IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS Session 1: Building Character

Welcome to session one! Here you will be learning about common story pitfalls and how to build great characters. 

Part 1: The Worst Story Ever

Lorna and Adrian share a story exercise on what not to do.

Resources

Worst Story Ever PPTDownload

EXERCISE: Do Your Worst! (10 minutes)

For this exercise we will be trying to create our worst stories! Bring out your clichés, overwritten descriptions, and flat characters.

Check out the downloadable worksheet below. Then begin with one of the following prompts of famously bad first lines, or just start writing!

  • “It was a dark and stormy night.”
  • “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
  • “The chickens and the cows were out in the field grazing, brooding silently over the eternity of grasses.”
Do Your WorstDownload

Take about ten minutes to free write and join us again once you’re ready.

Part 2: Characters That Stand Out

Here is a little bit about Lorna and Adrian’s favourite characters…

EXERCISE: Your Favourite Character (5-10 minutes)

Take a few minutes to write down all of the qualities of your favourite character from fiction. Make sure to consider their flaws and bad habits as well as their good qualities!

Part 3: Build a Character

Lorna and Adrian discuss character fundamentals.

Resources

Build a Character PPTDownload

EXERCISE: Build a Character

Open up the worksheet below to begin building your character! Please feel free to use some of the attached clip art characters as inspiration, search the internet for portraits, or come up with a character of your own devising.

Build a Character Writing ExerciseDownload

Part 4: Looking Forward to Week Two

Lorna and Adrian share what’s coming up next. 

WRAP UP

Congratulations on completing session one and remember to give your characters flaws! See you in session two for tips on adding conflict to your story. 

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