Today's Quote - E.B. White

Thurber did not write the way a surgeon operates, he wrote the way a child skips rope, the way a mouse waltzes.

Tips on Writing Great Characters

Check out this comprehensive list of character-writing tips from UK blogger Rob Hopcott.

Assignment #4 - Before I Knew You

Welcome back...to Tuesday Morning Writing Exercises on Wordsicle.

Today's exercise involves a particular character that you already know well. Decide who that is.

Maybe its the protagonist of your current work in progress. Maybe its a new character that is just starting to form in your mind. Maybe its a minor character that doesn't feel completely real yet. Or maybe its someone very real - someone you ride the bus with or take a class from, if you don't have a fictional character to work with. Choose your character.

Now imagine that person in detail...all the obvious things you know about him or her. His habits, good or bad. What she looks like....Get comfortable in what you already know about him.

Now, think back...to the very first time you 'met' this character...think of the first moment that they became real to you. Pinpoint the first time that this character entered your story.

What was he or she doing, as s/he was introduced? How will your reader's currently 'meet' him or her?

Perhaps Tommy first appears in a scene in which he's fishing at the edge of a pier...a storm is brewing, but he's oblivious...Or perhaps we first meet Lenia as she emerges from a cave, unaware that her life is about to change forever...(If your character is a real person, pinpoint the first time you became fully aware of this person. How did you meet him or her in real life?)

Now for the assignment:

Clear your mind of everything but that initial scene - the introduction of your character. See and feel everything in detail. The room or the barn or the car she's in...the time of day...the temperature. Everything. And when you are completely in the moment...GO BACK FURTHER. Go back...

Imagine what this particular character was doing FIVE YEARS BEFORE YOU 'MET' THEM...Make it up, right now. Imagine him or her -- and what s/he was like before you knew anything about them. Five years before they entered your story. Five years younger...

Imagine the specific day, five years prior...what were they doing, feeling, eating, planning, plotting, wishing for? Was he naive? Hardened? In pain? Excited? Depressed? Studious? Rich? Give him or her a specific history...

In 500 words or less - describe a specific day in the life of your character, as it happened, five years before they entered your story. Don't try to tie the events of that earlier day into your current story (or reality). Just imagine who the character was then, and write precisely and with detail, what they were doing, what they were feeling, etc.

Don't send your first draft. Polish your 500 words of text...then post your writing in the comments trail...

Start now...

Tuesday Writing Exercise UPDATE

The latest installment of the Wordsicle Tuesday Morning Writing Exercise will be up by 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday (EST), at the latest.

Join in! Comments/selected exercises will be published on the blog...as before.

How we loved 'ya, Miss Snark

I join hundreds of Snark fans across the globe in wishing the divine Miss S a happy retirement - but more importantly, in thanking her for ever deigning to live amongst us at all.

Thank you, O Snark, for providing insight and inspiration and encouragement (and a slap with the clue gun when needed). It changed my life...and I don't say that lightly.

Slush in peace.

Today's Quote - Maria Lenhart

The fact that writers will go through so much to remain writers says something. It would be far easier (and nearly always more profitable) to become a real estate agent.

Tuesday Morning Writing Exercises Starting Again

So - I'm starting the Tuesday a.m. writing exercises again...

I'm selfishly doing it for myself, I admit, as I seem to have hit a stagnant spot in the pond and I'm just drifting in circles now...

So - if there's anyone out there (....hellllloooooo???) - come back on Tuesday and join in the dunking.

We did have a good following for a while...and then I moved right on past my writer's block and got a lot done (on everything but the blog)...so let's try again.

And if we LIKE it, I promise to keep posting, AT LEAST on Tuesdays...

Today's Quote - John Gregory Dunne

Writing is manual labor of the mind, like laying pipe.

Hooray! I won something!

It feels great! 'Specially because it came from the Almighty Snark! She liked my "Battle Hymn of the Snarks"...and it was a whole devotion of fun to write...AND it may have cured my writer's block, too. (Yep, I'm the one who was losing confidence just a day ago!) Thanks, Your Snarkness!

Writing Exercises

If you haven't participated in any of the previous exercises...scroll down and have a look. We've had some good participation and great comments. I've personally found it helpful.

Whether you're someone who participated in the past, or someone brand new who'd like to help help create this mini, informal writer's community, leave me a comment below and if there is enough interest, I'll start posting Tuesday Morning Writing Exercises again.

Also - what would help you feel motivated and connected as a writer? I started this blog for myself, but the point is to create something that feels like community, so I'm open to suggestions.

I'm a writer first, blogger second - and I do apologize for the downtime with this blog. I'm trying to post more regularly - and if you like the idea of regular writing exercises, I'll definitely do it!

Today's Quote - Christopher Lehmann

Rice Krispies happens to be one of my favorite junk foods, just as I regard Michener as superior among junk writers.