Welcome to our monthly writing game!
In honor of St-Valentine’s day, I decided to create a writing prompt which will help accentuate the importance of relationships within a plot line, therefore adding depth to the story. The purpose of this exercise is to focus on how different types of characters display affection.
Lesson 11: Love Pursuit
The basics of a story is a plotline which follows the exploits of the main characters as they attempt to resolve a conflict while making their way to their intended goal. The characters are the writer's most important tool, as their interactions help describe everything from their inner thoughts, to the world around them.
But in order to want to face adversity and move the story forward, characters need a reason, a purpose. Though inspiration can come in many forms, feelings such as adoration, affection, happiness, or love can be powerful motivators which can drive characters.
The goal of today’s game will be to demonstrate how different types of characters would pursue the object of their desires. Would they try to be romantic by sending flowers and chocolate? Try to impress someone by flexing muscles or performing heroic acts? Or would they kidnap someone and lock them in a dungeon?
Rules:
- Below are eight different character roles, each with their own personality and motivations.
- Select THREE of the mentioned roles to work with..
- For all three characters, write a short story and how they would try to win over a potential romantic interest.
- Explain how their interactions differ from one another, and why.
Character Roles:
- Mr. Hero: Central character in a story, whom the reader usually wants/expects to win in the end.
- Personality: Courageous, resolute, honest and strong willed.
- Motivation: To ensure balance or keep the peace.
- Dr. Villain: Represents the obstacle or opposing force in a story that must be overcome in order to succeed.
- Personality: Wicked, untrustworthy, determined and back handed.
- Motivation: To take control of his surroundings.
- Ally Sidekick: A character that will always assist, either with actions or information, in order to help the plot progress.
- Personality: Loyal, reliable, helpful and lighthearted.
- Motivation: To support others in their noble acts.
- Goon McHenchman: A character who follows orders from a higher authority, usually on the side of evil.
- Personality: Uneducated, brutish, unwavering and devoted.
- Motivation: To follow the orders they were given.
- Master Mentor: To teach or represent the lesson that must learned within the story in order to achieve the goal.
- Personality: Insightful, wise, patient and selfless.
- Motivation: To share their knowledge with others.
- Rascal Scalawag: Rogue character that can play a role on either side of the moral spectrum, but is usually pursuing their own interest.
- Personality: Manipulative, vulgar, self-centered and lazy.
- Motivation: To achieve their own goal.
- Prof. Thinker: Character who is always rational and likes to give reasonable answers to complicated questions.
- Personality: Intelligent, aloof, eccentric and innovative.
- Motivation: The advancement of science.
- Ms. Romance: Love interest of one or more characters. Is usually seen as the goal in certain stories.
- Personality: Spirited, sensual, affectionate and vain.
- Motivation: Receiving the adoration of others.
If anyone is interested in sharing their entries, feel free to post them as a reply to this article, or send them to me privately. I may create a page for submissions in the future for those who are willing to have their work shared.
Hope you have fun giving this exercise a try.
Until next time!
Cheers,
Patrick Osborne
No comments:
Post a Comment