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Character Core Worksheet
Posted on April 17th, 2008 No commentsSo, this week in the world of Jean has consisted of an awful lot of crossing things off my ‘procrastination list’. This even includes vacuuming under the beds and changing the alternator in my car. And man, have the prices of alternators gone up! It is really quite astounding.
Anyway, what have I been doing this week to progress my writing? Well, the usual Agent Query Connect banter and whatnot that goes on over there. Lots of wishing I had more time to write (but life is good nevertheless). A bit of blog reading. I also asked Meg Cabotif she would be so kind as to send me one of her extra copies of ‘She Went All The Way’. I even tried to be witty and have my email stand out among the undoubted thousands of emails she got from the world’s free book grubbers, like myself, begging to be chosen. Anyway, I never win anything, so probably no book for me. Although, I got a nice autoreply from her email account. It is sort of cool to see an email in your inbox from a famous author.
Oh right, what have I been doing to actually IMPROVE my writing? Well, a little brainstorming. And since I was making a brainstorming worksheet for myself, I decided once again to share it. It, like the other one I have created, is based on content in Linda Seger’s book “Creating Unforgettable Characters”. This has been a fun exercise. Basically, you brainstorm core characteristics of your characters. For example, someone into fashion, may also know something about interior design, etc, etc. You pick a core characteristic and just keep going out and out from that one characteristic as well as any ideosyncrasies that might pop up in such a character. If you are curious, or what to learn a bit more about it, go over to my favourites online and at the bottom of the page are the worksheets I’ve created. Open one up and enjoy!
Have fun, I’m off to ensure that my cookie levels don’t dip into the red (low) zone.
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Ethnicity and Character Development
Posted on March 31st, 2008 No commentsAfter making my worksheets on character development, I decided, let’s try it out. For my main character who I felt that I didn’t know well enough, it appears that behold! I do actually know her. In fact, I know quite a bit. Whew! And the worksheet has just served to help me see what I already knew and now I can hopefully carry it through a little better than I was. So, it looks like I may have another edit coming. On the other hand, I think it will be quite useful in learning who my characters are in a piece I am just starting.
One thing that sort of jumped out at me with the worksheet was the whole ‘ethnic background’ context surrounding the character and its influence on making them who they are. This is something that I have not thought about. I suppose because in real life, it isn’t something that I take into account. I don’t look at my friends and say, ‘”Ah, yes. That would be their German heritage influencing their behaviour right now.” I suppose, really, I know very little about the different ethnicities and the behaviours, attitudes and philosophies that come with them. Is that because of the wonderful melting pot that Canada is? Out my way, are we just a mish-mash of humanness?
In a lot of ways, I think we are quite removed from our ethnicities. For example, I have Irish, Scottish and Finnish heritages. But I don’t think they particularly influence me–at least not in a large, noticeable way. I think there are much, much larger influences in my life. For example, the way other kids treated me in elementary school has influenced my attitudes and behaviours a lot more than my ethnicity.
So, despite my lack of awareness in regards to ethnicity, it is an interesting part of the character development study.
Welcome to my Website and Blog
I am an aspiring fiction writer (children's, women's and commercial) and an agented nonfiction writer. I am also a member, critiquer and site moderator over on AgentQueryConnect.com. And, I also blog with other fabulous writers at all stages of the writing game on From The Write Angle.
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