Dynamic Character Workshop
Dynamic characters bound off the page. They propel their stories forward with the raise of an eyebrow, the hint of a mysterious backstory. They are the characters that readers root for, love to hate, and hold in their hearts long after your book is done. But how do you bring your characters from flat to flawless? Great stories need great characters who are vibrant, fleshed out, complicated and unique, and in this four-hour workshop, we’ll tackle it all.
In the first hour we’ll tackle the basics. You bring your two main characters, or your supporting cast, or the folks of your quirky town. You’ll learn to go beyond visual cues and delve deeper into what creates a persona using clothing, body language, and things the average writer doesn’t usually think about but are imperative to creating a well-rounded character.
In the second hour we’ll talk about backstory and psychology and how to avoid the dreaded “information dump.” You’ll learn how to skillfully weave past experiences into your character’s present psyche to create a character with deep resolve, complex motivation, and series longevity (for example, creating a book as well as a series arc).
In the third hour authors will learn how to build upon the skills learned in the first two hours to create a powerful—and usable—character sketch. It will be detailed enough to serve as a page in your series bible but interesting and dynamic enough to kick off your next book.
The final hour will be reserved for writing, sharing, and one-on-one time with the instructor to work out problems, consider next steps, and get your character into play.
Instructor: Hannah Jayne
Hannah Jayne is the multi-published author of seventeen novels for adults and young adults, including the best-selling Underworld Detection Agency Series (Kensington Books) that spawned a comic book series (Under Siege) and the Amazon #1 Best-Seller, Bram Stoker Award nominee and CBS Kid’s Choice Book of the Year Nominee TRULY, MADLY, DEADLY (Sourcebooks). Her book TWISTED was an Outside the Margins finalist for Best Books for Reluctant Readers and VOYA Magazine called her villain in THE REVENGE “the scariest villain of the year.”
Jayne is also a summer teacher and two-time Writer in Residence at the Bay Area Writing Project’s Teen Writer’s Institute where her classes are first to be filled. She was a three-time president of the Silicon Valley chapter of Romance Writers of America and is currently an active chapter member and mentor.