Literary Circles: Creative Writing Assignment

Choose a character in the novel who interests you.  Now imagine that you are that person.

Using that character’s name, personality, voice, knowledge, and background, write one of the following. Use first person point of view, as if you actually are this character.

Choices:

Ø      A poem about something important to the character (15 – 30 lines suggested)

Ø      A story the character  writes—one that the character makes up (1-2 pages suggested)

Ø      A letter that the character writes to either  a) another character in the book, or b) a person you make up  (1 – 2 pages suggested)

Questions to help you generate ideas (feel free to spin or tweak these any way you want)

What does this character really want?

If s/he suddenly inherited $100,000, what would s/he do with it?

What is the character’s favorite place to be?

If s/he were tempted to steal something, what would it be?

Handwriting gives a lot of clues about personality. What does his/her handwriting look like?

What kind of music does s/he listen to?

What’s the most embarrassing or proudest moment in this character’s life so far?

Was s/he happy as a child? Why or why not?

What was his/her favorite toy(s) in childhood?

What prejudices or hypocrisies does s/he have?

What really hurts him/her? (emotionally, not physically)

What is s/he afraid of?

What’s his/her biggest secret?

Who’s his/her worst enemy?

What person/people would s/he spend the rest of his/her life with, given the chance?

What does s/he keep close by at all times, and why?

Presentation possibilities: reader’s theater; “radio” show w/sound effects; story narrated by one person while others act out scene; one-act play; make a video of your group acting out the scene.