Character Sketch

 I found even the title of this activity an interesting prospect. While I have obviously read a lot of book in my time, and had had a bash at writing something in the not too distant pass, I hadn't come across these character introductions and descriptions being called sketches. While I was writing the second of my book I already have I had taken the decision to try and avoid having anything that was a large character description or introduction. Instead I was planning on slipping in small character notes through the story as they felt relevant as this felt more organic. 

In the character sketch I did for the course I did use one of the character's (the main character for the book) to build the sketch. I was aware I still wanted to try and stick to my choice to avoid anything that felt like it was too 'exposition-y' and so have tries to make all the details that are mentioned tied to some piece of activity or action in the scene. I do quite like the outcome, so I din't know whether this may get retconned into the book at a later point. In my head this piece does take place directly before the current chapter one that I have gone for an 'in media rez' start. Which this still would be, but I don't know that back tracking to before Mabon has left for the activity actually helps or hinders what is in place. 

Anyway, here is Mabon's character sketch:

Mabon’s fingers worked expertly from muscle memory as he braided his blond hair along the side of his head over the ear. The movements worked both to calm his nerves and focus his resolve. Looking into his own green eyes reflected back at him he recited the plan back to himself; voice barely above a whisper. He pulled the wrist guards onto his forearms, checking once again that his blades and bolts where stocked securely in the assorted sheathes about his person. Once under his coat they would all be undetectable, even against his slender frame. A different person might have smiled wryly to themselves at the analogous notion, ensuring the tools of his trade were as hidden as he always tried to be. However this time of prepatuon was almost meditative for Mabon, centring himself through the same process and pattern he’d carried out multiple times. Lacing his boots securely before sliding soundlessly out the door; it was some time before he’d be near the library but being in the safety of his silent movements was now second nature.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Imagining Writing Spaces

 The course is talking about writing rituals and building those up. I find it so bizarre that they're called rituals, for me the word has a strange spiritual tone. Like you're putting together the pieces of a spell or ceremony with the idea of the things you put into place then summon the writing into being. That the story is already out there waiting for you to call it forth into the world from some other dimension. Perhaps that is how it feels for some. I suppose when I was getting into the flow state of writing it does feel  somewhat akin to that. But I don't know if thinking of it as a ritual adds a superstitious element for me rather than thinking of writing as a skill and craft that you practice. I am aware I am saying this as someone with a grand total of zero published works. But, hey, I wrote like a fifth of a first draft. That's got to count for something? No you say? You're probably right. However for this activity we were to write about what we felt woul...
Read more

Fact and Fiction

 For this exercise we were challenged to write two paragraphs. One should contain 3 factual and 1 fictitious elements and a second with the ratio inverted. I found that by just thinking of something from my own personal experience for both and then twisting a different number of things was the easiest approach but here's what I have come up with. I'm not going to say which is which paragraph; I'll leave it to you to guess. I am vainly saying that like anyone will ever read this, or indeed be bothered to have a guess.  She stood at the top of the stairs, peering down at the front door. It would be about an hour till it opened again when he came home. As she watched, the conversation they’d had replayed over in her head yet again. She teetered on the top step, wondering what he’d feel, if he’d feel, if she were at the foot instead when he got home. ~| |~ The sky flashed angrily over head, followed shortly afterward by growing growl that bashed at the ears. But even the storm ...
Read more