Creating Characters That Speak: Learn techniques for creating unique character voices and engage in opportunities to fine-tune those character designs

with Serena

Creating Characters That Speak

We've all been there before... you've found a story that should be so much fun, filled with characters that have the potential to draw the reader in and bring the story to life. And yet, it falls flat. The characters all end up sounding the same, and the magic is lost. This class is designed to make sure the same doesn't happen for your characters (and introduce you to the fun of creating a cast of characters who each bring their own quirks and chaos to a story).

Class Summary

Class Time:

5 hours of learning!

Class taught in:
English

Available:

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We'll start by working together to create multi-dimensional, dynamic characters through guided questions that go beyond the typical aspects of character creation. This is at the heart of your character's voice. By workshopping your character design with feedback from others, we'll get you closer to knowing exactly who is talking through your story. Then, we'll move on to getting that character to really speak. We will engage in a variety of dialogue-based activities- including dialogue-only scenes, improvisation to find the core tenants of the character's voice, and exploring the little things like dialogue and mannerisms that really make a character shine. Each of these strategies are designed to give a writer the confidence to craft characters who stand apart. This class stems from my own work as an author, as I have honed my ability to differentiate characters' voices over the years. With seven books published, I've had a variety of opportunities to develop characters who each bring their own unique qualities to the page. But it was working on my episodic Greek mythology-based project that really helped me fine-tune character voice. With a cast of 15 characters, each providing their first person point of view at some point during the readable episodes, I needed to ensure that each one was distinct, recognizable, and enjoyable in their own way. The exercises I used to polish that project are the same ones I have included in this class. I look forward to sharing my experience and strategies to help other writers!

About your instructor, Serena:

I am a self-published author and a teacher of literacy workshops. I've spent my entire life wrapped up in stories, and there really isn't much I enjoy more than writing and teaching. Now that I've been a published author for nearly ten years (and more years than that spent writing and getting lost on magical adventures), I've made the mistakes and figured out the experiments that have helped me to become a better writer. And I'd love to share that with others as a wonderful combination of my love of writing and my passion for teaching!