Writing Exercise 3: This Could Get Dangerous
Author: Jenny Harker

Defining your fictional characters' voices is important. What
is equally vital, though, is grasping your characters'
humanity, the core of their fictional soul.

A good way to learn how to do this is by observing an incident
through another living person's eyes.

For this exercise, choose your spouse, a relative, or your best
friend to play the fictional character in a 500-word dramatic
scene. Write using either third person or first person point of
view.

Traumatic situations force people to reveal their true self. In
other words, actions speak louder than words.

How would your chosen person react in a traumatic situation, a
blind date, for example, or a wildfire?

Don't be blinded by your feelings for the person. You love your
spouse, but how would he or she truthfully react if faced with a
wildfire?

Consider objectively what you know about the person, and then
what you sense.

We react instinctively toward other people, though we often pay
no attention to the quiet voice in the back of our minds. Listen
to what your quiet voice tells you about the hidden humanity of
your chosen person, and then weave the information into your
fictional character.

The humanity you need to bring your character to life is hidden
behind the friendly smile you see every day.

You might want to keep this exercise away from the eyes of your
chosen person. He or she might not appreciate being made into a
fictional character.

Do not use your chosen person's name for your character! Your
life may be on the line.

Grasp your character's humanity and you will give your
character a soul your readers can believe in.


About The Author: Visit http://www.writeup.com/blog/jharker to
read her other valuable fun writing exercises.