Join Harrison Demchick and the Children’s Book Guild of Washington, DC. at the K Street Busboys and Poets for the next installment in the Guild’s Speaker Series; “It’s the End of the World as We Know It and I Feel Fine: Why Character, Consequence, and Reaction are Necessary for Conflict and Tension.”

Harrison is a beloved member of The Writer’s Ally developmental editing team and an expert in literary, commercial, and speculative fiction. He’s worked on over 80 published projects throughout his years in the industry, and he offers insights direct from his extensive expertise in this free presentation. Harrison’s talk will address the true origins of conflict and tension, and how they emerge specifically from a character’s reaction and the consequences they face.

Three things this presentation will teach you are:

1.)  That conflict is defined by the obstacles standing in the way of a particular character achieving her wants and needs. A character whose wants and needs have not been defined cannot experience genuine conflict.
2.)  That tension is a lot like an acrobat on a tightrope. Walking one foot above the ground takes no less skill than walking one hundred feet above the ground, but the latter is a lot more exciting. Tension emerges when your character has a long way to fall.
3.) That a character’s reaction to negative events is essential in order for readers genuinely to feel it themselves. Character reaction signals the severity of the conflict.

Harrison will take to the proverbial stage at 11:30 AM on November 21, 2024 at Busboys and Poets located at 450 K St. NW in Washington, DC. 

This in-person presentation is open to the public, but registration is required beforehand. The registration fee is $30 for both members and guests and includes the cost of lunch: Register here to add your name to the attendees list and select your lunch option. 

Please see the Children’s Book Guild website or the Busboys & Poets event page for more details.