This free virtual workshop is a featured event of the 2025 Albany Book Festival.
*Workshop will be conducted on Zoom. Link to the Zoom meeting will be shared with registered participants before the workshop or click "View the Event" in your order confirmation.
Crafting Characters Who Drive Your Plot
Writers are often told that their protagonists should drive the action of the story. What does this actually mean in practice, and how do we make it happen?
In this workshop we'll discuss how to build well-rounded characters whose personalities, backgrounds, and motivations naturally drive the ways in which the plot of a piece of fiction unfolds.
We'll also get into creating distinctive character voices, writing engaging dialog, and how to create the conflict that drives scenes without petty bickering or huge explosions. We will leave time for questions, discussion, and some quick writing exercises at the end of the session.
About C.M. Waggoner:
C.M. Waggoner grew up in rural upstate New York, where she spent a lot of time reading fantasy novels in a swamp. She studied creative writing at SUNY Purchase and lived in China for eight years before moving to Albany, New York, where she now lives with her husband and daughter.
She is the author of: Unnatural Magic, The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry, and The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society. Her next book, The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale, is due to be published in March 2026.
When she’s not writing or reading, she enjoys cooking, trying to learn how to draw, and going on extremely long walks.
To learn more about C.M. Waggoner, visit
https://www.cmwaggoner.com/
This workshop is presented by the NYS Writers Institute's Albany Book Festival -
https://www.albanybookfestival.com
Special thanks to our Albany Book Festival Sponsors:
Premier: Advance Albany County Alliance; Renaissance Corporation of Albany
Presenting:
Pernille Ægidius Dake;
George & Kathleen McNamee;
The Opalka Endowed Directorship;
Times Union;
University Auxiliary Services
Supporting:
Hank Greenberg,
Greenberg Traurig, LLP;
The Lasch Family;
Doris Fischer Malesardi;
The Swyer Family Foundation
Friend:
Brown & Weinraub;
Skip Casano & Bella Pipas;
Carey Cassidy Family;
Curran Wealth Management;
Carole and Wayne Diesel;
Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti PC;
Scott Fein & Pat Martinelli;
Judith Fetterley;
Alan Goldberg;
Paul and Mary Grondahl;
Keeler Motor Car Company Charitable Foundation;
William & Mary Jean Krackeler;
Mackin & Casey, LLC;
Thomas O. Maggs PhD;
Steve McKee Foundation;
Herb and Cynthia Shultz
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