I am proud to be teaching a series of online creative writing classes through the Alexandra Writers’ Centre. This summer, the class will be “Creating Compelling Characters.”

An exciting plot can thrill us, sophisticated description can intrigue us, but compelling characters make us feel. They make us laugh, make us cry, make us keep turning the pages. If your characters feel real, then your whole story does. This course will take you through all the steps of creating compelling characters, whether it’s your hero, your villain, or one of your supporting cast. How do you develop character goals that enrich the story’s plot? How do you make an antagonist an effective foil for your protagonist? How do you give each character a unique voice? We’ll discuss all these questions, and more. We’ll explore every inch of your characters, make them come alive. By the end of this six-week class, you’ll know how to make your characters come alive.

There are still a lot of openings in the class, so if you’re interested in exploring your characters, you can stop by the Creating Compelling Characters page to enroll. July 9 is when we start getting to know your heroes and villains.