Short story masterclass: character

Whatever sort of fiction you are writing, well-drawn characters are crucial. In a novel you have plenty of time and space to dig deep and really explore your characters, but how can you make characters seem equally authentic when you only have the limited word count of a short story?

These three classic short stories have all been chosen for the character masterclass in the March issue of Writing Magazine. As usual we urge you to read the stories for yourself before the article, in order to get the best out of the learning experience.

• The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, James Thurber
• Mary Postgate, Rudyard Kipling
• Parson's Pleasure, Roald Dahl

And when you've relished those, make sure to get your hands on the March issue of WM!