Giving Voice to the Villain: Writing the Opposition with Empathy

Saturday October 11 & October 18 10am-1:30pm

Age Group: 18+

Level: All Levels

Virtual

Description: Writing characters and not caricatures requires the cultivation of maturation in the author; and that which we most need to know to grow is always hidden where we least want to look. In this workshop, participants will cultivate their empathy and courage by way of authentic exploration of characters which they find repulsive. Participants will uncover the humanity of those whom they decry as villains, and they will accomplish this by way of self-reflection through fiction, ultimately discovering that those despised by others reside within themselves.

By the end of this workshop, what will be able to write round characters whose voices, backstories, values, and motivations not only differ from but even (especially) oppose their own. This, in turn, allows authors of fiction to authentically write for and about a wider range of persons and peoples.

Please note: This event will NOT be available via recording.

About the facilitator: MarQuese D Liddle, MFA and instructor of creative writing at Wheeling University, is originally from Wheeling WV, where he grew up on a small island in the middle of the Ohio River. Inspiration for his stories comes from myriad sources including philosophy, Jungian psychology, traditional martial arts, classic literature, rap, & hip-hop. He hopes his work inspires you to pursue your dreams, whatever they may be.