This workshop is SOLD OUT – Join the waitlist to be notified if a space opens. 

Every writer knows that effective characters are perhaps the single most important factor in creating a story that will engage readers. EM Forster divided them into flat and round. Aristotle said they had to be tightly woven into action. In this one-day workshop, we’ll look at the best of classic and contemporary approaches to how character operates in storytelling, and learn the techniques needed to create vivid characters that your readers will want to go on a journey with.

This one-day workshop will include PowerPoint presentations, in-class exercises, and the opportunity to share some of your work. Topics will cover the following:

1. Inner and outer conflict – how do writers balance these factors to create credible characters that drive the story forward?
2. The identification effect – what techniques can writers use to make characters relatable, and how can they use point of view techniques to engage the reader?
3. A balanced cast – how can writers effectively deploy the cast of characters in the story structure? In exploring these questions, participants will learn how to negotiate the structural relationship between character, story and point of view.

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Expected Learning Outcomes

1. Understanding the relationship between character and action
2. Learn how to create and use a cast
3. Learn techniques to establish and maintain the identification effect

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Participant Requirements

Participants are asked to bring along four hardcopies of a piece of writing that demonstrates their use of character. This piece of writing will be workshopped in a small group. It must be no more than 1500 words in length.