Thank you to everyone who came to the meeting this evening.

Free writing

This month, for the free-writing session, we introduced the group to scribble chats1. Scribble chats are an excellent way to get to know your characters in much more more detail than a list of traits could ever tell you.

We started simple. We picked a character, and asked them:

1. What’s your name?
   1. Do you think it suits you?
   2. Why (not)?
   3. Do you have a nickname
   4. How do you feel about it?
   5. What nickname would you rather have if you could choose?
   6. Why?
2. How do you look?
   1. To yourself?
   2. To other people?
   3. How do you feel about how you look?
   4. What are you happy with?
   5. Talk about what you are wearing today.
   6. What are you happiest wearing?
   7. Unhappiest?
   8. When have you been most/least proud of how you look?

Caity asked Ben these questions. It turns out he’s not happy with his appearance at all, and there’s a conflict between loving his job and hating what he wears to do it. He even envies Michael’s dress sense.

Discussion

This month, one of our members needed help with picking a place name for one of his locations. The one he wanted had been taken by another series in the same genre. We looked at why he wanted to name it that, and alternatives to it based on those reasons.

Readings

We had a couple of readings this evening, which was lovely.

Next meeting

We’ll next meet on 3 August 2022 – will you join us?

References

1. Rosie Johnston 2017. Your character interviews all in one place at Rosie Johnston Writes.