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[penny]

I teach two hours weekly of Creative Writing at school. I have nine sweet little 5th and 6th graders.

I'm working on character development with them. I had them draw a picture of someone and then think up different things about him or her. Such as, listing words or expressions describing the face, the appearance, way of dressing or any special mannerisms, things the character does - work, activities, places he likes to visit etc. Also, friends and family, traits, moods, outlook. Naming the character.

Now, we've begun last time, and they haven't finished yet. (We did other stuff and had only about 25 minutes left for this activity.

What can I add to this or to the general topic of character development?

Any ideas are welcome!

Thanks, Penny

[Leon]

Penny,

Bob Mueller posted a good format about character development / outline.


For my half-cent worth ---
Perhaps students to  ---
1. Compare the names of their characters, that each character have a different name.
2. Describe his/her character from head to foot.
   Color and style of hair.
   Color and shape of eyes.
   Size and shape of nose.
   Is the character's face oval, round square, etc..
   Height.
   Weight.
   Shape of torso.
   Shoulders.
   Chest.
   Stomach --- like half a basketball stuck to a fence post.
   Hips.
   Buttocks.
   Thighs.
   Knees.
   Calves.
   Ankles.
   Feet.
   Now put clothes on the character.
   Next ---
   Emotion
   Is the charcater angry, happy, sad, afraid, courageous?


Bob Mueller posted a good format about character development / outline.

Leon

[penny]

Thanks, Leon! (See how lucky I am you joined!)

Your advice gave me an idea to have them choose pictures from magazines, one for a main character and one for a secondary one, and then have them think up stuff like your list, after which we'll think of something that happens and how would each student's MC react, or something similar.

As for Bob's post - I'm not sure where to find it. I'll look again.

Penny

[Ingrid]

Well, "development" means to me that the character grows and changes.

Ingrid

[Leon]

Ingrid,

I agree. Development from conception to ____ is growth / change.

Leon

[Susan August]

Bob's posting is in Priceless Advice, called Character Chart on page 2, and it is very helpful.

Susan

[Kathy Wendorff]

Seems to me we're talking about 2 kinds of character development here.

One is where a writer develops a character -- decides on traits and motivations, what makes that character tick, and what kind of problems that character will face.

The second is that character's growth and change within the story, as the character confronts challenges the plot throws his/her way.

Kathy W.

[Leon]

Kathy,

The writer needs to know more about each character than is ever revealed in the story.

The Main Character and Main Adversary often perform best when they have almost equal strengths and weaknesses.

By knowing more about each character than is ever revealed in the story --- the writer may more easily understand --- characters are the story --- not the writer.

Writer Perception is ofen best when hidden behind/within a viewpoint character.

Plot is simply the order events/ups and downs develop and unfold.

Also see my blah, blah about timelines.


So much for my blah, blah.

Leon

[Ingrid]

Actually, I know very little about a character when I start.  He/she fleshes out during the telling of the story. I do not make character charts, though I write down their names because I would forget them otherwise.  It's more or less a matter of: let's bring on a pretty woman and see what A. makes of her.  Maybe a young prostitute?  In pink silk?  With a sob story?  Begging for his company?  Tempting him (the married man) horribly?  Testing his will power.  Yes.  He'll pay her and let her go, but he'll be sorry.  (See? That scene is in THE MASUDA AFFAIR)

Ingrid

[ArlineChase]

Actually, I know very little about a character when I start.  He/she fleshes out during the telling of the story.

Ingrid

Dear Ingrid,

I work like that too. All I have to know in the beginning is what the character wants. But it doesn't matter, every writer has to find their own best, most-efficient path.

arline

[Leon]

Kathy W.

You are correct. And everything the characters encounter in the plot arises from the narrative hook.

Leon

******************

Seems to me we're talking about 2 kinds of character development here.

One is where a writer develops a character -- decides on traits and motivations, what makes that character tick, and what kind of problems that character will face.

The second is that character's growth and change within the story, as the character confronts challenges the plot throws his/her way.

Kathy W.

[Elena]

I did a similar program for a group of ninth graders.  As a transition from character development to writing I had them write, in first person, a very detailed day in the life of the character they had developed.  They needed some encouragement around looking through someone else's eyes and describing feelings and action from their point of view.  Mostly, since it was a small group like yours I had them talk through and discuss with the others what they thought their character might do when they got stuck.

Once they got going their excitement was wonderful, as was their work.

Elena

[Merrill]

Sorry -- maybe I'm a bit dense  but...
Where can I find the Bob Mueller stuff on character development? Thanks!

[Susan August]

Do you mean the Character Chart?  That's under Priceless Advice on the second page of entries.

Susan