30 November -0001
This week we played with the idea of character, creating one by combining small bits of information we knew about ourselves and each other. We steered clear of the obvious, and tried to think of the habits and idiosyncrasies which make up a person but wouldn't necessarily make the first impression.
This was a fun discussion. I wrote as much as I could on the wall, and in a relatively short time we had outlined a detailed and rich character (who was in fact a composite of ourselves.)
We then looked at this new person from a storytelling perspective; what might this information suggest in terms of setting and conflict, what goals might this character have, who might the antagonist be?
Below are a few of our character statements. What story would you put them in?
“The first record I owned was Teenager in Love, by Dion, and my favourite film is Fiddler on the Roof.
“With a cooked breakfast I like fresh tomatoes and a cup of builder's tea. If I have to drink coffee, it's weak, half a spoonful, and two sweeteners.
“Either way I drink from a BEST FRIEND mug, with a picture of a dog on it.
“If I'm home all day I don't dress. I wear pyjamas and dressing gown, and a pair of fluffy unicorn slippers (a gift from a neighbour last Christmas.)
“I can't abide squeaky chalk.
“I won't throwaway broken things, or broken people.
“A phrase I use a lot is, ‘Iffits…. ‘ When the kids ask what there is to eat, I'll say, ‘Iffits’ as in, ‘If it's in the cupboard, you can eat it. ‘
Archive
Storytelling and Escalation or Rising Action
Junior Writers Club Acrostic Poem
Notes on Intention for MAST Collective - Year 3 - Facilitation Focus
Earthquakes & Dominoes - MAST Collective Blog #4
SUPER MARIO AND POP CULTURE POEMS
Receptionists & Inky Voids - MAST Collective Blog #3
Saying No and saying YES on National Poetry Day!
There's a Dragon in the Wardrobe...
House Warming Party (The Mortifying Ordeal of Being Known) - MAST Collective Blog #2
Intern Blog 5 - The Publishing Process
POEMS TO SOLVE THE CLIMATE CRISIS
On The Streets With Theresa Lola
Intern Blog 4 - The Internship Journey
NEW DIRECTIONS, STARTING SMALL - THE ORWELL YOUTH PRIZE
LIGHTHOUSES, HOPE AND METAPHORS
on workshop and transformations: frogs, lions, and the duck that becomes a larder...
Poetry Ambassadors - Interview with April Egan
Intern Blog 1 - Finding a Voice
World Poetry Day: Fluffypunk and the Invisible Women
On Being a Writer: A Conversation by Beth Phillips & Sam Morton
Poetry Ambassadors - Interview with Kaycee Hill
UNHEARD VOICES: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, AND STORIES OF CONFLICT
Our blogs
Regular news and insight from our many poets, writers, educators and facilitators
Find out moreResources