Topic Task - Week Sixteen

We are at week sixteen. I hope you've been inspired by some, if not all of these writing prompts. This week we are looking at characterisation. To help you I've decided to give you a basic start to developing a character.

Characters:

1. Male and 14 years old.
2. Female and 23 years old.
3. Male and 49 years old.
4. Female and 75 years old.

Now you have to make them live. Think about how they might live, walk, speak. Are they happy, sad or don't give a damn? What might they do if they found themselves in a spot of bother? Would they help if they found someone in trouble, or would they walk away or worse film it on their mobile for posting on the internet?

Okay, you've created your characters. What are you going to do with them? I suggest you select one or two and write a short story that shows all their characteristics and how they interact with each other. And why not try to mix and match your characters to create different stories.

At the end of your endeavours have a look back at your work and ask yourself: Are these characters believable and could I sell this work? If the answer to these questions is yes, then send them out and see if you can get them published. Remember to use the Writers' and Artists' Year Book to help you.

So, off you go and get writing.

Is it adieu, farewell or goodbye?

I’m about to write the last sentences of my latest novel ‘Blades of Time’ and am feeling sad to say adieu to my characters. Hopefully it will be farewell rather than goodbye, and this won’t be the last time I meet with them, because book two is now in a sketchy plot form (needs much work) but promises to be a challenge for me. So many ideas, now all I have to do is work out how they will interlink and weave to create the book I’m aiming for.

Previously I mentioned winning a meeting with an agent. Well let me update you. I’ve sent off some sample chapters, synopsis and a mini statement about myself. I’ve been chatting with agented writers who have given me some idea of what to expect and the things I need to know. The questions to ask and information the agent will require. However, before I can do that the agent has to be interested in my work and me. I’ll let you know how it all goes, as always.

As for now, I’m off to write.