Character Warm Up

Monday Morning Warm-Up by Jo Knowles

June 11, 2012

The Prompt:

Think of someone you know well, someone you care about, or someone you love (or detest, that can be fun too!) and make a list poem like the one above, describing all of the traits that made that person special, unique, memorable, frightening (you get the picture). Try to avoid clichés. Instead, give us specific tidbits that show how the person's eyes sparkled rather than say they did--don't fail at it like me! :-) Once you have your list, circle your favorites. Think about why you like those the best. Now try to use similar ones to describe the characters in your works in progress. Give them their own particularities that might reveal something deeper about their personalities. But mostly, as I said last week, try to have FUN!

My Writing:

Decidedly Determined

Long, sleek black hair, falling straight to the middle of her back

Flowing like a cape around

her shoulders

Steele brown eyes, penetrating when disagrees, 

eyebrows straight to finish the staredown

Waits

Waits

Questions calmly

Eyes soft and sparklling 

like dark amber shining,

laughing, 

eyebrows relaxed

Waits

Waits

Comments softly

Almost always serious in class

eyes questioning,

smile flattened,

attending

Quiet

Focused

Finished

Ask questions

to create and add

to assignments

Tallest kid in class

Taller than the teacher

Stocky and strong, 

Grace with legs long,

a family trait;

Powerful discus thrower

Endurance basketballer

Formidable

Fierce

A force 

opponents

move away

Long strides in the hall

Surrounded by friends

Less shy

Voice soft yet strong

Encouraging and teasing

Flicks her head back

to adjust her hair

Brushes hair quickly

away from her face

Serious again

Always prepared

Always willing

to learn and revise

Steady thinking

thinking

thinking

then

working

working

a question

working

finishing

Always loving

Always helping

Grandmother

Guides her walk

Sits and talks

Waits for meetings

Entertains herself

Til needed again

Patient

Devoted

Decidedly Distinguished