Upcoming Workshop in London, Ontario

JOAN BARFOOT
“In the Beginning: Popping the Story, Seducing the Reader”
London Public Library – Central Branch
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
6pm – 8pm

The first lines of a story tell a reader whether s/he is likely to be intrigued, repelled, or just bored - whether s/he will keep reading, or set the piece down and move on. Some openings - think Dickens, think Tolstoy - even become iconic. But whether yours reach those touchstone heights or not, they are vital not only to seducing the reader, but to setting out for yourself the tone, themes and sensibilities you're aiming for as a writer. In this workshop, we'll discuss why some story openings work (and some don't), with plenty of opportunity to analyze and hone participants' own kick-off words.

Joan Barfoot has written 11 novels, from Abra, winner of the Books in Canada First Novel Award, to Exit Lines, published in 2008. Her tenth, Luck, was shortlisted for the 2005 Scotiabank Giller Prize and her ninth, Critical Injuries, was nominated for the 2002 Man Booker Prize. Her novel Dancing in the Dark became an award-winning film, and she received the Marian Engel Award in 1992. A former newspaper journalist, she lives in London, Ontario.

REGISTRATION IS FREE BUT SPACE IS LIMITED

To register, or for more information, please email or call 416.504.8222 x 242