Description:
Whether you’re writing a wide-sweeping fantasy or a quiet coming-of-age novel, characters are the heartbeat of every story. As writers, we have to know our characters better than they know themselves. Character development touches every element of craft—pacing, conflict, dialogue, plotting, voice, tone, theme. Underdeveloped characters create underdeveloped novels. During this Creative Lab, we’ll discuss how to create compelling characters that your readers will love.
Skill Level (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced):
Any
This lab is best for participants…
...who are writing a novel.
Prerequisites and Advanced Preparation:
Bring something to write with.
Schedule:
This workshop will be interactive and will include writing prompts. Together, we will build a novel from scratch using nothing but character development. We will discuss what makes characters compelling. We will also discuss common mistakes and pitfalls writers face in their process, and how the solutions often come back to character.
Participants will:
- Identify the heart of their novel
- Develop three-dimensional, authentic characters
- Have a clear journey forward for revision
- Complete discovery writing prompts
