Creative Writing: The Craft of Character

Overview

Character is the subject here, approached as a set of craft decisions rather than a matter of inspiration. The course is built around written exercises that practise different pre-writing and drafting methods, so learners leave with a working approach to inventing people on the page.

Who it is for

Writers whose plots are competent but whose people feel flat will find the most value. Memoirists and personal essayists may benefit as well, since the course looks at drawing on people from one's own life.

What to expect

• Repeated short writing tasks alongside the discussion
• Techniques for building characters who feel specific
• Guidance on turning observed people into fictional ones

Expect the work to be hands-on: the main output is your own writing, tested against the methods on offer.