A Pair of Workshops on Characterisation with Shauna Gilligan

Course Summary

These 2-hour paired workshops over the course of one day will focus on personal connection to character development, the importance of objects, places, and settings in the creation of authentic characters. We will discuss  prose and poetry (readings provided), apply some learning from these readings, and develop either new work or work-in-progress. While the first workshop will focus on the short story form, and the second will focus on poetry, all learning can be applied to other forms such as non-fiction, creative non-fiction, memoir, and life writing.

Course Outline

1. Reading (pre, during, and post workshop – all readings provided)
2. Discussions on objects and personal connections (workshop)
3. Writing alone (pre, during, and post workshop – exercises provided)
4. Pair writing (workshop)
5. Group writing (workshop)
6. Group and individual feedback on writing (if participants want!)

Course Outcomes

Participants can expect to:

1. re-familiarise themselves with characterisation by closely examining the work of others and their own through the dual lenses of objects and setting.
2. practice new writing and approaches in the workshop which can also be used post-workshop to create new work and/or enhance work-in-progress.

Dr Shauna Gilligan is a Writer and Educator from Dublin. A graduate of UCD, she also holds a PhD in Writing from the University of South Wales. Shauna has over twenty-five years experience facilitating creative writing workshops with people of all ages, across community and academic settings, including Maynooth University and various ETBs. In 2025 she was awarded the Jack Harte Bursary by the Irish Writers Centre and the Tyrone Guthrie Centre.

Booked out? To be added to the waiting list for this course, please email info@irishwriterscentre.ie.