Can Your Character Pass the "Mundane Test"???
| It's easy to create a character who fights villains and saves the world, but it can be tough writing an interesting story about an ordinary character and still make it interesting! Question: Can I get to know the "real you" just from interacting with you in class? Will I know everything important about you just from this one setting? I think you get to really know a person when you interact with them in multiple settings. For example, I always seem to learn a little bit more about my students' wild sides when we go on a field trip together! Or when I come to the Fun Fair in the evening! Different settings allow you to act differently! Roll one of our 12-sided dice (ONCE) to see what mundane (boring) situation I've put your character in (on the ThingLink to the right). Are you able to describe their actions AND their thoughts, feelings, and emotions in this setting? |  |
If not, you need to develop your character further in your mind. This character needs to be an ordinary person who leads an ordinary life. (Later on, they can do extraordinary things, but not yet!)
When you are able to imagine their actions AND thoughts, feelings, and emotions in this mundane setting, it's time to try out another! But this time, I need to know what NEW personality trait or behavior we can learn about your character with this new setting! Each new mundane situation should allow to learn something new about your character.
When you are able to imagine their actions AND thoughts, feelings, and emotions in this mundane setting, it's time to try out another! But this time, I need to know what NEW personality trait or behavior we can learn about your character with this new setting! Each new mundane situation should allow to learn something new about your character.
Here is an example (How Claire behaves when trying to study for a math test):
Claire sat down to study her math, but immediately got up to get a drink. Once her thirst was quenched, she sat back down but could not find a pencil! She walked over to her friend Jessica's table and borrowed one, then returned to her seat. Two minutes later, she got up to go to the bathroom. Claire certainly was having trouble focusing on her math!
In this mundane situation, I learned that
- Claire might struggle with attention.
- Claire may need some assistance getting started, or might be better off studying with a partner.
- Claire might prefer to avoid situations like studying by going to the bathroom instead of asking for help.
Skill Drill:
- Roll your die (dice).
- Read the mundane situation.
- Write at least 4 sentences that show what your character does, says, thinks, and feels in this situation.
- Explain below what your reader learns about your character in this mundane situation (see example above).
- Repeat with a new situation, but make sure we learn something new about your character each time!
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