INTIMATE, SMALL-GROUP INSTRUCTION WHILE EXPLORING YOUR CHARACTER’S INNER AND OUTER WORLD
Are you ready to take your fiction writing to the next level? This three part series of courses is intended for all levels of writers, but especially those seeking immersive exercises that will allow you to get close to your characters’ outer and inner life, explore deeply what makes them tick and bring your fiction in development to the next level. This is not your average, run-of-the mill series of classes. Over the course of three months, you’ll have the opportunity to explore how to get inside your character’s skin, explore their outer world, find methods that work best for your style of writing, explore your character’s relationships, what they want, and how all of this affects their journey through your book or short stories. You’ll walk away from these courses, whether you stay for just Part 1 or for the whole series, with up to several thousand new words, and a variety of techniques for continually going deep with your fiction.
The series of courses will include:
- From 4-12 hours of focused instruction, exercises and informal feedback from classmates.
- Each class will start with writing explorations, followed by a discussion and an opportunity to share-out one’s writing (if desired) in break-out rooms.
- Each class is completely craft and fiction writing focused. These classes are excellent for works in progress, new works, or those ready for significant revision.
- Short readings and weekly writing assignments to extend understanding and provide enrichment between classes.
- Downloadable course pack that includes all slides & readings.
- Each course builds on knowledge from the previous course, but does not require prior knowledge from the previous course.
- The opportunity to make new writing colleagues.
- Optional add-on of a written critique or One-on-One with Britta following the course.
- Go deep with characterization & your story’s relationships with Britta’s new signature Character Immersion exercises.
- The flexibility of being able to meet from anywhere in the world.
- Access to the recorded classes.
Course Overviews & Objectives:
Part I Deep Characterization Exploration
Explores going deep with your characters and fully inhabiting their experience externally and internally. Authors will learn about character objectives as well as how to balance exposition and action. We’ll use Britta’s signature Character Mincer exercises (new twists for those familiar with it), and go beyond to create a method of exploration that you can use with all of your characters. Writers will dive into their character’s personal history and learn how to effectively use character timelines, especially regarding POV.
Part II Relationships, Conflict and Connection
Writers will explore how different narratives reveal how characters relate to others, who their primary relationships are with and how personal history folds into their interactions with others. We’ll concentrate on use of dialogue, balancing narration with ongoing action, and extend our knowledge of exposition from Part 1. Writers will also explore how conflict and connection must have a balance and how to know what your genre requires. Because relationships often drive conflict and connection, we’ll look at ways to amp up the tension while including the connection necessary to have a balance in your character’s life and how knowing the objectives of other characters can help with this balance.
Part III The Journey & Trajectory of the Character
We will build on what students learned in Part I and II by exploring how all of this knowledge about our characters now translates into their journey. We’ll map out ways of exploring the character journey both organically and systematically. We’ll look at how each book requires different things, and how to make the most of analyzing existing books to pick a trajectory that’s in line with what your character wants, as well as the journey they want to go on. We’ll explore ways to expand their journey, watch out for author intrusion and how to be open to a new trajectory after significant revision. You’ll walk away with a variety of methods that work for many genres.
Location: Online live over Zoom. Each participant will have access to the class recording for 30 days after each course.
Class Dates:
Part I Deep Characterization Exploration: Tuesday evenings from February 7-28, 2023 at 7:00-8:00pm CST
Part II Relationships, Conflict and Connection: Tuesday evenings from April 4-25, 2023 at 7:00-8:00pm CST
Part III The Journey & Trajectory of the Character: Tuesday evenings from May 2-23, 2023 at 7:00-8:00pm CST
Pricing:
Part I Deep Characterization Exploration:
Early Registration: $250 (until January 31)
Regular Registration: $300 (February 1-7)
Part II Relationships, Conflict and Connection:
Early Registration: $250 (until March 28)
Regular Registration: $300 (March 29-April 4)
Part III The Journey & Trajectory of the Character:
Early Registration: $250 (until April 25)
Regular Registration: $300 (April 26-March 2)
Or… get the entire series for only $675!
(Save $75 when you join for all three courses)
Please note that refunds are not given, except in the case of class cancellation (refunds will be minus the card fees, which are not refundable, approximately 10% of the course fee.)
How do I know if the workshop is worth the cost?
We’ve aimed to create budget-friendly course pricing, while still covering our business costs. Generally, month-long courses can range anywhere from $400-1,800+. A few important gauges in comparing costs are the important features of this workshop: you receive live, in-person instruction, in real-time with Britta for a total of 4-12 hours, plus enrichment and readings each month. You also have the opportunity for live informal feedback and an action plan on your work-in-progress that could spur new revision ideas! You’ll have fellow writers to collaborate and socialize with outside of class, which often creates opportunities for critiques and exchanges. When you factor in the opportunity to meet and talk with an industry professional and share your work in progress, this workshop is well-priced for a variety of budgets. However, ultimately you decide if this form of investment in your writing is best for your budget, writing goals, and work. We hope that you will find value in Britta’s instruction (you can read more in her bio below). Refunds will not be provided for the courses; however, exchanges are allowed after purchase.
Testimonials from Authors
“It’s been a pleasure working with Britta. She brings a rare blend of analytical and creative perspectives to my work!”-Kara Stockinger, author of Balter’s Den
“I am inspired and supported by Britta’s kindness and enthusiasm.”-A.D. Perry, author
“Britta was awesome and I highly recommend her to anyone looking for an editor. She did a great job on not just the edit itself, but book-ending the work with extra effort. Before I hired her, she was already putting in extra steps to understand what I needed and where my manuscript was at. After the edit, she gave me a very detailed summary, letter, and follow-up meeting to go over it. I would not hesitate to work with her again.”-Kyle Cooper, author of Annals of Arlion
“Britta left amazing and insightful comments throughout my manuscript. The video and cover letter walked me through the major issues and helped me develop an action plan to start making big improvements in my work. Being able to leverage her experience in our follow-up conversation was invaluable, thank you!”-Jonathan Munz, author of Imperial Colours
“Britta is an absolute pleasure to work with. I had taken my project as far as I could on my own, and I knew I needed a developmental edit to help shape and structure the story I want to tell. I knew I had found a match with Britta after interviewing a LOT of editors. Her communication is professional, her responses timely, and she has a great personality. The feedback she’s given me through an editorial letter, in-line comments, and online discussions has been invaluable in improving my manuscript and getting it ready for my next steps toward publication. She has the perfect mix between honesty and encouragement and is an excellent communicator. I look forward to continuing to work with Britta in the future, and I can’t recommend her enough. If you’re still reading this review, go ahead and send her a message already! -Donovan Bergin, author of In Her Image
“Having been through Britta’s highly detailed and astute comments on my manuscript I have no doubt that I have the guidance I need to vastly improve my work in progress. Her cover letter and video has allowed me to conceptualize the book into topics, making my revisions manageable. I look forward to working with her as I finish up the editing.”-Geoffrey Wells, author of Never Less
About the instructor:
Britta Jensen has spent eighteen years in literacy education and the publishing world. She is the award-winning novelist of the Eloia Born series and Ghosts of Yokosuka. She has also received numerous awards, including the General Sharp Award, for her teaching of creative writing and literature. Many of her stories explore themes of persevering through disability, parental separation and the intersection of various cultures in new worlds. She holds a BA in Acting Performance from Fordham University and an MA in Teaching of English Literature from Columbia University. Friends often refer to her as a polyglot—which is a product of living twenty-two years overseas in Japan, South Korea, and Germany before settling in Austin, Texas. She enjoys mentoring writers and editing books with The Writing Consultancy and Yellowbird Editors and teaches first-year writing at St. Edward’s University. (Photo credit: Peter Domican)
