author talks, What's New, writing, writing workshops

Online Character Workshop

Join me online on Saturday, January 14th at 1pm EST for a one-hour workshop on characterization: Nice is Not Enough, part of the SCBWI (Canada East) "Digging Deeper" workshop series. Here's the blurb: Nice is Not Enough: Developing Likeable and Unlikeable Characters: What makes us root for a character? How flawed can a protagonist be?… Continue reading Online Character Workshop

author talks, What's New, writing, writing workshops, young writers

MYAIF: More Fun for Young Writers in Ottawa/Gatineau

[Updated March 18th 2022] Hey kids, I know you're hustling to get your poems, stories, and graphic narratives finished in time to enter the Ottawa Public Library's Awesome Authors Youth Writing contest. Some of you might even be prepping for tomorrow's Awesome Author teen workshops or fondly remembering the pre-teen workshops of the past few… Continue reading MYAIF: More Fun for Young Writers in Ottawa/Gatineau

podcast, writing

Author Interviews about Beginnings (Episode 6.5)

A “talking tales” episode -- all interviews – about how to begin a story. With guest authors Frieda Wishinsky; Sarah Raughley; Don Cummer; David McArthur; and Wendy McLeod MacKnight, speaking about their favourite first lines, their advice to young writers on how to begin, and how they began to write professionally. 45 minutes. All ages.… Continue reading Author Interviews about Beginnings (Episode 6.5)

authors, books, children's books, picture books, podcast, writing, writing proces, young writers

Author Interviews about Tension (Episode 5.5)

Interviews with Canadian children’s and YA authors on the subject of tension and how to make a reader turn the page. With guest authors Kate Inglis, Lisa Dalrymple, David McArthur, Jeff Szpirglas, and Marty Chan. Hosted by Catherine Austen. 40 minutes. All ages. Check out the Episode 5.5 webpage for audio, show notes, and author… Continue reading Author Interviews about Tension (Episode 5.5)

podcast, writing

Nasty People Meet Nasty Ends (Episode 2: Characters)

Welcome to Cabin Tales: Spooky Stories for Young Writers. This is Episode Two: Nasty People meet Nasty Ends. It's a long one at 50 minutes. I’m Catherine Austen. And my guests today are great Canadian writers Karen Krossing, Monique Polak, and Tim Wynne-Jones. Today we’ll be talking all about characters. Check out the Episode 2… Continue reading Nasty People Meet Nasty Ends (Episode 2: Characters)