1B - CREATING CHARACTERS
COURSE OUTLINE

This course will guide you toward building story people who speak with consistent and honest voices as they (not you) tell their story (or their part of the story). The material consists of a weekly lesson and exercise to help you develop the muscles to create dynamic characters.

I have a request: Please use new characters for this course, rather than trying to impose the principles you'll be learning on top of your existing story people.

Many students resist doing this because, let’s face it, you love your characters, you know your characters, and there’s so much about them you just wouldn’t change. Therein lies the problem. You simply cannot master a new method if you plop it on top of a structure you aren’t willing to change. Building characters requires a willingness to look at their many facets and choose those that provide the greatest potential for story conflict. Many students don’t quite believe me and start with existing characters, only to later discover they’re in the middle of a struggle. This won’t be a problem if you start with a stranger you aren’t yet fond of, I promise you, and for that reason I ask you to indulge my request.

    1. WHO ARE YOUR PEOPLE?
      The Stereotype
      Character Points
      Point of View (POV)
      Personality
      The Character Interview
    2. WHOSE VOICE IS TELLING THE STORY?
      Definitions of Terms
      Goals--The What
      Motivation--The Why
      The Thought Bubble
      Conflict–The Why Not
    3. WHAT AND WHY DO COUNT
      What is Point of View?
      Choose POV Before You Begin
      Character Voice
      Your Focal Character
      Deep Point of View
    4. WHAT WILL THEY DO ONCE YOU'VE BUILT THEM?
      Remain in Character
      Move the Story
      Impact and Influence Each Other
      Bringing it Together
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