How authors make characters seem REAL! **** Characterization How authors make characters seem REAL! ****

How is it that a writer can create a character on a page and make readers feel as if they have met a real person? What characters in your books seem to have real motivations & personalities? Let’s Brainstorm…

If authors didn’t give details…

Good Characterization… Can make readers feel like even fantasy characters live and breathe!! The majestic white unicorn looked unsure of her next step. She had escaped from her brutal master at the castle, but where should she go now? Good Characterization…

An author might describe a character’s… Appearance Words Actions Relationships Thoughts/Feelings ****

Let’s Practice Real Quick… What might be this characters’ personality? Let’s Practice Real Quick…

Shy! Let’s Check!

Let’s practice real quick… What might be this character’s personality? As tiff busted through the door to her brother’s room she screamed, “it’s go time, little man.” Football season is her favorite time of year. Let’s practice real quick…

Tomboy Enthusiastic Let’s Check!

Create 2 charts! If you finish…steal time or write! 1. In your writer’s Diary (from your story) 2. In your Reader’s Diary (from the book you’re reading) Character Name AWART Character (personality) 1. 2. Character Name AWART Character (personality) 1. 2. Create 2 charts! If you finish…steal time or write!

Scene Boot Camp

Let’s see how “strong” our character’s really are… Strong characters… Seem real Have character traits (funny, carefree, honest, hardworking, etc.) Have real motivations Have real struggles Let’s see how “strong” our character’s really are…

With real characters, we can imagine what they might do in everyday situations. Real people have personalities that shine through, no matter what they do. Imagine…

Example…. Shawna Independent Fast Runner Creative Struggles in school but never asks for help Keeps all of her emotions in Great Actress Quiet Example….

Shawna’s black hair fell behind her head as she took the hair-tye that had been tugging at her head all day out and it fell to the floor behind her. Looking in the mirror she couldn’t understand why tears were welling up behind her eyes. ‘Push it out. Hold it in. What’s wrong with you?’ Shawna took one last look in the mirror and picked her toothbrush out of the red cup that she shared with her four siblings. Each one was brand new, always a bittersweet occasion because it was clean but hard and the new one left her gums sore. As the bristles of the toothbrush passed over her gums, she felt a tinge of guilt with each motion. Example….

Scene Boot Camp Character’s Name __________________ Character’s personality traits Character’s struggles Character’s motivations ****

Directions When you’re done with your brainstorming… 1. Come to the front and grab a “scene” from the box 2. Create 1-2 scene boot-camps (required) 3. When you’re done, steal time! Directions