Class

The Interior Lives of Characters

Characters are the lifeblood of story, no matter the genre. They should feel vivid and authentic—capable of surprising readers while remaining deeply relatable. That's no small task!

In this class, we’ll deep dive into the inner lives of your characters. We’ll explore the fundamentals of character interiority and examine techniques for revealing perspective, worldview, desire, and motivation on the page. Through close readings of published excerpts by writers such as Kennedy Ryan, David Yoon, TJ Alexander, and Maurene Goo, we’ll study how accomplished authors craft layered, emotionally resonant characters. Writing prompts and in-class exercises will help you deepen your understanding of your own characters from the inside out.

By the end of the class, you’ll have a stronger grasp of character interiority, practical tools for developing more nuanced characters, and effective strategies for bringing your characters’ inner lives to the page.

In this class, students will:

--Understand the key elements of character interiority.
--Develop richer, more layered characters.
--Learn techniques for conveying interior life effectively on the page.

All classes listed on the Loft website take place in Central Time.

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.