Creative Writing: The Craft of Character from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Discovering Characters from Your Life and Elsewhere

What happens in the writer's mind before any words are written on the paper? Characters then reveal themselves through conflict and drama. Without conflict there is no purpose to the story. We then discuss desire. Human beings want things, even when we don't really know what it is we wish for. Finally, we conclude the module like Michelangelo, chipping away everything that is not the masterpiece statue of David. Learn to find what is germane to the story you are telling by looking closely at the character.

Creating Characters on the Page

Here, we delve deeper into the characters. What is their physical description, and how can we describe them through action? How do they speak? What makes me want to read about them? When your characters need help or understanding, or even rescuing, this draws the reader in, far more than likability. Finally, we discuss how the plot reveals the inner life of characters through what they do as well as say.

Dialogue and Monologue

How do we lead a reader to a world that feels real? Narrators have an attitude, towards subjects and audience, about the world and its events. We discuss in this module considerations involved in planning for these realities, including the differences between first and third person and the construction of dialogue with verisimilitude - the feel of real life - while stripping away the tedium. We ask what idiosyncrasies your characters possess and how to control them to advance the narrative.

Set Your Characters Free.. and Give Them Somewhere to Go

In this module, we reflect on how our readers learn about our characters - and how we as writers do, as well. We ask questions about who is telling the story, why, and with what goal. We conclude the course with a conversation about the narrator and, distinctly, the narrative, to see how they shape the reader's perception of character and story.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores the fundamentals of character development, which is a core skill for writers

Teaches how to use life experiences to create characters, which is a highly relevant approach

Taught by Amy Bloom, a recognized author of fiction

Examines the use of dialogue and monologue for character development, which is an important skill for writers

Requires students to have some experience with writing, which may be a barrier for some

Reviews summary

Character's craft: lives on the page

learners say Amy Bloom's Creative Writing: The Craft of Character course is engaging and challenging. Students especially appreciate the interviews with authors, as well as guest speakers. While the course lacks structure compared to others in the specialization, learners note that the writing prompts are in-depth and the exercises are thought provoking. However, learners express disappointment with the peer review process. Many report receiving insufficient feedback, while others receive feedback that is incoherent or unhelpful.

Assignments often challenge learners to consider new perspectives and explore different writing styles

"This course helped me to move out my state of inertia by taking action. Love it"

"The session was very indulging and lucid. I felt at very ease learning from Ms. Amy. Just an amazing experience overall."

"I learned a lot! I thought I knew how to form my characters already until I took this course. Thank you Teacher Amy Bloom."

Bloom often interviews other writers and authors on their processes for developing characters

"The different perspectives from the guest writers helped me to understand how writers craft character."

"I loved how Amy Bloom has inserted images in between the videos explaining about the craft of character. I love the eloquent description with examples that made the course easy to understand and I felt confident while doing the assignments."

"It's a great course with extensive writing and course material. As a budding writer, i had been struggling to navigate the Character Development aspect of Creative Writing. Currently, i can do it in a heartbeat. Would recommend it to anyone."

Students express dissatisfaction with the quality of peer reviews

"I honestly didn`t learn a lot more than in the first course of the specialization. Some of the assignments were a little off-putting to me."

"I liked it, but the assignments were often confusing and ambiguous. I would recommend the University to revise the parameters on the assignments. "

"The course is short and to the point and the assignments are also creative and challenging! Thank you Wesleyan University for such wonderful course!"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Creative Writing: The Craft of Character with these activities:

Study literary analysis techniques

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Sharpen literary analysis skills by following guided tutorials and applying them to course readings

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Identify key literary devices and techniques
Practice analyzing texts using these techniques
Join a study group or online forum for discussion

Read 'Bird by Bird' by Anne Lamott

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Dive into practical advice and encouraging words from a seasoned writer

View Somehow on Amazon

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Set aside a dedicated reading time
Read at a comfortable pace, taking notes
Reflect on the principles and apply them to writing practice

Read 'On Writing' by Stephen King

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Read a masterclass on the craft of writing from one of the most successful writers of all time

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Set aside 8-hour block of reading time over 2 days
Allocate 20 minutes or less per session
Read actively and take notes
Summarize the key takeaways
Reflect on how these principles apply to own writing

Four other activities

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Create a character sketch

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Develop a detailed and nuanced character sketch to deepen your understanding of character development

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Brainstorm a list of character traits and motivations
Describe the character's physical appearance, backstory, and personality
Consider how the character would react in different situations
Write a one-page character sketch

Dialogue writing exercises

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Improve dialogue writing skills through targeted exercises and practice

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Practice writing dialogue in different scenarios
Focus on creating realistic and engaging conversations
Use dialogue to reveal character and advance the plot

Participate in online writing workshops

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Engage with other aspiring writers and provide and receive feedback on writing

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Attend writing workshops online
Submit work for peer review
Provide constructive feedback to others

Write a short story

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Synthesize course learnings by writing a short story that demonstrates a strong grasp of character development, plot, and theme

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Brainstorm a compelling story idea
Develop a detailed outline
Write a first draft
Revise and edit the story
Share the story with others for feedback

Career center

Learners who complete Creative Writing: The Craft of Character will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Author

Authors use their understanding of characters, dialogue, and storytelling techniques to create compelling narratives that resonate with readers. This course would help an aspiring Author gain the skills needed to craft believable and memorable characters, which is essential for success in the field of writing.

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Screenwriter

Screenwriters need to be able to create characters that are both believable and engaging. This course will help Screenwriters develop the skills needed to craft complex and compelling characters, which is essential for success in the field of screenwriting.

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Novelist

Novelists need to be able to create characters that are both believable and engaging. This course will help Novelists develop the skills needed to craft complex and compelling characters, which is essential for success in the field of fiction writing.

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Journalist

Journalists need to be able to quickly and accurately assess people and situations in order to write compelling stories. This course will help Journalists develop the skills needed to create vivid and engaging characters, which is essential for success in the field of journalism.

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Fiction Writer

Fiction Writers need to be able to create characters that are both believable and engaging. This course will help Fiction Writers develop the skills needed to craft complex and compelling characters, which is essential for success in the field of fiction writing.

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Poet

Poets need to be able to create vivid and engaging imagery in order to convey their thoughts and feelings. This course will help Poets develop the skills needed to craft compelling characters, which is essential for success in the field of poetry.

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Speechwriter

Speechwriters need to be able to understand and convey the thoughts and feelings of others in a clear and engaging way. This course will help Speechwriters develop the skills needed to create compelling characters, which is essential for success in the field of speechwriting.

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Playwright

Playwrights need to be able to create characters that are both believable and engaging. This course will help Playwrights develop the skills needed to craft complex and compelling characters, which is essential for success in the field of playwriting.

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Creative Director

Creative Directors need to be able to understand and convey the thoughts and feelings of others in a clear and engaging way. This course will help Creative Directors develop the skills needed to create compelling characters, which is essential for success in the field of creative direction.

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Literary Agent

Literary Agents need to be able to understand and evaluate the work of others. This course will help Literary Agents develop the skills needed to assess characters and identify works that have the potential to be successful.

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Writing Coach

Writing Coaches need to be able to help others develop their writing skills. This course will help Writing Coaches develop the skills needed to evaluate characters and provide feedback that will help writers improve their work.

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Editor

Editors need to be able to assess the work of others and provide constructive feedback. This course will help Editors develop the skills needed to evaluate characters and provide feedback that will help authors improve their work.

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Teacher

Teachers need to be able to communicate complex ideas in a clear and engaging way. This course will help Teachers develop the skills needed to create compelling characters, which is essential for success in the field of teaching.

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Professor

Professors need to be able to communicate complex ideas in a clear and engaging way. This course will help Professors develop the skills needed to create compelling characters, which is essential for success in the field of teaching.

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Freelance Writer

Freelance Writers need to be able to create compelling content for a variety of clients. This course will help Freelance Writers develop the skills needed to create compelling characters, which is essential for success in the field of freelance writing.

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