Exploring what your character wants

[jbknowles]

Hi Teachers!

Welcome to Week 2 of Teachers Write! I hope you enjoyed your first week. It was filled with inspiring lessons! If you're stumbling across this post and don't know what Teachers Write is, Check it out here.Today, let's talk a little about characters and what they want. As you know, the plot of a story is basically all about what the

Comments

[anonymous]

Thanks Jo! Your prompts really pushed me to think about my character in ways I haven't yet. And for now, we were able to get wifi service at our lake house!! Loading is slow but glad I can take time to read and post this morning

Whoops!

[ext_4182848]

Forgot to switch from Anonymous to me! This is Meg Howe!

Re: Whoops!

[jbknowles]

This is so beautiful and touching! This is going to be a powerful book. Good job!

What I really want

[anonymous]

I’ve never told anyone this but, I wish just once, I could be a “normal” teenager. Hang out with friends after school, share a hot, greasy slice at Freddie’s on a Friday night, or have a sleepover and do giggly girly things, just once.
Don’t get me wrong, I have two very loving, caring parents and an enormous well-kept home, thanks to Greta, the maid. But, I’m tired of being perfect, just to get into Harvard law, someday. I’m tired of all the private lessons, piano, tennis, golf. The highly competitive country club swim meets, every Saturday of the summer, the constant push to maintain a perfect 4.0 GPA. I just want to be a typical, easygoing teen, on a laid-back afternoon, just once. Just to figure out who I really want to be.

Thank you for the great prompts - they will be perfect in the classroom!
Sheila

Re: What I really want

[ext_4182957]

Sheila,
I can really get to know your character with all these rich details. You are inspiring me. Maybe tomorrow I'll take your lead.

Re: What I really want

[jbknowles]

Great details!!! And I think as you explore the "why" of why your character wants these things, you'll discover even more :)

RE: Re: Character's Wants

[ext_4189975]

Thanks for the writing prompt, and reminding me about your character post last year. I went through my journal and I had done last year's prompt for each member of my household. So fun to read!

This year, I'm trying it from the perspective of a WWII soldier serving in Egypt. My grandfather served there and met my grandmother by writing letters. He never talked much about his experience, and the letters weren't shared with the family (although we knew they existed) until both my grandparents passed away.

I wish I could help my country, but I really wish I could just get home to my family safely. I have never told anyone this, but I would be happy spending the rest of my life on the farm. If I had the guts to tell anyone what I've seen here, I just know that they'd be sorry they asked. The only ones who understand what goes on here are the other guys because they see it with their own eyes.

Re: Re: Character's Wants

[jbknowles]

I love this: " I just know that they'd be sorry they asked." It says SO MUCH. Great, powerful premise. Thanks for sharing!

Monday Warm Up 7.17.17

[ext_2665968]

This has been a powerful exercise for me, as I am writing a memoir. My opening has been lacking setting and purpose. I've approached this work and put it on the shelf for three years with Teachers Write. Little by little it is coming around.

Re: Monday Warm Up 7.17.17

[jbknowles]

That's great! I should have noted in my post that this applies to both fiction and nonfiction. Glad you gave it a try!

Frankie's Wants

[ext_4175185]

Good morning, Jo! This prompt is wonderful and is allowing me to think about Frankie from a different perspective. When I am writing, Frankie is the narrator of my story. Answering these questions is giving me a little more insight into Frankie's mind. I'm keeping this prompt so that I can use it again. I even want to step away and use it again for Frankie.

I wish Frankie could just allow herself to grieve. Frankie has never told anyone this, but she’s afraid of living a life without Alex. She’s afraid to be alone even though she already is alone. If Frankie had the guts to tell Alex that she still loves him, I just know that he would take care of her and allow her, help her to grieve. The only one who really understands Frankie is Alex and that's because he loves her and Evie more than anything or anyone else.

Re: Frankie's Wants

[jbknowles]

This is so good! I'm glad the prompt was helpful. Keep going!!!! :)