Learning to flesh out characters is one of the most important things a writer can do. Characters who have depth and a "real" life, connect the reader to the story...make them care...make them keep reading. Below you'll find a practice writing assignment to help you learn how to build deeper characters. - Boot Camp Staff
Writing Assignment
Ann Tatlock & Yvonne Lehman
Go to the obituary page in your local paper and choose one person listed there. Your assignment is to turn this person into a character in a novel. (This doesn’t have to be a novel you’re actually working on at present.) After reading the highlights of his or her life, feel free to use your imagination to fill in the blanks. Write a paragraph fleshing out this person, making him three-dimensional.
Your character description should include but is not limited to:
* Age and physical description at the time of the story
* Occupation, if applicable
* Main strengths
* Main weakness/character flaw
* Strange habits or unusual hobbies
* External problems the character is facing
* Internal problems the character is facing
* What does this character want? What is keeping this character from getting what he wants? (This is the main conflict that creates the plot.)
Let your imagination soar and have fun!
Bring your assignment to boot camp and email a copy to mountainbreezeministries@gmail.com
