How to Create Great Characters for Your Story

Wednesday Zoom Sessions
Time by Zone: 4pm- 5:30pm (PST) , 6-7:30 (CST) 7pm - 8:30pm (EST)

Dates:  January 8 - February 12, 2025

INSTRUCTOR: ZENA DELL LOWE

Writer, Speaker, Teacher, Story Coach, and Podcast Host

Zena has worked professionally in the entertainment industry for over 20 years as a screenwriter, producer, actress, and story consultant. In 2020, Zena launched her podcast, The Storyteller’s Mission with Zena Dell Lowe, which has become a popular show among Christian artists all over the world, now available to watch on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@thestorytellersmission8256. The Storyteller’s Mission focuses not just on craft, but on how to write great stories that reflect a true, biblical moral worldview and have a chance to compete in the marketplace of ideas. Driven by a passion to equip artists of all levels to achieve excellence at their craft, Zena regularly teaches advanced classes on writing as an adjunct professor, at writers conferences all across the country, and through her online platform. To find out more about her current course, Hollywood Story Structure Made Easy, ON SALE NOW for a limited time only, go to: https://www.thestorytellersmission.com/story-structure-made-easy. Zena also offers comprehensive script & manuscript critiques, and personalized one-on-one or group coaching plans for writers.  Find out more here: www.thestorytellersmission.com.

Welcome to "How to Create Great Characters" 

This is a six-week course designed for both screenwriters and novelists, as well as fiction writers from any discipline. The purpose of this course is to delve deeply into the art of character creation, providing you with the tools and techniques necessary to craft compelling, believable, and memorable characters that drive your
stories forward.

Classes will meet once a week for 90 minutes, over the span of six weeks. Each session will
combine theoretical insights with practical exercises, helping you to apply what you learn
directly to your writing projects. We will also analyze film clips and literary examples to
illustrate key concepts, including some from R-rated movies. Please be aware that this content is
suitable for adults, and it is intended to provide a comprehensive understanding of character
development in various storytelling mediums.

By the end of this course, you will have a solid foundation in character creation, enabling you to build characters with emotional depth, compelling arcs, and the ability to engage and resonate with your audience. Whether you are a seasoned writer or just starting out, this course will enhance your storytelling skills and help you bring your characters to life in powerful and meaningful ways. We look forward to embarking on this creative journey with you!

Week 1: The Power of Story Characters

1.1 Why Start with People?
-Explore the concept that the heart of every story is a personal paradox.
-Discuss how structure and character are interdependent, emphasizing that the story
unfolds based on the character’s choices.

1.2 Why We Call Them Characters and Not Real People
-Understand the distinction between good characters and real people, using Flannery
O’Connor's perspective.
-Examine how characters are compressed in time and their lives are vetted for our
entertainment.

1.3 Extraordinary Access and Vicarious Living
-Discuss the importance of characters being comprehensible and consistent.
-Explore how we live through characters vicariously and expect to see them grow and
change.

Week 2: Qualities of a Compelling Character

2.1 Emotional Depth and True Character
-Define the difference between character and characterization.
-Discuss how true character is revealed under pressure, using examples such as the Good
Samaritan.

2.2 Paradoxical Nature of Characters
-Understand the concept of paradox in characters, with examples from popular media
(e.g., Rambo, Rick Blaine in Casablanca).
-Explore the significance of major characters having hidden depths.

2.3 Attraction, Likeability, and Intrigue
-Learn how to create an emotional bond with readers through character traits that make
them sympathetic or intriguing.
-Discuss the role of active characters who drive the story forward with clear goals.

Week 3: Developing Character Arcs and Growth

3.1 Importance of Character Growth
-Explore why characters must grow for the audience to stay invested.
-Differentiate between believable and unbelievable growth.

3.2 Credibility and Internal Transformation
-Discuss the need for characters to be credible in their context (age, strength, experience).
-Examine how a character’s journey (plot) is driven by their internal transformation.

3.3 Practical Examples of Character Arcs
-Analyze character arcs in various stories and how their growth impacts the narrative.
-Interactive exercise: Outline a character arc for a protagonist in a new story.

Week 4: Revealing Character

4.1 Methods of Revealing Character
-Learn techniques to reveal character through others' reactions, actions, and environment.
-Discuss the importance of what characters notice and how it shapes our understanding ofthem.

4.2 Visual Imagery and Cues
-Explore the use of visual imagery and cues to convey character traits.Discuss the gradual and constant revelation of character.

4.3 Practical Application
-Interactive exercise: Create a character profile and use various methods to reveal their
traits throughout a story.

Week 5: The Hero’s Paradox and Character Flaws

5.1 Balancing Flaws and Greatness
Understand the Hero’s Paradox: characters must be both flawed and great.
Discuss the challenges of giving characters flaws that do not undermine their heroic
potential.

5.2 Handling and Transforming Flaws
-Explore how to justify and transform character flaws through backstory and growth.
-Discuss the necessity of overcoming flaws for characters to become heroic.

5.3 Case Studies and Examples
-Analyze examples of flawed characters from literature and film.
-Interactive exercise: Develop a backstory and transformation arc for a flawed character.

Week 6: Practical Application for Storytellers

6.1 Traits of Heroes and Villains
-Discuss the essential qualities of heroes and how they contrast with villains.
-Explore the rise of the anti-hero in culture and its implications for storytelling.

6.2 Crafting Relatable and Inspiring Heroes
-Learn to create heroes with traits such as fast thinking under pressure, compassion, and a
profound sense of responsibility.
-Discuss the importance of heroes having both likeable traits and significant flaws.

6.3 Course Recap and Final Thoughts
-Review the key concepts covered in the course.
-Encourage students to apply these principles in their writing.
Interactive exercise: Outline a new story idea focusing on character creation, using all the techniques learned.

Course Materials:
Weekly reading assignments from selected texts and articles.
Character development worksheets.
Examples from literature, film, and television for analysis.

Assessment:
Weekly writing assignments focusing on character development.
Final project: Create a detailed character profile and outline their arc in a story.

This course proposal outlines a structured approach to teaching character creation, ensuring
students develop a deep understanding of the principles and practical skills needed to create
compelling and believable characters.

QUESTIONS?
Please email: infowritespirit@gmail.com