Free Writing Workshops
Join Muse & Margins for free online writing workshops on storytelling, character development, editing, publishing, and book marketing. Each hands-on session focuses on two topics, includes practical activities, and lasts 90 minutes or less. Writers at every stage are welcome, whether you’re working toward independent or traditional publication.
Explore Our Workshops
Browse our workshop topics below. Dates are announced one workshop at a time. Want to hear when a favorite is scheduled? Use the Notify Me button above to select your interests.
Establishing Your Story’s Promise
Establish the tone, interests, and tensions that signal the story readers are entering.
Signaling Tone and the Intended Reading Experience
Introducing the Interests and Tensions the Story Will Develop
Why Your Character Acts This Way
Develop a past that influences your character’s present behavior and choices.
Creating Formative Backstory
Choosing When the Past Affects the Present
Making the First Chapter Work
Give your first chapter direction while introducing only the background readers need.
Giving the Opening Situation Somewhere to Go
Deciding Which Background Information Readers Need Now
Characters Who Get in Their Own Way
Create flaws and fears that complicate your character’s pursuit of what matters.
Developing Consequential Flaws
Building Fears That Influence Decisions
What Your Character Wants—and Needs
Connect what your character pursues with what they need to understand or change.
Building an External Goal
Developing an Internal Need
Beliefs Under Pressure
Put your character’s beliefs to the test through difficult, consequential choices.
Developing a Character’s Guiding Belief
Turning Beliefs Into Difficult Choices