Aspiring Authors: Character Workshop | Creative Writing & Storytelling (Ages 14-18)
What's included
2 live meetings
1 hrs 50 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
Creative writers and storytellers will learn strategies for creating and developing relatable, convincing characters for their creative writing projects or other story-based projects, as well as ways to reveal who the characters are as their stories unfold. They will then practice creating and/or fleshing out a character for one of their own stories! We will meet together as a class twice. During the first class session, we will talk all about the characters in our stories—where they come from, how to get to know them, why they are the key to a good story, and the hows and whys of making sure our audience cares about them just as much as we do. I will provide several exercises learners may use to guide them in both creating and developing characters. The second class meeting will be a one-time character creation and development workshop, and each student will introduce us to at least one of their own characters for a creative writing project they are working on or developing. Between the first and second classes, writers should spend some time with one (or more!) of their characters. Learners who are exploring creative writing and storytelling are welcome to enroll even if they do not have a character they would like us to meet—inspiration frequently comes from other artists! And characters are obviously not at all limited to fiction writing! Creative writers of any genre, and storytellers who prefer to use other mediums—and even those who are interested in “uncreative” fields (advertising, sales, news media, leadership, etc.)—can benefit from studying characterization.
Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
I am so happy to be here and for the opportunity to teach your child(ren) all about the fascinating world that exists within the English language! I have bachelor's degrees in both psychology and English, with a focus on writing, as well as my TEFL certification.
I am also a Yoga Alliance-certified, trauma-informed yoga instructor. I fell in love with yoga somewhere in the middle of my more than 100-pound weight loss, and it truly and completely changed my life—not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. I am a health and wellness enthusiast!
I have been working with youth since I was in middle school, starting with babysitting and tutoring. I started formally teaching as part of one of the many leadership programs I completed in college, and I began teaching online in 2019.
In addition to teaching, I write technical and training documentation for various organizations (and develop and teach training courses), and I write creatively for fun as well! I am actually in the process of getting my first children's storybook submission ready, and I previously worked with my favorite author to write a pilot tv script for a potential adaptation of her lengthy urban fantasy series. I am currently working on my first fantasy novel in what I hope will be a book series.
I also offer private tutoring in writing (creative, scientific, and academic), reading, English, literature, psychology, and English as a Second Language, as well as private yoga instruction or yoga group parties. Please click "Ask me a question" above so that we can work out what would be best for your learner(s)!
Reviews
Live Group Class
$36
for 2 classes2x per week, 1 week
55 min
Completed by 3 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 14-18
3-6 learners per class