Writing Interiority and Psychological Acuity with CeCe Lyra

What is the main difference between a book and a movie? It’s not that movies have elements such as special effects, actors, and soundtracks at their disposal. The biggest difference between a book and a movie is that books allow us to experience characters’ interiority — no other art form gives us such an intimate view into another’s inner life. Which is why the ability to write a character’s interiority is a storyteller’s greatest asset. But the most talented storytellers don’t stop at revealing interiority. They go further and reveal psychological acuity. This advanced technique is key to giving stories depth and meaning. No matter the genre, being able to effectively reveal a character’s inner life and to weave in psychological acuity will draw your readers in from the very start and compel them to read on, giving your story lasting power. Writers of all categories and genres are invited to attend. Students of the course will receive a link to watch the sessions live but may also choose to watch the recording at their own pace. Recordings will be available to students for 90 days. The course materials includes accompanying PDFs.

What to expect

Days One, Two, and Three are all about craft! We’ll cover various aspects of writing interiority and psychological acuity, including: – Foundation of interiority (and how is it different from, say, emotions?); – Foundation of psychological acuity (what is it, anyway?);  – Functions of interiority and psychological acuity in a story; – Leveraging interiority into plot developments (tension, conflict, and reveals); – Relationship between interiority and various points-of-view;  – The link between psychological acuity and a strong character arc; – How psychological acuity creates connection between the reader and the protagonist; – Striking the balance between interiority & psychological acuity and mystery; – Most common mistakes in writing interiority and psychological acuity (and how to get it right); – Common challenges in writing interiority and psychological acuity (and how to turn them into successes); and – Tips and tricks to effectively convey interiority and psychological acuity. Day Four is when we’ll have our live, cozy Q&A Session. Don’t worry if you can’t attend live—you’ll be able to submit a question ahead of time. Day Five is dedicated to our interactive component: Live Critiques. Everyone who is registered will have the option of submitting the opening scene of their work for a chance to have it critiqued live during Day Five. Submissions must be received by March 2, 2026. Please note that this submission does NOT constitute a query to a literary agent—it is a submission to an educational webinar. You are not querying CeCe as a literary agent by submitting to this webinar.

Meet CeCe

CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates and co-host of the popular podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing. CeCe draws on years of publishing experience to help writers develop compelling hooks, sharpen their craft, and position their stories for success.