Writing from The Heart: In-Depth Writing Exercise 4

Writing from The Heart

"Writing from The Heart" is a workshop on creative writing, creative drawing, and creative drama. There are three available versions of this workshop: one for beginners on the secondary, tertiary, and graduate levels, and another for practitioners. A third version of this workshop is designed as an outreach program to disadvantaged and underserved audiences such as the disabled, the poor and the marginalized, victims of human trafficking, battered women and abused children, drug rehabilitation center residents, child combatants, children in conflict with the law, prisoners, and gang leaders. This third version incorporates creativity and problem awareness, conflict resolution, crisis intervention, trauma therapy, and peacemaking.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

In-Depth Writing Exercise 4

When writing about a character, are you capable of thinking, talking, and behaving like that character in real life? If your answer is no, then you are incapable of fully developing that character for your work.

Go through a day in the life of your character and think, talk, and behave like him or her: from the time you rise from bed through the time you go back to bed. You will find that your preferences in food, in clothing, in colors, and in items for personal use will conform to those of that character. So will your vocabulary and your speech pattern. Explore the interests and activities of that character.

Needless to say, I hope, you do not go over the edge if your character is a psychopath, a sociopath, a serial killer, a rapist, a drug addict, a nudist, a prostitute, or anything that will bring yourself or others to ridicule or to harm.

After you have successfully performed this exercise--using a hopefully normal, wholesome character--you will find that you have acquired more empathy with and a better ability to connect and relate to others, not to mention a deeper understanding of yourself, for every character you create is really a facet of your Self.