Week 7: Character

Mon 2/22--Journal entry due on Canvas

• • Go back to your favorite cafe or place to observe people.

    • Describe people's appearances:

      • clothes

      • gestures

      • bodies

      • and, especially, their faces

  • Word count: 900 words (but only 300 need be on the topic above--the rest are up to you!)

Tues 2/23--Read Chapter 4, "Building Character: Characterization Part II" in Writing Fiction.

• Skip the short stories and exercises at the end of the chapter.

• Optional: read Charles Baxter, "Loss of Face" in reader pp. 33-45

Thurs 2/25--Read "While the Women Are Sleeping" in the reader, pp. 136-149.

• • Think about how Javier Marias describes his characters: what methods of characterization does he use and to what effect?

Fri 2/26--Writing exercise--to be shared on Canvas (note: other students will be able to see what you write):

• • Choose ONE of the following options:

    • Based on your people-watching and inspired by the story "While the Women Are Sleeping," take the strangest character you observed, imagine having the most bizarre conversation possible, and see where the dialogue goes...

      • Make sure to describe the character clearly and fully--really show us this person

  • OR: Choose exercise #2 on page 155 of Writing Fiction.

    • OR: Choose exercise #3 on page 155 of Writing Fiction.

• Word count: 600 words