Experiencing Characters “…I want them to do things their way.” -Stephen King

We all know plenty of characters; I see plenty of them everyday. Meeting people on the street is the same as meeting them in a book; they are still people, so our skills in knowing others in the real world work here as well. We get to know others in four distinct ways.

What they look like. What someone looks like is important. What we do not control What we do not control Height Height A disability A disability Eye color Eye color Skin Color Skin Color What we control What we control Hair Style Hair Style Clothing Clothing Hygiene Hygiene Expressions Expressions Weight (to lesser extent) Weight (to lesser extent)

How they move. Movement tells you a great deal about a person’s energy level, emotional state, and if you’re observant, even their pasts. Do they run or walk? Do they run or walk? Are they quick or slow? Are they quick or slow? Are they always moving? Are they always moving? Do they move in the same way all the time? Do they move in the same way all the time?

How they speak. Perhaps nothing can tell you more than the words that come out of someone’s mouth. But as important as what they say is how they say it. Word choice Word choice Volume Volume Body language while speaking. Body language while speaking. For instance: “What you ‘bout?” and “To whom are you referring?” seem to be coming from two very different people.

Where they are. Let’s face the obvious, where we are from and where he hang define our characters. These opinions are not set in stone; for instance, a boy from the projects could be thought of as a hoodlum, but put him at Harvard and the story changes, now he is determined. These definitions my not be fare, but they do exist. What we can’t control: Where we are from. What we can control: Where we are now.

Analyzing a Person What they look like. What they look like. What we look like is important. People make judgments about us everyday based on our appearance. What we wear, how we style our hair, if we shave…all these aspects of our appearance tell others about us and our state of mind. How they speak. “What’ d’u bout?” “To whom are you referring?” These two speakers seem to be very different people. Often, its not a matter of what you say, but how you say it that determines other’s opinions of you. How they speak. “What’ d’u bout?” “To whom are you referring?” These two speakers seem to be very different people. Often, its not a matter of what you say, but how you say it that determines other’s opinions of you. Where they are. Let’s face a fact of life, were we are from and were we hang define our character. These opinions are not set is stone, for instance a boy from the projects could be thought of as vulgar, but put him at Harvard and the story changes, now he is determined. These definitions may not be far, but they do exist. Where they are. Let’s face a fact of life, were we are from and were we hang define our character. These opinions are not set is stone, for instance a boy from the projects could be thought of as vulgar, but put him at Harvard and the story changes, now he is determined. These definitions may not be far, but they do exist. How they move. How they move. How we move gives us important clues as to what’s in someone’s head as well. Are we quick or slow? Is our head down or up? These things tell us about the state of people’s minds long before they open their mouths.

Assignment Write a descriptive paragraph to describe the person (an abstract) behind the face. Based on the face and the features you see there tell this man or woman’s story. [Remember to continue to come back to the things you can actually see to tell this story.] Assignment Rules: All forms of “to be” are banned.All forms of “to be” are banned. Use concrete nouns and verbs which appeal to the senses.Use concrete nouns and verbs which appeal to the senses. Show don’t Tell.Show don’t Tell. Avoid all other banned words.Avoid all other banned words.