How to Build Character(s)

“I was definitely a complete nerd. I sat at the lunch table alone and got picked last for P.E., but books saved my life,” says Cidney Swanson, local novelist for young adult audiences and traveling speaker/educator. Swanson will host “Character Building: The Viscera of Young Adult Fiction,” Friday, Aug. 9 as part of Wordcrafters in Eugene’s ongoing program to teach the essentials of fiction writing.

Whether you’re brainstorming a new protagonist or polishing one for publication, the workshop is intended to support writers of all ages and abilities. “We’re back at the roots of how to write,” says Patricia Marshall, executive director of Wordcrafters. “We want [to see] people putting in the work to make their stories better.”

Swanson, who authors speculative fiction (fantasy and sci-fi), will offer solutions to populate a novel with characters that are not necessarily believable, but rather relatable. She says her popular Rippler trilogy and Saving Mars series may have “out there” scenarios in terms of action, but that “the moral or emotional development of a character as a result of that action” is more important.

Mars Burning, the fourth of her Terran/Martian novels, was released Aug. 5. If you want to see your name on the spine of a book, Swanson’s three-hour workshop will offer pointed instruction, discussions and writing breakouts — hoping to form “tools that everyone will go home and use for themselves.” A half-hour Q&A with Swanson will follow.

Swanson and Wordcrafters believe it’s important to pay it forward with literary success. “It’s my duty, my obligation and my pleasure to help the next [generation] of writers,” says Elizabeth Engstrom, Wordcrafters board member. “We’re hoping to engage the whole literary community of Eugene, because we have an amazing literary heritage here.” Wordcrafters is gearing up for an inaugural conference in March and year-round activities radiating from the 50th anniversary of Ken Kesey’s Sometimes a Great Notion.

But for now: some character building. “In writing, character is one of those things you can always come back to and hone and refine and go deeper with,” Swanson says. “So how do you go about it?”

The “Character Building: The Viscera of Young Adult Fiction,” workshop runs 9 am to 12:30 pm, Friday, Aug. 9 in the Lamb Cottage at Skinner Butte Park. Register at wordcraftersineugene.org.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!