Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Character Warm Up


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

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