CHARACTER

The Art and Craft of Human Portrayal
in Fiction, Film & TV

by
David Corbett

With its:

Depth of insight into human behavior and its artistic rendering;

Thematic unity, emphasizing the inextricable link between story and character;

Wealth of details, from fiction, film and TV;

Practicality, with an eye always on the how of characterization, not just the what:

CHARACTER is destined to become the one desktop reference every writer requires on the craft of characterization.

CHARACTER delves deeply and thoughtfully into the human heart of characterization, showing students and readers how to plumb the rich source materials of their own lives and the world around them to fashion credible, compelling characters. No book on character has ever addressed this material as profoundly, extensively or pragmatically.

Most importantly, unlike mere craft manuals and how-to books, CHARACTER is elegantly written: a thoughtful, literate gem. It is a gratifying and illuminating—a delight to read—and will not just instruct but inspire.

Corbett, a New York Times Notable Author of four critically acclaimed novels praised specifically for their vivid, compelling and realistic characters, is singularly qualified to address the issue of characterization; he has taught to enthusiastic student response for years at one of the most prestigious writing programs in the country, the UCLA Extension Writers' Program, as well as at numerous conferences and through Book Passage, one of the country's premier independent bookstores.

A sample of enthusiastic student response to his classroom teaching:

"I LOVED this class. . . [The] lectures showed me how to look at things like arc and characterization in a whole new way — and the organization was right on the money. [T]he best $500 I've ever spent, and hands down the best writing class I've ever taken."

"Awesome class. The material presented was perfect. Top-notch."

"Excellent thinker and teacher."

"The class touched my soul . . . an experience of pure creativity."

CHARACTER is the distillation of both Corbett's real-world and classroom expertise.

It will become as essential for characterization as Robert McKee's STORY has become for storytelling.

It is destined to become the classic text on characterization for serious students of fiction, television and film.