As you go about your week, whenever you’re in a new place or environment, spend a few minutes thinking about how your character would react to that errand or setting. A child would view a trip to the grocery store differently than an adult would. A person with a limited budget would react to the shopping experience differently than a person with a lot of money in the bank. How can you see your everyday tasks through the eyes of your characters?
This month, spend time developing multi-faceted characters that readers can see pieces of themselves in. Yes, you should consider a character’s physical appearance, mannerisms, family structure, occupation and maybe even his or her favorite color. But for this challenge, dig deeper to figure out your character’s driving want and need.
To help you delve more into this subject, we recommend the following resources to start with:
From K.M. Weiland
From the Story Grid
From Cheryl Klein
Last month, we encouraged you to identify mentor texts. This month, read aloud the first pages of the books you selected to hone in the qualities that make a gripping story opening.
Posted in Administrator, Practical Prompts
Tagged mentor text, practical prompts, writing tips
Good writing draws us in through relatable, layered characters. Even when those characters are experiencing things we’ve never had to endure, we connect to them through shared emotions. In all likelihood, you’re encountering a variety of emotions as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds. Whether you’re dealing with new feelings or stronger versions of familiar ones, it may be cathartic to journal about your inner thoughts and reflections. Then, when you find yourself writing about a character who is experiencing negative emotions like fear, anxiety or isolation, or positive ones like gratitude, solidarity or generosity, you can return to those journals for inspiration. Even if your characters aren’t facing the same situations that evoked the emotions within you, they can inform your writing as you infuse your characters with an authentic heart.
Write By Midnight 2020 starts in 12 days! Start thinking about what you’d like to accomplish during this year’s write-a-thon. Write those goals down and post them where you can see them every day. Then, share your goals for this year’s challenge by tagging us on Twitter @WriteOwls and include #WriteByMidnight2020.
