Creating Compelling Characters

In this class, scholars will explore how strong characters are built, starting with motivation, connections, and growth. Students will learn how to move beyond surface traits and stereotypes by crafting emotional backstories, meaningful flaws, and internal conflicts that drive behavior and shape choices. Emphasis will be placed on making characters feel like real people rather than simply describing them.

The class will also focus on emotional connection: how to make readers empathize with characters through vulnerability, relatable struggles, authentic dialogue, and specific, telling details. Writers will practice techniques such as showing emotion through action, using sensory detail to ground characters in their world, and revealing personality through relationships and decision-making.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Create multi-dimensional characters with clear goals, motivations, and risks

• Use flaws, contradictions, and growth arcs to enhance realism

• Write characters whose emotions feel authentic rather than forced

• Build reader empathy through behavior, choices, and internal conflict

• Develop characters that evolve naturally over the course of a story

Grounded in Empathy, Effective Communication, and Creativity, this course asks students to think deeply about both writing and human experience. Students will work toward attainments such as recognizing and responding to the emotions and perspectives of others, crafting well-structured and detailed narratives, revising writing to strengthen clarity and impact, and developing original, authentic creative work.

Cell Phone Policy:
Students may use their cell phones during class as a tool to engage in learning relevant to the class.