…I guess the title says it all.
I uploaded the activities (is there a better word than that?) from Part 2 of Seminar One to the ‘Get the Ball Rolling…’ section of this site.
I need to hurry up typing the rest of this first workshop’s notes so the rest of the workshops can get posted here too…
I’ll try to get through at least the rest of this first workshop by Saturday.
Cheers!
—> Pick a ‘problem’ and write a piece in which your characters solve the problem, using only dialogue to tell the story. The problem can be as small as missing the bus or losing a coat, but you must develop the main character’s personality in order to tell a story through the conversations they have with the other characters. Keep in mind- the dialogue should sound realistic. For instance, if your characters are best friends, they are not going to greet each other by name when they first run into each other during your piece. They already know the other person’s name. Similarly, they will not necessarily ask what the other person was doing; if one character is on the school soccer team and at practice after school, their best friend (should) know this, and know where this first character came from. This forces you, the writer, to be creative in writing this piece and develops your skills in writing dialogue. Remember to include things like habits in this piece- do they stutter when they’re scared? Does it annoy them when the other paces, to the point where they have to point it out?
—> Put your character in a situation in which he or she faces a problem: arguing with another character. Based on the character sketch you’ve created, you should be able to judge how they will react to different things- if they hate people getting in their face, someone doing this in an argument will cause them to react accordingly. If they burst into tears when they don’t get their way, this is the perfect time to show this trait.
—> Fill out the following (feel free to add to it) to ‘get to know your character’ better. Even things that don’t relate to your piece should be filled in, since it will make your character seem like a real person to you. Be imaginitive! If you were this person, your _______ would be like _________….etc.
NAME:
AGE:
HEIGHT: (approximately)
WEIGHT: (approximately)
BODY TYPE: (body shape)
FACE TYPE: (shape)
COMPLEXION: (color)
EYES: (color, shape)
HAIR: (color, style)
CLOTHING STYLE:
SPEAKING STYLE:
GENERAL DEMEANOR: (attitude, emotions)
CAREER: (job)
PREJUDICES: (what do they HATE?)
BEST QUALITIES:
WORST QUALITIES:
WEAKNESSES:
HOBBIES:
TALENTS:
Favorite saying?
Method of transportation?
Immediate plan?
Long-range goal?
Kind of education?
What kind of house/home/apartment?
What city/country/location?
Does he/she have a pet? What kind?
Best friend?
Favourite food?
Financial situation?
Hobby?
Skill?
Moral attitude?
Philosophical attitude?
Favourite book?
Last-read book?
What is the bedroom like?
Spouse/mate/steady date/significant other? Why/why not?
Parents? Siblings? Kids?
