Character Assassinations – Week Three Assignments

Fun Assignment: Find pictures of people who look my main characters.


Sunday (20100912): Did I complete all of last week's assignments? If not, why not? What specific things got in the way? How will I prevent or avoid these pitfalls in the future?


Write a statement about one specific writing goal I want to achieve by Saturday, 20100918.



This week is focused on my main characters. Do I know enough about them?





Gotham Writers’ Workshop has a couple of questionnaires to get to know my characters better. Part of their 1st questionnaire includes 7 questions to make me really think of my characters. 


This week’s seven assignments are to answer the seven questions for my two main protagonists and my one main antagonist. Of course, I will adjust the questions based on my time period.


Bonus Assignment: What are my main characters' birth dates? What are their astrological signs? What are their main good and bad characteristics based on the astrological signs? Do these match my character sketches for them?

Write in joy. Write in pain. Write On!

(c) vvk

Finally Some Real Writing Work

I have put a page up top that will list the posts that contain each week’s assignments.

I will put up pages of the five (5) most recent weeks’ assignments. These will be rotated out: as the newest week is posted the oldest week will be dropped.

I have read tons of books and blogs on how to write and how to be a writer (my procrastination has no limits.)

The number one piece of advice that all professional writers tell you is that you must write. That’s how you learn. That’s how you get words on paper.

I’ve never had a problem writing. I write every day and every where. The problem for me has been writing towards my stated goal.

The following assignments are derived from Build a Better Story by Hank Quense.

The idea behind the assignments beginning on Tuesday is to create a roadmap of where my story will go.

As Hank Quense says, “Writing the initial draft is the last step in the process, not the first. Think of the manuscript as the roof on a new building. The builder can’t start the roof until the foundation and walls are in place. Similarly, a writer shouldn’t start the manuscript until all of the elements - - foundation and walls - - of the story are finished.” 

This makes sense to me. I suspect many writers do the “foundation and walls” in their heads but many admit to doing these sorts of things on paper.

These assignments look deceptively simple but by doing them my thoughts will be clarified and my story work more focused.

 
Week Two: My Story Basics


* Special Note: Review all of the assignments for the week before beginning.


Fun assignment - Write a list of book or story titles for my publications.


Sunday (20100905): Did I complete all of last week's assignments? If not, why not? What specific things got in the way? How will I prevent or avoid these pitfalls in the future?

Write a statement about one specific writing goal I want to achieve by Saturday, 20100911.


Monday (20100906): Write a statement refuting or debunking each excuse on my list (from Monday, 20100830) of the 10 reasons why I haven’t pursued or achieved what I want. 


Tuesday (20100907): Write my story idea in one very basic sentence.


Wednesday (20100908): Write a brief ending to my story.


Thursday (20100909): Write a one sentence story summary.


Friday (20100910): Write a basic list of the main characters.


Saturday (20100911):  Write a basic plot problem statement.


Bonus Assignment:  Choose a favorite book by an author I admire. Find out how many words the book contains (paperbacks are approximately 250 words per page.) Divide that total word count by 365 (days.) Can I write that many words a day?

Do It, Write! – The Beginning

This will be a writer’s workshop, 

eventually maybe even a writers’ group 

where serious critique can take place.

I want to be a published and paid novelist. I am tired of talking about it. My intention with this project is to assign myself daily, weekly, monthly and yearly assignments that will bring me to a goal I will define using this project. There will be fun things to do along the way, like designing my first book cover to wrap around a book so I can see my first book on a shelf in front of me.

I know that to reach a goal, you define the big picture and then break it down into small increments that will get you there. So that’s what I am going to do here. Join me if you want.

Persistence is the #1 key to getting what you want.

per·sist - verb 

1. to continue steadfastly or firmly in some state, purpose, course of action, or the like, especially in spite of opposition, remonstrance.

2. to last or endure tenaciously

“Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and Determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "Press On", has solved and will always solve the problems of the human race.” - Calvin Coolidge

 Week One: What do I want?

Fun assignment - Notebooks and pens. Find a small notebook that will fit in a purse or pocket. Get felt tip markers that can be used upside down and while half asleep. Start keeping these with me at all times to make assorted notes.

Get a main notebook (paper) for a daily journal. Find a favorite pen that flows easily over the paper. These will be used to loosen up my brain.

Sunday (20100829): Write one sentence about what I want; why I am participating in “Do It, Write!” Be as specific as possible in 25 words or less.

Monday (20100830): Write a list of at least 10 reasons why I haven’t perused or achieved what I want. Using a black marker, scratch out each excuse until I can’t see them anymore.

Tuesday (20100831): Write “I am a …” 10 times based on the sentence from Sunday.

Wednesday (20100901): Write a list of 10 things I am willing to give up to achieve this goal.

Thursday (20100902): Write answers to the 5 question words (who, what, when, where, why) based on the sentence from Sunday.

Friday (20100903): Write a sketch of my daily/weekly schedule as it is now. Can I dedicate one hour a day to achieving my goal? Write a time commitment statement.

Saturday (20100904): Write a commitment statement based on the sentence from Sunday.

Bonus Assignment: Write a paragraph or two of a memory of when I first wanted my dream.

“When we look back, the only things we cherish are those which in some way met our original want; the desire which formed in us in early youth, undirected, and of its own accord.” - Willa Cather

I will be my own life coach. I know what needs to be done. I must do it.

This will be the basic format each week. I will post the week’s assignments on Saturdays. I will post my responses to the assignments here on this blog, daily if I can but definitely by Saturday – no excuses. I will be back later today with my Sunday assignment and the Fun Assignment.

This week is fairly easy since it is the first week and the holiday weekend is coming up.

Write in joy. Write in pain. Do It, Write! (c)