In this three-hour class, Mixed Latinx author Alex Temblador will discuss one of the most contentious topics in creative writing: crafting a character whose identity is not your own. In addition to covering the history and state of diversity in publishing, she will offer concrete advice as to how a writer might approach writing main, secondary, and tertiary characters who are people of color, LGBTQIA+, peoples with disabilities, etc. This class will highlight the self-awareness and self-reflection required of writers who wish to write characters of differing identities, as it is through facing one’s own bias and sitting in discomfort that writers may create authentic and realistic characters.
This class is open to writers of fiction (novels and short stories), graphic novels, or any creative genre in which you must develop a ‘narrative voice.’

TAKE THIS CLASS IF

You write novels, short stories, or any form of creative writing in which you develop characters.
You want to know how to write authentic and realistic characters with identities other than your own.
You want to avoid the pitfalls that come with writing characters who have different perspectives and experiences.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Alex Temblador is the award-winning author of Secrets of the Casa Rosada. Her book has won such awards as Kirkus’ Best of YA Books 2018 and the 2018 Writer’s League of Texas’ MG/YA Discovery Prize, while her creative work has appeared in PALABRITAS and upcoming Latinx anthologies. In addition to being a creative writing instructor for WritingWorkshops.com and an internationally published travel, arts, and culture writer, Alex is also the founder and moderator of DFW’s LitTalk at Interabang Books.