DAY SEVENDAY SEVEN

FeracoFeraco

Creative WritingCreative Writing

23 June 201023 June 2010

CharactersCharacters There are many types of characters, but we’ll There are many types of characters, but we’ll

stick with two for todaystick with two for today Round: A character who is developed and Round: A character who is developed and

changes in your story. changes in your story. This obviously applies to your main characters, but the This obviously applies to your main characters, but the

more life you add to your cast, the deeper your story more life you add to your cast, the deeper your story can go!can go!

Flat: A character who does not grow over the Flat: A character who does not grow over the course of your story.course of your story. A stock character (bartender, flight attendant, waiter) A stock character (bartender, flight attendant, waiter)

who you probably aren’t investing much time or energy who you probably aren’t investing much time or energy in buildingin building

Pancakes: Good for breakfast, awful for literaturePancakes: Good for breakfast, awful for literature Make your characters round in order to make Make your characters round in order to make

them interesting. Make them pear-shaped! Give them interesting. Make them pear-shaped! Give them interesting strengths and flaws, and put them interesting strengths and flaws, and put them in situations where they can grow – for them in situations where they can grow – for good or for illgood or for ill

So remember: Pears, not pancakes.So remember: Pears, not pancakes.

Trait List for Each CharacterTrait List for Each Character Gender Gender Name (First, Last, Nicknames) Name (First, Last, Nicknames) Age - Birthdate - Astrological Age - Birthdate - Astrological

sign sign Place of Birth (Raised) Place of Birth (Raised) Hair (Color, Style) Hair (Color, Style) Eyes (Color, Shape) Eyes (Color, Shape) Teeth Teeth Other Facial Features Other Facial Features Complexion Complexion Height Height Weight (Build) Weight (Build) Nationality (Ethnicity) Nationality (Ethnicity) Dress/Style Dress/Style Handicaps (Glasses) Handicaps (Glasses) Tattoos/Scars Tattoos/Scars Posture Posture Walk Walk

HabitsHabits OdorOdor Voice (Could be related to Voice (Could be related to

nationality, personality, etc) nationality, personality, etc) Personality (Moods) Personality (Moods) Religion Religion Education Education Occupation Occupation Values (Trustworthiness Values (Trustworthiness

affects reliability as a affects reliability as a narrator) narrator)

Personal Motto or Creed Personal Motto or Creed Likes/Dislikes Likes/Dislikes Hobbies Hobbies Family Family Relationships Other than Relationships Other than

FamilyFamily Role Models Role Models Aspirations Aspirations Where They Live NowWhere They Live Now Pets Pets

IntelligencesIntelligences

AuditoryAuditory VisualVisual LinguisticLinguistic Logical-MathematicalLogical-Mathematical SpatialSpatial Bodily-KinestheticBodily-Kinesthetic MusicalMusical InterpersonalInterpersonal IntrapersonalIntrapersonal NaturalistNaturalist

Long-Form Literature OutlineLong-Form Literature Outline

Where will this be set?Where will this be set? Will your narrator(s) be reliable?Will your narrator(s) be reliable? How many characters do you wish to use?How many characters do you wish to use? Which relationships will you establish? How will they Which relationships will you establish? How will they

change?change? How do you want to introduce each character? How do you want to introduce each character?

(Narrator/exposition? Encounter? Conversation?)(Narrator/exposition? Encounter? Conversation?) How many chapters/scenes will you want? Will you use How many chapters/scenes will you want? Will you use

foreshadowing? How will everything make sense?foreshadowing? How will everything make sense? Sketch an outline of your scenes. Sketch an outline of your scenes.

Each outline should briefly summarize the plot advancement Each outline should briefly summarize the plot advancement for each scene, the character development you expect to take for each scene, the character development you expect to take place, the perspectives you will use (and why), and the place, the perspectives you will use (and why), and the "truths" you want your readers to take away."truths" you want your readers to take away.

Finally, make a list of the symbols and metaphors you will Finally, make a list of the symbols and metaphors you will want to use.want to use.

Questions for Your CharactersQuestions for Your Characters What do you want to do before you die – what’s your What do you want to do before you die – what’s your

“bucket list”?“bucket list”? What do you hope you live long enough to see?What do you hope you live long enough to see? What are the first things that run through peoples’ What are the first things that run through peoples’

heads when they see you?heads when they see you? Are your mother and father proud of you? Do they think Are your mother and father proud of you? Do they think

you’ll be successful? Why/why not?you’ll be successful? Why/why not? For younger characters: Do your parents want you to be For younger characters: Do your parents want you to be

like them, or to follow in their footsteps? Why/why not?like them, or to follow in their footsteps? Why/why not? For younger characters: Will your parents miss you For younger characters: Will your parents miss you

when you’re gone? Why/why not? What would they want when you’re gone? Why/why not? What would they want to live long enough to see? What would they want to live to live long enough to see? What would they want to live long enough to see YOU do?long enough to see YOU do?

If you could snap your fingers and give one thing to your If you could snap your fingers and give one thing to your parents, what would you give?parents, what would you give?

How would you rate your life on a scale from one to ten?How would you rate your life on a scale from one to ten? How would you rate your best friend’s life on that same How would you rate your best friend’s life on that same

scale? scale?

Questions for Your CharactersQuestions for Your Characters If you could snap your fingers and give one thing to your If you could snap your fingers and give one thing to your

best friend, what would you give?best friend, what would you give? Do your friends and parents trust you? Should they?Do your friends and parents trust you? Should they? Do you think you’ll be successful? Do you fear you won’t Do you think you’ll be successful? Do you fear you won’t

be? Why?be? Why? Do you think your friends will be successful? How so? Do you think your friends will be successful? How so?

What sort of a world would they want to live in?What sort of a world would they want to live in? Do your friends think you’ll be successful? How so? What Do your friends think you’ll be successful? How so? What

sort of a world do you want to live in?sort of a world do you want to live in? If you have siblings, will you be the first to go? Would If you have siblings, will you be the first to go? Would

you rather be the last?you rather be the last? If you have friends, will you be the first to go? Would If you have friends, will you be the first to go? Would

you rather be the last?you rather be the last? Would you want to outlive your parents?Would you want to outlive your parents? Would you want to outlive your spouse?Would you want to outlive your spouse? Would you want to outlive your children?Would you want to outlive your children? How old will you live to be?How old will you live to be?

How Do You Make a Believable How Do You Make a Believable World?World? First, engage the senses – we can’t First, engage the senses – we can’t

imagine everything, but we can imagine imagine everything, but we can imagine somesome things if you give us building blocks things if you give us building blocks Figure out how you want to approach this – Figure out how you want to approach this –

through audio, visuals, tactile sensations – and through audio, visuals, tactile sensations – and mix it up from story to storymix it up from story to story

Next, figure out how to make that world Next, figure out how to make that world work for you work for you What’s your big idea? How can you use lighting What’s your big idea? How can you use lighting

and setting – even “costuming” to reinforce and setting – even “costuming” to reinforce your idea?your idea?

How Do You Make a Believable How Do You Make a Believable World?World? Finally, you have to be able to picture all Finally, you have to be able to picture all

of this in your head – even the things you of this in your head – even the things you never commit to the pagenever commit to the page Don’t write about a half-formed placeDon’t write about a half-formed place

Make sure your characters fit in this world Make sure your characters fit in this world – and that they need to belong in it!– and that they need to belong in it!

Did you notice how Pirandello did it?Did you notice how Pirandello did it?