“April’s workshop in Paris was a delight. She takes a complex subject and breaks it down into more manageable parts.  We had a clear programme at the outset and each session topic was covered thoroughly. Her content is immediately useable. April has a very nice easy, relaxed style when it comes to presenting her material.  I can highly recommend April’s workshops whatever your level of interest in telling a story.”

~ Vivien McKnight, Creativity Developer, UK & Spain 

“After participating in her workshop on story, I was inspired, informed, and anxious to return to my writing to implement all I had learned. If you have an opportunity to take one of her classes, do so!”

~ Jude Walsh Whelley, Writer, Dayton, Ohio 

“April’s Deep Story Design workshop exceeded my expectations. I have been struggling with my story and its characters. April’s devotion to clarity and deeper pursuit of writing gave me invaluable insights into improving my writing and making the characters come alive. She has a gentle and relaxed style in presenting her inspiring knowledge. I highly recommend her workshops.”

~ Tinni Zacco, Writer, Vancouver, BC 

“I’ve attended quite a few writing classes and workshops over the past four decades, but none has taught me as much or helped me more than Deep Story Design Online.”

~ Prof. Douglas Gray, Writer, Columbus, Ohio

“It was pure chance that I stumbled on April’s Deep Story Design workshop, and I’m so glad I did. She reawakened my belief in myself as a writer, and left me full of ideas on how to approach both structure and character design for a novel I’ve been struggling with for some time. Highly recommended!”

~ Shirley Rudolph, Writer, Vancouver, BC

Workshops & Classes

Inspiring Strategies for Successful Storytelling

As a writer, you want to write stories that work, stories that satisfy your audience, stories that come alive with meaning. This is true whether you’re writing a novel, a screenplay, or a memoir. Our workshops and classes are designed to offer practical writing skills coupled with inspiration and motivation to help you write the stories you want to tell.

Deep Story Design Weekend Workshop

Mastering the principles of story structure and the stages of character development is essential for writers who want to design stories with depth and resonance. Deep Story Design is a weekend workshop that integrates lessons in story structure and character development with exploratory exercises that will allow you to:

• Understand the principles of classical 3-act story structure and how it provides the framework for your unique story design.
• Develop strong characters that propel plots and embody transformation.
• Uncover personal truths that reveal the depth and authenticity of your creative voice.

What you learn in these 2 days will serve your writing for years to come.

Deep Story Design Online

This 8 week program takes the 2 day weekend workshop to a whole new level. With time between lessons, you will benefit from various exercises as well as opportunities to significantly develop your work-in-progress, whether that be a novel, screenplay, or memoir. Each lesson will be delivered to you weekly by email and you can work at your own pace. A forum for questions and discussion will be moderated by facilitator, April Bosshard. Registration will be limited.

“Prose is architecture, not interior decorating.” ~ Hemingway

Writer’s Choice Classes

Many elements must work together to create cohesive and compelling stories. Writer’s Choice Classes focus on a single topic of the writing craft in order to give writers a chance to delve into a specific element of writing, such as plot planning, scene construction, creating conflict, character motivation, and more. We call them Writer’s Choice because they arise out of writers’ specific interests and needs related to their passion and craft. As such, we are always adding to the roster of subjects and welcome suggestions.

WCC Plot
Plot consists of a story’s particular pattern of events that leads us from the beginning to the end of the story. These are not random events, but a series of causally related moments that increase in tension over time and resolve into a meaningful conclusion, a ‘good ending’. In this class you learn to conceptualize and plan a plot that suits your story.

WCC Outline
An outline can be a loose sketch, a highly detailed, scene-by-scene plan of your story, or anything in between. The purpose of the outline is to give you a boost of confidence to believe you can reach your goal before you set out trying to achieve it. In this class, you will adapt a simple outline template to suit the story you want to write.

WCC Character
Character drives story. A character’s desires, motivations, and conflicts with outer and inner forces are the basis of story and fundamental to the character’s ‘arc’, the journey of change and transformation that lies at the heart of strong stories. In this class you learn to both uncover and craft key elements needed to create believable, compelling, evolving characters.

WCC Scene
Scenes are the building blocks of story. Knowing how to write compelling scenes is essential to the writer’s craft. In this workshop you will learn about the different types and functions of scenes and how to use them effectively to bring your story to life.