What makes a story capture our attention? Is it a character who seems flawed but fascinating? Who never says exactly what they mean? Is it dialogue that illuminates the story instead of slowing it down?

Character and dialogue are two of the most important aspects of storytelling – they can make or break a piece of writing. In this course, we will consider how to create distinctive, memorable characters, and how to use dialogue in service of characterisation. We’ll look at a range of examples and discuss what makes them stand out. We’ll consider our own characters: what they say and how they relate to the world around them. Through discussion and in-class exercises, you’ll discover the spark needed to bring your characters to life.

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Expected Learning Outcomes

1. Participants will learn to determine what a character requires to make them convincing, interesting and complex.
2. Participants will be able to make dialogue carry its weight rather than drag along.
3. Participants will learn to create a tension between character and dialogue that adds tension and verisimilitude.

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Participant Requirements

A notebook and pen. Bring a page of dialogue from a work in progress. Be prepared to describe a character from a work in progress.