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We’ve all read it before: the laundry-list description of a character’s physical features, the stomachs that roil and boil, the hearts that pound, the characters that look off into the distance, unsure what to do.

Then there are character decisions and reactions that don’t quite make sense. In memoir, these are often rounded out by lengthy reflections that explain, and ultimately strain, a reader’s patience. 

Developing great characters is hard work. It takes artistry and an understanding of psychology to replace clichés and tired tropes with fresh descriptions and an interiority that hints at a rich inner world, while giving rise to clear motivations. 

Yet many memoirists struggle to do this—for good reason. While understanding both real and made-up characters who aren’t you is challenging, analyzing yourself is more difficult.

The key to developing compelling characters is to craft the inner, use it to build the outer, then combine the two to reveal your character’s emotions and motivations.

During this 90-minute webinar, you’ll:

• Discover the 3-step chain of events that determines what your character does in any situation
• Investigate the role that core wounds, attachment styles, inner resources, risk factors, and assets play in shaping character personality and decisions
• Uncover your character’s three Ts (ticks, tells, and tendencies)
• Learn the difference between carry-in and carry-over events and how they impact both your plot and narrative arc
• Find out how having your character act “as if” can help you limit backstory and start in the right place
• Explore how your character’s inner life manifests as outward behaviors—and how to avoid how to avoid using clenched jaws, furrowed brows, and bad bellies to reveal them

While this class will focus on memoir, Lisa will touch on autofiction.

Who should take this class

This class is for beginning to intermediate memoirists, including:

• New writers working on their first drafts
• Memoirists struggling to understand their characters’ motivations 
• Writers who’ve been told their characters are flat, unlikeable, or difficult to connect with
• Memoirists working to refine their characters and avoid cliché ways of describing them

This class might not be suited for

• Essayists who are not compiling a book-length work
• Fiction writers
• Advanced memoirists who’ve published one or more books

How do I attend the live class?

This class uses Zoom webinar technology (see system requirements). You will join through your Internet-connected computer or mobile device. When you register, you will receive information via email on how to join the class. If you don’t receive it within 1 hour of registering, please contact us.

• When: Wednesday, June 19, 2024
• Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Eastern / 10:00 a.m. Pacific
• Registration fee: $25

The webinar is broadcast via the internet with live audio delivered through your computer or mobile device speakers. The visual presentation is displayed directly from the presenter’s computer to your computer screen. The Q&A is managed through a chat-style submission system with questions read and answered by the presenter for the entire class to hear.

Closed captions are provided during the live class. We use Zoom’s automated closed caption service (powered by Otter), which is about 80%+ accurate. We also use Otter AI to generate an unedited transcript, provided with the recording.

Testimonials

All students receive the following

• Access to live class. After roughly 75 minutes, the instructor will take questions during class using in-class chat/text. The class will end after roughly 90 minutes.
• A recording of the class—audio and video. This is especially helpful if you have a conflict with the class time or something comes up and you can’t make the session. Each registration comes with access to the archived version of the program and the materials for 30 days. You do not have to attend the live event to access the recordings.
• Presentation slides. All participants receive a copy of the slide presentation in PDF form.
• Rough transcript. We use Otter to create an automated transcript of the entire webinar, which we’ll share with you in addition to the audio and video recording.

Event Attendance & Anti-Harassment Policy

We strive to provide an environment where all present—whether attendee, presenter, or staff—can feel supported. In order to ensure a welcoming event, here is what we expect from all who participate.

• That the presenter and the presenter’s work be treated with respect by attendees and that all attendees treat each other with respect and a generosity of spirit.
• That attendees will refrain from harassment of any sort including (but not limited to) comments or questions of a racist, homophobic, sexist/sexual, or threatening nature. This includes actions that disrupt or interfere with anyone’s ability to participate. Offenders will be disconnected from the live event.