Finding the Right Lens for Your Story

Prescott Valley Public Library will be hosting a workshop on Point of View, Perspective, and Purpose: Finding the Right Lens for Your Story with author Laraine Herring on Monday, May 11, 2026, from 12-2PM.

Whether writing fiction, memoir, or poetry, an understanding of point of view is essential to clear, compelling writing. Point of view is one of the most powerful and often misunderstood tools in writing. It goes far beyond choosing first, second, or third person and instead shapes a story’s purpose, the lens through which it’s told, and the emotional distance between the narrator, characters, and reader. Understanding how point of view truly works can bring greater clarity, depth, and impact to any piece of writing.

It’s tempting to stick with the point of view you know best, but doing so can limit the depth and possibilities of your work. Experimenting with different points of view can unlock new layers in a scene, especially when you feel stuck. This workshop blends clear craft instruction on the three primary points of view (and their subsets) with hands-on practice, giving you the chance to explore new perspectives and see how they transform your writing.

Please bring writing materials and be prepared to write!

Laraine Herring is a retired professor of creative writing and psychology. Her memoir, A Constellation of Ghosts: A Speculative Memoir with Ravens, was released from Regal House in 2021. She’s also the author of a trilogy of writing books, including Writing Begins with the Breath, the editor of Becoming Real: Women Reclaim the Power of the Imagined through Speculative Nonfiction, and the author and illustrator for The Grief Forest: a book about what we don’t talk about, and The Grief Carnival: a book about loving what is leaving. She’s currently working on another memoir called Solving for X: A Speculative Memoir of Mothers. laraineherring.com

Pre-registration is required.

Monday, May 11, 2026

12-2PM

PC Lab, Second Floor

More info? 928.759.3040