9. Workshop #5 - Lazarus - Characters That Rise From The Dead (Sheryl Dunn)

• Characters are the heart, muscles and nerves of your novel (that's why all three workshops leaders are giving you advice about character)
• Without moving characters, your novel is ‘in irons’ . . . stagnant
• Without interesting characters, your novel is unmarketable
• ‘But,’ you say, ‘I love my characters. Why don’t you, the reader?

Raise your characters from the dead by

• deepening their conflicts
• giving them goals
• using character arcs instead of Deus Ex Machina
• showing not telling
• intertwining backstory into story…stimulus and response
• making them real, yet larger than life
  

This workshop will spoonfeed you with helpful checklists and give you a process that will help you bring your characters to life.