Inspire the creative writer in you.
Enroll in our writing workshops today! Enjoy these noncredit creative writing classes in multiple topics. Workshops are open to adults of any age or education level and take place in hybrid or online formats.
Heroes & Villains: Crafting Well-Rounded Characters
When it comes to fiction, the stories we often find memorable are the ones driven by compelling characters. Over the course of six sessions, Heroes & Villains will explore the ways in which we writers can round out our protagonists and antagonists for the benefit of our stories. Whether you’ve worked with your characters before and are hoping to better understand their motives, or you’re looking to dive into a new work with fresh characters, each session will incorporate exercises, prompts, and generative discussions on creating believable characters with hopes, fears, goals, and depth. With an emphasis on both protagonists and antagonists, these workshops are meant to move our characters beyond archetypes. We’ll bring out the worst in our heroes, and give complexities to our villains. We’ll craft backstories for our characters that dictate the ways in which they navigate the plot at large. And by the end of this series, you will walk away with more tools in your toolbox for the sake of impactful, character-driven storytelling.
For our third session on Oct. 30, in celebration of Halloween, costumes and/or spooky attire is encouraged!
Victoria Rendina (they/them) is a horror writer completing their MFA in Creative Writing at Wilkes University. Victoria earned their MA in Creative Writing at Wilkes University and was the recipient of the Norris Church Mailer Scholarship in January 2024. Victoria is slated for publication in Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine. They have taught academic and creative writing in Wilkes’s Upward Bound Program.