February 20 @ 7:00 pm - February 22 @ 7:00 pm
Online
$59Overview
A Two-Night Mini Online Course
Discovering the inner life of your story’s main character can be hard work. Join award-winning authors Kekla Magoon and Laurie Calkhoven for this short course designed to help you get to know the inner secrets of your main characters. This deeper understanding will unlock new aspects of your story, inform plot and voice, and more.
- Tuesday, February 20, 2024 (7pm – 8:15pm Eastern)
- Thursday, February 22, 2024 (7pm – 8:15pm Eastern)
- Webinar-style program with closed captioning available and limited interaction in the chat
- You’ll have access to the recordings through March 31, 2024.
Why This Workshop?
Your characters have lives both on and off the page. Join award-winning authors Kekla Magoon and Laurie Calkhoven for two generative activities and two deep discussions to discover:
- The secret lives (and dreams) of your main characters,
- How character informs plot and voice,
- Ways to unlock character development, including meditation,
- and more!
Feedback Expected
- No feedback included in the course. There will be limited interaction in the chat feature of the webinar-style program.
It’s a Great Fit If…
- You are just starting to write. Use the generative exercises to develop ideas and create new characters.
- You are revising a story for kids or teens. Discovering character motivations will allow you to deepen your plot and themes.
- You could use some direction on your story ideas. There will be a number of topics covered to help spark new ideas and/or develop your works in progress.
- You’re looking for something short, sweet, and smart! This is not a full workshop. Instead it is two, 75-minute sessions meant to help you get to know the inner secrets and stories of your main characters.
Tentative Agenda
At registration: You will receive a Zoom link to use each night of the course.
IF YOU CAN’T ATTEND LIVE:
If you are unable to attend either session for any reason, you’ll have access to the recordings (with closed captioning) through March 31, 2024.
Please note that if you register for the course after the start of the first session, you will not receive recordings immediately. You’ll receive both recordings after the close of the last session, usually within 24 hours.
All Times are Eastern Standard Time. Click on the headings below to explore the agenda in more detail.
Part One: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 (7pm-8:15pm Eastern)
- Discussion: The importance of crafting the life of your character both on (and off) the page
- Exercise One: Interactive Character-Building with Kekla Magoon
- Brief generative writing time (can continue after the webinar)
- Q & A
Part Two: Thursday, February 22, 2024 (7pm-8:15pm Eastern)
- Discussion: Character-driven stories or plot driven stories (or both!)
- Exercise Two: Character-Meditation with Laurie Calkhoven
- Brief generative writing time (can continue after the webinar)
- Q & A
How It Impacts Kids
Characters are the main way your readers connect with your story. This two-night mini workshop can help you create memorable and inspiring work for children and young adults.
Testimonials from Our Community
“I was very moved by the meditational writing times with Laurie Calkhoven.”
“I knew I could not attend in person but I signed up because you offered the recording. Having that option was invaluable.”
“Keep the mini courses going for those of us that can’t attend at the Highlights Foundation Campus! It helps us stay in touch and keep our skills growing!!”
Related Resources
A New Way to Meet Your Character: A #HFGather Meditation
Investigate what your character’s name might represent with this meditation, visualization and writing prompt from Laurie Calkhoven.
#HFGather: A Monday Meditation for NaNoWriMo (or Any Other Time You’re Drafting!)
Join Laurie Calkhoven in a meditative walk through a meadow with your character, follow that with a writing exercise, and see if your character has anything to tell you.
