Alice's World, Meg Howeext_4182848July 10 2017, 16:28:20 UTC
Jo! Thanks for those questions. It really helped me zoom in on what my character wants, something I have been struggling with since the beginning.
What are the 3 most important things about my character’s world that readers need to know?
1. Her family used to move around a lot but got stuck because of an emergency and now live in a mobile home - calls it the “non-mobile” because they are stuck in a house that is supposed to move.
2. She tries to control her world because she feels powerless. Powerless due to being a child, being moved around and then forced to stay, losing people who are important to her. Controls friendships, siblings, makes lists, schedules, etc. and comes across as bossy.
3.The setting hinders her quest because she is trying to figure out who she is. When everything changes she is constantly looking to redefine herself. When she starts to figure out who she is, something changes and she feels lost all over again. She is pulled between being lost and found over and over again.
Re: Alice's World, Meg HowejbknowlesJuly 10 2017, 17:49:41 UTC
This is wonderful! I love the non-mobile home detail. How does her life change when she steps out of the non-mobile home? When you say "everything changes" what does that mean as far as the rules of the world as she knew it before?
Frankie's World ext_4175185July 10 2017, 17:11:48 UTC
Happy Monday! Thank you for our Monday Warm-up! Here we go....
Frankie is the main character in my current WIP.
1. Frankie grew up in a small beach town. She always thought she would live there forever until different events happened in her life. She ended up moving her life and starting a new career.
2. She grew up in a loving family, with amazing parents and sisters. She is close with her parents and her sisters.
3. Frankie is a dreamer and a believer. She believes that in order to be good you have to do good. She helps others and never asks for anything in return.
Re: Frankie's World jbknowlesJuly 10 2017, 17:52:07 UTC
These are great details about your character!
Now think more about the actual world/setting she functions in. What kind of community is it? How do the events you mention change her standing, if at all? Who is "the boss" in her family? Does this ever change? What are the rules your character lives by and what would happen if they changed or she broke them?
Just some questions to get you thinking more about setting and tension within :)
Still Working On Her Nameext_4182936July 10 2017, 18:02:46 UTC
I think by writing things down on paper. So I co-opted an old three dollar craft store journal for Teachers Write. I bought it years ago; it's filled with notes about painting and gardening. I'll have to buy some of those little flags to keep track of the TW pages
( ... )
WIP--character workext_4182960July 10 2017, 18:36:02 UTC
I'm loving the questions you posed today. I am sure of many aspects of my character's world and still trying to figure out a couple of important details. 1. The small southern town has been home to my MCs family for generations. There are deep, deep roots. 2. It is realistic in all the small town ways--except that magic is real and my MC is a witch from a family of witches. Everyone knows the family is unusual, but the gift of magic isn't an accepted fact by the townsfolk. 3. My MC is a teen, and really just growing into her power, but there are forces at work which are powerful and are threatening.
So here is something I'm trying to figure out---there are 3 sisters, all of whom have the gift to an extent. Do I want to have all of them trade off telling the story, with them all being equal MCs? Or stick to one?
Re: WIP--character workjbknowlesJuly 10 2017, 22:33:47 UTC
This is a great start. I think you may not know if you want this to be multiple points of view until you try them out and see if all three voices come to you in a powerful, exciting way. If not, maybe stick to one. Good luck!
Memoir of a child who never was
anonymous
July 10 2017, 19:10:53 UTC
Hi Jo! Nice to be back at Teachers Who Write. I've been with this from the beginning, but the past three years never had Internet service at home, so had to type everything out on an iPhone to write to any of the prompts. This year our house is fully functioning, so I can type away. Anyway, here's the WIP I've had on my heart for several years
( ... )
Comments 89
What are the 3 most important things about my character’s world that readers need to know?
1. Her family used to move around a lot but got stuck because of an emergency and now live in a mobile home - calls it the “non-mobile” because they are stuck in a house that is supposed to move.
2. She tries to control her world because she feels powerless. Powerless due to being a child, being moved around and then forced to stay, losing people who are important to her. Controls friendships, siblings, makes lists, schedules, etc. and comes across as bossy.
3.The setting hinders her quest because she is trying to figure out who she is. When everything changes she is constantly looking to redefine herself. When she starts to figure out who she is, something changes and she feels lost all over again. She is pulled between being lost and found over and over again.
Reply
Just some questions to keep you thinking :)
Reply
Frankie is the main character in my current WIP.
1. Frankie grew up in a small beach town. She always thought she would live there forever until different events happened in her life. She ended up moving her life and starting a new career.
2. She grew up in a loving family, with amazing parents and sisters. She is close with her parents and her sisters.
3. Frankie is a dreamer and a believer. She believes that in order to be good you have to do good. She helps others and never asks for anything in return.
Reply
Now think more about the actual world/setting she functions in. What kind of community is it? How do the events you mention change her standing, if at all? Who is "the boss" in her family? Does this ever change? What are the rules your character lives by and what would happen if they changed or she broke them?
Just some questions to get you thinking more about setting and tension within :)
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Denise Krebs
Reply
Reply
1. The small southern town has been home to my MCs family for generations. There are deep, deep roots.
2. It is realistic in all the small town ways--except that magic is real and my MC is a witch from a family of witches. Everyone knows the family is unusual, but the gift of magic isn't an accepted fact by the townsfolk.
3. My MC is a teen, and really just growing into her power, but there are forces at work which are powerful and are threatening.
So here is something I'm trying to figure out---there are 3 sisters, all of whom have the gift to an extent. Do I want to have all of them trade off telling the story, with them all being equal MCs? Or stick to one?
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment