May 21 @ 7:00 pm - May 23 @ 7:00 pm
Online
$59Overview
A Two-Night Mini Online Course
Secondary characters play a vital role in storytelling, enriching the narrative in ways that are often overlooked. While protagonists drive the plot forward and capture our attention, secondary characters provide depth, complexity, and nuance to the fictional world. Join author Sarah Aronson to explore one of her favorite topics: The Influence of Secondary Characters. While this is not a full workshop, our goal is that over two, 75-minute sessions you gain a greater understanding of the untapped potential of developing your secondary characters (no matter the genre you are writing).
- Tuesday, May 21, 2024 (7pm – 8:15pm Eastern)
- Thursday, May 23, 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 June 30, 2024.
Why This Workshop?
Characters are the foundation for every aspect of your story. They’re also the vehicle through which readers will connect with your story. Use this short course to deepen your understanding of secondary characters in picture books through novels to unlock secrets and make decisions about what goes on the page and what happens “behind the scenes.”
Author Sarah Aronson will cover a variety of ways to strengthen your secondary characters, including:
- How secondary characters drive the protagonist(s),
- How secondary characters advance the plot and add tension,
- How secondary characters illuminate the themes and “lessons” of the story,
- Writing exercises and much more!
Feedback Expected
- None 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 writing (or thinking about writing) for kids and teens. This short course will look at the many ways that secondary characters support the story.
- You are getting ready to dig into a revision. Secondary characters deserve their own “pass” when it comes to revision reviews. Learn ways to deepen your secondary characters and then take another pass at your revision to put the learning into practice.
- You’re looking for something short, sweet, and smart! While this is not a full workshop, our goal is over two, 75-minute sessions you gain a greater understanding of the untapped potential of developing your secondary characters no matter the genre you are writing.
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 June 30, 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, May 21, 2024 (7pm-8:15pm Eastern)
- Welcome
- What makes a character “secondary”?
- Advancing your story with the support of secondary characters
- Writing Exercise
Part Two: Thursday, May 23, 2024 (7pm-8:15pm Eastern)
- Welcome Back!
- Quick Write!
- Techniques for revising and/or strengthening your secondary characters
- Q & A
How It Impacts Kids
Characters connect readers with your story. This short course will help you improve how you build and use secondary characters in a meaningful way.
Testimonials from Our Community
“Sarah is a ball-of-energy phenom. She is inspirational and informative, and I would love to have her in my ear every single morning when I sit down to write.”
“My manuscript rewrite took on a life of its own when I applied Sarah’s prompts to my primary and secondary characters.”
“Highlights does an excellent job keeping the focus on the work for kids. You create an environment that is respectful and inspirational…no easy task. Thank you for that.”
Related Resources
- Are Your Supporting Characters Doing Their Job?
- Great Characters Want Important Things and Make Big Choices
- Get to Know Your Character on a No-Limit Shopping Spree
- Creating Memorable Characters Means Being Patient and Asking a Lot of Questions
Looking for an In-Person Experience?
Check out the Whole Novel Workshops, August 14-19 and October 17-22 at our Retreat Center.
