WLT Saturday Craft Seminar: “The Secrets of Character” with Matt Bird
July 8, 2023 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM CDT
$35.00
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This Event is for Members only.
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A few times a year, the WLT hosts Saturday Craft Seminars featuring a presentation and conversation with an author who has recently released a book on the craft of writing. Everyone who buys a ticket will receive a copy of the book and access to the live event on Zoom (see below for full details).
This July, we can’t wait to bring back our Saturday Craft Seminars with two exciting books. The first (on July 8th) will feature Matt Bird and his craft book The Secrets of Character: Writing a Hero Anyone Will Love and the second (on July 29th) will feature Chuck Wendig and his book Gentle Writing Advice: How to Be a Writer Without Destroying Yourself.
IMPORTANT: If you are registered for the 2023 Summer Writing Retreat your registration will include access to both WLT Saturday Craft Seminars in July (plus the books). You DO NOT need to purchase a registration via this page. For more information on the Summer Writing Retreat, click here.
About the event:
The bad news is that gatekeepers are only willing to read the first ten pages of your manuscript, but the good news is that that’s all you need to hook them, if you’ve got a great hero. In just ten pages, how do you make readers believe in the reality of your hero, care about their circumstances, and invest in them to solve a big problem?
Matt Bird, author of “The Secrets of Story” and “The Secrets of Character” will present an interactive lecture to help you create a hero your audience will love (even if the hero’s loathsome). Utilizing examples drawn from the first ten pages of novels, movies, TV shows and memoirs, Matt will show how the greats have done it and how you can, too. Participants will learn to search their own lives for moments that would make others believe in, care about and invest in themselves, and then apply that to any character they wish to create.
About the book:
An insightful and actionable guide to creating a hero that listeners will fall in love with, from the author of The Secrets of Story.
The hardest yet most essential element of writing great fiction is character—specifically, creating a central hero who is relatable, compelling, and worth the audience’s precious time. In this entertaining and practical guide, popular blogger, writing coach and screenwriter Matt Bird breaks down what makes characters embraceable and unforgettable, and presents insider tips and tricks for writers of all levels and genres.
Generously packed with examples from popular books and movies analyzed with engaging specificity, this expert guide reveals what makes audiences believe, care, and invest in great characters—and how to bring your own characters vividly to life.
This event will take place on Zoom. All registrants will receive a link to the live webinar and will have access to the recording for a full 30 days after the event. Which means, if you can’t join us in person you won’t miss a thing!
- “LOVED IT! I loved the format very much. Great content followed by great conversation.”
- “I love the idea for this series, and I can’t wait to learn more.”
- “I really like this program and look forward to the next installment.”
- “A great program as always! Thanks WLT staff for your hard work!!”
- “These are fantastic courses and have been instrumental in helping advance my craft. Thank you!”
Additional details regarding receiving the book:
All ticket holders residing within the United States will have the option of receiving a physical copy or ebook. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer a complimentary book to registrants outside of the United States unless you can provide a US mailing address.
All information needed to send books to registrants will be collected at check out. Please be sure to fill out your information carefully before confirming your ticket purchase. An email will be sent to all ticket holders when books have been shipped. Depending on available stock and the date a ticket is purchased, some books will be available after the date of the event.
Featured Presenter(s)
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Matt Bird is the author of the bestselling “The Secrets of Story: Innovative Tools for Perfecting Your Fiction and Captivating Readers” and the recent follow-up “The Secrets of Character: Writing a Hero Anyone Will Love.” He is from Atlanta, Georgia, got an MFA at Columbia University and currently lives just north of Chicago with his wife, the author Betsy Bird, and two adorable children.
Before purchasing, please read all policies as noted below and on our Accessibility and Policies page.
If your browser has difficulty with our website store, or if you prefer to mail in a check, click here for a class registration form. The document provides instructions on where to mail it. If you prefer this option, please email wlt@writersleague.org with a copy of the form as well to ensure we add you to the class roster as soon as possible.
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Class & Event Registration Policy
Once a purchase has been made, registrations are not refundable and cannot be transferred to a different class or event. No exceptions will be made. If you purchase a registration and then find you cannot attend the class or event, someone else can attend in your stead. Simply contact us at wlt@writersleague.org and let us know the name and contact information for the person who will be using the registration so that we can update the class or event roster.
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Anti-Harassment Policy
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);
- Sexual images not appropriate for the specific subject of the public discussion;
- Deliberate intimidation or stalking;
- Harassing photography or recording;
- Sustained disruption of discussions or other events;
- Unwelcome sexual attention;
- Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.
Enforcement
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.
Credit Card Transaction Handling Fee Policy
All credit card transactions will incur a 4% handling fee. If you’d prefer to pay by check for membership, a class, or an event, you can use the provided forms on the membership or event pages and mail to: WLT, P.O. Box 14355, Austin, TX, 78704.
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.