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Creative Writing Workshop: Lesson 02


WhoGuru
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Creative Writing Workshop Lesson 02: Character Creation

1: Where does your character live?

Knowing the setting your character lives in is a very important element of any story. Your story will grow out of a sense of your character's daily life, lending it a realism your readers can identify with. The mundane, everyday moments breath believability into your character. Do they live alone or with family? Roommates? Friends? Does your character have a pet? How did they come to live there? Does he or she like living there or dream of somewhere else? Are they sloppy or neat?

2: Where is your character from?

Where did life start for your character? This will determine how they communicate with others, the people they know, the places they frequent or frequented. Also this will define the way your character sees the world, as your upbringing taught you certain world views.

3: How old is your character?

A very important question as in each decade of our lives our behavior changes here and there. A thirty year old will react very differently from, say, a teenager. Knowind the age of your character is very important.

4: What is your character called?

Perhaps the most important piece of information for you and your reader. A name can relay information like ethnicity, upbringing, social class, age and background. Above all be sure to pick a name that speaks to you.

5: What does your character look like?

Is he or she tall or short? Thin, athletic? Perhaps dumpy and out of shape. What color are their eyes and hair? Do they have a tattoo or maybe a birthmark, scar? These are the details that make your character live for both you and your readers. You need not have a clear picture but the basic details are important. They will help the readers believe in your character.

6: What kind of childhood did your character have?

Many facets of your characters' personality will be defined by the way they grew up. Did they have a happy home or a broken one? Were they loved or abused? Affectionate or distant? A character's past can determine if they are ruthless or stable and confident, defensive or a coward.

7: What does your character do for a living?

Your plot will determine how much or how little information you need on your character's job. What someone does for a living affects how they speak, their mannerisms. A police officer will have a very different manner of speech of personality from a store clerk or someone unemployed as well as defining how they feel about issues from safety from to money.

8: How does your character deal with conflict and change?

How your character deals with hardship is what gives a story it's depth. Is he or she a hero, a villain, a coward or a peacemaker. Are they more likely to remain calm when confronted, stalk off or react violently?

9: Who is in your characters life?

How a person interacts with others reveals character and adds depth to a story. Interactions with others also offer the chance for dialogue, which helps to break up exposition and deliver needed information in another, entertaining way. Decide what kinds of people are best needed to convey your information and try to choose those would naturally be in your characters' life.

10: What is your characters goal or motivation in this story or scene?

You will have to ask yourself this question repeatedly as you write, whether for individual scenes of the overall goal of the story. Everything your characters does will come from the intersection of what they are trying to achieve, their personality and relationships. Everything you've answered for the above questions. When you're unsure how your character should behave, return to the questions you've already answered and use those to guide your writing.

For your next lesson, create a detailed description of a character, using the questions above. You may answer each individually or simply write a paragraph or more to do so. Whichever format is more comfortable for you.

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My Character: Canna Ranadrienne

Canna lives in a small Elven community with her family. She was born in the village and has known little beyond it's borders all her life. The stories of her people are her history and she has a particular fondness for the legends of an abandoned Elven city not far from her village. She is in her late teens, just nearing adulthood for her people and often chafes at still being considered a child.

She is a lithe Elf, slender and has a willowy strength. She has spent years since early childhood becoming an expert with the twin daggers she carries with her always. Her hair is long and blond, trailing to her knees and she wears it in a trio of habitual braids falling from the nape of her neck, decorated with the feathers of a rare Pegasus at the ends, wrapped in bead-work. Her eyes, a crystalline green, miss little.

Though she often hunts with the village's Rangers, learning their trade, she has yet to choose what she wishes to do with her life. Her family has always loved her and yet been confused as to how to handle their headstrong daughter. Canna's father hopes she will join the church of their village, putting aside her wild youth. Her older sisters both went to the church when they reached their majority while the eldest, her brother, became a swordsman for the nearest city. He of all her family has encouraged Canna to become a warrior, training her without the knowledge of their parents. When confronted, Canna is quick to anger but slow to attack, preferring to let her opponent have the first blow. She thinks before she acts once the initial anger passes her.

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My character: Captain Spivey the Vehement

1: Where does your character live?

He currently lives as an old pirate, past the height of his days, still commandeering his ship the Legion Pandemic but not as feverishly as he did once before. His crew of mostly Khajits and Argonians still slave under his waning control, fearful that his former wrath might flare up any day. His ship is his home and has always been, only stepping on steady land when he absolutely must. His cabin on-board holds grisly trophies and various souvenirs from his younger days, when he traveled more unsettled waters.

2: Where is your character from?

Captain Spivey was brought up to be a merchant from the day he was born. His father, the local tradesman in Anvil, aspired for his son to become a merchant like him. As Spivey grew up he found an interest with the near-by sea and made a compensation, a sailing merchant, to accommodate both he and his father's aspirations. As a young sailor, he fared well, recruiting up to eight crewman and sailing off to lands as far away as Morrowind at the height of his career. Then one night a storm blew him off course and changed him forever...

3: How old is your character?

He is thirty-eight years old, quite old in the eyes of his crewmen and the pirates that fight the sea with him. His old fervor has run dry as of late, but it is mostly due to the lack of adventure in the safe waters he now scouts.

4: What is your character called?

Captain Spivey the Vehement. Most call him by Captain Spivey, like his crew. His first name is unknown. The law enforcement of Tamriel, especially the Imperial Legion, like to call him the "Pandemic of the West Sea", and is why his ship earned the name Legion Pandemic.

5: What does your character look like?

He is a grisly man of average height, but large impression. He always carries a saber that glitters black, made by his own hands, and cut from the rock of a volcano. He wears typical pirate attire, complete with the pirate hat. For a pirate, he surprisingly has no tattoos. He has a dark beard cut close to his face that gives him a masculine and aged look. His eyes, always flickering about, give him the crazed look that completes his image.

6: What kind of childhood did your character have?

His childhood was as one would ever hope for, a loving mother and a loving father. Both pushing for him to pursue a merchant career in Anvil. He eventually left for the sea, and become a completly different man. Captain Spivey has not once stopped to reminiscence of his parents left behind in Anvil since those fateful two years on the tropical island.

7: What does your character do for a living?

He is captain of the Legion Pandemic, with a crew of eleven. He hunts the seas for lonely merchant ships ripe for plucking, then with the swift agility only the Legion Pandemic can perform, he rams the ship with the pronged spike on the bow and then his crew of agile Khajits swing down upon the poor ship from ropes above and take control. Captain Spivey then makes a decision on whether to salvage the ship, or to take the goods and leave the ship, and its inhabitants, to the murky depths of the ocean. He rarely ventures to land, only to make essential repairs and restocking (that cannot be supplied by pirating).

8: How does your character deal with conflict and change?

Usually with a quick slash to the throat with the razor sharp edge of his black saber. He is the one that rules the high seas, and anyone who opposes shall have to answer to his mighty ship and the edge of his sword.

9: Who is in your characters life?

Captain Spivey is used to having his way, and gets angry when things are not in his favor. He only knows the men of his crew and the occasional women that happen to "slip" onto his ship from neighboring ships; and are usually used then quickly dispatched off the boat, whether that be the sea, or if the lady is especially nice, the land... the piercing rocky shore kind of land... Captain Spivey is definitely not one to consider someone else's life as a valuable thing.

10: What is your characters goal or motivation in this story or scene?

He will not reveal it to anyone, but at times he wishes to be loved again. To be rid of the life of a pirate, and live as a humble merchant once again. He often denies this feeling, and does not give it a second thought, but the lingering memories of his past life cannot be ignored forever...

EDIT: Ok thanks Red!

SCHOLAR EDIT: You did the lesson exactly right Critter! And well done! You don't have to write paragraphs, itemizing them by question was also one way to do it, as said at the end of the lesson. :)

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My character: Selin 7-Tails

1: Where does your character live?

In Balmora, at the moment. This is his 4th residence in a span of 7 years. His abode is quite humble in size, as well as his foodstuff supply.

2: Where is your character from?

The "Khajit Deserts", or Elsweyr Deserts. Former member of the warrior sect of a tribe that resided deep in the dunes, a legendary clan of great power.

3: How old is your character?

23 years old.

4: What is your character called?

Simply his name. Selin Seven-Tails. This is not his original name, it is a title he earned for the desert snakes he killed to make his knives sheath. (Very deadly desert snakes, and very rare.) This showed his expertese as a hunter and tracker for his tribe.

5: What does your character look like?

A khajit of 5'8", lean build. Fur is a rust-ish colour, and has a few black spots on him.

6: What kind of childhood did your character have?

He was (for the greater part of life) a regular Khajit, but as he began training in hunting and tracking, he was just above average, nothing super or spectacular. He was always not as good as one Khajit, named Reanii, and it angered him. This was his primary motivation for killing the snakes for sheath leather, to show this fellow up. Apart from this, a normal childhood. As a teenager, at age 16, he was expelled from the tribe, though he was never told why, one morning he woke up exiled, no one would say a word to him, no one would even aknowledge him until they all deicded to run him out of the village. For 2 years, (age 17, to age 19) he worked as a slave on a Galleon. It was an indentured servanthood, in which he gained a sum of money that let him buy a living space, however small it may have been.

7: What does your character do for a living?

Selin is a free agent for whoever pays him, he does not ask questions about the job, as long as he gets paid. Alot of the time, he does short courier jobs, or short fighters guild assignments that there arent enough people to handle.

8: How does your character deal with conflict and change?

Selin tries as best he can to hold himself to a certian personal code of morals, But there are moments where his lines can become blurred. He is used to change, and deals with it well.

9: Who is in your characters life?

Jazi, his wife, and Rinit, an imperial who now runs a sucsessful armory, Selin was his first(and only, for awhile) investor.

10: What is your characters goal or motivation in this story or scene?

Vengance for Jazi, and finding her. This is what drives him for as majority of the story. (I cut out a large part, and it's part of a short, 4 book set. The entry I put in is a part I wrote that night when I got to see the thread. The next three will be his adventured traveling around in search of Jazi. )

Note: Of course I will be modifiying the story as I go along and learn new things from these lessons! Thanks Who!

And to both Critter and Who, I really like the characters!

A young elf, open to influence, and looking for a road to go down, and the weathered pirate who might just be looking for some love. Cool stuff guys! biggrin.gif

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  • 3 months later...

1. Where does your character live?

Aesgir the Wild roams Skyrim with his band of mercenaries, the Steirk Tefhod, looking for wealth and adventure.

2. Where is your character from?

He grew up near the capital city of Skyrim, Winterhold.

3. How old is your character?

37

4. What is your character called?

Aesgir the Wild. He earned his name from being so fierce in battle. His Thu'um was like thunder and his eyes seemed like icy blue flames.

6. What does your character look like?

Aesgir is built like a mountain. He has long golden hair, and fierce grey-blue eyes. He caries a great silver edged sword on his back, and is mostly unarmored save for sturdy bracers, boots and reinforced leather pants.

6: What kind of childhood did your character have?

His parents owned a timber mill which provided wood for the city. He worked hard with his father, felling trees and sawing them into planks and beams. He learned to make furniture and to build houses. When he was old enough to leave home, he left to learn how to use his voice as a weapon and tool.

7. What does your character do for a living?

He’s an honorable mercenary.

8. How does your character deal with conflict and change?

He trusts his instincts to guide him through hard times, and relies on his physical strength and prowess.

9. Who is in your characters life?

His fellow warriors and comrades in arms: great friends who would follow him even to death. Recently a young imperial has joined his troop, and he looks out for him. He’s never had a son, and sees himself in the boy. He wants to teach him the way of the voice.

10. What is your character’s goal or motivation in this story or scene?

He desires to protect his friends and people, but glory, honor, and wealth are nice bonuses.

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  • 1 month later...

1: Where does your character live?

Freya Borealis, lives in a few different locales, being a Ranger she is more comfortable up north enjoying Bruma and Chorral mostly. A Nord by nature she loves a good drink, good friends and a good hunt. She had been looking into other places to settle down, since being a Ranger has it's perks. Especially since she enjoys finger things in life and has a bit of a treasure hunter streak in her.

2: Where is your character from?

Originally her folks came from Skyrim and she moved from there to Bruma when she was a little girl. To her the bitter winter was like summer, frolicking in the snow. Of course keeping to some traditions of her family she ventured into other affairs. Hunting to make fur clothing for herself. Learning how to use swords, which she quickly learned to enjoy. If the enemy is not bleeding it's not hurt. Of course blunt weapons were fun as an orc associate said " Hit it until it doesn't move anymore." Of course the favored saying was Hit it until it dies. Freya had a tough start loosing her folks when she was young when they were heading down to Chorral to sell some pelts and do some hunting. It was the dead of winter when there was a blizzard. On a narrow path her mother lost her footing and her father went to save her but both ended up falling to their demise. Young Freya alone continued walking down the path, and arrived in Chorral alone. With no one around, she had to fend for herself, which she could thanks to her training.

3: How old is your character?

Mid to late twenties, still youthful looking.

4: What is your character called?

Freya Borealis- Ice queen, Icicle death, Winter's fury and many other names.

5: What does your character look like?

Fair skinned with light copper colored hair. Sometimes kept in a ponytail sometimes loose and curled. A little taller than the average Nord female, Her body though muscles is feminine and curved properly, despite being raised around rough the "Viking" types that were her family and their friends. Despite all this she truly worries about how she looks, and will find things to make her look better and more attractive, unless of course she has to go into battle or go hunting. Then she'll wear appropriate things, sometimes.. she just feels like mixing both and looks good doing it.

6: What kind of childhood did your character have?

Freya had a very good childhood aside from her childhood. She loved the life she's had and does not regret anything. Still having yet to use her voice as a weapon she is skilled in other things. While growing up she's had to do various things to survive, most of these were done free in terms of money but she charged in other things. If she brought so many alchemy components for a wizard, that wizard would teach her magic. She did this all throughout her childhood, including some more illegal activities, which apparently had landed her in some favor with the thieves guild. Despite all her hardships, she's retained a pretty decent personality.

7: What does your character do for a living?

What needs to be done, hunting for pelts and furs selling goods in the market place from the different trips she's gone on. Living mainly as a Ranger she lives comfortably, and by comfortably she can live in the upper class if she'd like. But she's enjoyed Chorral and Bruma for a long time now, of course she's an oppurtunist. So any jobs that come her way she'll likely take them up. She's been debating about going into another field.

8: How does your character deal with conflict and change?

Freya deals with conflict and change very well, and fluidly. If one is violent towards her and there is no chance of stopping it. She ends the fight however she has too, violence is always an option there. With more political things she's found herself in the middle ground, as well as religion as a whole. This maybe troubling to some, but to her it's an opportunity. Of course this could lead to dangerous territories.

9: Who is in your characters life?

There are not many in her life that she could consider friends. Acquaintances are the closest that she has, however she is reasonably friendly towards others. If one could call anyone her friends it would be the few mages she's met from Bruma, and Chorral. Mostly those in Bruma is she closest too. Though she's not as powerful in magic as some, she can wield it as well as she can a sword. Which isn't too shabby.

10: What is your characters goal or motivation in this story or scene?

Freya seeks out to find a pure niche in her life, do well at it and live live comfortably in a home where she can relax and feel good. And of course amass all sorts of trinkets. She's fairly spontaneous when it comes to things. But one of her main focuses in life is to get into the Mage's guild and get up in the ranks and focus on the mental aspects so she can have the feeling of being balanced in mind and body.

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  • 4 months later...

1: Where does your character live?

In a tiny stone cottage just outside a small village in the Great Forest. It is surrounded by an extensive herb garden and filled with the traditional tools of her trade.

2: Where is your character from?

She was born in the bustling Elven Gardens district of the Imperial City to wealthy parents from magical backgrounds. From the day she was born, it was considered something of a foregone conclusion that she would end up in the Mages Guild. At first she resisted her parents wishes but, finding that she had an aptitude for magic, and found a surprising level of enjoyment in it, she gave in. She took up residence in the Arcane University when she enrolled there at the age of 18.

3: How old is your character?

Her early 60s, although the years have been kind.

4: What is your character called?

Her name is Lesa Herl. The villagers refer to her as Nanny Herl, Nanny Lesa, or just Lesa

5: What does your character look like?

She is of average height, and is growing slightly more dumpy in her retirement. Her face retains it's somewhat hawkish appearance; high brow, sharp nose, small mouth, and has fewer wrinkles than would be expected, limited to deep creases in her forehead, hinting at a life of furrowed brows, and a few litle laugh lines and crow's feet. Her light blue eyes retain a twinkle of youth. Her silvery grey hair is kept in a tidy bun at all times. She usually wears an old set of faded grey robes with matching a matching, slightly saggy pointed hat, or a comfortable dress, as well as an assortment of charms and talismans.

6: What kind of childhood did your character have?

Her parents were very loving, and ensured that the young Lesa had all she needed, but Lesa was constantly irked by their insistence that she should follow the path they felt was natural. Her childhood was fairly uneventful, living, as she did, in the safety of the Imperial City, and her peace was interrupted only by occasional arguments with ehr parents .

7: What does your character do for a living?

She was a master-wizard in the Mages Guild, and was well-respected by her colleagues. In fact, she was almost made archmage, but retired from the guild before the process of deliberation was completed. Now she works as a village witch, making potions and medicines, and seeing to the magical needs of the villagers. On the side, she loans books to the villagers and, in her old age, has taken to making cakes and conserves.

8: How does your character deal with conflict and change?

Given her age, change is obviously something she can have some trouble with- she has settled into her retirement and enjoys the familiarity of everything around her. She does not, however, actively resist change, or cause problems when it occurs; though it may bother, sadden or inconvenience her, she will always eventually settle into a new order of things. Lesa's preferred method of dealing with conflict is by avoiding it altogether; by avoiding rubbing anyone up the wrong way, she retains cordial relations with most people, hence she was able to last so long and do so well in the highly politival world of mages. When she does come into conflict with others, she skillfully remains calm, however angry she may be, and her stern will adn iron gaze are often enough to diffuse a situation.

9: Who is in your characters life?

She lives alone except for a messenger crow and her black cat familiar, Pircilicou (Pirc), who, although he doesn't speak, is very intelligent, and is able to communicate with Lesa through meaningful looks and actions. She maintains regular contact with a number of her one-time colleagues from the Guild, some of them because they are genuine friends, and some who collaborate with her while she goes through her quiet experiments or projects. She is well-liked in the village, given that most of the villagers have been helped by her somehow.

10: What is your characters goal or motivation in this story or scene?

In the story, her main motivation is to rescure her long-standing friend from whatever has taken him.

Sorry if this is all a bit brief, I hope it's alright.

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