From Beans to Brew Creating Characters

From Beans to Brew: Creating Characters

Full Description

Explore character development from birth to death. This course explores how to create believable and lifelike characters. Students will utilize hands-on techniques to explore their own lives and the lives of those around them for inspiration and details. Armed with these ideas, students will then create new characters or add stronger details to existing ones.

Outcomes:

NOTE: This is a self-directed course. Students will receive feedback on the final week`s assignment. Exercises completed before that week will be used to tailor the course to the student`s needs but will not receive individual feedback. 1. Student completion of weekly exercises. 2. Student completion of final writing project: either a short story or chapter placing their newly created or revamped characters in a story setting.

Assessment:

A. Students will learn techniques to identify character traits within themselves and others. B. Students will develop the lives of these characters and their surroundings. C. Students will learn to recognize which character details to include in writing and which to keep in the background. D. Students will produce a short piece of writing placing one of their new characters in a setting. E. Students will also learn techniques to make more in-depth and richer characters part of their writing in the future.

Week 1 Week 1: Choose a blend.

During this week, students will conduct field work at a local restaurant or coffeehouse. By noting details of visitors to these locations, waitresses, etc., students can pick up dialogue, dress, preferences, etc.

Assignment for the week is to create two new characters and list their individual characteristics, likes and dislikes, etc. Students will also be responsible for creating back story on both of these characters. Week 2 Week 2: Grind it up!

Students will take their two new characters from last week and place them in a different setting. Students are encouraged to choose a setting that these characters might not usually visit.

Assignment for the week is to create dialogue and plot between the two characters. Write a short scene description showing as many details as possible about these characters.

Students are encouraged not to merely "tell" a laundry list of character details but instead, to "show" the reader who these characters are by their actions and speech. Week 3 Week 3: Percolate

In week three, students are encouraged to do more hands-on research as journal keeping is explored.

Students learn how to take seemingly mundane details and make them interesting aspects of new characters. Week 4 Week 4: Drink it up!

During this final week, students take their favorite new characters and create a short story or chapter.

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SAMPLE LESSON WEEK 1
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During this first week, your assignment is to go to Starbucks, Einstein Brothers, or whatever local coffeehouse you choose. Waffle House or IHOP will also work.

Take a notebook or journal. You must order a cup of coffee (hot chocolate or tea is okay too). Get the bottomless cup. Sit on a stool if possible.

Drink your coffee slowly. Watch the people around you. Listen to how the people in the restaurant interact and dialogue with each other. Watch for blue-haired old ladies seated next to punk blue-haired teenagers. How are they dressed? What are they eating or drinking?

Write down details in all of the following categories:

Dress
Hair
Speech/Voice
Dialogue
Dining habits and choices
Method of transportation
Movements/gestures
Eyes/visual content
Location in restaurant
Name

Send this list of details to me by Thursday.

Thursday''s Assignment is to outline two characters using as many characteristics as possible. You are also responsible for writing a
back-story on these people. Give them a name. Figure out where they came from and where they are going. If you want to use one particular person, that is okay. If you would like to mix up several people, that is great too! Submit the details of these new characters to me by Monday.

Extra Credit Assignment: Talk to your waitress. Get her life story. Make her into a character. Leave a big tip. Go home and write her life story with your own unique details interspersed.

Contact Hours: 16