Getting to Know You: A Guide to Writing Convincing Characters
December 5-10
$90
$75
Patrick Ryan
In Getting to Know You: A Guide to Writing Convincing Characters with Patrick Ryan, you’ll focus on how to develop your characters, how to deepen them, and how to use them to drive the story. Some writers start with character, others develop their characters as they go. However you approach your writing, this class will give you the tools you need to improve your characters and guide you towards writing fleshed-out, people-driven stories.
Over six days, you’ll delve into character development by means of physical description, build dynamic settings, sharpen dialogue skills, play with point-of-view, and explore motivation and change. The methods taught through short videos, craft essays, generative exercises (eleven of them!), and discussions on the online message board will be ones that you can use long after the class ends.
This beginner-friendly course acts as both a primer and a refresher for those looking to build out their characters. It’s ideal for writers who need a little extra inspiration and love craft-driven writing prompts. The exercises are designed for writers looking to start new projects, as well as writers with works-in-progress, so if you have a story you are working on that needs some character development, we encourage you to have it handy in class.
This is a repeat of the class originally titled Character: A Craft Intensive, which we ran in 2021. Material has been altered slightly, but the bulk of the content remains the same.
About Patrick Ryan:
Patrick Ryan is the author of the novel Buckeye (forthcoming in August of 2025 from Random House), The Dream Life of Astronauts (longlisted for The Story Prize, named one the Best Books of the Year by the St. Louis Times-Dispatch, LitHub, Refinery 29, and Electric Literature) and Send Me (selected for the Barnes & Noble Discovery Series). His fiction has appeared in The Best American Short Stories. A recipient of fellowships from MacDowell and the National Endowment for the Arts, Patrick is the editor-in-chief of One Story. For more information please visit patrickryanbooks.com.
FAQ
When can I register for this class?
Registration will open soon and will remain open through December 4, 2024.
How does the class work?
Lessons will be posted nightly at 11:59 p.m. ET. Each section will include a brief introductory video, one to two writing prompts with examples, and a short craft essay.
I write creative nonfiction. Is this class right for me?
While some of the techniques can be applied to creative nonfiction pieces, this class, as with all One Story classes, is designed with fiction writers in mind.
Is participation on the discussion board required?
No, it’s optional; participants are welcome to jump into the conversation or sit back and observe.
Is there homework?
The class includes generative exercises. Responses to the prompts can be shared on the discussion board for feedback from the group if so desired.
Will Patrick give me feedback on the work I share?
Patrick will not be giving any feedback on work, but he will be available to answer questions about the class and the writer’s life on the discussion board.
How much time will the class take?
Plan to spend about 30 minutes per day reviewing the lessons, an hour or so on the writing prompts, and however much time you choose to spend on the discussion board.
How many students are in the class?
One Story online asynchronous classes are large, and tend to range from 100-250 students.
What if I want to take the class, but the dates don’t work for me?
The class is designed for participants to proceed at their own pace, on their own schedule. All class materials will be accessible online until 11:59 p.m. UTC (7 p.m. ET) on January 8, 2025. Please note, however, that Patrick will be available on the discussion board only from December 5-10.
Can I take the class on my phone?
Yes, the class can be taken on a phone, but we recommend a computer or tablet to get the most out of the experience.
Can I save the material for later use?
You will be able to download the writing prompts and daily recaps of the lessons, but otherwise class content lives on the learning platform. To prevent unauthorized distribution of the material, students are not permitted to copy/paste the lessons but are of course welcome to take notes.
What if I can’t wait to get started?
The welcome day discussion board will open on Tuesday, December 3, so that participants can meet, mingle, and familiarize themselves with the learning platform.
Do you offer financial aid or scholarships for this class?
Yes. We offer a limited number of need-based scholarships that cover 50% of tuition. The window to request a scholarship will close on November 24. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, please fill out this form.
Discounts & Policies
Our online classes are designed to be safe spaces for all who participate. One Story will not tolerate hate speech, bullying, or harassment directed toward instructors or fellow students, and reserves the right to remove participants who engage in such behavior from our classes.
Patron Discount: In order to qualify for our patron discount, you must be a member of our patron circle at the time of registration. Patrons commit to annual donations and receive benefits that allow them to participate in our non-profit organization in more meaningful ways. Not all One Story subscribers or supporters are patrons. If you’d like to find out more about becoming a patron, you can do so here.
Refund Policy: One Story class payment is non-refundable after the class’s start date. For questions about the refund policy, or if you are unable to take the class after you have registered, please contact maribeth@one-story.com.
If you have any questions, please contact edu.support@one-story.com.
