.JPG)
Events & Classes
Upcoming Events
TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2026
Suspense, Tension, Pace: How to Keep Your Readers Turning the Pages
Town Square Writers
Via Zoom
Every great story, no matter what genre, is a suspense story. Suspense is the artful balance you create between the readers’ hopes and doubts, between their concern for your characters and their uncertainty about what lies ahead. The flip side of suspense, and just as important, is tension—the way you induce your reader to make an emotional investment in your story. Pacing, the tempo or rate of speed at which your story moves, is one of your key tools for building and controlling tension and suspense and giving your reader a powerful experience. Whether you write fiction, creative nonfiction or memoir, this presentation will give you tools, tips, and techniques to help you keep your readers turning the pages. Find out how to earn that cherished accolade: “I couldn’t put it down.” Contact me for the Zoom link.
Upcoming Class
The Craft of Writing
Thursday Evenings, September 10-November 12
UC Berkeley Extension—a live online course via Zoom
Become comfortable with the craft elements fundamental to creative writing, including imagery, voice, character, scene, summary and setting, and learn to apply these craft elements in the fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction genres. Through weekly readings and discussions, you learn and develop skills and techniques to help you pinpoint what makes a piece of writing memorable. You’ll use what you learn to discuss your classmates’ writing critically and thoughtfully and to revise your own writing. Learn more here.
Looking for a Speaker?
If you'd like to have a great speaker for a group or instructor for a writing class or workshop, please contact me. I enjoy speaking to book clubs, library audiences, writers groups and community organizations, and sharing my enthusiasm for writing with participants. I have talks and workshops ready to deliver or I can develop one to suit your interests and needs.
A Sampling of Participants' Comments
"A wonderful class! It was so well organized, focused, and inspirational."
"You are a wonderful and inspiring teacher, thank you. I have been looking for a way to finally begin writing, and you gave me the tools and the courage to do it."
"[Margaret] was very insightful, committed and knowledgeable. The class was a sheer delight."
"I wanted you to know that Peggy was *outstanding* today, first giving a short story class all morning, then as luncheon speaker . . . She was so well prepared, amusing, informative, inspiring . . . the buzz was terrific!"
"You are a wonderful and inspiring teacher, thank you. I have been looking for a way to finally begin writing, and you gave me the tools and the courage to do it."
"[Margaret] was very insightful, committed and knowledgeable. The class was a sheer delight."
"I wanted you to know that Peggy was *outstanding* today, first giving a short story class all morning, then as luncheon speaker . . . She was so well prepared, amusing, informative, inspiring . . . the buzz was terrific!"