Continuing Characterisation: Objects, Place, Time and Setting with Shauna Gilligan

Course Summary

This 3-hour course builds on work done in The Pair of Workshops 7^th February. It focuses on personal connection to character development, the importance of objects, places, and settings in the creation of authentic characters. Writers are invited to bring writing in whatever form they are working on to share in a workshop-style setting, engage in writing prompts/exercises, and plan writing next steps.

* For writers who would like to participate but who did not attend the 7^th Feb workshops, a summary of the exercises will be provided for them to do in their own time prior to this workshop.

Course Outline

1. Discussions on objects and personal connections (workshop)
2. Writing alone (pre, during, and post workshop – exercises provided)
3. Sharing work (workshop)
4. Group writing (prompts/exercises)
5. Individual planning (what’s next for my writing)

Course Outcomes

Participants can expect to:

1. Receive group and individual feedback on work-in-progress relating to the dual lenses of objects and setting.
2. practice new writing and approaches 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.