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.