The novelist John Gardner observed that a character’s ‘subtle emotional signals […] show where the action must go next.’ A hand gesture, a snippet of dialogue, even a pause can reveal much about a character’s experience, personality and motivation, so that any writer listening closely to what their character has to say will inevitably write a truthful story.

In this course, we will analyse a range of character types from both fiction and nonfiction, exploring the complex relationships among writer, character and reader. We’ll also consider the dynamic between character, plot and structure, and how these relate to form in the writing of prose. Through various study activities and assignments, students will expand their understanding and use of technique, as well as experimenting in whichever form or genre of prose interests them most. They will participate in regular workshops and receive feedback on their writing, as well as formulating constructive responses to the work of others. This will enable them to develop the clarity and dexterity of their prose, with the aim of redrafting and polishing one or more of the writing assignments to a publishable standard.