Characters
Thematic and Philosophical Dimensions
This certificate program examines how character choices reflect deeper thematic and philosophical questions within your story. Learn how to align character arcs with moral dilemmas, worldview conflicts, and the larger meaning your narrative seeks to explore.
Courses
Connecting to Characters: How to Write Characters Readers Engage With
Becki Willis, Jennifer Sadera, Robert Mangeot, S. Lee Manning, Sam Severn, and Sateash Hime share insights into creating characters readers care about. They discuss emotional connection, authenticity, and the techniques that help characters feel real, relatable, and memorable on the page.
Faith, Doubt, and the Detective’s Moral Compass
Michael Amos Cody explores the intersection of faith and mystery fiction. He examines what defines a pious detective and how belief, doubt, and moral conviction can shape motivation, conflict, and meaning within a mystery narrative.
The Art and Consequences of Character Death
Why do some characters have to die? In this candid panel, authors unpack the creative and emotional decisions behind killing off characters. They explore how death shapes story, raises stakes, and serves theme, while discussing when a character’s death strengthens a narrative and when it risks losing the reader.
When Food Tells the Story
Gail Bellamy explores why readers are drawn to food writing and how writers can use sensory detail to bring scenes to life. She shares tips for writing effective food descriptions, common language pitfalls to avoid, and ways a character’s relationship with food can reveal personality, emotion, and deeper layers of story.
Writing Characters in a Changing World
Alison Gaylin, Janet Rudolph, Jason Pinter, Reed Farrel Coleman, and Sophie Littlefield discuss how to write characters navigating modern life. They explore topics such as technology, politics, and sexuality, and examine how thoughtful portrayals of contemporary challenges can deepen character development and help stories resonate with today’s readers.
Writing Through Tragedy with Truth and Care
Bryan Gruel, David Hewson, Reed Farrel Coleman, and S. J. Rozan reflect on their personal and creative responses to the events of September 11. They discuss how writers can approach terrorism and tragedy with care, honesty, and emotional truth while honoring the human experience behind the history.