Do you have trouble making the people you’re writing about in your fiction and non-fiction or other writing feel as real on the page as they do in life? In this three-session course, we’ll tackle the problem of characterization head-on by discussing vital aspects of building memorable character portraits. We’ll look at examples from published writing in varied genres like novels, stories, memoirs, and poetry and do targeted exercises that will give you a toolkit of strategies to breathe life into your characters. Whether you’re in the middle of a piece or just have an idea for one, this course will help you get a handle on how to populate the stories you’re telling with vivid personalities that establish an emotional connection with readers. Three Mondays: March 2, 9, 16 from 6 to 8 p.m.