Lesson 2
Short Story Workshop
Week 2: The Characters and Events
Characters
- Write a short character sketch (3 or 4 paragraphs) for each of
your two characters, the protagonist and the antagonist. Each sketch
should show your character reacting to a situation in such a way
that we learn something about him or her. This could be something as
simple as getting short-changed at a convenience store, or as
complex as reacting to loss of a loved one after an argument. This
may or may not be in your story, but it will show the way your
character deals with problems and pressure. This method or pattern
of reaction is what you will use in your story ... not necessarily
the event itself. In other words, you may create another unrelated
event that produces the same character behavior.
Events
- Arrange and fine-tune your sequence of events. Remember to use
rising action. There is an initial conflict, which leads to a
battle, which turns into a larger battle, which increases to an even
greater battle. In each case, your protagonist's reaction to
the conflict only makes it worse. This continues until the
crisis action. The crisis action occurs when we know the outcome of
the conflict.
- After the crisis action comes a resolution. This is where we see
the fruits of what was learned from the conflict. Sometimes the
resolution is implied and sometimes it is demonstrated.
- Know your story before you write your first draft. Think about it
when you go to bed. Think about it while you're eating breakfast,
taking a ride on the bus or walking your pet alligator.
Mentally try out different scenarios and play them out. Try talking
like your characters might talk. Imagine how they would look and act
at a restaurant or at a sporting event. Let the story grow within
you for a few days before writing the first draft.
Post only your character sketches.
When reading the character sketches of
fellow members, try to find three adjectives that describe the
protagonist's and antagonist's personalities
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