Character advice
anonymous
July 4 2016, 12:30:32 UTC
Thanks for the great post on character, Jo. And happy 4th! I love the question of what does your character really want, and then thinking deeper and deeper until you get to really know them. I've used this advice before from you and Kate, and it's definitely helped. Now that I'm beginning a new story idea, I need this thinking to happen again. Getting it clear and articulated is something I still need to work on, and will hopefully get me unstuck in my current draft. Also, sometimes I've adapted this with kids when they are writing about true events. Why was this event so important to you? And then, why was it really important to you? It helps them find the heart of their story. And it's always so fun to see what they discover after thinking deeper.
Thanks for this great warm-up! I appreciate the focus on character this morning, so helpful for the new story I'm developing as well as for the novel I'm revising.
Here's a couple of paragraphs I wrote as a result:
The bell clangs in the shop below my bedroom. Martine’s shoes click across the tile floor. She’s probably humming as she bustles into the back to make my breakfast. Dad and I have told her many times that I’m perfectly capable of getting my own but she feels it’s part of her job as nanny, store manager, replacement mom. She always says the morning is when people are most productive.
I bet no one makes Surina Silver eat boiled eggs.
The first thing I do when I get up is to log on to my computer and check for the latest Surina news. A fan in the mid-west has won an all-expense paid trip to her latest show, just for posting cute pictures of a rescued kitten.
Socks is definitely not going to win me a concert ticket. With a yawn, I gently stroke him in the soft place between his nicked up ears. He swats at me.
Thanks for this great warm-up! I appreciate the focus on character this morning, so helpful for the new story I'm developing as well as for the novel I'm revising.
Here's a couple of paragraphs I wrote as a result:
The bell clangs in the shop below my bedroom. Martine’s shoes click across the tile floor. She’s probably humming as she bustles into the back to make my breakfast. Dad and I have told her many times that I’m perfectly capable of getting my own but she feels it’s part of her job as nanny, store manager, replacement mom. She always says the morning is when people are most productive.
I bet no one makes Surina Silver eat boiled eggs.
The first thing I do when I get up is to log on to my computer and check for the latest Surina news. A fan in the mid-west has won an all-expense paid trip to her latest show, just for posting cute pictures of a rescued kitten.
Socks is definitely not going to win me a concert ticket. With a yawn, I gently stroke him in the soft place between his nicked up ears. He swats at me.
On the River - Black Hawk and Jean Paulext_3723370July 4 2016, 13:44:51 UTC
I am happy to be alive, unlike poor Monsieur Hornesque bobbing in the dirty Mississippi. The bottom of the flatboat skiff grates a little against me as I slowly stretch my legs. The smell of fish and river mud seeps in, and I realize Black Hawk is cleaning a catfish with that twelve-inch slicer. His wet breeches are drying in the hazy mist rising off the river.
I push myself up and ask, “Where did you catch it? I don’t have poles and bait.”
His hands don’t stop skinning as he snorts, “Nest hole. Use your hands. Grab the head and yank.” He cuts a slice off the side of the catfish, and pops the raw flesh in his mouth. He cuts a strip, and holds it out to me on the dripping blade. “No fire. Too many British.”
I take the meat, hold my breath, chew, and swallow. This will probably be my first raw bite of many to come.
Character creationext_3722780July 4 2016, 13:56:48 UTC
I'm not sure if this is more of a character creation or a scene creation. I am working on writing poems this summer, so I wrote a poem about my character waking up on the 4th of July.
I'm awake It's my favorite holiday I'm excited I'm sad I'm lonely
My room is dark The sun is barely up The fan is blowing on my face It's probably already hot outside But for now my room is cool and dark
I have no plans for today No parade No picnic No fireworks? No plans
I wonder what everyone else is doing Sara Erin Katie Are they getting ready for the parade yet?
Are they putting on sunscreen? Getting flags and hats Wearing red, white, blue, purple? Erin always wears something different Purple, green, brown
I see the chairs lining the street Everyone is talking, laughing Excitement hums in the air Children and adults Friends and neighbors and family
But that is far away Right now my room is dark The fan is blowing on my face It's my favorite holiday And I have no plans
Comments 50
I love the question of what does your character really want, and then thinking deeper and deeper until you get to really know them. I've used this advice before from you and Kate, and it's definitely helped. Now that I'm beginning a new story idea, I need this thinking to happen again. Getting it clear and articulated is something I still need to work on, and will hopefully get me unstuck in my current draft.
Also, sometimes I've adapted this with kids when they are writing about true events. Why was this event so important to you? And then, why was it really important to you? It helps them find the heart of their story. And it's always so fun to see what they discover after thinking deeper.
Reply
Reply
Here's a couple of paragraphs I wrote as a result:
The bell clangs in the shop below my bedroom. Martine’s shoes click across the tile floor. She’s probably humming as she bustles into the back to make my breakfast. Dad and I have told her many times that I’m perfectly capable of getting my own but she feels it’s part of her job as nanny, store manager, replacement mom. She always says the morning is when people are most productive.
I bet no one makes Surina Silver eat boiled eggs.
The first thing I do when I get up is to log on to my computer and check for the latest Surina news. A fan in the mid-west has won an all-expense paid trip to her latest show, just for posting cute pictures of a rescued kitten.
Socks is definitely not going to win me a concert ticket. With a yawn, I gently stroke him in the soft place between his nicked up ears. He swats at me.
Reply
Reply
Here's a couple of paragraphs I wrote as a result:
The bell clangs in the shop below my bedroom. Martine’s shoes click across the tile floor. She’s probably humming as she bustles into the back to make my breakfast. Dad and I have told her many times that I’m perfectly capable of getting my own but she feels it’s part of her job as nanny, store manager, replacement mom. She always says the morning is when people are most productive.
I bet no one makes Surina Silver eat boiled eggs.
The first thing I do when I get up is to log on to my computer and check for the latest Surina news. A fan in the mid-west has won an all-expense paid trip to her latest show, just for posting cute pictures of a rescued kitten.
Socks is definitely not going to win me a concert ticket. With a yawn, I gently stroke him in the soft place between his nicked up ears. He swats at me.
Reply
Reply
I push myself up and ask, “Where did you catch it? I don’t have poles and bait.”
His hands don’t stop skinning as he snorts, “Nest hole. Use your hands. Grab the head and yank.” He cuts a slice off the side of the catfish, and pops the raw flesh in his mouth. He cuts a strip, and holds it out to me on the dripping blade. “No fire. Too many British.”
I take the meat, hold my breath, chew, and swallow. This will probably be my first raw bite of many to come.
Reply
Reply
I'm awake
It's my favorite holiday
I'm excited
I'm sad
I'm lonely
My room is dark
The sun is barely up
The fan is blowing on my face
It's probably already hot outside
But for now my room is cool and dark
I have no plans for today
No parade
No picnic
No fireworks?
No plans
I wonder what everyone else is doing
Sara
Erin
Katie
Are they getting ready for the parade yet?
Are they putting on sunscreen?
Getting flags and hats
Wearing red, white, blue, purple?
Erin always wears something different
Purple, green, brown
I see the chairs lining the street
Everyone is talking, laughing
Excitement hums in the air
Children and adults
Friends and neighbors and family
But that is far away
Right now my room is dark
The fan is blowing on my face
It's my favorite holiday
And I have no plans
Reply
Reply
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