Online Course: Bringing Your Characters To Life - Certificate and CEUs
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Online Class: Bringing Your Characters To Life

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Course Cost
Basic Course: $25.00
with Certificate & CEUs: $50.00
The goal of this class is for students to learn more about developing memorable characters in a positive, accepting environment and begin to plot out a new story which includes a strong character with believable dialog. Creating believable characters is key to writing a good story or novel. People may not be able to recall every detail of the plot of their favorite movie or book, but they generally can tell you every eccentricity of their favorite hero. Assuming, of course, that the writer created an actual 'character' and didn't just resort to using quickly forgotten cardboard stereotypes.

No previous writing courses required. Open to writers of any experience level who are willing to critique other's writing in positive terms and to accept other's critiques. Enroll today! This is a self-paced, online course. You have 6 months to finish. An instructor will monitor your progress and assess your body of work at course completion. UniversalClass™ offers many wonderful learning tools to help you get the most out of your online course, including an online portfolio service that manages all your course completions.

If you would like to receive more information regarding this course, scroll down and fill out the "Request More Information" form and we'll try to answer any of your questions within the day.

Continuing Education Units (CEU)
1.0 CEUs

Course Description

Creating believable characters is key to writing a good story or novel. People may not be able to recall every detail of the plot of their favorite movie or book, but they generally can tell you every eccentricity of their favorite hero. Assuming, of course, that the writer created an actual 'character' and didn't just resort to using quickly forgotten cardboard stereotypes. 

In this course, students will learn how to turn 'stock' characters into three dimensional people that readers will never forget. Since writing is best learned by doing, coursework consists of creating and critiquing sample character scenes.  Throughout the course, participants will explore various aspects of their main character and will begin to 'flesh out' their hero to create a memorable protagonist.

 


This course is another in our Creative Writing category focusing on creating believable characters in story writing. In Bringing Your Characters To Life, students will learn more about developing memorable characters in a positive, accepting environment and begin to plot out a new story which includes a strong character with believable dialog.

Instructor Ellen McFall is a freelance writer with a B.S. in Liberal Arts from the University of Illinois and a M.S. in Counseling from the University of Phoenix. No previous writing courses are required and the course is open to writers of any experience level who are willing to critique other's writing in positive terms and to accept other's critiques.


This course offers 1.0 CEUs upon successful completion. You may take this online course with or without CEU documentation. An online and hard-copy Certificate of Course Completion displaying your coursework and CEUs earned is included with the CEU Option. We also offer an expedited Transcript Service for sending your accomplishments to a third party.

Course Lessons

  1. Character Or Stereotype? - Before you can introduce your characters to your readers, you have to meet them yourself. Learn what separates cardboard characters from memorable ones.
  2. Meet the Family - Now that you know more about your characters, it's time to meet their families. And where better to do that than at the annual family reunion?
  3. The Elevator - Now that you know your character's background, it's time to put them in a tight spot and see what they're really like.
  4. Melding Plot With Character - Now comes the big challenge: Learning to integrate 3-D characters with a strong plot.
  5. Characters Just Want to Have Fun - Now that you've created characters with histories and desires of their own, let them stop by a pub for a drink with some friends. Or send them to the Titanic to fight for their lives.
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Optional Certificates Awarded

  1. Certificate of Class Participation
  2. Certificate of Merit
  3. Certificate of Outstanding Achievement

Certificates awarded by the instructor will vary and are based upon student merit. Any awards you earn are considered unofficial (or temporary) unless you decide to make the award official. To make an award official, there is a $30.00 processing fee that covers the customization, printing, and shipping of a hard copy of the certificate as well as access to the UniversalClass™ Transcript Service. Official awards include a serial number that verifies the authenticity of the award you earned for a lifetime (great for employers to verify your achievement).

Additional Information

Course Title : Bringing Your Characters To Life
CEU Value : (Continuing Education Units)
Course Number : 7656
Course Type : Hobby/Enthusiast
Course URL : http://class.universalclass.com/characters
Course Review :
Instructor : Ellen McFall
Syllabus : View Syllabus
Duration : Continuous: Enroll anytime!
Course Fee :
Basic Course: $25.00
with CEUs & Certificate: $50.00
NOT FOR COLLEGE CREDIT
This is a non-credit course. This course may not fulfill any local, state, government, licensing, or educational requirements.
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Document your coursework with a Certificate of Course Completion. Pre-pay now for the Certificate Option and receive a $5.00 discount off the regular certificate price (normally $30.00). Includes both an online version and a hard-copy of your certificate, verified and tracked by a unique serial number.


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