One-day masterclass
This masterclass is for any writer who wants to create an intriguing, unique, engaging character – protagonist, antagonist, sidekick, mentor … heroine.
Modern fiction and especially genre fiction is filled with fabulous, feisty, funny girls and women making their way through the universe. Plucky girl. Cheeky tomboy. Wise crone. Chosen one. Cynical detective. Kick-ass babe. Geek girl. Amazon. Feminist iconoclast. And so many more – some beloved or reimagined tropes, some wholly original or experimental, some exploring the possibilities of gender, some breaking the world: all compelling.
How do writers imagine them and bring them to life on the page? How do we make them more than archetypes or tropes so they burst off the page and into a reader’s imagination?
This full-day masterclass focuses on the creative decisions, strategies and practical techniques we can use to create irresistible and memorable fictional heroines, and stories that allow them to shine.
Who’s it for?
This is a one-day masterclass for aspiring and emerging writers, people in the early stages of their writing careers – or any writers who are interested in creating captivating characters.
What will you learn?
In this masterclass, through active teaching, group discussion, and practical writing exercises you will:
- Identify memorable characteristics of favourite fictional heroines
- Define possible strengths, flaws, fears, backstories, complexities, and motivations for your characters
- Explore different models of the Heroine’s Journey framework
- Discuss common genre character types, and when and how to use or subvert them
- Consider diversity and representation
- Learn about the connections between voice, dialogue and character.
The concepts and skills you will learn can be readily applied to a wide range of characters in fiction.
You’ll also receive an invitation to our private online writing community to keep in touch with each other and up-to-date on writing and publishing opportunities.
Your teacher
I’ve successfully created heroines including girl pirates and young women who are Vikings or printers or bushrangers, reimagined iconic figures of literature, and brought to fictional life a real woman from the past. My academic work has focused on representations of women in literature, including tomboys and women in crime fiction. You can read more about my books and experience here.
I’ve focused this on girls and women as they can be both neglected and incredibly popular characters in fiction, often stereotyped. But my definitions are very broad and my gender concepts pretty fluid.
Class dates:
Saturday 21 September, 2024 (completed)
I want to do something splendid … something heroic, or wonderful – that won’t be forgotten after I’m dead. I don’t know what, but I’m on the watch for it, and mean to astonish you all, some day. I think I shall write books, and get rich and famous; that would suit me, so that is my favorite dream.
– Jo March in Little Women,
Louisa May Alcott, 1868
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