6 Weeks, 6 Characters: Online

Class Description

Characters are the lifeblood of your story. They should be vibrant and interesting, compelling and surprising. But where do you start in creating them, and how do you know if they’re working? In this generative and fun class, we will review six methods of characterization, as well as common character types, read published works that use these techniques successfully, and then put those techniques into practice in our own writing. Each week, we'll review an element of character, whether a method of characterization (e.g. physical description, dialogue, etc.), and/or character types (e.g. protagonist, antagonist, supporting,). We’ll also pinpoint how characterization touches other aspects of fiction including plot, suspense, and dialogue. We will read examples from authors including Min Jin Lee, Anne Tyler, Colson Whitehead, Tim Gautreaux, and Tayari Jones. Through guided prompts and questions, we will develop a new character each week from the same story and then write a scene featuring that character using the methods we’ve learned and submit it for feedback. At the end of the course, students will have detailed portraits for six different characters to populate their story, and an expanded toolbox for developing future characters.