Today, you’ll write about the most interesting person you’ve met in 2014. In your twist, develop and shape your portrait further in a character study.
By Who’s the most interesting person (or people) you’ve met this year?
Our stories are inevitably linked to the people around us. We are social creatures: from the family members and friends who’ve known us since childhood, to the coworkers, service providers, and strangers who populate our world (and, at times, leave an unexpected mark on us).
Today, write a post focusing on one — or more — of the people that have recently entered your life, and tell us how your narratives intersected. It can be your new partner, your newborn child, or the friendly barista whose real story you’d love to learn (or imagine), or any other person you’ve met for the first time in the past year.
Today’s twist: Turn your post into a character study.
In displaying the psychology of your characters, minute particulars are essential. God save us from vague generalizations!
— Anton Chekhov, Letter to Alexander Chekhov; May 10, 1886
Describing people — whether real or fictional — in a way that channels their true essence is an invaluable skill for any writer. Through the careful accumulation of details, great authors morph their words into vivid, flesh-and-bones creations in our minds. How can you go about shaping your portrait of a person? Some ideas to explore:
Don’t just list their features. Tell us something about how their physical appearance shapes the way they act and engage with others. For example, see how the author of this moving photo essay, which documents the final weeks of a woman dying of cancer, captures the kernel of the woman’s spirit with a short, masterful statement:
Her eyes told stories that her voice didn’t have the power to articulate and she had a kindness that immediately made me feel like we had been friends for years.
Give us a glimpse of what makes this person unique. We all have our own quirks, mannerisms, and individual gestures, both physical and linguistic. If you’re looking for inspiration, read this blogger’s portrait of her French host family — after reading the first two paragraphs, you already have intimate knowledge of who these people are and what drives them.
Need a helping hand? Head to The Commons.
I’m taking this challenge. 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Interesting task this is! …ehhmm…I have a draft in my shelf that almost fits this task… But I’m wondering. Can we do fiction?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes! It’s your post, these are just suggestions for inspiration:) I’m doing mine as fiction.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, veronicalangley, that’s reassuring!
(Thank God I found someone doing fiction too! )
LikeLiked by 1 person
… And this is what I came up with, I hope you enjoy it.
Dear Familiar Stranger http://hardethaewoh.wordpress.com/2014/09/22/dear-familiar-stranger/
Your honest comments and criticism are welcomed everyone.
LikeLike
Writing is simple yet effective and I could imagine the whole seen running through my head including the stain on shirt and you being sheepish 😛 but yeah nice work 🙂
Keep blogging 😀
LikeLike
People Architecture. I have a plan to start building.
LikeLike
My response to the challenge:
http://mstoywhisperer.wordpress.com/2014/09/22/the-unspeakable/
LikeLike
Oh man this will be a difficult one for me I haven’t met too many people this year, ill have to see what I can come up with.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same with me, I’ve never meet a new close friend this year. Does online friends count though?
LikeLike
Any person you feel like writing about counts! You have the freedom to tweak the assignment as you see fit.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Reply To Writing 101: A Character Building Experience – Growing Up –
http://impossiblebebong.wordpress.com/2014/09/22/growing-up/
LikeLike
I got confused in middle somewhere… I am really sorry but I did… 😦
LikeLike
What was the challenge for Saturday 9/20??
LikeLike
I think we had the weekend off.
LikeLike
There are no weekend exercises.
LikeLike
Loving the challenge.. going back to the same place that your blog should be personal.. make it friendly so people can relate to you. 🙂
LikeLike
Day 6 post: Character Study:
http://memolsblog.wordpress.com/2014/09/22/writing-101-day-6-character-study/
LikeLiked by 1 person
No real challenges on weekends…just a few revisions ,twists & brush-ups!
I like your blog name- by the way
LikeLike
Challenge accepted!!!!
LikeLike
I liked this challenge. A character study was hard work but I enjoyed it.
http://honestpuck.wordpress.com/2014/09/22/weaving-a-spell/
I’d love any feedback, particularly constructive criticism.
LikeLike
I chose to write about my Spiritual Father today! I sent him the link as well so that he could read it. Enjoy: http://leadersintraining.wordpress.com/2014/09/22/leadership-the-strength-of-a-man/
LikeLike
I took this challenge but I posted it in private. But instead of posting nothing in public today, I wrote about a writer who’s book I’m reading now.
LikeLike
Oh man, I really blew this assignment.
http://mindfuldigressions.com/2014/09/22/im-going-to-skip-this-one/
LikeLike
You might as well have completed the assignment … 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good point. And, according to some of those who commented on my post, they think I did complete it! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
… when she sang it, she put her palms together in a perfect prayer pose and gazed steadily at the space in front of her, she did not move her head or eyes during the rendition, and slowly sang all the lyrics from memory …
read more at:
http://marichulambino.com/2013/11/02/ate-elaine-believed-for-every-drop-of-rain-that-falls-elaine-lambino/
Happy characterizing!
LikeLike
I like this challenge but I really haven’t met anyone new this past year, at least not anyone I have gotten to know very well. Sigh, maybe I should still write about them and say why I haven’t gotten to know them, or why I should make better effort to get to know them. I’ll just start writing and see where this goes 🙂
LikeLike
“I’ll just start writing and see where that goes.”
That’s pretty much always the best course of action.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is not going to be easy…..ummmmm. But I love to read works written by people who can write like this!! 🙂
LikeLike
This was a little tougher, but a great writing exercise. http://mewhoami.wordpress.com/2014/09/22/she-still-smiles/
LikeLike
The most interesting person I met in 2014 is http://emo1956.wordpress.com/2014/09/22/ive-not-changed-my-mind/
LikeLike
writing almost destroyed me, but now kinda saves my butterscotchmilkcakes.
LikeLike
an attempt of sorts: http://resilientdonna.wordpress.com/2014/09/22/writing-101-lost-and-found/
LikeLike
Meet mister Jeffrey Titus Maganga!
http://drieskewrites.wordpress.com/2014/09/22/beacon-of-hope/
LikeLike
I hope I can do this. Been feeling sick all day so I wonder if I’ll be able to post anything coherent but there is nothing more than I love than creating characters so this will be fun! I’ll have to think about who I met this year.
Definitely doing fiction like others because I have always wanted to post this character in my head.
LikeLike
http://wp.me/p1j16x-1aq
LikeLike
Finally done!
Assignment VI
http://iamathinker19.wordpress.com/2014/09/22/a-character-building-experience/
LikeLike
Perhaps a little off the mark of the intention of the prompt. I was feeling snarky. Feedback about the ending?
http://whisper2scream.wordpress.com/2014/09/22/a-person-of-interest/
LikeLike
I fell off the bandwagon for a few days last week but here’s my post for today! http://teezywrites.com/2014/09/22/a-character-building-experience/
LikeLike
Hey!Its a nice writing but I do feel the lack of assignment work, sorry for this rude(kinda) comment but I hardly got to know her. Wishing there would have been more :<
LikeLike
This might be the hardest one so far. http://burgesstaylor7911.wordpress.com/2014/09/22/what-a-character/
LikeLike
A difficult task, but I muddled through, and accomplished it in a roundabout way.
See the results here: http://wp.me/p4P21q-2f
I do love a challenge though, so I am looking forward to the next challenge.
LikeLike
I’m always late smh
http://diariesofthenight.wordpress.com/2014/09/23/writing-101-a-character-building-experience/
LikeLike