Class Description
One of the most exciting experiences in reading fiction, when you are in the hands of a talented writer, is meeting a new character. Add one or two paragraphs of description, whether the character appears at the book’s opening or as an unexpected arrival halfway through, and the reader will be intrigued. But in order for an introduction to be effective, the description must be able to invoke a unique personality with just a few sentences. All too often one reads about a “tall, dark, handsome man” or a “blue-eyed, pretty blonde.” Introduce a generic character, and the reader’s mind begins to wander; when the character appears next, the reader may not even remember who it is. Yet a skilled writer, sometimes with only a single turn of phrase or one memorable descriptor, can make a character instantly stand out as an individual.
In this seminar, we will talk about the best ways of introducing a character memorably and distinctly. We will look at several examples from published authors, analyzing their various techniques, and we will try our own hands at introducing new characters who grab the reader’s attention. By the time the seminar is over, we will have articulated several methods by which a generic type can be transformed into an unforgettable figure.
Part of GrubStreet's Novel Essentials Series, led by Ursula DeYoung and dedicated to exploring the fundamental building blocks of the novel. Classes include:
- Novel Essentials: Pacing
- Novel Essentials: Introducing Characters
- Novel Essentials: Style--Showing vs. Telling
- Novel Essentials: Arcs and Endings
- Novel Essentials: Finding, Signing, and Dealing with Agents
- Novel Essentials: Narrative Perspective
- Novel Essentials: Narrative Style
Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.
For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.
This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. After registering, a yellow Resources tab will appear in this section containing a link to join class. Please note that you will need to be logged into view the Resources tab.
Zoom Participation:
In our experience, the intimate nature of a writing workshop benefits from on-camera participation. Students are of course welcome to turn their camera off whenever they need to, but it is a community norm for cameras to be on most of the time. You can learn more about using Zoom here.
Zoom Accessibility:
You can enable closed captioning at any time during the meeting by clicking the CC button at the bottom of the screen. If you'd like to access the transcript after class, please make sure to let your instructor ahead of time that you'd like a copy.