Topic ID: 12702
|
View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
bubblewrapped
(Mostly) Harmless
Master of the Forum
Gender: 
Age: 21
Joined: 25 Nov 2004
Posts: 1733
Reviews: 574
Country: New Zealand
Points
|
 Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 9:57 am Post subject: In The Picture |
 |
|
OK, I just had this idea for a writing exercise which I think could be pretty cool. We all know that the secret to writing a character well is to know them well. In order to do that, you need to understand what makes them tick.
Most writing books suggest placing your characters in different situations to see what will happen - so I thought, why not make it a writing exercise? Basically, I'll outline the situation (e.g. being chased by a bear) and the first person to post chooses one of their characters and puts them in that situation. How do they react? Do they lose their heads? Shoot to kill? Climb a tree? What? That's up to you. But remember, you have to really think about how they would act. It's no good having a complete coward suddenly develop a spine (unless, you know, he has a reason too or something). I want to learn all about your characters from the way they behave!
Once you've finished writing your post (doesnt have to be long - just play it by ear) you sketch another situation for the next person. They choose their character, write their post, and create a scene for the next person, who chooses a character and creates a scene and so on. Get it?
OK. First scenario:
Your character has been captured and sold into slavery. |
_________________
"Life is like a box of chocolates - it is overpriced, will make you sick if you have it too quickly, and if other people see you with it, they will try to take bits of it away from you." -- I Moved Your Cheese
S.P.E.W. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
Shafter
The kid who can't grow up
Master of the Forum
Gender:
Age: 19
Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 1094
Reviews: 55
Country: In a constant state of copy-editing
Points
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:27 pm Post subject: Re: In The Picture |
|
|
Okay, I see-- it's like a more specific version of the Character Answer Game. I'll be the first to post!
| bubblewrapped wrote: |
OK. First scenario:
Your character has been captured and sold into slavery. |
Myron would try every possible way of escape, foolish or not. He would be difficult, get beat up a lot by his captors, but finally beaten into submission. His rebellious side would still flare up, but it would be relatively easy to beat him down whenever that happened. But he would keep his captors on their toes.
Next scenario:
Your character is forced to attend a formal dinner party. |
_________________
Got YWS?
Over 18? Join The Writers Society today!
http://www.thewriterssociety.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
luna_the_shiekah
Is addicted to internet
Speaker of the Forum
Gender:
Age: 18
Joined: 21 Oct 2006
Posts: 511
Reviews: 72
Country: USA
Points
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
For this one, I'll choose Ruth.
She'd feel out of her element and cross at having to be so out of her league. She'd seeth with jealousy at the obvious wealth the other patrons would exhibit and inwardly beat herself up. Then, to humiliate the person who had forced her to go, she'd be as rowdy and troubling as possible. Cursing, eating messily and likely committing lewd acts.
Scenario: Your character has lost their favorite material item, now what? |
_________________
I cannot name this
I cannot explain this
and I really don't want to
just call me shameless.
-Ani Di Franco "Shameless" |
|
| Back to top |
|
Crysi
Cold and Fragile
Epic Novelist
Gender:
Age: 19
Joined: 16 Nov 2004
Posts: 4355
Reviews: 572
Country: California Crew, yo.
Points
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
I'm gonna do this a little differently and actually write out the scene - just because I haven't written in a while and I think I need it.
Saphirus was NOT in a good mood. Panic rose in his chest, and he tried unsuccessfully to suppress the unfamiliar feeling.
His sword was gone.
And unless he found it relatively soon, terrible things were sure to come. Not only for him; he had weapons enough to defend himself. No, terrible things were sure to come for anyone who found the sword, and to those who fell under the rule of the man he was supposed to assassinate.
Fear mingled with the panic, now, and he began to pace around the room, hastily throwing cloaks from the table to the floor, spreading out papers and sending some of them flying, even overturning the small side table.
Returning to the center of the room, he fell to his knees and focused on his breathing. It was no use. People would die unnecessarily if he didn't find his blade, and that was a plague the Dark Realm could not handle...
Scenario: Your character is left locked in a room with only two other people for company: his/her best friend and his/her enemy. (Better, Imp? ^_^) |
_________________
[Prokaryote] 8:00 pm: awwwww we love you too Crysis. but we hate your satanic WoW rituals |
|
| Back to top |
|
luna_the_shiekah
Is addicted to internet
Speaker of the Forum
Gender:
Age: 18
Joined: 21 Oct 2006
Posts: 511
Reviews: 72
Country: USA
Points
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 8:20 am Post subject: |
|
|
I'll use this one for Warrior.
She'd throw Sakura in a corner and command her to stay put while she tries to kick Olive's ass for the sole reason that the woman annoys the hell out of her for no reason.
Scenario: Your character is lost in the forest and only has a stapler and a letter opener. What do they do? |
_________________
I cannot name this
I cannot explain this
and I really don't want to
just call me shameless.
-Ani Di Franco "Shameless" |
|
| Back to top |
|
Phorcys
The Wannabe Actor
Master of the Forum
Gender: 
Age: 17
Joined: 15 Feb 2006
Posts: 1458
Reviews: 605
Country: Blighty
Points
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 4:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Derren uses both to kill animals after many many attempts at sneaking up on them. He eats the meat cold with his bare hands, then he would leave trails of blood to know where he had been. The best way to get out of a forest is to go straigh ahead, Derren is too thick to know this so he would try every direction, eventually breaking down into tears and fury because he has no power over his destiny.
Scenario: Your character is on top of the Empire State building with another person, the other one is about to jump. What does your charrie do? |
_________________
Witherwings Harry Potter RPG
Silver Ferride (Novel) |
|
| Back to top |
|
Suzanne
Ya bet yer boots?
Writer of Legend
Gender:
Age: 18
Joined: 21 Sep 2006
Posts: 6894
Reviews: 1739
Country: Riverbluff, MO
Points
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 4:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Lev-
It would depend on who the person was. Can I randomly choose other characters from my story to be on the building? Fleur: He would pull her back, tell her shes crazy, and save her life. Felicion: He wouldn't be jumping off, he'd be pushed off, by Lev. Alexei: Lev would probably be jumping with him, in this case...
Scenario:You Character is in a weighting room for a doctor, and its apparent that people who have come in later than him are already getting to see the doctor. He's been knocked out of line. What does your charrie do? |
_________________
Dr. Frankenstein: You know, I'm a rather brilliant surgeon. Perhaps I can help you with that hump.
Igor: What hump?
-Young Frankenstein
What am I reading? |
|
| Back to top |
|
Shafter
The kid who can't grow up
Master of the Forum
Gender:
Age: 19
Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 1094
Reviews: 55
Country: In a constant state of copy-editing
Points
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 5:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Émon picks up a Better Homes and Gardens and pretends to read. After a while he realizes the other men in the waiting room are looking at him funny. He calmly folds the magazine and picks up Reader's Digest instead.
At the end of the day, the nurse suddenly realizes that he's been knocked out of line. She apologizes, reschedules him. Émon just smiles, nods, and walks out the door, feeling very embarrassed.
(Yup, that's Émon. Hates that kind of confrontation.)
Scenario: Your character has just stepped through the Wardrobe into another world. |
_________________
Got YWS?
Over 18? Join The Writers Society today!
http://www.thewriterssociety.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
Suzanne
Ya bet yer boots?
Writer of Legend
Gender:
Age: 18
Joined: 21 Sep 2006
Posts: 6894
Reviews: 1739
Country: Riverbluff, MO
Points
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:52 am Post subject: |
|
|
Lev quickly realizes that it must be an hallucination. He must have been drugged by a prostitute, or worse yet, by an enemy.
Scenario: The police just pulled you over. In your trunk, they find the body of missing so-and-so very mutilated. (Assuming that you didn't kill so-and-so). |
_________________
Dr. Frankenstein: You know, I'm a rather brilliant surgeon. Perhaps I can help you with that hump.
Igor: What hump?
-Young Frankenstein
What am I reading? |
|
| Back to top |
|
bubblewrapped
(Mostly) Harmless
Master of the Forum
Gender:
Age: 21
Joined: 25 Nov 2004
Posts: 1733
Reviews: 574
Country: New Zealand
Points
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 10:41 am Post subject: |
|
|
Well, I was kind of more looking for Crysi's approach - i.e. actually writing out a short scene, but whatever. If you dont have time no worries. And as I myself am short of time right now, I'm going to have to run without writing a scenario 
So, passing on Clau's idea:
The police just pulled you over, and found the mutilated body of a missing person in your trunk. You didnt kill them. What do you do? |
_________________
"Life is like a box of chocolates - it is overpriced, will make you sick if you have it too quickly, and if other people see you with it, they will try to take bits of it away from you." -- I Moved Your Cheese
S.P.E.W. |
|
| Back to top |
|
Shafter
The kid who can't grow up
Master of the Forum
Gender:
Age: 19
Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 1094
Reviews: 55
Country: In a constant state of copy-editing
Points
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
(Uhm... I'm a fantasy writer, so this doesn't really work. Can I change it to stuffed in a closet?)
The blood dripped onto the floor at Émon's feet. He stood with hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the body. His mind struggled to process the scene in front of him, but all he could think of was, How in the world is Zerron going to get these blood stains out of the floorboards? They'll be here forever.
The soldier seized his shoulder and whipped him around to face him. "Well?"
"I didn't kill him."
The soldier's grip tightened. "The more you protest, the more we'll torture you. You know that."
Émon gazed once again at the body. "I didn't kill him."
The soldier shoved him toward the door. Émon stumbled along beside him.
As they were walking down the stairs, Émon began to tremble. Soon he was shaking uncontrolably, and couldn't stand any longer. He collapsed on the steps.
"On your feet!" the soldier yelled.
All Émon could see was blood. Blood, and the horrible mutilated face... "I didn't kill him," Émon whispered. "I didn't..."
(Whoa, that was awesome! It IS much better when you do it that way. Coolio.)
Scenario: A mysterious figure just cornered you in an alley. What do you do? |
_________________
Got YWS?
Over 18? Join The Writers Society today!
http://www.thewriterssociety.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
luna_the_shiekah
Is addicted to internet
Speaker of the Forum
Gender:
Age: 18
Joined: 21 Oct 2006
Posts: 511
Reviews: 72
Country: USA
Points
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 4:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
Chibi's red eyes narrowed and her pale hands clenched into fists. She could feel the person's aura radiate waves of malevolence. However, she being the vessel of spiritual power, she wasn't overly worried.
Her pupils glowed a bright blue and the figure incinerated in a flash of azure light. A wan smile crossed her somber features. A point for her.
Scenario: Your character is all alone in an unfamiliar place, what do they do? |
_________________
I cannot name this
I cannot explain this
and I really don't want to
just call me shameless.
-Ani Di Franco "Shameless" |
|
| Back to top |
|
little tin fish
and Kuchipatchi are BFFs ♫♪
Master of the Forum
Gender:
Age: 19
Joined: 17 Jan 2006
Posts: 1227
Reviews: 113
Country: Tamatown
Points
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 10:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
Ash-May tugged at the white scarf tied around her neck, begging the voices to guide her. Either they were asleep, or in a foul mood as not even a single thread would offer her help. She could feel words in her mouth, tingling, pressing against the inside of her lips, longing to escape and cry out for aid. She swallowed them down, forcing them away. It would do her no good if she were to waste letters now.
Scenario Your character is at the market and realises that their purse has been stolen, what do they do? |
_________________
「Iriguchi, Deguchi, Taguchi desu!」
She fears the dead, but loves the way they dance
Got YWS?
[please grant me my small wish; (love me to the marrow of my bones)] |
|
| Back to top |
|
Myth
.: #_O :.
Epic Novelist
Gender:
Age: 74
Joined: 23 Dec 2005
Posts: 3115
Reviews: 820
Country: Down a rabbit hole?
Points
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 11:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
Aethel pushed her hand further into her pockets, there was usually some spare coins but she found none, and cursed. She had asked Paron not to accompany her, now she regretted doing so.
"I'll just have to pick someone else's pockets," she said, eyeing the crowd.
Scenario: Your character is in the lift with another person who brings out a knife (or any other type of weapon), what does he/she do? |
_________________
.: ₪ :.
'...' |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
Poor Imp
Is Not
Epic Novelist
Gender:
Age: 20
Joined: 20 Feb 2006
Posts: 3773
Reviews: 416
Country: the roof
Points
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 8:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Tov back-stepped, gaze flicking from sealed lift doors to his momentary if unwanted companion.
Straggle-haired, lips cracked, the man grinned. It was the switchblade that caught Tov's attention.
"Just got my hair cut, da? Honest," he said, "Switchblade's not the best thing, you know..."
"Until we get to the next floor, next floor," smiled the man, "Yes? and maybe you give me your coat and whatever's in it and not have to get a cut-throat."
"Er, hey - maybe not?"
Tov ducked, shoulder grazed by the other's reeling lunge. Face-first, the man hit the wall. And to his surprise, found he didn't have the knife any more, or what senses he had remaining. His eyes crossed.
"Bad grip, 'rade - right?" Tov was grinning, "Hey -didn't even have to twist your wrist."
--
Scenario: Your character is stuck in solitary, concrete-walled room with no windows. What happened? |
_________________
'We experiment with ourselves in a way we would never permit ourselves to experiment with animals and, carried away by our curiosity, we cheerfully vivisect our souls.'-Nietszche |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
