Saturday, October 17th – 1 pm NT
Online Only
Riddle Fence presents the first in our new season of online workshops! Join from wherever you call home, and learn from some of the very best writers in Newfoundland and Labrador (and beyond!)
This workshop has been generously supported by CEDP funding from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and is offered at a pay-what-you-can rate. Workshops run between 2-3 hours.
Daydreaming, Treehouses and Ghosts: Writing Fiction for Children ages 8 to 12
with Charis Cotter
Daydreaming opens the door to the endless possibilities of the imagination. Treehouses are where a child can create their own reality. Ghosts allow the edges of perception to shift. Charis Cotter has played with all of these in her books.
In this workshop, the award-winning writer shares her experience of writing novels for children ages 8 to 12. Using their childhood memories and light-hearted imagination exercises, she helps participants find their way into a child’s perception of the world. Writing prompts focus on setting, character and plot.
Charis includes a practical discussion of word count, appropriate vocabulary and subject matter of middle-grade fiction as well as a list of Dos’ and Don’ts when writing for children. Participants are encouraged to bring their ideas for their works-in-progress.
Accessibility: The workshop will be held on Zoom, with a short break mid-way through. While participants are encouraged to turn on their cameras, it is not mandatory. Auto-captioning will be enabled, and participants will be muted except when speaking. Instructions for writing exercises will be spoken, and also provided in writing on the screen or in the chat.
Register Here!
Charis Cotter is the multi-award-winning author of several spooky novels for children, including The Swallow, The Ghost Road, and The Mystery of the Haunted Dance Hall. She studied English in university and went to drama school in London, England. She has published five novels, three biographies, three picture books, one history book and one collection of ghost stories. Her books have been translated into Korean and German.
Charis has worked extensively in schools and libraries across Canada, using drama, storytelling and writing workshops to engage with readers. Her spine-chilling performances of Newfoundland ghost stories have thrilled audiences of all ages. An editor with twenty-five years’ experience helping writers bring their books to life, Charis has worked as a mentor and writing coach, as well as serving on several awards and grants juries across Canada. She lives beside the ocean in one of the most haunted parts of Newfoundland.