Exploring what your character wants
Hi Teachers!
Welcome to Week 2 of Teachers Write! I hope you enjoyed your first week. It was filled with inspiring lessons! If you're stumbling across this post and don't know what Teachers Write is, Check it out here.
Today, let's talk a little about characters and what they want. As you know, the plot of a story is basically all about what the character wants, and how they overcome whatever obstacle is in the way that keeps them from getting it.
Last year, I posted this lesson on making your characters real. I stressed how important it is to go as deep as possible when considering what your character REALLY wants. There's the obvious thing, yes, and that sets up the plot. But it's the underneath thing, the secret longing or deep desire or fear, that causes tension and suspense and conflict but ultimately drives your character over the obstacle to get it.
Once you've considered all of this, think more simply again, to how you might convey this deeper, more complex want in the story. How might your character express this want in a subtle way? Let's try it!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Monday Morning Warm-Up:
Here are some sentences you would work with to help convey what your character wants (some are more obvious than others):
I wish [insert "I" or a character's name] could just _________________
[Insert "I" or your character's name] have never told anyone this, but ________________
If [Insert "I" or your character's name] had the guts to tell
[insert character name] that __________________ , I just know that __________________
The only one who really understands [insert "me" or character's name]
is ___________________ and that's because _______________________ .
How did it go? Please feel free to share in the comments and I'll try to reply to everyone! It's OK to be anonymous, but if you don't want to be, leave your first name within the body of the comment box. I try to get back to everyone as quickly as I can but thanks for your patience.
Thanks for giving it a try!
Reminder from Kate's sign-up page: if you are participating in Teacher's Write and enjoying these lessons we are putting together for you, please consider helping out if you can. From Kate: "These writers are all volunteering their time, so we ask that you support Teachers Write by purchasing guest authors’ books when you can and requesting them for your school and public libraries. Please spend a little time checking out these writers’ websites and books." Thank you!
Welcome to Week 2 of Teachers Write! I hope you enjoyed your first week. It was filled with inspiring lessons! If you're stumbling across this post and don't know what Teachers Write is, Check it out here.
Today, let's talk a little about characters and what they want. As you know, the plot of a story is basically all about what the character wants, and how they overcome whatever obstacle is in the way that keeps them from getting it.
Last year, I posted this lesson on making your characters real. I stressed how important it is to go as deep as possible when considering what your character REALLY wants. There's the obvious thing, yes, and that sets up the plot. But it's the underneath thing, the secret longing or deep desire or fear, that causes tension and suspense and conflict but ultimately drives your character over the obstacle to get it.
Once you've considered all of this, think more simply again, to how you might convey this deeper, more complex want in the story. How might your character express this want in a subtle way? Let's try it!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Monday Morning Warm-Up:
Here are some sentences you would work with to help convey what your character wants (some are more obvious than others):
I wish [insert "I" or a character's name] could just _________________
[Insert "I" or your character's name] have never told anyone this, but ________________
If [Insert "I" or your character's name] had the guts to tell
[insert character name] that __________________ , I just know that __________________
The only one who really understands [insert "me" or character's name]
is ___________________ and that's because _______________________ .
How did it go? Please feel free to share in the comments and I'll try to reply to everyone! It's OK to be anonymous, but if you don't want to be, leave your first name within the body of the comment box. I try to get back to everyone as quickly as I can but thanks for your patience.
Thanks for giving it a try!
Reminder from Kate's sign-up page: if you are participating in Teacher's Write and enjoying these lessons we are putting together for you, please consider helping out if you can. From Kate: "These writers are all volunteering their time, so we ask that you support Teachers Write by purchasing guest authors’ books when you can and requesting them for your school and public libraries. Please spend a little time checking out these writers’ websites and books." Thank you!