*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
Printed from https://p15.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/8811-Playing-around-with-your-characters.html
Noticing Newbies: March 21, 2018 Issue [#8811]

Newsletter Header
Noticing Newbies


 This week: Playing around with your characters
  Edited by: THANKful Sonali LOVES DAD
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Many authors like to make character outlines.
Here's something that could give a unique perspective on this.

(PS - While this newsletter uses Potter characters as examples, non-Potterheads will be able to relate to it, too -- I've explained who the characters are.)


Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor


Dear Reader,

I run a Harry Potter discussion group, here in Bangalore (India). We meet face to face, once a month, to talk about anything Harry Potter.

Our most recent session got me thinking.

Instead of having a discussion on a given topic pertaining to Potter, as we usually do, we played a game. The game is called TWENTY QUESTIONS. For those who are not familiar with this game -- the 'clue-giver' picks a name from a hat. This name is of someone from the Potter universe. The rest of the participants have to then ask questions, to which the response can only be one of 'yes, no, maybe, I don't know'. Within 20 Questions and these cryptic answers from the clue-giver, participants have to guess the name of the character.

The discussions among the participants, while coming up with questions to pose, made me wonder -- could this be a new way of approaching a character outline? It wasn't necessarily the most obscure characters that were the most difficult to guess, but the most hard-to-label ones.

For example:

There's a character called Gellert Grindelwald, who used to be a friend of the hero, Dumbledore, in their youth. Later, the two friends parted, Grindelwald became a villain, and finally had a famous duel with his one-time friend, which Dumbledore won.

Now, this back-story is told to us against the main story of the current villain, Voldemort, and his battle against Dumbledore and Dumbledore's supporters. At one point, Voldemort wants a powerful wand which Grindelwald had once owned, but is now Dumbledore's. To protect Dumbledore from Voldemort, Grindelwald lies to Voldemort and is killed by him.

Now, the question asked in the game we played was: "Is the character a supporter of Dumbledore?"

The context of the question is -- is he a supporter of Dumbledore in the Dumbledore-Voldemort conflict ... but it isn't asked that specifically, and thus becomes grey. The character was-wasn't-was a supporter of Dumbledore, so does that rate a yes, a no, a maybe or an I-don't-know answer?

Interesting. A past conflict and a present conflict; two former friends pitted against each other; the evil one coming round and defending the good one at the end of his life.

Another example:

At Harry's school, Hogwarts, fifth-year students take external examinations. The examiners stay at Hogwarts for the duration of the exams.

The question asked, when the character was one of the examiners Griselda Marchbanks, was: "Was she a Hogwarts teacher?"

Well, no. She wasn't a Hogwarts teacher. She was an external examiner. However -- to be an external examiner, she must've been a teacher at some point in her career. And Hogwarts is the only school of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Britain. So, she must once have been a Hogwarts teacher. In any case, she was connected with teaching. And she had stayed at Hogwarts for the duration of the exams.

So -- is the answer to that question yes, no, maybe or I-don't-know? Given the entire gamut of characters to be narrowed down to one name, isn't this the best description of her? Or would it get misleading to say yes?

These non-labelled characters are what make a story come alive, a world ring true.

So try playing with your characters sometimes. See if you can slot them into yes-no-maybe-I don't know categories, and where that takes you!

Thanks for listening!
Green space sig with my name



Editor's Picks

By our authors!

 The True Story of Ice Cream  (E)
Response to prompt: "Write a fantastical account of the making of ice cream."
#2126239 by Natasha

 The Ache of Fright  (E)
"All are unnerved by the test ahead"
#2124365 by Charles ~ Irma

 A striving writer  (E)
The struggle every amateur goes through
#2124270 by Viji

 
STATIC
Unrequited  (E)
When love doesn't go both ways, poetry is born !
#2119843 by Danial Lucas

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#2149930 by Not Available.


The author of this one has requested reviews!
"~ Daddy Saved Every Written Communication From Us Kids! ~

All time favourites!

GROUP
WdC SuperPower Reviewers Group  (E)
Join the fun! We inspire reviewers through kindness and learning! Winner of six Quills!
#1300305 by Maryann

GROUP
The WDC Angel Army  (ASR)
Dedicated to promoting positivity, encouragement, and support to the WDC community.
#1188309 by iKïyå§ama-BacktoWonderland!

FORUM
Anniversary Reviews  (E)
Celebrate Writing.Com member account anniversaries with reviews. GPs and exclusive MBs.
#1565040 by Annette: Free & Wild in GoT

FORUM
The Writer's Cramp  (13+)
Write the best story or poem in 24 hours or less and win 10K GPs!
#333655 by Sophy

IN & OUT
Three Word Mayhem!  (13+)
Mayhem is afoot!
#555590 by Jay's debut novel is out now!

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
         https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Don't forget to support our sponsor!

ASIN: 1945043032
Amazon's Price: $ 5.99


Ask & Answer

Thanks for the response to "One Writer's Experiences

Elycia Lee ☮ Wonderland
THANKful Sonali LOVES DAD , your newsletter has come at the most perfect time because a friend of mine just joined the site but I have no idea how to introduce this overwhelming site to her. Your newsletter pretty much says it all. Thank you, Grum, for all your wonderful insights.

*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):

Send a comment or question to the editor!
Limited to 2,500 characters.
Word from our sponsor
ASIN: B07N36MHWD
Amazon's Price: $ 7.99

Removal Instructions

To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.


Printed from https://p15.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/8811-Playing-around-with-your-characters.html