People — fictional or otherwise — are messy and flawed and constantly creating — well, life. And it’s one of our jobs as fiction writers to try and replicate that as accurately, honestly, and generously as possible. We'll discuss how to approach our characters holistically — both on a craft level, looking at point of view and characterization exercises; and on a psychological level, finding ways to understand, love, and empathize.

Claire Lombardo is the New York Times Bestselling author of The Most Fun We Ever Had, a Reese's Book Club Pick, and Same As It Ever Was. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages. She has taught at the Iowa Writers' Workshop and works part-time as a bookseller at Prairie Lights Books.