You know I have mentioned the Children’s Book Academy and their upcoming Craft and Business of Writing Children’s Picture Books interactive e-Course, but I thought you might be interested in reading an excerpt from one of the topics studied in class and provide some inspiration, to start out the New Year, right.

Developing Memorable or Quirky Characters

by Dr. Mira Reisberg

In all plot-driven stories, the main character is called the protagonist (or hero) and is usually the age of the reader. The other characters are either supporting characters – a best friend, family members, or a companion animal are usually the closest supporting characters – or villains of different degrees (mean school kids are less villainous than the robbers in one of my favorite books, Dav Pilkey’s Dog Breath, and have more of a potential to change). However, whoever your characters are, it is essential that they be interesting, especially…