People

•  First, find a picture of a person who interests you (preferably someone you don't know, and probably not a celebrity).

• First, look at the person. Then describe them carefully. (Physical appearance.)

• What do you think this person's like? Describe their character.

• They have a secret. Something that may have happened way back in the past, something they've never talked about, something they've tried to forget. What is it?

• In the present, something happens to remind them of this secret. Maybe a letter or a message, maybe a scent or a glimpse of a familiar figure, maybe a piece of music. Whatever it is, it disturbs them. And things start to happen.

WRITE THE STORY!

Creating a character

Characters from the Duolingo language app.

* Choose a first name and write it down. (Don't think about your answers for two long; just go with whatever pops into your head.)

* Choose a surname, and write it underneath.

* Write down a physical characteristic about their face - eg piercing blue eyes, lots of wrinkles, soft red mouth.

* They have some sort of habit that they don't notice but other people do - like drumming their fingers, straightening cuffs, twiddling with a ring. What is it?

* What do they do for a living?

* What's their happiest memory from when they were a child?

* What are they afraid of?

* What do they want most of all?

* Brainstorm a few of their characteristics - eg cheerful, impatient, painstaking, anxious, confident.

So now you have a character. Put them into a story - which involves a journey of some kind.

Lucky Dip

This will be the last task of this strange term: at the beginning, I made a folder in my email inbox and called it Class During Corona, and I guess that's what it's been. It seems a long time since those sunny April days, when the lack of traffic noise made the birdsong sound louder. I don't know yet where or how we'll meet in September, but for now, we are going to have our usual summer break.

For the last task, an online version of the Lucky Dip story exercise, where normally I pass round a number of envelopes, each containing several possibilities - one for character, one for setting and so on. The challenge is to construct a story round these suggestions. A bit like a sort of literary rounders game.

Choose one from each list. I don't quite know how we can introduce the element of chance - if you want to do that, it's up to you to find a way. Otherwise, just choose a bit of what you fancy.

Constraints have an odd way of setting the imagination free. Usually, we get some intriguing results from this exercise, so I'll look forward to seeing what emerges from the depths!

A random pair of ruby shoes!

Character

A nurse

A dustman

An investment banker

A gardener

Setting

A park

A bridge

Beside the sea

A train station

Feeling

Joy

Anxiety

Fear

Amusement

Turning point

Selling/moving/losing house

An unexpected visitor/letter

An encounter with a stranger

A wedding/funeral/christening/retirement party.

Random element

A pair of shoes

A picture

An old saucepan

An expensive phone

Creating characters

For many writers, characters are the most important part of any story. Author Inbali Iserles has created - for the lockdown - a series of videos about how to write a novel. I settled down happily to watch the one on plotting (watch it here) - which is not my strongest point; but found that for Inbali, plot really comes from her characters: they drive the plot - not the other way round.

Here's a lady you might recognise. Is she always this calm? Would she really rather be somewhere else? And is sludge green really her favourite colour?

So let's create some characters - and the stories, hopefully, will follow!

First, a very simple exercise. Think of a person you've seen around; not someone you know, but just somebody who's caught your eye, whom, perhaps, you've wondered about. (If it wasn't for the lockdown, I'd send you out to do some people-watching in a coffee shop or in the park, but alas that's not possible, so you'll have to dredge your memory banks. That man who walks the streets with a hunted expression on his face; the elderly woman who's always exquisitely dressed, but never seems to talk to anyone.

Now, describe their appearance. You might, at any stage, find yourself  becoming intrigued by your character, getting involved, telling their story, and that's fine - just do it! Follow the thread!

But if not, start to ask yourself some questions about them.

• What name would fit this person?
• What piece of clothing would s/he be happiest wearing?
• Does s/he have any characteristic habits? (Eg pushing hair back off face, fiddling with a necklace she always wears, driving like a maniac?) Or maybe s/he has a pet phrase - 'At the end of the day...', 'Least said, soonest mended...'
• What does s/he care about most in the world?
• What is s/he secretly frightened of?
• What does s/he most want?

Now - write about a day in the life of this person. Maybe a significant day - someone's birthday - maybe their own - or wedding, or graduation. Write about their day, from their point of view - and try to show all you've learnt about their character through what they do, how they do it, what they say, how they say it.

So not: Vivian was very frightened of deep water, but: Vivian flinched as she gazed into the still, deep water of the lock. She moved away from the edge. She couldn't help but remember... etc.

But don't agonise, and don't worry about getting everything in - just do what Inbali says, let your character lead the way - and have fun!