About the course

A two-week course on creating believable and three-dimensional characters. 

From Mrs. Haversham to Shuggie Bain, good characters are the driving force of great fiction, they are the reason we turn the page. They intrigue us, we fall in love with them and despite their flaws, we cheer them on through life’s trials and tribulations.  

 This two-part course will explore practical ways to build a character using writing exercises, short readings, and prompts. You will learn about direct and indirect characterisation and how to avoid writing stereotypes and popular tropes. In the second session, you will deepen your understanding of your character, how they interact with the plot, and their underlying driving forces. You will experience character creation as both a reader and writer and will be encouraged to share your own work as well as give feedback to your peers. 

Who is it for?

This workshop is for all underrepresented writers – creatives who face barriers to opportunities due to mental health issues, physical health/disability, sensory impairment, learning disabilities, neurodivergence, substance misuse, survivors, working-class backgrounds, and those from the LGBTQIA+ community, Black, Asian, traveller, mixed heritage or other global majority backgrounds.

This session is for all writers, new or seasoned, whether you’re working on fiction, non-fiction, plays, essays, theses or poetry. 

About the tutor

Michelle is a working-class writer and teacher from South East London and a past winner of the Creative Future Gold Prize for prose. Since graduating from The University of Sussex She has worked as a copy and article writer and has published several short stories. Michelle is also co-founder of the Small Story Cabaret, a pop-up live literature event showcasing established and emerging talent. She has recently completed her debut novel Not Moving to Eastbourne and has been commissioned to write and perform a piece of fiction for the Women Over 50 Film Festival. 

Date

Thursdays 23 and 30 November 2023.

Time

6.30pm – 8.30 pm

Cost

£20 standard /£10 concessions

In order to make our resources stretch further, we have to subsidise some workshops with nominal fees well below most online courses. The more people who book at full price, the more we’ll be able to offer. Half-price places are available for those on benefits, unemployed/underemployed or on low wages. We do not ask for proof that you qualify. We have limited concessionary spaces available and can’t unfortunately offer additional ones. If concessionary spaces aren’t displayed below, they are fully booked, but we can add you to the waiting list if you e-mail [email protected].

Where

Online via Zoom.

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