Author Susin Nielsen's writing workshop notes by Leanne Dyck

"at the writers' workshop"  ldyck

On a soggy Friday in June, seven writers met at the Mayne Island library to attend award-winning author Susin Nielsen's workshop on Creating An Authentic Protagonist. I found the workshop challenging, fun and inspiring. 

In the first of four writing exercises, Nielsen challenged us to write about an emotionally-charged event in our lives. We later shared these stories with the group and gained valuable feedback about our writing from Nielsen. Our feet wet, we moved on to explore how we would bring emotion to our characters. In our next writing exercise, we used a list of questions supplied by Nielsen to build a character--what does your character like, dislike and what are the most important relationships in her life. The questions also encouraged us to think of how we would show the heart of our character to our readers. For example, what items does your character carry? In the other two exercises, we were to put our characters in emotionally-charged situations.

During the Q & A that followed, Nielsen told us to pick our favourite book in the genre we're writing. Dissect and analysis the story. What works? What techniques did the author use?

Books Recommended...

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamont

On Writing by Stephen King

Following the workshop, the library doors were thrown open and more people poured in. Nielsen entertained us with an author talk reviewing her career and read from her soon-to-be-published book. Nielsen began her career writing for TV shows as 
Degrassi Junior High and Robson Arms. Nielsen has won young reader choice awards--such as the Red Maple--for her middle grade novels.

Much thanks to Pam Withers for organizing and the Mayne Island Library for hosting this event.

"maple leaves"  ldyck

What's in store for July...

To celebrate Canada Day (July 1st), I've hunted through my bookshelves to find some old friends I need to tell you about. So first up for July, I'm writing a post recommending 10 must-read books written by Canadian authors.

Next, I offer a two-part spoof on the life of a writer living on a small island. (Huh, I wonder who inspired that?)--
Island Storyteller 

Then, as a former ECE (Early Childhood Educator), I comment on and review the thriller The Perfect Nanny by French author Leila Slimani.

Finally, I end the month by offering a short story about a walk in the woods--The Woods.

"huh, what's in there?" ldyck

Sharing my author journey...

This month I...

Book Review: Independent People (an Icelandic classic) by Halldor Laxness

Knowing that my mom's people came from Iceland, a friend lent me her copy of...

"an Icelandic classic" ldyck

Buy this book

first published (in two volumes) in 1934-1935

first published in Great Britain in 1945

paperback published in 2001 

by The Harvill Press an imprint of Random House

Set in rural Iceland before, during, and after World War I, Independent People follows Bjartur of Summerhouses', a sheep farmer, struggle for independence.

Bjartur of Summerhouses:  ' "People who aren't independent aren't people. A man who isn't his own master is as bad as man without a dog." ' (p. 41)

Fell King:  ' "The love of freedom and independence has always been a characteristic of the Icelandic people. Iceland was originally colonised by freeborn chieftains who would rather live and die in isolation than serve a foreign king." ' (p. 79)

This epic tale transcends the written word. Told in the old way, at night, around a campfire, you carefully listen to the storyteller. The story demands your attention.

'Poetry...shows us the lot of man so truthfully and so sympathecially and with so much love for that which is good that we ourselves become better persons and understand life more fully than before, and hope and trust that good may always prevail in the life of man.' (p. 244)

Bjartur fails to achieve his goal of financial independence, but, in the final pages, he learns that there's something more important--being connected to family.

 More...

'If you look at novels from a couple of centuries back, they are full of description, because novel writing evolved from storytelling. Modern readers consider that sort of lengthy description an intrusion by the author and an impediment to the flow of the story.' 

Gordon Long, 6 Key Differences Between Storytelling and Writing

"writers at the workshop" ldyck

Next post:  Sunday, June 24 (approximately 5 PM PST)

On June 8, Author Susin Neilsen visited the Mayne Island library and she... Well, you'll read all about her writers' workshop and author talk next Sunday.

"Abby at one of her favourite places" ldyck

Sharing my author journey...