IN PERSON Raise the Stakes: How to Write Suspense
One-Day Workshop | Saturday, June 21, 2025 | 10am-3pm MT
Instructor: Marty Chan
MEMBER PRICE: $95.00
NON-MEMBER PRICE: $125.00
Playwright and author Marty Chan has written for many genres from kids fiction to romantic comedy to steampunk fantasy, but he has a special place in his heart for thrillers. He wrote the cult hit, The Bone House, an interactive play about a hunt for a serial killer that goes horribly wrong. This play has been produced around the world, earning a Sterling nomination for Best Fringe Work. He also penned the bestselling YA thriller Haunted Hospital and the action thriller Willpower, both of which were recipients of the Junior Library Guild’s gold medal standard.
In this interactive workshop, Marty breaks down the key components of an effective suspense story. He lays out the underlying structure of almost every thriller from paranormal to crime. He also reveals the types of conflict that can turn a flat story into a page-turning tale. He’ll introduce writers to a simple primer that can help them raise the stakes in their works. Be prepared for writing exercises.
This class takes place IN PERSON at the Alexandra Writers Centre Society in Calgary.
Author, playwright, and storyteller Marty Chan hasn’t figured out what he wants to be when he grows up. He’s published 23 books for kids, including his bestselling thriller for young adults, Haunted Hospital. His middle-grade novel, Dragon on the Loose, was shortlisted for the 2024 Silver Birch Express Award. The Writers’ Guild of Alberta recently honoured Marty with the Golden Pen Award for his lifetime contributions to the province’s literary community. He works and lives in Edmonton with his wife Michelle and their two cats.
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