CHARACTERIZATION EXERCISES
Try this: Under Great Duress. In real life
and in fiction, a person is exposed most
Other options are exercises 2, 3, or 4 on
clearly when under duress. In fact, under
p. 155 in Burroway
the harsh glare of fiction, a writer can best
illustrate a character's strengths, flaws,
cowardice or bravery. Write a scene or
short story featuring a character who is at
Still other options are exercises 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7
the end of her rope and or is somehow
on pp. 196 in Burroway
facing an extreme test of her character.
Your character could receive bad news,
witness a crime, be faced with a moral
dilemma or a tragic disease, or be wrongly
accused.
Try this: Write a character
biography. Trace a character back to his or
her roots by imagining facts about his or her
life BEFORE your story begins. Include vital
statistics, details about his or her
appearance, career, home, love life and
family.
Part 2. Go deeper. What does your
character have in her refrigerator, what does
she fear most, what is her darkest secret,
what does your character do on her day off,
on Saturday night, who does she turn to
when the chips are down?