Creative Writing: The Craft of Character

Build characters that feel real, dynamic, and unforgettable to your readers.

access	Lifetime
level	Beginner
certificate	Certificate of completion
language	English

#Coursera

Description
Additional information

What will you in the Creative Writing: The Craft of Character Course

Discover how conflicts and desires reveal who characters are before any words are written. Learn how to dig out the core of what your characters truly want.
Bring characters to life through description, action, dialogue, and the things they say (and don’t say). Understand what makes them believable—or compelling.

Master realistic dialogue and inner monologue—shaping how characters speak or think to reflect their identity and move the story forward.
Learn how the narrator and narrative perspective influence how readers perceive your characters—and how to choose or shape those effectively.

Program Overview

Module 1: Discovering Characters from Your Life and Elsewhere

⌛ ~2 hours

Topics: Pre-writing thoughts; conflict as purpose; characters’ desires; refining by chipping away non-essentials.
Hands-on: Watch 5 videos (≈33 min), read 2 texts (≈20 min), and complete one peer-review assignment (≈120 min).

Module 2: Creating Characters on the Page

⌛ ~2 hours

Topics: Physical traits, actions, dialogue, narrator perspective, and realistic speech.
Hands-on: Engage with narrative techniques and deepen character realism.

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Job Outlook

Perfect for aspiring fiction writers, content creators, or anyone wanting to enhance their storytelling skills—especially with vivid, emotionally resonant characters.
Valuable for professionals in screenwriting, game writing, or creative leadership roles where character development is key.

9.7Expert Score

Highly Recommended

A concise and immersive course that teaches you to breathe life into characters—highlighting emotional depth, believable dialogue, and narrator choices. An excellent pick for writing beginners wanting to connect with readers.

Value

9.3

Price

9.5

Skills

9.7

Information

9.6

PROS

Short and manageable: just 4 modules, takes around 6–9 hours to complete, and you can go at your own pace.
Learner satisfaction is high—around 4.5/5, with 95–96% of learners expressing positive feedback.
Clear structure covering a full character arc: from internal motivation to dialogue to narrative perspective.

CONS

Some learners on Reddit have raised concerns about the peer review model: feedback can feel inconsistent or unhelpful when reviews come from fellow students rather than experts.
As part of a specialization, it's foundational—if you’re looking for more advanced character development techniques, you’ll likely need additional courses.