Class

Let Your Characters Take the Wheel

How do we create expansive, dynamic, complicated characters? There are so many ways. Some writers love physical description, while others say they have no idea what their character looks like. For others still, action seems the best way.

The reality is, we have many options, so we'll explore those options and exhaust the ways in which we might make characters come alive on the page: voice, texture, action, dialogue, interiority, decision-making, physical appearance, gesture, and even setting.

Come ready to experiment and read samples from a wide variety of stories and novels. We'll look at writers like Venita Blackburn, Ted Chiang, Miranda July, Paul Murray, Percival Everett, Jhumpa Lahiri, and many more.

Class time will involve discussing the assigned (or found) readings, discussing process and approach, and lots of experimentation through in-class exercises.

This 8-session class is open to all genres, but the teaching artist's expertise is in literary fiction, so we'll primarily be looking at those types of texts. Students will also have many opportunities to find their own texts and bring them to class.

Accessibility: If you have any accessibility requests for this class, please submit this request form at least two to three weeks in advance . This class takes place in-person, at the Loft at Open Book. Please see the Loft’s website for the most up to date information about the Loft’s COVID policies.