| Task
2: Developing the Character |
| Now that you have
an idea for a story, you need to start thinking about the main character.
It will be your job to make your character live in your reader's imagination.
Read this excerpt from Superfudge by Judy Blume and think about
how you could describe Fudge. |
"On the morning of the move, Mom woke
me at six o'clock. I still had to pack my carton of special things.
But first I wanted some juice. I'm always thirsty first thing in
the morning. On my way to the kitchen I passed Tootsie's crib.
She was watching her mobile and gurgling away. She was also covered
with trading
stamps.
They were stuck to her arms, her legs,
her belly, and her face.
She even had one on the top of her head,
and one pasted to the bottom of each foot. "Hey, Mom..." I called.
"What is it?"
"It's Tootsie."
"But I just..."
I didn't wait for her to finish.
"Hurry up, Mom!" I called. Mom raced in, buttoning up her shirt.
"Oh no!" she said when she saw Tootsie. Then she shouted, "Fudge!"
"Hello, Mommy," Fudge
said, crawling out from under Tootsie's crib. He was wearing his
disguise - black eyeglass frames attached to a rubber nose, with a stick-on
beard and moustache.'" |
| This family seems so alive and real.
We are able to draw a picture in our minds of a baby in a crib covered
with sticky stamps. We can understand how Fudge might want to "trade"
his new baby sister for something else because he may feel a little jealous.
How do writers make their characters so real?
Read some hints from these writers to learn about character development.
Make notes on your Task 2 activity sheet"Character
Portrait."
Resources
An
Interview with Judy Blume
Tips
on Creative Writing |
| Now create a "portrait" of your main character
that may include information about: likes/dislikes, personality, family,
friends, and any other details you would like to include about your character.
Click here to see a sample
character portrait. |
|