Location
Date & Time
10:00am CST - 12:00pm CST
About This Class
Literature is filled with flawed, morally dubious, and even reprehensible main characters, but what does it take to write and imagine these characters as complex, multifaceted, and even problematically sympathetic human beings? And when was the last time you found yourself invested in a character with a worldview completely antithetical to your own?
In this course, we’ll examine some classic examples of characters we can’t resist relating to, even when they’re being categorically horrible people—and the wonderful moral tension this can generate. Then we’ll explore techniques for imagining our way into the perceptions of characters completely unlike ourselves, each with their own developed motivations, moral compass, and rational self-interest. And ultimately, we’re not going to save the world in an afternoon, but if any of these exercises lead to a little more understanding or compassion for those we just can’t wrap our heads around in our daily lives…well, that’s a bonus.
No research or advance prep needed, and we’ll build in optional writing exercises with time for sharing. Suitable for writers of all experience levels.
- In-Class Writing Lift: Light
- Homework: None
- Workshopping Drafts: Optional
About This Class
Literature is filled with flawed, morally dubious, and even reprehensible main characters, but what does it take to write and imagine these characters as complex, multifaceted, and even problematically sympathetic human beings? And when was the last time you found yourself invested in a character with a worldview completely antithetical to your own?
In this course, we’ll examine some classic examples of characters we can’t resist relating to, even when they’re being categorically horrible people—and the wonderful moral tension this can generate. Then we’ll explore techniques for imagining our way into the perceptions of characters completely unlike ourselves, each with their own developed motivations, moral compass, and rational self-interest. And ultimately, we’re not going to save the world in an afternoon, but if any of these exercises lead to a little more understanding or compassion for those we just can’t wrap our heads around in our daily lives…well, that’s a bonus.
No research or advance prep needed, and we’ll build in optional writing exercises with time for sharing. Suitable for writers of all experience levels.
- In-Class Writing Lift: Light
- Homework: None
- Workshopping Drafts: Optional
Location
Date & Time
10:00am CST - 12:00pm CST