At the Wordstock teachers' workshop a couple of weeks ago, one of my brilliant I-want-to-be-him-when-I-grow-up instructors helped with characterization by having us write:
___________ is the kind of person who ____________.
We had to come up with one negative and one positive trait that would illuminate our character. I wrote "Jake is the kind of person who smokes on campus even when the principal's watching" and "Jake is the kind of person who visits his grandmother every weekend." I was amazed at how simple yet effective this exercise was - this kid I created in my mind just minutes before was suddenly taking moral shape, which is usually much harder to establish than physical shape. I wanted to write more about him! And I wanted to write about everyone around me...
In the creative writing class I'm teaching, I have already given this assignment. It was hard for students to go beyond the obvious at first - when I asked them to make up a statement about me, they started with "Mrs. S is the kind of person who wears a green sweater." I asked what that tells about my character; we agreed not much. I think they were a little nervous about using me as an example, which is understandable, but I prompted them with questions - How do you think I talk to my kids? Where do you think I shop? Who do you think I stalk at grocery & video stores? (KIDDING) They finally settled on "Mrs. S is the kind of person who notices lots of little things." Which we determined is good and annoying, but mostly good.
Now try not to do this the next time you're standing in line somewhere.
15 comments:
I love this exercise. Can I steal it for a PROMPTuesday?
Love,
Debbie, the kind of person who steals other people's intellectual property, but asks first.
Love this idea! I remember when I first started teaching, the rules were explained to me as, "Beg, borrow, and steal!" I recently attended a workshop that gave us an idea on imitating a poem, my elementary school students came up with the most striking and insightful writing ever! Then one girl, beaming with pride brought me the same idea, but from her high school cousin's English class. Can I use this? : )
Excuse me, "May I use this?"
Stephanie is the kind of person who makes a great friend.
True.
"Lots of little things" such as commas and periods? Sparked my curiosity!
YES yes yes! to those who want to use the idea - obviously I didn't generate it myself :D And who am I to stop the flow of creativity around the world?
San Diego Momma & Jenny: I would love your e-mail addresses so I can respond personally more often. And we could more easily share all of our fabulous writing stuff...
I'm gonna try this for my NaNoWriMo novel... which has stalled a little. I won't lie. Thanks for the idea, Teach!
Bad Mom is the kind of person who inspires creativity.
Bad Mom is the kind of person who stalks hunky young men in their places of employment, but is too chicken to snap a photo so her friends can live vicariously through her stalking.
bad mom is the kind of blogger who is "good and annoying" :)
gee you're starting to sound like family now!
I came to your blog to see if you had a WW posted, but found something so much cooler. I love this blog.
Thanks for this neat blog,
Elizabeth is someone who admitedly judges too quickly, but always give genuine time to learn the facts.
Bad Mom is the kind a person that makes me want to be bad. :o
-Stu
Haha! Your husband's comment is funny! :)
Agh - my computer won't let me e-mail you. Something about configuring my Outlook, and I can't remember the password...
Mrs. S is the kind of women who writes a blog but can't text msg or take pictures with her phone.
Teacher's pet
lol love it :-)
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