Character invention

Based on the work of Toby Jones in ‘Everybody Writes’

Generating ideas

Robert McKee describes character as “decisions under pressure”, i.e. characters are defined by what they do or choose not to do when events in the narrative press in on them.

Creating the Character

Everyone must come up with one thing that the character is NOT.

So the group will create a character who can be and do anything except the things the group has prohibited.

So for instance, who is the character that is:

NOT curious?NOT mathematical?NOT indoors?NOT concerned by the credit crunch?NOT attracted to the opposite sex?NOT Roger Federer?NOT of this century?

Envisaging the character

As each person in the group begins to envisage the character who obeys the restrictions (one restriction per person), the form of the character shape shifts in their heads, and each person will come up with a different version of that character.

Put flesh on the bones

Once each person in the group is satisfied that the character meets the restrictions, begin to challenge the characterisation.

Invent a life for the character.What events and decisions defined the make up of their character?Where do they live?Where are they most comfortable/uncomfortable?

From character to story

Decide on one momentous event in the life of the character which was pivotal in their development.

Each person should now have more than enough material to create a story.