The psychology of character: A creative writing workshop

Learn how to create complex characters for your novel or short story

This unique course will enable writers to get deep under the skin of their characters. Through a mixture of talks and workshops, novelist Rebecca Whitney and clinical psychologist Dr. Sam Fraser will teach you how to build plausible characters with their own back-stories and personality traits.

The day includes in-depth sessions on how to create characters with mental health issues, both mild and extreme, as well as fascinating discussions on human behaviour. You’ll learn how to use psychoanalytical tools to build up a picture of your character’s history, and receive practical tips on how to deepen character through the writing process.

During the course, you’ll get involved in practical exercises, with opportunity for feedback from the tutors, making it the ideal course for writers who want to formulate believable characters – and bring them to life on the page.

This course is for you if...

• You’re a writer or novelist interested in developing character and back-story, as well as looking at possible mental health issues
• You have an idea for a novel or short story, and want to learn how to build complex characters from scratch
• You have a keen interest in contemporary fiction, and want to learn how to use psychological and writing techniques to build believable characters

PLEASE NOTE: Attendees should arrive with an idea of a character they would like to work with. This can be part of a story they have already started writing, or a new character they would like to work on from scratch.

Course description

This interactive course teaches writers how to deepen character through a range of psychological and writing techniques. Attendees will also learn how to identify and explore any mental health issues their characters may have, and apply them to the narrative of their novel or short story. Topics covered include:

• Characterisation in literature – how writers plant the seeds of character through dialogue, setting, action, internal thoughts and description
• Building a character’s back-story
• Formulating personality traits for your character
• How to deepen character through writing techniques
• Weaving complex characters into your narrative
• Psychological overview – a guide to mental health issues and the field of clinical psychology
• Understanding how character and mental health issues can impact human behaviour, thoughts and experiences
• A guide to ‘The Four P’s’ assessment tool – predisposing, precipitating, perpetuating and protective
• How to identify and explore any mental health issues your characters may have
• How to use psychological assessment and formulation techniques to build full, believable characters
• Writing and re-writing exercises, with opportunity for solution-based feedback from the tutors
• Q&A and group discussion

Tutor profiles

Rebecca Whitney’s debut novel The Liar’s Chair was released in January 2015. She has a two-book deal with Mantle/Pan Macmillan, and is currently working on her second novel. Rebecca’s work has been shortlisted for both the Bridport and Fish short story competitions. She is also a features writer, as well as a guest tutor for The Creative Writing Programme in Brighton.

Dr Sam Fraser currently works as a senior clinical psychologist for Sussex Partnership NHS foundation Trust. She provides assessment and treatment for young people aged between 15 and 35. Sam has worked in mental health for 16 years in a variety of different clinical settings and is keen to work to reduce the stigma and misinformation that surrounds mental illness.

Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website