Rio Vista and Foothills Classes Week One: Everyone is a Character

Classes at Rio Vista Community Center and Foothills Aquatic Center have begun again! I am always so excited to meet new writers, and the Junior Authors class just gives me so much hope for the future. Class sessions are eight weeks long and each week, at least once, I will post the in class assignment and basics of the discussion. If you do happen to miss a class this is a great way to catch up. It is also just in case I got to chattering too much and didn't really cover the topic I intended. 

So, here it is, week one.

Everyone is a Character

One of the many things I have noticed as a writer is that my mother, and likely yours too if she was a good role model, was wrong. It may be rude to stare and tactless to point out the little ticks that each person you meet might have, but it is also how we make our characters breathe.

Exercise for Classroom or Writing Group: 

Have each writer choose one person in the room, do not mention who, write a detailed description of his/her mannerisms. Description of hair color, eye color, complexion and dress are okay, but this is more about the way the person behaves and carries rather than the police sketch artist interview.

Learning to pick out subtle gestures and twitches in each person you meet makes your characters more believable.  Have you ever read a book or watched a film, and thought; “oh I know that guy”, when a character enters with a certain something you have encountered?

Exercise for Lone Writers: 

Do you have pets or very young children?  Take the time to observe their actions.  Convey their emotions, needs, personality without the use of dialogue. Babies and animals have the most expressive faces and body language, making it easy to understand their desires if we just pay attention.

Or

Visit a crowded location - airport, mall, restaurant, etc.  Wear headphones or earmuffs.  The point is not to be distracted by the sounds, just take in the sights.  Choose a few characters and describe, in action only, their interactions.

*Note: If you wear the earmuffs, especially indoors during warm weather, noting facial expressions should be much easier.