Imaginarium 2026 is proud to announce the addition of two new Workshops and one new Panel to our programming! There will be over 135 panels and workshops hosted in our 13th year, so make sure to check back regularly on our official site to see all new additions!
The titles, presenters, and descriptions for these new programming additions are as follows:
New Workshops Added:
Stress, Conflict, and Transformation: Testing Characters Under Pressure: Presenter – John Morgan Risner. Once a character is built, the real test begins: pressure. This advanced companion workshop shows writers how to reveal true character through conflict, escalating stakes, moral dilemmas, and irreversible consequences.
Participants will explore how stress exposes authentic behavior, how transformation is earned through suffering and decision-making, and why character consistency matters more than perfection. The focus is on creating believable arcs that feel emotionally earned rather than mechanically plotted.
This workshop pairs perfectly with The DNA of a Great Character or can function as a powerful stand-alone deep dive into character development.
Key Topics Covered:
Behavioral testing through escalating conflict
Emotional truth vs. plot convenience
Breaking characters without breaking believability
Turning flaws into catalysts for transformation
Designing character arcs that feel inevitable
Takeaways for Attendees:
Techniques for authentic character growth
Stronger emotional payoffs in climactic moments
A framework for creating pressure-tested character arcs
Greater narrative tension and audience immersion
The DNA of a Great Character: Building Compelling Protagonists from the Inside Out: Presenter – John Morgan Risner. Great stories begin with unforgettable characters—but most writers build characters from the outside in. This workshop flips the process. Attendees will learn a practical, step-by-step method for constructing powerful characters based on psychology, contradiction, desire, fear, and inner conflict before ever selecting a name or appearance.
Using examples from film, television, and novels, this session breaks down what truly makes audiences emotionally invest in a character—and how to design that connection deliberately. Writers will leave with a repeatable character-building framework they can apply to any genre.
Key Topics Covered:
The core emotional engine of a character
Desire vs. need and why both are essential
Internal wounds and hidden contradictions
Flaws that create story, not sabotage it
How character choice drives plot momentum
Takeaways for Attendees:
A clear character construction blueprint
Tools to deepen flat or underperforming characters
A stronger emotional foundation for their current project
Increased character realism and audience connection
New Panel Added:
Writing Neurodivergent Characters: Moderator – Diana Morgan. It’s becoming more common to see autistic, ADHD, and other neurodivergent characters in fiction. How do we include people with these brain differences without falling into bad stereotypes? How do you craft a believable character when their traits exist on a spectrum? A panel of writers discusses various approaches and ways to learn how to craft believable characters.