Today’s exercise for fiction writers is on characterization. Our present is created from our past, and this in turn reflects on our future. In terms of the main character in your novel or short story, this past is often never revealed, and yet it is why they have become the kind of person they are.

Your assignment today is to create a short biography of no more than 500 words that is the potted life story of your main character. Where were they born, what was their home like life, did they have siblings and if so what relationship did they have with them, did they enjoy school, what did they like, what did they hate, what was their most treasured possession, what was their greatest secret, what was their most memorable moment, and what moment do they wish they could forget.

Although this will never be used in your fiction as it is, you might find a hidden quality or two that will add a new dimension to your story.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 6th, 2002 at 6:00 am and is filed under Creative Exercises. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.