During this past week, we've been working on a new assignment in my Creative Writing Class-to create our own graphic short stories. When it was first assigned, I was so excited to get started (especially since I love art) and I was so fired up to go. I'd never actually been so enthused to work on something that had anything to do with grades. But when it came time to writing a concrete plot with dynamic characters, it's as if someone dumped a bucket of water over that roaring fire. The problem was that whenever I got an idea, it seemed perfect in my head; but as soon as I voiced the idea to someone else, it fell flat, like a bottle of Coca-Cola when it's left without a cap for a night (you know what I mean). And the bitter taste of having to go back and re-work the idea was just as bad as drinking that flat soda.
But the one thing that has given me some kind of direction is this little thing called a "character profile". My Creative Writing teacher also happens to be my Gr.10 teacher from a few years back, and we had done the same activity then too. It seems he does this with every he class he has, no matter what subject he may be teaching...and with good reason. This activity essentially allows us to meet a character. We examine what they do, what they look like, what they say, and most importantly, what others say about them. I first did one on myself, and didn't really discover anything new about my own personality. But what it did do for me, was it gave me an idea of what I want the main character in my short story to be like. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone (as I will be posting the graphic story up on my blog when it's finished), but in creating it, I'm going to look to my own life for a plot. Because if there's one thing I've learned from this class and this teacher, it's that the story is already there; I just need to look through the pile of junk cluttered in my head to find it.
I really encourage you to go ahead and try this yourself. You can use the structure of the profile from above-look at the things do you do, your appearance, what you say, and what others say about you. Or maybe you want to do a character profile on somebody else. Whatever the case may be, you have to remember to be honest (although it might get brutal at times). You'd be surprised at what you might find. Good luck!
Take a look at some classic comic book fails:
But the one thing that has given me some kind of direction is this little thing called a "character profile". My Creative Writing teacher also happens to be my Gr.10 teacher from a few years back, and we had done the same activity then too. It seems he does this with every he class he has, no matter what subject he may be teaching...and with good reason. This activity essentially allows us to meet a character. We examine what they do, what they look like, what they say, and most importantly, what others say about them. I first did one on myself, and didn't really discover anything new about my own personality. But what it did do for me, was it gave me an idea of what I want the main character in my short story to be like. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone (as I will be posting the graphic story up on my blog when it's finished), but in creating it, I'm going to look to my own life for a plot. Because if there's one thing I've learned from this class and this teacher, it's that the story is already there; I just need to look through the pile of junk cluttered in my head to find it.
I really encourage you to go ahead and try this yourself. You can use the structure of the profile from above-look at the things do you do, your appearance, what you say, and what others say about you. Or maybe you want to do a character profile on somebody else. Whatever the case may be, you have to remember to be honest (although it might get brutal at times). You'd be surprised at what you might find. Good luck!
Take a look at some classic comic book fails:
April 8, 2010 at 8:36 AM
I LOVE flat pop :)