developing character
So you have to develop characters in your story....but
what actually is a 'character'?
Character by definition: the mental and moral qualities distinct to an individual
Here are two hand picked character descriptions found in popular novels. Think about how the words make you imagine the character.
The hundred thousand kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin (page 30): "… face like the moon, pale and somehow wavering. I could get the gist of his features, but none of it stuck in my mind beyond an impression of astonishing beauty. His long, long hair wafted around him like black smoke, its tendrils curling and moving of their own volition. His cloak — or perhaps that was his hair too — shifted as if in an unfelt wind. I could not recall him wearing a cloak before, on the balcony. The madness still lurked in his face, but it was a quieter madness now, not the rabid-animal savagery of before. Something else — I could not bring myself to call it humanity — stirred underneath the gleam." This is full of lovely imagery, including the hair and the cloak moving like smoke — and it leaves you with a really sharp impression even as you don't ever get a clear impression of him, because yeine doesn't either. It's like a painting that sticks with you."
Jemisin, N.K. (2010). The hundred thousand kingdoms. USA: Orbit.
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Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy by Douglas Adams (page 11): "He was not conspicuously tall, his features were striking but not conspicuously handsome. His hair was wiry and gingerish and brushed backward from the temples. His skin seemed to be pulled backward from the nose. There was something very slightly odd about him, but it was difficult to say what it was. Perhaps it was that his eyes didn't seem to blink often enough and when you talked to him for any length of time your eyes began involuntarily to water on his behalf. Perhaps it was that he smiled slightly too broadly and gave people the unnerving impression that he was about to go for their neck."
This description of ford prefect is sparky and full of action, you can practically see him smiling unblinkingly at you.
Adams, D. (1979). The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy. United Kingdom: Pan Books.
What made these character descriptions so captivating?
Watch Me
what actually is a 'character'?
Character by definition: the mental and moral qualities distinct to an individual
Here are two hand picked character descriptions found in popular novels. Think about how the words make you imagine the character.
The hundred thousand kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin (page 30): "… face like the moon, pale and somehow wavering. I could get the gist of his features, but none of it stuck in my mind beyond an impression of astonishing beauty. His long, long hair wafted around him like black smoke, its tendrils curling and moving of their own volition. His cloak — or perhaps that was his hair too — shifted as if in an unfelt wind. I could not recall him wearing a cloak before, on the balcony. The madness still lurked in his face, but it was a quieter madness now, not the rabid-animal savagery of before. Something else — I could not bring myself to call it humanity — stirred underneath the gleam." This is full of lovely imagery, including the hair and the cloak moving like smoke — and it leaves you with a really sharp impression even as you don't ever get a clear impression of him, because yeine doesn't either. It's like a painting that sticks with you."
Jemisin, N.K. (2010). The hundred thousand kingdoms. USA: Orbit.
************
Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy by Douglas Adams (page 11): "He was not conspicuously tall, his features were striking but not conspicuously handsome. His hair was wiry and gingerish and brushed backward from the temples. His skin seemed to be pulled backward from the nose. There was something very slightly odd about him, but it was difficult to say what it was. Perhaps it was that his eyes didn't seem to blink often enough and when you talked to him for any length of time your eyes began involuntarily to water on his behalf. Perhaps it was that he smiled slightly too broadly and gave people the unnerving impression that he was about to go for their neck."
This description of ford prefect is sparky and full of action, you can practically see him smiling unblinkingly at you.
Adams, D. (1979). The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy. United Kingdom: Pan Books.
What made these character descriptions so captivating?
Watch Me
Gebler, C. (2012). Starting to write: Developing character. Dublin: National Emerging Writer Programme.
Task 3: Due Week 4
Below you will find three images of different people from around the world. You are to write 1x 200 word character description about one of these people, drawing from what you have learnt from the YouTube video above. Every description should have a purpose. This means that you should not waste time on descriptions which do not add to the individuals personality, history or interests. For example, stating that a girl has "brown hair" does not allude to elements of her character. To say that she has "dirty, matted, brown hair" creates interest. Why is her hair dirty and matted?
You are then to post your description on the discussion board. You are to provide 1x 100 word feedback for one of your peers about their character descriptions.
Below you will find three images of different people from around the world. You are to write 1x 200 word character description about one of these people, drawing from what you have learnt from the YouTube video above. Every description should have a purpose. This means that you should not waste time on descriptions which do not add to the individuals personality, history or interests. For example, stating that a girl has "brown hair" does not allude to elements of her character. To say that she has "dirty, matted, brown hair" creates interest. Why is her hair dirty and matted?
You are then to post your description on the discussion board. You are to provide 1x 100 word feedback for one of your peers about their character descriptions.
