or offer surprising directions for narrative or character. Bring something to write on and your own Tarot deck if you have one. The workshop also works if you know nothing at all about Tarot as long as you come […]
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Romantic comedies have always been popular in movies, but lately they are everywhere in bookstores, too. In this workshop, bestselling and highly prolific author Farah Heron will delve deeply into what differentiates a rom com from a traditional romance and discuss necessary elements to a great romantic comedy, offering tips on developing high-concept storylines, writing […]
The best stories are driven, not by ideas or messages, but by characters. In this workshop, celebrated and award-winning author Shyam Selvadurai offers various techniques that can be used to bring characters alive on the page, both in fiction and non-fiction. He will illustrate with examples from his work and the work of other writers. […]
Memoir writing is all about telling your story, but no matter how compelling the events of your life, a memoir requires you, the author, to transform events into a narrative arc specific to your book, themes, and message. In this workshop, bestselling author and journalist Bonny Reichert shows you how to draw the story from […]
No matter what genre you write in, paying close attention to the language and structure of poetry can elevate your work. In this workshop, award-winning poet, novelist, and playwright Kate Cayley will take participants through some fundamentals of poetry from the perspective of a reader and practitioner. Attendees will discuss what a poem is and […]
Have you ever found yourself staring at a blank page or screen, with no idea how to fill it? Or reading something you wrote and wondering: What was I thinking? Drawing on the advice and experiences of writers dead and alive, award-winning author and educator Meaghan Strimas offers an insider look at how to manage […]
In this masterclass, bestselling and award-winning nature writer Chloe Dalton explores using the power of curiosity, observation, language and storytelling to draw on one of the greatest sources of creative inspiration, the nature around and within us. TIFA’s Creative Writing Masterclasses offer the opportunity to learn how to craft compelling stories and bring captivating characters […]
Why does some writing stick in the mind, while other writing simply passes through? What creates vivid, emotional, convincing, and impactful description, and how can we employ these techniques in our own writing? In this masterclass, lead by Michael Christie, we will examine several passages of great writing, and discuss how to select and describe […]
Find inspiration in creative places with Chika Unigwe. The “Hermit Crab” story structure takes a non-literary form and uses it to drive a narrative, such as lists, recipes, or letters. In the class we’ll use Namwali Serpell’s ‘Account’ as a Case Study, which tells the story in the form of a bank statement. Participants will […]
In this dialogic workshop, Bundjalung and Wiradjuri poet Evelyn Araluen invites participants to explore the relationship between craft, form and self-expression through reflective responses to their personal archives of memory and fixation. Through close readings of a range of poems, lyrics, fragments of half-remembered conversations, participants will explore how affect has already shaped their connection […]
Maureen Jennings will share tips for creating a top notch book, by getting your beginning compelling and your ending satisfying. (And of course there’s the middle). TIFA’s Creative Writing Masterclasses offer the opportunity to learn how to craft compelling stories and bring captivating characters to life through hands-on lessons from acclaimed authors and industry experts. […]
Doug Johnstone will demonstrate all the ruthless editing skills you need to produce stories that grip readers from start to finish. Over 90 minutes, Johnstone will share the self-editing secrets necessary to making you a concise and effective writer. TIFA’s Creative Writing Masterclasses offer the opportunity to learn how to craft compelling stories and bring […]
Have you thought of writing a novel but found the prospect too daunting? Have you written novels but are eager to explore a more streamlined approach? Not sure where to start? Look no further! In her presentation HOW TO EAT AN ELEPHANT…AND OTHER PLOTTING ADVICE internationally bestselling thriller author Hannah Mary McKinnon will break down […]
“There are three sides to every story: Your side, my side, and the truth.” Robert Evans Reality is a matter of perspective. In this class lead by Robyn Harding, you’ll discuss the various options for writing from multiple points of view (POVs) and explore how the use of POV shapes the story. From creating twists, […]
What turns a crime story into a page-turner? In this fast-paced masterclass, award winning author Lilja Sigurðardóttir strips the crime novel down to its bare bones, revealing the essential structure that keeps readers hooked from the first crime to the final twist. Learn how to build tension, plant clues in plain sight, and deliver twists […]
In crime fiction, plot may hook the reader, but it is character that keeps them turning the pages. In this immersive workshop, international bestselling author and ‘Queen of French Noir, Johana Gustawsson, guides you through the art of creating complex, believable and emotionally resonant characters. Drawing inspiration from the famous questionnaire of Marcel Proust, participants […]
Bestselling author Jenny Colgan will discuss how to polish your first book and navigate commercial publishing. Come with all the nitty-gritty questions! TIFA’s Creative Writing Masterclasses offer the opportunity to learn how to craft compelling stories and bring captivating characters to life through hands-on lessons from acclaimed authors and industry experts. This is a 90-minute […]
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT Want your happily-ever-afters to feel hard-won? Join USA Today Bestselling author Bailey Hannah as she explores how to turn character wounds, desires, messy emotions, and external obstacles into heartfelt conflict and delicious tension. Bring your characters and their baggage, and get ready to make them (and readers) feel everything. TIFA’s Creative Writing Masterclasses offer […]
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT Join Nisha J. Tuli, USA Today Bestselling author of Trial of the Sun Queen, as she talks about the fundamentals of writing romantasy, including how to balance the fantasy and romance aspects of your plot, how to create characters that your readers want to root for, and how to sustain […]
Do you dream of writing hilarious meet-cutes and heart-warming happily ever afters, but don’t know where to start? Look no further! Join bestselling author Holly Cassidy aka Hannah Mary McKinnon for a Writing Romance for Beginners workshop. Explore the romance genre, discover your audience, develop your characters, and learn about pitfalls to avoid. This 90-minute […]
James Baldwin once described himself not as a writer so much as a re-writer. Too often we expect our stories to come to us in flashes of inspiration. The ideas do, eventually leading to words on the page. But good, publishable prose is constructed through painstaking, top-to-bottom rewriting. We will discuss the significance of rewriting […]
How do bestselling authors keep readers turning the pages? They make the reader see, hear, feel, taste and touch what the protagonist is experiencing in real time. In this Masterclass, Internationally bestselling author Alka Joshi walks you through the craft of sensory writing with tips, tricks, and exercises you can use to hone your narratives. […]
Bram Stoker, Shirley Jackson, HP Lovecraft, Stephen King – all great writers who know that the stories that have the biggest impact are often the scariest. In this masterclass, we will look at techniques to elicit fright on the page, dissecting a few famous passages to see what makes them so effective. From there, participants […]
We tend to think that a meaningful writing practice must include hours set aside every day, with ambitious word counts and project deadlines propelling us to completion on a set timeline. But for many writers, both aspiring and established, this isn’t possible, let alone sustainable. In this talk, we will examine how one builds a […]
