This course will provide aspiring fiction writers with the tools to create rich, three-dimensional characters for both short stories and novels. Students will explore how to design compelling major and minor characters by examining essential elements such as demographics, backstory, motivation, and emotional baggage. The class will explore the use of tools such as archetypes and personality tests for character development. The class will learn how to create memorable villains and "gray" characters. Finally, the students will understand how to align a character's arc with the overall story arc/structure.