Find Anti-Racism resources | See our COVID protocols | Log in for online courses
At other times, the unveiling of a deeply flawed disposition is more subtle–allowing a contrast in morality to slowly emerge for the reader as the narrative arc progresses (like with ‘the kid’ in Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree.”) Also, revealing how painful or cruel actions by those viewed as the ‘enemy’ can stem from ignorance, repressed hurt or negative life experiences–shaping this alternate POV–can be powerful teaching moments for a young audience when incorporated into age-appropriate literature.
If you’re struggling to effectively weave conflict and backstory into the mini-novella or novel you’re ready to pen, author and faculty Julie C. Dao suggests coming to The Highlights campus for Anti-heroes and Villains: Crafting Flawed Characters We Love to Hate. “My muse is Highlights! I have gotten so much work done on campus, and there’s something magical about being surrounded by the energy of other creative people,” she affirms.
Dao’s co-faculty for the workshop is writer, Associate Editor at Disney-Hyperion associate editor, and People of Color in Publishing founder Patrice Caldwell. Their special guests are Henry Holt Books for Young Readers editor Tiff Liao and DongWon Song, an agent at Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. Dao hopes you’ll allow them the opportunity to contribute to your publishing journey. “Writing books is often a solitary endeavor, and I find that engaging with other writers and learning from them has been invaluable to both my craft and my understanding of the industry.”
In the workshop, you’ll:
MEET THE FACULTY
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Posted on: March 18, 2019
Tags: 2019 workshops, character