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Characterization JournalPardon the terrible pun in the title, but today we're going to put our drawing skills to work in a simple and fun characterization exercise.

Why?

Getting a sense of your characters is one of the most important parts of writing convincing fiction. When I edit people's work, one of the biggest things that pops out is when characters don't act like themselves. One fiction writer told me you need to know everything from what your characters at for breakfast to what they would do if they passed someone stranded on the side of the road.

So in an attempt to get to know one of our characters better, I propose this simple activity.

You'll want to grab a journal or a piece of paper and a pen.

PRACTICE

Step 1: Draw an outline of your character.

You can see my outline to the right. It doesn't have to be perfect or very advanced. Just draw a large outline of a figure.

The bigger the better. You're going to be writing in it. Once it's drawn, you can write his or her name above the outline.

Also, if you don't trust your drawing skills, you can print out this picture. And if you're really brave, you can get a big sheet of butcher paper and draw a really really big outline.

Step 2: Write an important scene.

Fill in the outline with a story that's important to the character you've drawn. It could be:

  • A story of something traumatic from their past. An emotional scar or wound they carry around, whether they admit it or not.
  • A fantasy about the best possible outcome. How would they like their story to end?

Step 3. When you're finished.

When you're done, take a picture of it with your cell phone and post it in the comments (there's a little button that says +Image in the bottom left of the comment box. You can upload your picture there).

You can tape your character to the wall above your desk, and every time you look at her, you'll remember what she carries around with her everywhere she goes.

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris, a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

Want best-seller coaching? Book Joe here.

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