Workshop Description:
Have no idea what to do with your characters? Do you have a story but no idea how to structure the plot? This workshop covers some ideas on how to create the story from the inside out.
The workshop includes exercises to develop plots that come from within the characters rather than being forced onto characters.
What we’ll cover:
1) Starting at the deepest point: for every character, find that person’s core need.
2) Keeping the Focus of the story: the main character’s specific growth.
3) Goals and Motivations: going beyond cliché with your characters.
4) How to use secrets: those revealed and those that stays hidden.
5) Setting up conflict, inside and out, with your characters’ history: using those goals and motivations.
6) Leaving room for characters to surprise you: using theme to help boost subsconscious plotting.
7) Using layers for plot twists: create conflict, add more conflict, deeper conflict.
8) Playing the “what if” game whenever you get stuck.
Instructor Bio:
Shannon Donnelly’s writing has won numerous awards, including the Indie BRAG Gold Medallion, a nomination for Romance Writer’s of America’s RITA award, the Grand Prize in the “Minute Maid Sensational Romance Writer” contest, judged by Nora Roberts, and others. Her writing has repeatedly earned 4½ Star Top Pick reviews from Romantic Times magazine, as well as praise from Booklist and other reviewers, who note: “simply superb”…”wonderfully uplifting”….and “beautifully written.” Her Regency romance and her Regency romance novella were awarded the Indie BRAG Gold Medallion. She also won the Bookseller’s Best award for best novella, judged by readers and booksellers.
In addition to her Regency romances, she is the author SF/Paranormal. Her work has been on the top seller list of Amazon.com and includes the Historical romances.
She lives in New Mexico where she is a licensed EMT-I a volunteer Firefighter in what is one of the few “frontier” areas left in the US (yes, New Mexico is a state), with room for horses, dogs, chickens and sustainable building. Shannon can be found online at shannondonnelly.com.