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Writers Workshops

Inprint Intensive Workshop: Iceberg Theory—Creating Powerful Characters

Saturday March 21 1:30 pm–5:30 pm
Cost: $90 Instructor: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
SOLD OUT

Where

Inprint House
1520 W Main St
Houston, TX 77006 United States
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This workshop is full. 

Well-created characters are often at the heart of a story. They are what we remember when the other details of the story have faded. But how do we create such characters? What kinds of characters are most successful at grabbing the reader’s attention and sympathy? How do we complicate characters? How do we show change and growth? How do we use “iceberg theory” to help create complex, believable characters in just a few pages? How do we create sympathy for characters who have qualities that we would shun in real life? How do we, in short, enliven and energize our characters and make them memorable?

In this class, we will workshop student short stories up to twelve pages in length with a special focus on character-building. We will consider the part that characters play in moving the story forward, and how the events of the story influence characters.  (Participants will be expected to submit a short story one week prior to the workshop.)

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is the author of the acclaimed novels The Mistress of Spices, Sister of My Heart, The Vine of Desire, Palace of Illusions, and One Amazing Thing, as well as two short story collections, four volumes of poetry, and a novel for young readers. She teaches at the UH Creative Writing Program.