182 - What's in a Name?

 



182.        What’s in a name? [Descriptive]

Write down every name you have ever been called – at least 10. Pick one, how does it make you feel? Do you hate/like it? Does it fit you? Pick the one that is least like you and create a character to fit.

Our prompt for this week is more of a personal reflection than a writing task, which matches this week’s theme of reflection. Look out on Wednesday for a bonus video on how we can use our reflections to improve our writing.

 STARTER - Who am I?

First, think back as far as you can remember and write down every name you’ve ever been called.

This could include pet names that your mum or grandma used, nicknames and short names that your friends use, formal names, informal, what your dad calls you when you’re bad, what your bullies called you. This is entirely personal and private so don’t be embarrassed or worried about it, no one expects you to publish your list – I’m not going to. You should probably be able to list about 8 or 10.

Take 5 minutes to do that, then pick 3 different names and answer these questions:

1.       Who used/uses it?

2.      How does it make you feel?

3.      Do you like or dislike it, why?

4.      Does it fit you?

 

Idea Developer

 Names are important, there was an old belief that the right name would shape a child and enforce the ideals of character on the adult they would become. I cannot say that it has any real, testable effect, but I have met a number of Karens and Colins who certainly fit the stereotype, so it might be true.

Now we’re going to develop a character, but first we’re going to start with self-reflection. Look at your list and pick out the name that is MOST like you.

Under that name list your personal attributes. Be honest about yourself, positive and negative. There is a huge list below to choose from, pick the things that you think really reflect your personality. This is private, so be honest, you don’t have to share. Aim for at least 8 or 10, try and pick an even number of positive and negative for balance.

Positive Attributes

Approachable, Active, Adaptable, Adventurous, Affectionate, Ambitious, Articulate,  Brave, Bright, Broad-minded, Careful, Caring, Charitable, Clever, Compassionate, Confident, Considerate, Creative, Curious, Daring, Decent, Dedicated, Dependable, Determined, Diligent, Disciplined, Dynamic, Easy-going, Empathetic, Enthusiastic, Exuberant, Fair, Faithful, Fearless, Flexible, Focused, Forgiving, Friendly, Funny, Generous, Gentle, Genuine, Hardworking, Helpful, Honest, Honourable, Hopeful, Humble, Idealistic, Imaginative, Independent, Insightful, Intelligent, Inventive, Kind, Liberal, Loyal, Mature, Methodical, Meticulous, Neat, Obedient, Optimistic, Organized, Original, Passionate, Patient, Perfectionist, Persistent, Persuasive, Playful, Polite, Powerful, Practical, Precise, Protective, Punctual, Quiet, Rational, Relaxed, Reliable, Romantic, Self-confident, Self-disciplined, Selfless, Sensitive, Sincere, Sociable, Spontaneous, Strong, Subtle, Supportive, Thoughtful, Tidy, Tough, Trustworthy, Truthful, Versatile, Warm, Wise, Witty

Negative Attributes

Abrasive, Aggressive, Aimless, Antisocial, Apathetic, Argumentative, Arrogant, Bewildered, Bland, Blunt, Boring, Bossy, Callous, Charmless, Clingy, Clumsy, Complacent, Coward, Critical, Crude, Cruel, Cynical, Demanding, Desperate, Dishonest, Disloyal, Disobedient, Dominating, Egocentric, Erratic, Evasive, Facetious, Fawning, Fickle, Flaky, Foolish, Forgetful, Fraudulent, Fussy, Gossipy, Greedy, Grumpy, Gullible, Hopeless, Hostile, Impatient, Impolite, Impulsive, Indecisive, Interfering, Intolerant, Jealous, Judgemental, Lazy, Liar, Manipulative, Materialistic, Mean, Messy, Miserly, Moody, Naïve, Narrow-minded, Naughty, Nervous, Nosy, Obnoxious, Obsessive, Overwhelming, Paranoia, Pessimistic, Pompous, Possessive, Prejudiced, Quick-tempered, Repulsive, Resentful, Rigid, Rude, Sarcastic, Scornful, Secretive, Selfish, Silly, Sly, Stubborn, Superstitious, Tactless, Thoughtless, Treacherous, Unethical, Unimaginative, Unreliable, Untidy, Vague, Vain, Vengeful, Vulgar, Weak, Wicked, Worrywart

To develop our character, we’re going to look in a mirror – figuratively speaking.

Look back at your list of names and pick the one that is LEAST like you, now look at your list of attributes and give this name the opposite features.

This list is the beginnings of a new character who is a reflection of you, but they are a new person in their own right. Now, develop these ideas into a character profile using these questions:

1.      1.    Where was he/she born/grow up?
2.      What was his/her family like?
3.      What is his/her favourite memory or place?
4.      How have experiences shaped him/her?
5.      Where is he/she going?
6.      What will he/she do when they get there?

You might find it easier to pick 1 attribute – nervousness or tidiness – and focus on that as a foundation, then build the other features in. You should take a good 10-15 minutes to really build this character into a realistic person, not a comic book or movie villain.

 

Writing Task

 

So, by now you should have the foundations of a character, and so we need to put him or her in a situation.

In real life we automatically make assumptions and conclusions about a person as soon as they walk into a room, before they even open their mouth to speak and so, that’s what we’re going to do with this character.

The room can be anywhere; it could be an interview, or an office, or a classroom, or somewhere else. The choice is yours.

Write a short scene in the 3rd person – that’s where you’re looking at the scene from the outside -  from where your character steps into a room to when they speak for the first time.

  • -         How do they move?
  • -         What are they doing?
  • -         Why?
  • -         Try to Show, not Tell
  • -         Aim for 2-3 paragraphs, 10-15 minutes

 

Reflection

 Every character has a little of the author in them, whether they imagine themselves in situations to help the story play out, or give their characters their own attributes, or attributes they dislike. Creating a character who is your opposite is an interesting way of developing characteristics that you can develop and use over and again. Character building is like sculpting with plasticine, the foundation is always the same, but the final product is shaped to fit the story.

So, the reflection questions for today are:

  • -         I am /am not satisfied with my character profile
  • -         My favourite part was… because…
  • -         I struggled with… so next time I will…

 

I have not given you any examples this week because this prompt isn’t really about building a character, it’s about looking in a mirror. Through these exercises you’ve identified your positive and negative attributes and here is your opportunity to decide which ones you want to keep and which should change.

A psychologist friend of mine once said that the better, more rounded individual can be found in the glass of the mirror, not in the reflections either side. You can be confident without being complacent, you can be compassionate without being soft, dishonesty is always bad, but tactful use of untruths can be useful.

Look at your two lists of attributes and make a decision for yourself which you will avoid and which you will adopt for the future. And I’ll see you on Wednesday for a Bonus Video.

Extension Task and Terminology Check

Look back at the lists of attributes and take a closer look at the ones you're not sure about. Look them up, pick 5-6 and try to identify a book or movie character that you think matches that attribute... then look for another character who has the opposite attribute. Look at this example...

Complacent - Being over-proud of one's achievements, assuming you're always right, arrogance.

At the beginning of the Harry Potter series Draco Malfoy is complacent because he believes that his rich, pure-blood family is better than everyone else. Harry, on the other hand, is more humble and careful about the wonders of his new life in the magical world. However, in later books Harry becomes more arrogant whilst Draco is humbled by fear and the realisation that his future isn't as rosy as he once believed.

Most character's traits and attributes change and develop through their stories, it is useful to be able to describe how a character begins and ends their journey in this way.

 


 

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