Bring Your Characters to Life [Mary Potter]

Intermediate | Characters are at the heart of every narrative, so they must be richly drawn and complex. We’ll look at ways to achieve this in a variety of narratives—description, gesture, spatial relationships, speech, and interior life—and practice these techniques. We’ll also learn how to combine these fluidly to create a unique character by analyzing two texts: Scott Russell Sanders’s essay “Under the Influence” and Isaac Babel’s story “My First Fee.” Please read these and bring a copy to class.