Would you like to learn the promises authors make to their readers and how to keep those promises?

Chekhov’s gun is the best known example of a promise to the reader: ‘If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off. If it’s not going to be fired, it shouldn’t be hanging there.’ But there are other things we promise, knowingly or unknowingly.

This session with award-winning author, Lian Tanner, will explore:

• cause and effect
• knowing your genre (especially if you want to subvert it)
• the story question
• cliffhangers - love them or hate them
• types of conflict
• satisfying endings

Book in for this engaging craft session so that you have the skills to keep the promises you make to your readers.

There will be time for questions.

A private link of the session recording will be provided to enrolled participants only and available for a limited period of 10 days. Once the viewing period has expired the recording will no longer be available to view.

Handouts and slides will be provided to all registered participants if used in the session.

Lian Tanner has been dynamited while scuba diving and arrested while busking. She once spent a week in the jungles of Papua New Guinea, hunting for a Japanese soldier left over from the Second World War. Her books, which include the best-selling Keepers trilogy, the Hidden series, the Rogues trilogy, A Clue for Clara, Rita’s Revenge, and picture book Ella and the Ocean (illustrated by Jonathan Bentley), have been translated into eleven languages and have won two Aurealis Awards for Best Australian Children’s Fantasy, a NSW Premier’s Literary Award, a Tasmanian Literary Award, and a Sisters-in-Crime Davitt Award for Best Children’s Crime Novel. Lian’s most recent novel is Spellhound, a whimsical fantasy for 7-11 year olds. This will be followed in 2024 by a companion novel, Fledgewitch.

To register for the course, please use the booking function below.

ASA members, please log in to receive the member price.

Zoom details will be emailed after booking.