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A Character Development Writing Exercise
Talent Show
Your protagonist has been asked to showcase a little-known, unusual talent at a community fair's talent contest. Begin on stage and show not only the performer but also the crowd's reaction to this talent unveiling.
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Similar exercises
Get your creative juices flowing with these similar writing prompts.
In Case of Fire
Moments of crises force characters to act without thinking, revealing things that might not have been previously obvious. Now imagine that there has been a blazing fire in your protagonist's house. What are the three things that your protagonist would unthinkingly grab as he or she breaks for the door? In 500-1,000 words, put this scene and its aftermath down on paper.
Reputations
Have each primary character free-write what they think about the other characters in the story. This will also deepen the secondary characters.
Blind Date
Your protagonist meets your villain for the first time - on a blind date. What happens?
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Shopping Trip
Looking for a writing exercise that gets you out of your chair? Decide what kind of store your main character likes to shop at. Go to that store and wander the aisles, looking for items your character would most be tempted to buy. Create a list of at least ten items, explaining why each caught your eye, and why you think your character would want the item. Bonus points for identifying your character's guilty pleasures and how she would justify buying those items.
The Next Great Author
Develop a character that's an author. Write a short story from the point of view of that author.
