On my Arvon Foundation course in early October, we had a workshop on characterisation led by Mavis Cheek and Paul Sussman. They showed us how well we must get to know our main character(s) if we want to ensure they are fully-developed. Ask them questions!
Here are a few they suggested…
1. What is your character’s name?
2. Are they comfortable with it?
3. When were they born?
4. Where were they born?
5. What do they do for a living?
6. Is your character married?
7. If so, to whom, and since when?
8. Where does your character live now?
9. Where have they lived?
10. Where would they most like to live, and why?
11. How many brothers and sisters do/did they have?
12. How do/did they get on with them?
13. Who were/are your character’s parents / guardians?
14. What jobs did/do they do?
15. How does/did your character get on with them?
16. Does your character have children?
17. If so, how old are they, and how do they get on with them?
18. Which family member is your character closest to now?
19. Describe a representative memory from your character’s childhood
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 My Kindle reader has become indispensable. Not only can I download books wherever I am (I have the 3G version), but it’s so easy to use. Slim enough to slip into a handbag, light enough not to cause heart failure when my suitcase is weighed at check-in.
But I’ve been worried about its susceptibility to damage, especially when travelling. I try to be careful with my gadgets, although the odd accident happens. (Let’s not refer more than once to the glass of red wine and my netbook keyboard…). On recent trips, I’ve wrapped the Kindle in a spare cloth bag, but that only protected it from dust and minor scratches. Now, I’m not intending to enter it for the Kindle-throwing championships or use it as something to prop up a wonky chair, but it needs some protection (Not in the Al Capone sense, you understand.).
I don’t necessarily want to hold it in my hand all the time I’m reading, so I looked for a combined cover and stand.
 The choice, material and price ranges are enormous. Usual story – buy what is appropriate for your needs and pocket. I got my Tuff-luv padded cover/stand through Amazon itself, but the vendor has its own site with on-line shop. I especially like the secure, rather clever system for the stand using Velcro tabs, the full width hinge and the padding which protects without compromising the stylishness.
The red thing? Black is sophisticated, sure, but a little unconformity goes a long way…
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Not a big scene, but which framed a confrontation, added a little pzazz as well as demonstrating my heroine’s hot temper.
As we cruised along the peripheral at max speed limit, setting citizens a good example, a silver Mercedes flew past us, cutting us up. We weren’t traffic cops, but I was incensed. I looked at Sentius, he pulled out the blue light, activated the roof clamp and siren. I floored the accelerator. Tyres squealing, I spun the wheel hard to the left and pulled my Giulietta out into the outside lane. A dark SUV braked to get out of the way. I rocketed around the long curve before the river crossing, weaving between vehicles that didn’t get out the way of the blue light.
We were catching up fast. The curve straightened out and we barrelled towards the Pons Apulius. The huge cable-tied bridge rushed towards us as the speedometer showed 130 kph. We drew abreast of the Mercedes. I eased the Giulietta relentlessly to the right, the rotating blue beacon reinforcing the message the front wing of my car was conveying. The Mercedes slowed and pulled over to the kerb right in the centre of the bridge.
Sentius hopped out, ran back to place with the flashing blue road light behind the Mercedes. He took up position nearside kerb, nightstick ready. I peeled myself out of the Giulietta, my hand on my holster. I rapped on the driver’s tinted glass window with the Furies behind me.
‘Open this bloody window. Now.’
All those years of watching Top Gear have at last come in handy…
Comments always welcome 🙂
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