“Fusing The Protagonist’s Internal and External Journey” with Richard Z. Santos
April 8 2026 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM CDT
$59.00 – $119.00
- This event has passed.
This Event is for Members only.
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$59 for Members
$119 for Non-Members
PLEASE NOTE: This class recording is now only available for purchase by our members from now until Tuesday, June 30 at 11:59 PM CT. The class recording will be made available to watch (and rewatch) until July 31, 2026. Become a member here.
Every author must answer the question, “Why am I writing about these characters during this particular time frame?” The answer, more often than not, is that the protagonist is forever changed by the events of the story.
An effective protagonist goes on both an internal and external journey. If a story is all plot but no heart, then it might be a failure, and vice versa. These twinned journeys wrap around, complement, and drive each other.
In this class, we will look at examples from books and movies of protagonists who go on these journeys. We will review aspects of well-rounded characters, and how their fears, hopes, and habits drive the story. We’ll talk about how to make sure your character is changed, do writing exercises designed to think about the depth of your characters and plot, and discuss how writers balance these elements in the ideating, outlining, and drafting process.
While many of the examples in this workshop will be drawn from mystery, thriller, and horror, this workshop is open to writers in all genres.
TAKE THIS CLASS IF:
- Your main characters tend to be thin but your plots are action packed.
- Your characters feel interchangeable.
- You want to practice balancing a character’s internal and external journeys.
- You’re a genre writer who’s big on ideas but worries the characters are falling short.
The deadline to buy this class recording is Tuesday, June 30 at 11:59 PM CT.
CONTINUING YOUR WRITING JOURNEY
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
The WLT is committed to making our online classes accessible to all writers including writers who do not have the financial means to pay for programming. Five (5) seats in this class have been set aside for scholarship recipients to attend free of charge. Please fill out this application no later than 2 days prior to the class to be considered for one of the scholarship seats. We do not ask for any corroborating documents; we only ask that you help us understand your situation. If you are selected for one of the available seats you will be notified via email (from wlt@writersleague.org) no later than 24 hours before the start of the class. Please note, each writer is limited to no more than four (4) total scholarship seats per catalog season.
Instructor
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Richard Z. Santos' debut novel, Trust Me, was a finalist for the Writer's League of Texas Book Awards and was named one of the best debuts of the year by Crime Reads. He's the editor of the anthology A Night of Screams: Latino Horror Stories. His fiction has been nominated for The Pushcart, Best of the Net, the International Thriller Writers Awards, and has been cited in Best American Mystery and Suspense. His stories, nonfiction, and essays have appeared in Texas Monthly, The Rumpus, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Los Angeles Review of Books, Like the Wind, Austin Noir, Lone Stars Rising, and more.
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The Writers’ League of Texas is dedicated to providing harassment-free spaces for everyone, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, age, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Violating these rules may result in expulsion from WLT programs without a refund at the discretion of the WLT staff.
Harassment includes, but is not limited to:
- Comments that reinforce social structures of domination (related to gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, age, or religion);
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Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in harassing behavior, event organizers retain the right to take any actions to keep the event a welcoming environment for all participants. This includes warning the offender or expulsion from the event with no refund. Event organizers may take action to redress anything designed to, or with the clear impact of, disrupting the event or making the environment hostile for any participants. We expect participants to follow these rules during all events and event-related social activities.
Reporting
If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, please report it as soon as possible. Reports can also be made via email at wlt@writersleague.org. We’ll handle any and all reports as respectfully as possible. You won’t be asked to confront anyone, and we won’t tell anyone who you are.
Accessibility Policy
Closed captioning is available for all online classes and special events.
The WLT is committed to making its programs & services accessible to all writers. Please contact us at wlt@writersleague.org or at 512-499-8914 for more information or to discuss accommodations you may need.
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Writers’ League of Texas classes and workshops are also funded in part by the Texas Commission on the Arts – Investing in a Creative Texas. For more information, go to www.arts.texas.gov.