Create Characters Who Jump Off the Page

STORIES GROW OUT OF THE LIVES OF YOUR CHARACTERS

Something in your character’s life makes the story happen.

Let’s create a character as you think about that. I’ll ask you a bunch of questions, and you write the answers on a separate piece of paper or in another window on your computer.

Answer quickly. Don’t fret (worry) about spelllllling or neAtneSs. This is nothing but a Dream Page. It’s not your story. Just some ideas.

And you can change any answer any time you like, right up to the minute you show your story to a friend or publish it on www.kidswrite4kids.com. Let your dream mind take over.

Oh, and don’t worry about naming your character right now. If you have a name, great! But don’t let that hold you up. Toss in a name whenever you like.

Also, skip any questions you don’t like. You may use everything you write here in your story, OR you may use almost nothing. This is just a way of getting your ideas cooking.

Take this seriously and take your time, but have fun—remember, Dream Mind!

a)Is your character a boy, a girl, an animal (which?), an alien, a made up creature like a dragon or unicorn?

b)Does your character live now, in this time? In the past, like during Medieval times? In the future?

c)What’s special about your character’s appearance? For example, if your character is especially tall or short, wears baggy pants, or has a nose ring, write that down. What is your character’s favorite piece of clothing? Maybe even, what color is your character’s hair?

d)Does your character live in the city, in the country, in the forest, in the sea, in a real place like New York or Tokyo, or does your character live in a place you are making up?

e)Does your character live in an apartment, a mansion, a tree house, on a ship, in a space ship? Let your imagination go!

f)What is your character especially good at? For example, she or he might be great at math and science, drawing, playing soccer, or climbing cliffs. Put down as many things as you like. Maybe your character has a special way with animals.

g)Who is your character’s best friend and what do they like to do together?

h)What is your character NOT good at? Again, you can put down more than one thing. Hint: Characters who do everything perfectly can be pretty boring. Not always, but they can be and OFTEN are boring. It’s always good to think of something with which your character struggles.

i)With whom does your character not get along? Why do they not get along? This could be a school bully or a brother or sister, anybody.

CONGRADULATIONS! YOU HAVE JUST CREATED YOUR OWN ORIGINAL CHARACTER!
Next blog entry: Giving your story a motor—