Class

6-Week: Compelling Character Creation for Every Genre

What makes a "compelling character"? Why do some characters leap off the page while others fail to hold our interest? In this class, we'll explore tools, exercises, and organization tactics for creating, fleshing out, and writing as our favorite characters, accompanying an original character of our own through six weeks of "character camp".

The first three weeks focus on character creation, while the latter half examines fleshing out those characters in intentional, authentic ways. In the first three weeks, we'll answer the question, "What makes a compelling character?" with examples from literature and pop culture. By asking "What's in a name?", we will identify methods for making characters unique, believable, and realistic—while avoiding tropes and common character pitfalls. In "The Special Sauce of Authenticity" we'll take character creation a step further with special attention to physical features, character flaws, and personality traits.

Our fourth week, "Crafting Anti-Racist Characters", examines subjects like tokenism and stereotyping and how to avoid these mistakes in your writing. Finally, we'll bring our characters to life through authentic dialogue and digital tools for creating, getting to know, and organizing our characters. This class is for anyone looking to add dimension to their characters and dialogue.

Instructions for Accessing This Online Class

In order to access live class meetings, you must have the Zoom application downloaded to your computer. You will also need a WiFi/Internet connection throughout the duration of your scheduled meeting and a computer with audio and video capability. The information to join your Zoom classroom will be provided in your confirmation email upon registration. Please check spam folders if you do not see this email upon registration. For more information on how to use Zoom, please see our training manual here.

Some classes use a supplemental Google Classroom page. Should your teaching artist use Google Classroom, you will be invited to join the classroom via email at least 24 hours in advance of your class (check spam folders if you are not seeing this invitation). Please note that Google Classroom requires a Gmail address to access the Classroom. If you do not have a Gmail account, the email invitation will be sent to the email address we have on file and will prompt you to create a free account or enter an existing account to join the classroom. If we are unable to send an email invitation to your non-gmail account, you will be contacted by a staff member to provide a Gmail address. If you do not have a Gmail account, you can create a free account here. Should you have concerns about this, please contact a Loft staff member at [email protected] or 612-379-8999. For more information on how to use Google Classroom, please see our training manual here.