Fundamentals in Creative Writing: What is Character?

Characterization in any literary form seeks to bring a person, a story, and a world or worldview to life; but whether on the page or beyond it, what does it actually mean to be a character and to have character? In this course, we will approach this question not just as a matter of literary craft, but as an inquiry into how we see and construct our own humanity. Characterization, in that sense, involves more than design and imagination; it requires us to examine the various lenses we use to define ourselves collectively and personally as human beings—the lens of truth, of morality, of empathy, of self, etc. This can be a thorny but clarifying endeavor for a writer. Simply put: to create character, you have to interrogate who you are, even when your characters are nothing like you. To that end, we will discuss the fiction, essays, memoir, and poetry we read as exemplars of compelling and beautiful characterization, as well as a (speculative) reflection of who the authors think they are and how they see the world. We will also do reading responses, creative writing exercises, and presentations that will help us consider and apply what each of us means when we use the word character.