Week 1:  Giving characters dimension.  Combining the physical with the emotional
Week 2:  Making characters work and letting readers sweat with them
Week 3:  Writing for all the senses. Painting pictures. Using metaphors.
Week 4:  Creating drama through rhythm and contrast

Student Comments:

"I read the Writer's Digest Book, Characters & Viewpoint, and did not learn half as much as you have taught me already, in Week #1. I now can look at a description of a character ----mine or someone else's ---and analyze it as you have."

"My characters used to just lay there, uninteresting lumps.  This course helped me breathe life into them.  Thanks, Patrika." 

"The assignments were fun and the feedback was helpful."

"I'm writing biographies now (my own memoirs, too) that readers are actually enjoying.  Wish I'd known this stuff years ago!"

"I found your suggestions very constructive, your deliverance of homework was very well described together with many suggestions and ideas and I, for one, would definitely suggest your class to the novice or the experienced, as your input is very valuable."  

"I wanted to thank you for such a fun class that included a wealth of knowledge for me! This is my first writing class ever and I loved finding out the different parts and pieces of the writing discipline. You made it very interesting. I found every session riveting and I ached in anxious anticipation for all your critiques!
Thank you again and I look forward to you newsletter and updates on your website."
Suzanne

Thought for the day:  Fax is stranger than fiction.