Join this interactive one-day course which brings together essential elements of characterisation and its relation to plot through the lens of queer writing. You will delve into elements of craft in characterisation while referring back to examples and questions of LGBTQIA+ representation and histories in literature.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
In this workshop we will examine the fundamentals of characterisation, with a focus on LGBTQIA+ characters. We will consider important questions on representation, queering and the contemporary literary landscape, and how they might interact with our approaches to characterisation in a comfortable and inquisitive environment.
What will we cover?
We will cover the essential components of character, the role of character in fiction including flat versus round characters, how to create compelling characters and the relationship between character, story and plot.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- write using knowledge of the relationship between character and plot - Identify the difference between 'flat' and 'round' characters alongside understanding their uses in fiction - write using knowledge of how to create complex characters.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for any writers of prose fiction with an interest in developing their understanding of LGBTQIA+ characters.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will explore examples of LGBTQIA+ characters and character development in tutor-led discussion, practise your skills in guided writing exercises, and share your work to receive constructive feedback.
All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.
For classes longer than one day, regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
There are no associated costs. Have a pen and notebook ready.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You could do HW083, Reading for writers: queer fiction (a fortnightly course). Or, why not try one of our other fiction courses? There are lots of options to develop your fiction available via the online prospectus. If you need help finding the right one, just give us a call!
All students are invited to join us at Late Lines, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Twitter.
Charlotte Heather is a writer and co-founder of Rita Munus; a writing and art based workshop. With Rita Munus she has taught at galleries, community projects and artistic centres across London and Mexico City. Her work has appeared in On Paper, Corda Magazine, The Bohemoth and Hotel. Her pamphlet of queer speculative fiction is forthcoming with Koroula SF and her debut novella was published by The Pigeonhole in 2015. She's working on a novel concerning bodies and gender alongside facilitating workshops at Cubitt Gallery as part of Rita Munus project Write It Speak It Move It.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/how-to-write-lgbtqia-characters2731676How to write LGBTQIA+ charactershttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/Writing-the-body-in-fiction-HW604-1024.jpg7979GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Writing/Novels and short stories/Novels and short stories/Courses/Writing/Courses/Writing/Novels and short stories/Courses/Online courses2285158813581135991731122851358113599Join this interactive one-day course which brings together essential elements of characterisation and its relation to plot through the lens of queer writing. You will delve into elements of craft in characterisation while referring back to examples and questions of LGBTQIA+ representation and histories in literature.002731625How to write LGBTQIA+ characters7979https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/Writing-the-body-in-fiction-HW604-1024.jpgInStockDaytimeSatOnlineAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekend2026-06-13T00:00:00+00:00Some experience, AdvancedJun 2026WritingHW6837979How to write LGBTQIA+ characters794079Char Heatherhow-to-write-lgbtqia-characters/hw683-2526Join this interactive one-day course which brings together essential elements of characterisation and its relation to plot through the lens of queer writing. You will delve into elements of craft in characterisation while referring back to examples and questions of LGBTQIA+ representation and histories in literature.0000-Available|2026-06-13 00:00:00In this workshop we will examine the fundamentals of characterisation, with a focus on LGBTQIA+ characters. We will consider important questions on representation, queering and the contemporary literary landscape, and how they might interact with our approaches to characterisation in a comfortable and inquisitive environment.Join this interactive one-day course which brings together essential elements of characterisation and its relation to plot through the lens of queer writing. You will delve into elements of craft in characterisation while referring back to examples and questions of LGBTQIA+ representation and histories in literature.We will cover the essential components of character, the role of character in fiction including flat versus round characters, how to create compelling characters and the relationship between character, story and plot.- write using knowledge of the relationship between character and plot<br/>- Identify the difference between 'flat' and 'round' characters alongside understanding their uses in fiction<br/>- write using knowledge of how to create complex characters.This course is suitable for any writers of prose fiction with an interest in developing their understanding of LGBTQIA+ characters.You will explore examples of LGBTQIA+ characters and character development in tutor-led discussion, practise your skills in guided writing exercises, and share your work to receive constructive feedback.<br/><br/>All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.<br/><br/>For classes longer than one day, regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines. <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.There are no associated costs. Have a pen and notebook ready.<p>You could do HW083, Reading for writers: queer fiction (a fortnightly course). Or, why not try one of our other fiction courses? There are lots of options to develop your fiction available via the online prospectus. If you need help finding the right one, just give us a call!</p><p><br/>All students are invited to join us at <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting">Twitter</a>.</p>Novels and short storiesNovels and short storiesvirtual797940HW683NONESat13/06/2610:30 - 16:3010:3016:301 session1One-off onlyWeekendOnlineOnlineChar HeatherSome experience, AdvancedAvailable courses2026-06-13T00:00:00+00:00DaytimeJun 2026Writing7979How to write LGBTQIA+ charactershow-to-write-lgbtqia-characters/hw683-2526Join this interactive one-day course which brings together essential elements of characterisation and its relation to plot through the lens of queer writing. You will delve into elements of craft in characterisation while referring back to examples and questions of LGBTQIA+ representation and histories in literature.0000-Available|2026-06-13 00:00:00In this workshop we will examine the fundamentals of characterisation, with a focus on LGBTQIA+ characters. We will consider important questions on representation, queering and the contemporary literary landscape, and how they might interact with our approaches to characterisation in a comfortable and inquisitive environment.Join this interactive one-day course which brings together essential elements of characterisation and its relation to plot through the lens of queer writing. You will delve into elements of craft in characterisation while referring back to examples and questions of LGBTQIA+ representation and histories in literature.We will cover the essential components of character, the role of character in fiction including flat versus round characters, how to create compelling characters and the relationship between character, story and plot.- write using knowledge of the relationship between character and plot<br/>- Identify the difference between 'flat' and 'round' characters alongside understanding their uses in fiction<br/>- write using knowledge of how to create complex characters.This course is suitable for any writers of prose fiction with an interest in developing their understanding of LGBTQIA+ characters.You will explore examples of LGBTQIA+ characters and character development in tutor-led discussion, practise your skills in guided writing exercises, and share your work to receive constructive feedback.<br/><br/>All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.<br/><br/>For classes longer than one day, regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines. <br />
<br />
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our <a href=" https://www.citylit.ac.uk/expectations-for-participating-in-writing-courses" target="_blank">expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit</a>.There are no associated costs. Have a pen and notebook ready.<p>You could do HW083, Reading for writers: queer fiction (a fortnightly course). Or, why not try one of our other fiction courses? There are lots of options to develop your fiction available via the online prospectus. If you need help finding the right one, just give us a call!</p><p><br/>All students are invited to join us at <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/latelines">Late Lines</a>, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/betweenthelines">Between the Lines</a>, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/citylitcreativewriting">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.twitter.com/citylitwriting">Twitter</a>.</p>Novels and short storiesNovels and short storiesconfigurable
158813599Novels and short storieshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/writing/novels-and-short-stories/novels-and-short-stories-11/2/285/13581/13599/1588/Courses/Writing/Novels and short stories/Novels and short stories
