Many agents and editors are looking for that “unique voice” that commands attention, that sounds fresh to the reader’s ear, that conveys the sense of a fully developed emotional and mental life. But having a strong voice for your narrator or protagonist is only the first step.
In this workshop we explore how to create backstories for the protagonist and In this workshop, we discuss point of view as distinct from focalization; and we explore a variety of ways to make the voices of your protagonist and secondary characters sound unique and true to themselves and to their backstory.
This workshop lasts 1.5 hours and includes time for discussion and Q&A.
Contact Karen for participation information.
Praise for Karen’s Workshops
“USA Today bestselling author, Karen Odden, proves time and again that she is a master storyteller. Fortunately for writers around the globe, she’s also an exceptional teacher. The multi-award-winning author’s newest workshop, What is the Why? Building A Backstory for Nuanced Characters and Authentic Conflict, provides specific guidelines—and the critical keys authors need—to craft fascinating stories with plots and characters that captivate readers. At our recent event, she held an audience of 70+ in the palm of her hand, graciously staying past her scheduled time to answer questions for enthusiastic writers from across the U.S. and Canada, who clearly didn’t want the meeting to end. With extraordinary and original content, clear delivery and obvious skill, Odden demonstrates the master storyteller is also a master instructor.” -Sisters in Crime Grand Canyon Writers, Scottsdale, Arizona
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About Karen
Karen Odden received her Ph.D. in English from New York University in 2001, writing her dissertation on Victorian literature. Subsequently, she taught at UW-Milwaukee and edited for the academic journal Victorian Literature and Culture. When she finally turned to writing fiction, she set all her novels in her beloved 1870s London. Her first mystery, A Lady in the Smoke, was a USA Today bestseller. Her fourth, Down a Dark River, was an Oprah Daily pick; and the sequel, Under a Veiled Moon was nominated for the Lefty, Agatha, and Anthony Awards for Best Historical Mystery. Her sixth novel, An Artful Dodge, about an all-women thieving gang in 1879 London, is forthcoming from Soho Crime in June 2026.
Since 2019, Karen has offered over 40 writing workshops for libraries, professional groups, and conferences, and she has received awards and grants for her work to promote literacy and support the writing community. Karen serves on the national board of Sisters in Crime, reviews books for Publishers Weekly, and divides her time between Arizona and Utah, where she loves to hike while plotting crimes. Read More