For now, character ...
Here's some food for thought as you develop your biography:
- What does your character look like?
- What does she do for a living?
- What kind of family does she come from?
- Is she married?
- Does she have children?
- How does she spend her spare time?
And ask yourself, what are his strengths and flaws; what is his political affiliation; what are his goals; what are his moral and ethical beliefs; what are his religious beliefs?
Once you've answered the questions that apply, ask yourself why you want to write about this character. Why are you so interested in him? What draws you to her?
Don't forget about body language.
- Facial expression
- Eye contact
- Posture
- Handshake
- Hand and Arm Gestures
- Position of the Head
How your character responds to a typical situation shows the reader a great deal about who she is. A single gesture can be worth a thousand words.
Now you're ready to sit down and tackle a 300-500 word sketch due in my mailbox by Friday, Feb 12 at 10PM. I know it's late, but I AM checking.
A NOTE ON THE EXCHANGE OF FILES
Since Word 03 cannot read .docx files without a special conversion utility, please save your work in the .doc (Word 97-03 option on the pull-down menu for "Save As") format. That way, everyone in your group will be able to open your files without getting a lot of gobbledigook.
A REMINDER
If you haven't done so already, don't forget to email me a brief description of what aspects of your writing you want to focus on in here.
A QUICK READ TO PASS AN ENJOYABLE FEW MINUTES
Here's one person's pick of the 10 Most Harmful Novels ever written.
FINALLY--THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE
(Click on "comments" below. Fill in your name, and then have fun!)
What kind of character would observe the following?
Funny how falling feels like flying, for a little while.
See you next Monday.
A novice skier. (Anne)
ReplyDeleteJust enlisted; First parachute jump
ReplyDeletecynic in a new romance
ReplyDeleteDon't they always say that if you dream of flying and falling but wake up before hitting the ground you're safe? I've always thought the opposite is true. That the hard ground hitting my knees and palms when I release myself when the swing hits the zenith means I'm still alive. That the hard work of opening my eyes on Monday morning after a weekend of flying on benzies and coke and cheap vodka means I'm meant to slog on through another day of human life. I guess it's all in how you interpret being alive.
ReplyDeleteThe first few moments after you dive in the water can feel like you're flying. Beside the blissful weightlessness, all bombarding sounds of life are muffled. No one can talk or even communicate. You can exist solely in your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI've heard once in Pysch class that swimming can recreate the warm, protected feelings we felt in utero. I disagree. Because even in our mother's womb, we were an expectation. For me, when i first hit the water, I'm finally free of hopes, dreams and demands. I can just be.
Some will say I lost my mind. Others will say I was rash, but it is not so. I have diven it a great deal of thought. Dying is a serious business. My options are down to two. Drowning is supposed to make you feel high after the initial pain of water going into your lungs. I can not fathom that. It scares me. Jumping off a building seems more reasonable. They say falling feels like flying, for a little while, and I may lose consciousness before I hit.
ReplyDelete