“What’s Your Story, Stranger?” Character Writing Seminar

Since 2025, I have been running my seminar “What’s Your Story, Stranger?” online and in-person to help RPG gamers flesh out and develop better characters to roll on the tabletop.

The seminar’s name comes from what I anticipate will be the first – and most important – question the tavern’s barmaid asks the participants’ characters.

That story is what transforms an RPG character from a ream of numbers on a sheet to a character with hopes and dreams and history – a real person.

I wanted this seminar to primarily be a way for gamers to get more comfortable developing their characters’ stories — though the lessons are applicable to anyone who wants to tell a better story.

My Origin Story

In a hole in the ground – well, it was more of a basement – there lived a devastatingly handsome freelance writer and editor. One day, he was brainstorming business ideas with a program faciliator.

(Shout-out to Rise‘s Small Business Lending Program, without which you would not be reading this).

“Well,” the writer said. “I could help people write better Dungeons & Dragons characters.”

The facilitator replied, “That sounds like a good idea. Do that.”

And that challenge was the spark of the adventure that gave us his writing seminar “What’s Your Story, Stranger?”

And some other stuff happened. He held a T. Rex skull. He tried Thai food. Got locked in a shed once…

Ahem.

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After about a year of work and planning – and the self-doubt and second-guessing that accompanies any entrepreneurial endeavour – I presented “What’s Your Story, Stranger?” in its earliest form.

This was supposed to be the beginning of a rollicking Fantasy RPG adventure, so it made sense to start in a familiar place:

Like many Fantasy adventures, we begin in a tavern. Put yourself in the mindset of an adventurer and as you settle down with your drink, reflect on the moments and history that brought you here.

Based on his experience as an author, RPG player, and GM, Joel Balkovec guides participants through an interactive workshop that will turn a basic character concept into a fleshed-out individual with a full history, backstory, and personality.

By the time you leave the tavern tonight, you’ll be fully equipped with an ideal character.

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I have held sessions of “What’s Your Story, Stranger?” for the local Ottawa gaming community at branches of the Ottawa Public Library, as well as online for international audience, including at the LegendHaven convention for Sci-Fi & Fantasy writers, hosted by the LegendFiction organisation.

In these sessions, I have guided participants through the process of turning a ream of numbers on a character sheet into a developed character with a clear history, personality, and goals.

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