Today we’re focusing on the idea of trying to get beyond the usual character development tricks in our writing. What does it really take to get a flesh and blood character who captures our imaginative on the page? And we’ve got four incredible writers joining us for the discussion: Allison Amend, Rachel Barenbaum, Julie Carrick Dalton, and Andrea Meyer.

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Allison Amend is a professor of creative writing at Lehman College, CUNY in New York City and is the author of a short story collection and three novels.

Rachel Barenbaum is the author of the critically-acclaimed novels Atomic Anna and A Bend in the Stars and the creator and host of the literary show Check This Out that airs on NHPR and focuses on emerging and diverse authors.

A former organic farmer and beekeeper, Julie Carrick Dalton is the author of The Last Beekeeper, Waiting for the Night Song, and a forthcoming third novel, The Forest Becomes Her. She’s part of the core faculty at Drexel University’s MFA program.

Andrea Meyer is an author, editor, writing instructor, and book coach who has written three novels, a screenplay for MGM, numerous essays and film articles, and teaches fiction and nonfiction writing at GrubStreet.

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