Defining Moments from The Accidental Novelist

THE EXERCISE

1) Make a list of the 10 Defining Moments of your life or your character’s  life.

2) From each moment, write at least 3 IMAGES that go with that moment. SEE it happening, as if on a movie screen.

example:

Father’s suicide: briefcase, crystal bird, open door to balcony
Ran away from home: black limousine, red “otel” sign, stained carpet
Met Gary on-line: library, broken blue umbrella, wet streets
etc.

3) Now, for each defining moment, show us what happened. Write a paragraph or two. Make sure to SHOW the story, don’t explain what happened. Do it in visuals. It will make it more “real” in your mind if you can see it. And showing in your writing is always good practice.

You can tell it in 3rd person OR 1st person, writing as the character.

 http://theaccidentalnovelist.wordpress.com/2010/08/20/weekend-writing-workout-defining-moments-part-ii-character-development/