Laurel Senick, a dedicated member of the workshop community, shares her creative journey and insights. The conversation kicks off with the emotional trials writers face when receiving feedback, emphasizing community support. They discuss the vital role of active protagonists in storytelling and the importance of character agency. Practical exercises are introduced to help writers clarify their characters' motivations. The challenge of defining characters who act versus react is explored, along with a fun exercise involving a tomato that symbolizes greater narrative stakes.