Psychology of Building Characters

Dates: June 13-25, 2005
Instructor: Laurie Campbell

Course description:

This program starts with the premise that everyone -- in real life and in fiction -- develops whatever personality will best enable them to fit in with their world, then looks at tools for determining naturally lovable (and intriguingly flawed) personality types. Among these are Adlerian birth order, Jungian thought/feeling scales, the Dewey priorities, and other theories of temperament. Each one offers opportunities for conflict between realistic characters whose personalities will both oppose and attract.

Participants not only discover where they (and their families & friends) fall on each continuum, but also learn new techniques for developing likeable, believable characters whose "inborn" personalities will plausibly bring them into conflict with each other...and with themselves.

About the Instructor:

Laurie Schnebly Campbell draws her writing and psychology information from her background as a therapist (she completed her Masters in Counseling in 1987) and as a novelist who's lived through everything from Fifth-Book Syndrome to winning Romantic Times' "Best 200 Books of All Time" award. Laurie has become a popular presenter because, as one student put it, "She never slows down!" Her sessions are consistently packed with wall-to-wall information, hands-on work, and an entertaining approach that leaves participants -- from beginners to veteran authors -- feeling like they've really rolled up their sleeves and LEARNED something.