Characters are the beating heart of every story—fiction, nonfiction, any kind of scripted show. In fact, it’s their actions, dialogue, habits, quirks, appearance, gestures, hopes, dreams, fears, triumphs, failures, and flaws that make a story what it is. We follow people like Sherlock, Hamlet, Katniss, Batman, Lolita, and ________ (fill in your great character here) not because they’re nice folks, but because they fascinate us.
It’s almost magical, bringing people to life through words. Here you’ll learn techniques for creating and revealing characters that seem as vividly dimensional as your wife or boss or next-door neighbor.
Whether you’re working with imaginary or real people, we’ll show you how to write characters that your readers or audience won’t soon forget.
This is a cross-genre course, applicable to any kind of writing that contains characters, including nonfiction.
One-day Intensive
NYC info, tuition: $165
Registration fee $25, paid once per term
One-on-One tuition: $300 Request consultation
The NYC One-day Intensives are seven-hour crash courses, giving you brief lectures that hit the high-points and writing exercises that let you immediately try your hand at what you’ve learned. Arrive in the morning with a desire to learn; leave in the evening as a more knowledgeable writer.
Intensives are open for writers of any level. Students must be 18 years or older.
Students may reschedule a One-day Intensive one time.
Character Intensive topics include: building characters, desire, contrast, showing vs. telling, evolution.
3-week Intensive
Online info, tuition: $165
Registration fee $25, paid once per term
One-on-One tuition: $550 Request consultation
This course explores techniques for creating and revealing dimensional characters, for any type of writing. Course components:
Character is open to writers of any level. Students must be 18 years or older.
