Novels and memoirs can’t be separated from their setting. Description makes readers feel fully immersed in a story, but it can also slow a story to a standstill. In this workshop, Alex Kourvo and Bethany Neal will show you how to use appropriate settings and vivid descriptions to heighten character, action, and theme.

The Ann Arbor District Library is pleased to announce the release of five new literary works from our Fifth Avenue Press imprint! Our local authors have something to offer for a variety of readers! 

Stories are about change. We read novels to watch a character grow and develop a new mindset, a new worldview, and a healthier way of coping with life. In this workshop, authors Bethany Neal and Alex Kourvo will teach you how to map the kind of character arc that every story needs.

Come with questions, a work in progress, or an empty notebook. All writers are welcome in this casual, supportive environment.

Authors Bethany Neal and Alex Kourvo will be on hand to answer questions and give encouragement. Bethany and Alex will also provide private, one-on-one critiques if you choose to have them read your work. Sharing your writing with other attendees is not required and is completely voluntary.

Looking for a place to work on your novel for NaNoWriMo? We've got you covered. Take a seat and get writing.

Looking for a place to work on your novel for NaNoWriMo? We've got you covered. Take a seat and get writing.

Looking for a place to work on your novel for NaNoWriMo? We've got you covered. Take a seat and get writing.

Looking for a place to work on your novel for NaNoWriMo? We've got you covered. Take a seat and get writing.

A novel is a big thing, and way too much to hold in your head at once. Why not make a plan to get it done?

There are as many ways to outline a novel as there are writers, but we all agree that a little planning makes writing a novel easier. Whether you love to outline every scene or make it up as you write your first draft, Alex Kourvo and Bethany Neal will help you find the outlining method that’s right for you.

Come with questions, a work in progress, or an empty notebook. All writers are welcome in this casual, supportive environment.

Authors Bethany Neal and Alex Kourvo will be on hand to answer questions and give encouragement. Sharing your writing with other attendees is not required and is completely voluntary.