Writing True Characters
Free, registration required
Facilitated by Katie Cusumano
In this workshop, we’ll practice creating lively, compelling characters who are drawn from real life, on the page. First, we’ll focus on writing about other people — and then, we’ll turn to ourselves, learning how to use our feelings and point of view to craft a great narrator for memoirs and personal essays.
Portland Book Festival youth writing workshops are recommended for ages 14+. Workshops are free to attend but require a festival wristband (free for youth) and registration in advance. Please register by purchasing a free ticket below.
Katherine Cusumano
Pronouns: she/her
Katherine Cusumano is a journalist and essayist who writes about culture and the natural world. Her work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Orion, The Believer, and others, and has been anthologized in the Best American Food and Travel series. She earned her MFA from Oregon State University, where she received the 2024 Creative Writing Award for Nonfiction. In 2025, she was awarded the Oregon Literary Fellowship.
