We’ve been working on character development on The Write Spot Blog. Your character could be fictional, based on a real person or someone in your memoir. Kurt Vonnegut says to “make your character want something.” There are several ways to go about this. Have your character do something unexpected . . . something that surprises everyone and weave in a problem. You can put your conservative character in an improv situation where he/she has to rap or act in a scene. Your male character might find himself on stage, learning how to hula or belly dance. Your female character might find herself in a lumberjack contest. Have your wild character volunteer to help with bingo in an assisted facility. Have your character do something unusual. Remember these are freewrites, where you write freely for 12 to 15 minutes. This doesn’t mean you have to use these character vignettes in your…
Category: Prompts
Character development – discovering characters. Prompt #132
For this two-part prompt, we’re going to develop a character, either fictional or based on reality (especially if you are writing memoir). How do writers develop characters? How do you get to know your character beyond their looks, their desires and where they went to school? Step One: Give your character a hobby or an interesting job. The more unusual, the better. Bee-keeping? Needlepoint for a man. Bucking horses, art aficionado, chemist, skywriter, laundromat manager, tornado chaser. You can look up unusual jobs that pay well by clicking here, such as: Cruise ship entertainer, ice cream taster, human statue, hot dog vender, dog groomer, personal shopper, funeral director. Sketch how your character might spend an hour of their work day, or hobby time: gathering honey, purchase yarn and patterns, ranch and corrals, visits to art galleries and museums, mixing potions in the basement. You might paint a picture what an…
Flesh out your characters. Prompt #131
You can use this prompt for fleshing out your fictional characters or for characters in your memoir. In works of fiction, we think of characters. When writing memoir, we think real people. But, when you write about real people, they become characters in a story. With this prompt, you can create character profiles for the real people in your life and for your fictional characters. Prompt: Make a three-column list. Label the first column “What I know,” the second, “How I know it” and the third, “How I show it.” First column – create a list with one or two-word descriptions about the character. Second column – write down how you know the particular characteristics. For example, if the person is known to be cheap, in column 2, you could write, “brings own teabags to restaurants.” Or, “carefully saves paper bags for lunch, been using the same bag for six…
Revealing Conversation . . . Prompt #130
Pretend we’re at a party, sitting together talking quietly. Then you see someone you know and you want to tell me about that person. They can’t hear us. What will you tell me about that person? Or: Imagine any two people having a conversation about a third person. With this prompt, you can practice writing dialogue, revealing more about the conversants than the object of their discussion. Remember what Ted A. Moreno said in yesterday’s quote, “Making a pronouncement, judgment or criticism about someone else reveals little about them, but reveals much about you.” We’ll expand upon these characters with the next prompt on The Write Spot Blog.
If you didn’t care what anyone thought . . . Prompt #129
Today’s prompt: If I didn’t care what anyone thought . . . Gather your supplies. Pen, pencil, paper and/or computer fired up. Set your timer for 12-15 minutes and write. Go for it! Photo by Breana Marie
Color. Prompt #128
Today’s writing prompt: Color. Write about color. Or, match an emotion with a color. Write about it.
When life hands you lemons. . . Prompt #127
You know the saying: When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. Well, what do you do when life hands you lemons? Tell us, we want to know. Set your time for 12-15 minutes and write. Just write. Post your writing here, on The Write Spot Blog. Click on “Guidelines” for information about how to post.
Winter. Prompt #126
Today’s prompt: Winter. Write whatever comes up for you. Share your writing here, on The Write Spot Blog. Log in and post your writing. Photo by Breana Marie.
Let it go. Prompt #125
What do you want to let go? What do you need to let go? What should you let go? Take a look at these lyrics to the song, “Let It Go,” from the movie, Frozen. It’s funny how some distance Makes everything seem small And the fears that once controlled me Can’t get to me at all It’s time to see what I can do To test the limits and break through No right, no wrong, no rules for me, I’m free! Let it go, let it go I am one with the wind and sky Let it go, let it go You’ll never see me cry Here I stand And here I’ll stay Let the storm rage on Your turn. What do you need to do to let go? What will happen if you just . . . let . . . go? Click here for the full lyrics…
How do you want to be remembered? Prompt #124
Humorous or serious – what would you write for your epitaph? Compose several brief epitaphs for yourself — the headlines you’d like to see on your headstone. Think of them as messages to future generations that convey how you want to be remembered. And then. . . write a story that explains why the epitaph is appropriate. You could also write this for your fictional character. Here are some ideas: He Was Happiest When He Was Young. Strongest When He Was Old. Family First, Last, and Always I’d Rather Be Smelling the Roses (Than Lying Underneath Them) Wish I Had It All to Do Over Again (So I Could Do It All the Same but Better) Prompt: Write your obituary, or your Life’s Tributes. Share your writing here, on The Write Spot Blog. From Family Tales, Family Wisdom — How to gather the stories of a lifetime and share them with…