Tag Archives: workshop

November 2026 Meeting

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Everything You Need To Know To Write Your Novel – In One Hour with Hank Phillippi Ryan on November 11, 2026 at 7 pm

Full disclosure: actually writing it is going to take longer than that. But if the question is: can USA Today bestselling thriller author Hank Phillippi Ryan show me exactly how to take my idea for a crime fiction novel and turn it into a living breathing book? Yes, indeed. You’ll need talent, and persistence, and craft. And some magic. But in this fast-paced high-intensity class, suitable for any genre, Hank will give you a structure, a template, an architecture-exactly what you need to help you structure your idea and grow it into the novel it is meant to be. You’ll leave this class with a personal plan for your book, a list of absolute necessities, and even some inspiration.

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN is the USA Today bestselling author of 17 thrillers, including THE MURDER LIST and ONE WRONG WORD. Her newest is MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER from Minotaur Books, which Lisa Scottoline calls “Riveting!” and Mary Kubica says, “readers will devour this in one sitting!” Her thriller ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS is an instant USA Today bestseller, the 2026 Mary Higgins Clark Award winner, and nominated for the 2026 Anthony and Macavity Awards for Best Novel. Hank has won every major award in the mystery genre, with her thrillers translated into multiple languages worldwide. Her fiction is inspired by a lifetime of investigating true crime during her storied career as an on-air reporter for Boston’s WHDH-TV, where she was awarded multiple honors for her groundbreaking journalism, including an unprecedented 37 Emmy Awards. Her work has resulted in new laws, people sent to prison, homes removed from foreclosure, and millions of dollars in refunds and restitution for victims. A TedX speaker and in-demand literary moderator, national reviewers call her a “a superb and gifted storyteller. ” Hank was a founding teacher at Mystery Writers of America University, and the past president of national Sisters in Crime. She’s co-host of The Back Room, and host of CRIME TIME on A Mighty Blaze. A Chicago native with roots in Indianapolis, Ryan lives in Boston with her husband, a nationally renowned civil rights and criminal defense attorney. Follow Hank: HankPhillippiRyan.com, @hankpryan on Instagram, and on Facebook HankPhillippiRyanAuthor.

February 11th, 2014 WORKSHOP

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GOAL! MOTIVATION AND CONFLICT: THE FOUNDATION OF COMMERCIAL FICTION

Next meeting, February 11th, 2014, Ottawa City Hall, Honeywell Room.

Madeline McBride will present this workshop.  Writers , are your characters’ goals and conflict strong enough to carry the story?  This interactive craft workshop will help you describe what your characters want, the stakes, and what’s stopping them from reaching their goals.
In an exercise using a simple template, you’ll identify your hero/heroine’s internal and external goals, motivations, consequences/stakes and conflict (GMCC).  Those willing to share will have the opportunity to  get feedback on their work-in-progress GMCC’s.  The resulting comprehensive  GMCC  sentences, one for each character can be key elements of pitches
This workshop is based on Debra Dixon’s GMC: Goal, Motivation & Conflict, arguably an essential craft resource for writers of commercial fiction genres such as mysteries, thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy, romance etc.
Madeline McBride (Presenter) is currently President of Ottawa Romance Writers Association, writes as Madelle Morgan.  She’s completed six books, although three were for practice as she honed her craft!  She won or placed  in several writing contests.