Writers
Characters Who Resonate, with Bob Balmer
Create vibrant and memorable characters who readers truly care about.
Tuition Assistance and Other Policies
Meeting Times
- Sat, 9/28/2024 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Sat, 9/28/2024
Closed
About
Some characters are so dynamic that readers root for or against them. A provocative character can enliven both the writing and the readers.
Get help creating memorable and believable characters, which requires blending a character’s physical, emotional, and intellectual traits with their interests, passions, work, and relationships. It might include imbuing a character, as Peter De Vries did in “Different Cultural Levels Eat Here,” with a quirk or mannerism that may become the catalyst for a story. Characters who resonate, such as John Irving's characters, draw in the reader.
This workshop will cover:
- Character portrait vs character study.
- Show vs tell.
- Foreshadowing characters.
- How to use acquaintances to develop characters.
- How to use aspects of yourself to develop characters.
- What will your character look like?
- What personality and character traits will you give your characters?
- If you want to develop a funny character, are they funny and know it, or do they react to life funny?
- What quirks/idiosyncrasies – if any – help distinguish your characters?
- What motivates them?
- What does their job reveal about them?
- Reverse outline (listing your character’s traits).
- Drawing your character to visualize them.
Details
Skill level: All
Class Policies
BARN Policies
- View BARN's Cancellation and Refund Policy.
- Tuition Assistance is available. Fill out the application before registering.
- BARN is committed to accessibility. We try to make accommodations when requested; the earlier you contact us, the more likely we can help. Please email accessibility@bainbridgebarn.org to find out more or request an accommodation.
- Sensory Statement: Makerspaces like BARN can be noisy and cluttered, smell strongly, and have bright or flickering lights.
Instructors or Guides
Bob Balmer
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