Killer Characters:
The Art of Creating a Dynamic, Unforgettable Cast in Fiction and Memoir (Morning)
with Danielle Trussoni
When writing fiction and memoir, we often turn to plot devices to hook readers. But a great story is only possible with magnetic, fully developed and dynamic characters. This is true not only for the protagonist, but the entire cast. From allies to enemies, friends to villains to foils, the people we meet in a book are what keep us turning the pages. In fact, when we think of our favorite stories, it’s always the characters we remember most.
This class is an intensive investigation into the art of creating three-dimensional, unforgettable characters that keep readers engaged from the beginning of a story to the end. It doesn’t matter if you’re writing literary fiction, memoir, crime fiction, a thriller, romance, or fantasy: the depth of your characters will make or break your story. Through discussions, readings, writing prompts, generative writing, and examination of some of the most beloved characters in literature, we will get to the heart of what makes magnetic characters. And how you can create them.
Characters are the source of every aspect of a story—from how readers see the world, to the conflict, the setting and the theme. To this end, this class will explore questions such as: What is the function of character in narrative and what are the various roles that characters play? How does point of view work and which character’s POV is the most effective in your story and why? What is great dialogue? How can dialogue be an effective narrative tool? What is the difference between real people and characters in fiction and memoir? What are some of the most memorable characters in literature and how did they come into existence? How does the writer’s life influence their art and the creation of character? What is the ideal cast for your fiction? How do you create a dynamic balance between character description, action, dialogue and theme?
Using your work in progress, we will create character maps that help you elevate and understand the people in your narrative, define character key roles, explore ways that characters carry plot, and analyze all the ways that the right characters can change your narrative.
4 Mornings: Monday 11/10 – Thursday 11/13, 9:00am-12:00pm
$795.00
Out of stock
Danielle Trussoni is the New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author of eight books, including The Ancestor, Angelology and Angelopolis, all New York Times Notable Books, and The Puzzle Master, chosen by The Washington Post, Barnes & Noble and Crime Reads as one of the Ten Best Thrillers of 2023. Her latest novel The Puzzle Box won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Prix Bête Noire de Libraires in France, as well as bing chosen by Publishers Weekly as a Best Book of 2024. Recently, two of her books appeared on the Best Books Since 2000 list compiled by editors of The New York Times Book Review. Her debut, Falling Through the Earth, a memoir about her relationship with her father, was selected by The New York Times as one of the Best Ten Books of the Year. She has been featured on 60 Minutes, Time Magazine, and has received cover reviews by The New York Times and The Chicago Tribune.
Danielle has been the Chair jurist for the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction and was The Dark Matters columnist for The New York Times Book Review for five years before leaving to write fiction full time. Her work has also appeared in The Guardian, Vogue, and Tin House, among other publications. Her books have been translated into thirty-two languages.