Dirtying Up Your Characters

Class Description

Why is dirtying up your character important? It complicates your character. Some writers try too hard to make their protagonist likable and relatable, which are key considerations. But all people are flawed and so your character should be, too. The most memorable characters stick in your mind because they remind you of yourself, and also speak to other parts of you that you may not express or want to acknowledge.

By participating in this seminar, writers will meet their characters as co-creations who are as complicated, difficult and ambivalent as they are. We’ll be studying great multi-faceted characters like Rosemond Pike as Amy in Gone Girl, HBO’s Olive Kittredge, and Apple TV’s The Morning Show. We’ll also do some in-class exercises to test writers’ abilities to challenge themselves to go to complex, more confusing emotional territory for their characters.

Class Format

This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.