Learn how to craft unique, intriguing people with simple characterisation techniques
Write backstories and memories and layer your story with conflict
Join our super supportive online community
Create characters who are original, real and memorable, right down to that bit of dried cheese sauce on their trousers and their fear of flip-flops. this is *the* characterisation masterclass.
Imagine if Lizzie Bennett had no sense of humour, or if Offred just gave up, or if Matilda wasn’t fussed about books. Imagine if Frankenstein had even the tiniest ounce of empathy. Without great and believable characters, stories don’t fly, plots wilt, worlds end and, worse, manuscripts get thrown in the bin. Characterisation is to plot what jam is to toast.
Our characterisation masterclass will show you how to turn your characters into people, how to stop yourself falling back on tropes and stereotypes, and how to avoid hashing out two-dimensional cardboard cutout figures instead of sculpting living, breathing people.
Prepare your loins to CREATE LIFE!
THIS COURSE
WHAT DO THEY WANT AND WHY CAN’T THEY HAVE IT?
Tap into your character’s deepest desires to ramp up the conflict.
THE MANY ARCS OF CHARLIE BAXTER
Just one problem to solve? Too easy! Chuck everything you’ve got at them!
WHAT YOU DO IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT YOU ARE
Why action is more important to characterisation than description.
HISTORY AND ALSO HERSTORY
Get down and dirty with your character’s backstory for a fuller, um, front-story.
INCREMENTS OF BASTARDRY
Give ’em hell. No. Worse than that.

Get stuck in straight away with our specialist library of online courses covering everything from productivity, idea generation, short stories, and novels, to editing and publishing – suitable for writers at any point in their writing journey.
ROADMAPS TO GUIDE YOU FROM STARTING, MIDDLING AND FINISHING
Our step-by-step roadmaps will guide you from a standing start to a solid writing routine, help you smash through writers block, and hold your hand through the winding alleys of novel writing.
With Writers’ HQ, there’s no writer left behind.


THE MOST AWESOME, SUPPORTIVE, HILARIOUS, PRODUCTIVE writing COMMUNITY
Whether it’s to help you workshop a story, offer in-depth critique, celebrate a finished story, squee over an acceptance, argue over the finer points of an arcane novel, or pick you up when you’ve had a rejection, the Writers’ HQ community is everything.
Members get access to special buddy groups and accountability logs, and you’ll often find Team WHQ loitering on the forums instead of doing their own writing.
Hone your craft by getting answers to your writerly questions and exploring your challenges with regular online events, including live Q&As, masterclasses, flash fiction write-alongs, goal setting sessions, and advanced journaling workshops.

WHQ SUCCESS STORIES
If you’re ready to take your writing to the next stage just click the thing and do the thing. Woohoo yeah do it do it yeah woo etc and so on
PAY MONTHLY
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Sign up now and get the first month for £10
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Monthly recurring payment. Cancel any time
PAY ANNUALLY
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Save £50 when you join for a year
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No automatic renewal so no surprises in 12 months!
Head on over to the bursary page to find out about free Writers’ HQ membership