Jeanna watched her mother sitting there reading the newspaper and drinking her morning cup of coffee. They had such a good relationship. They were best friends. That’s all she wanted. She wanted to feel that unconditional love, the bond that only exists between a mother and her child. Although at the moment her mother was working her last nerve. “You’re not even listening to me, Mom!”
“Oh, Jeanna, quit being so stubborn and go to the doctor already,” Rose said glancing up at her.
“Mom, what good is that going to do? It’s been five years since and Jeremy’s already been checked out. They’re going to tell me there’s something wrong with me and then tell me it’s going to cost thousands of dollars to fix it. And even then there’s no guarantee’s,” she sighed.
“Well I don’t know what to tell you. I’m not a doctor. Maybe you’ll find out it’s nothing. It’s worth a try, isn’t it?”
Jeanna’s stood up and began to pace. She was fighting back tears. She walked through the dining room, into the living room and then right back to the kitchen table. She sat down, looked at her mom, and the tears started trickling down her cheeks. “I know it’s something. I can feel it. We shouldn’t have waited so long to start trying. I just thought we were being responsible. I thought it’d be easier if we had all of our shit together and our priorities straight before we started popping out babies. And now it’s too late.”
Rose looked at her daughter and felt her pain. She had the same problems when she was younger. She finally got pregnant after years of trying and then had a miscarriage. It was the most painful thing she ever experienced. She thought her world was over until she found out she was pregnant with Jeanna. That’s why she had hope. “Jeanna, sweetheart, call the doctor and make an appointment. I’ll go with you. You will get through this. There are so many things they can do for women now days. Your time will come, I promise.”
“For some reason I don’t believe that, but I’ll call tomorrow to schedule an appointment.”
Rose walks over to her daughter and hugs her, “I love you my Jeanna-bean.”
She smiles, “I love you, too, Mom.”
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Story Idea 2
Main Character
- A girl in her early twenties. Left Michigan to go to college in California. Her dad is a vet and sends his daughter thousands of dollars a month to live on, until one day the dad has to close his business and quit sending money. The daughter has to learn to live on her own and not buy the most expensive things.
Conflicts
- Internally she is dealing with learning responsibility, losing her selfishness, and doing what is best for her and her family. Externally she is struggling with the busines world. She can't find a job and her dad can no longer send her money.
Resolution
- Eventually she will figure it out and learn to not be so materialistic. Maybe her dad will have some sort of illness and that is why he had to shut his business down. Ultimately I want the character to learn responsibility and that family comes first.
Plot
- The plot will reveal her crazy spending habits like shopping, rent, drinking/going out, speeding tickets that keep piling up, and more. It will maybe start with her Dad deciding how he is going to tell her he can't send her money anymore and he has an illness. She will be her usual snobby and selfish self. Then she learns the truth about her Dad and begins to make it in the real world. Throughout the story she will be turned down by several jobs and she will be given a lot of crap for how she usually treats people.
- A girl in her early twenties. Left Michigan to go to college in California. Her dad is a vet and sends his daughter thousands of dollars a month to live on, until one day the dad has to close his business and quit sending money. The daughter has to learn to live on her own and not buy the most expensive things.
Conflicts
- Internally she is dealing with learning responsibility, losing her selfishness, and doing what is best for her and her family. Externally she is struggling with the busines world. She can't find a job and her dad can no longer send her money.
Resolution
- Eventually she will figure it out and learn to not be so materialistic. Maybe her dad will have some sort of illness and that is why he had to shut his business down. Ultimately I want the character to learn responsibility and that family comes first.
Plot
- The plot will reveal her crazy spending habits like shopping, rent, drinking/going out, speeding tickets that keep piling up, and more. It will maybe start with her Dad deciding how he is going to tell her he can't send her money anymore and he has an illness. She will be her usual snobby and selfish self. Then she learns the truth about her Dad and begins to make it in the real world. Throughout the story she will be turned down by several jobs and she will be given a lot of crap for how she usually treats people.
Week 3 - Writing Exercise
Kayla pulled into her usual parking spot at Harry’s. Her palms were starting to sweat and her stomach turn. She wanted to turn around and go home to her big, comfy bed. She forced herself not to. She knew once she went inside and sat down, her anxiety would quickly disappear.
She hopped out of her navy blue mini van, nicknamed “The Beast” just a year ago. She walked through the front doors of Harry’s. Her eyes looking at the floor the whole way to the booth her friends always sit in. Christine was already there waiting for her.
“Hey Kay! Already got our coffee ordered.”
“Sweet. We’re gonna need more sugar though.”
Kayla runs around to the nearest tables and collects extra sugar packets. The waitress sets two cups at their table and pours coffee into each cup. Kayla and Chris proceed to empty eight sugar packets and three creamers into each coffee.
Kayla grins, “Just the way I like it.”
“You girls are nasty.” The girls look up just in time to see Jesse slide into the booth next to Kayla. He laughs and pulls out three packs of Marlboro’s. He pulls out a cigarette, lights up, and puts one pack back in his pocket. The girls follow suit. Jesse has been buying their cigarettes for the last few months, since they aren’t quite old enough.
“So when are we going to finish our Bucket List, Kay?” Chris asks.
About a week ago Kayla and Chris made a Bucket List of all the things they wanted to do before they graduated from high school. They only had two weeks left to finish the list.
“Well,” Kayla says as she pulls the list out of her oversized, Spiderman bag, “we can do the bubble tape.”
Chris laughs, “Yessss! Let’s do it!”
She hopped out of her navy blue mini van, nicknamed “The Beast” just a year ago. She walked through the front doors of Harry’s. Her eyes looking at the floor the whole way to the booth her friends always sit in. Christine was already there waiting for her.
“Hey Kay! Already got our coffee ordered.”
“Sweet. We’re gonna need more sugar though.”
Kayla runs around to the nearest tables and collects extra sugar packets. The waitress sets two cups at their table and pours coffee into each cup. Kayla and Chris proceed to empty eight sugar packets and three creamers into each coffee.
Kayla grins, “Just the way I like it.”
“You girls are nasty.” The girls look up just in time to see Jesse slide into the booth next to Kayla. He laughs and pulls out three packs of Marlboro’s. He pulls out a cigarette, lights up, and puts one pack back in his pocket. The girls follow suit. Jesse has been buying their cigarettes for the last few months, since they aren’t quite old enough.
“So when are we going to finish our Bucket List, Kay?” Chris asks.
About a week ago Kayla and Chris made a Bucket List of all the things they wanted to do before they graduated from high school. They only had two weeks left to finish the list.
“Well,” Kayla says as she pulls the list out of her oversized, Spiderman bag, “we can do the bubble tape.”
Chris laughs, “Yessss! Let’s do it!”
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Story Idea 1
My idea for Story 1 is a work in progress. I am not completely sure if I want to run with this idea or not.
1. The main character is a young girl. She is seventeen years old; a senior in high school; and she suffers from bipolar disorder.
2. The conflict she faces is internal and external. The external challenges are mostly with her parents.
3. She will change drastically throughout the story. I haven't created all of the situations yet but it will be eventful. In the end I want her to have something like an epiphany. I'm a sucker for happy endings so this one will have to have one!
4. The plot has a lot of gaps in it currently. I have several ideas of what will happen and what the character will go through but I don't have it completely figured out yet. I studied bipolar disorder before and I know someone with it, so I can say he character will be faced with a lot of challenges and put in crazy situations.
1. The main character is a young girl. She is seventeen years old; a senior in high school; and she suffers from bipolar disorder.
2. The conflict she faces is internal and external. The external challenges are mostly with her parents.
3. She will change drastically throughout the story. I haven't created all of the situations yet but it will be eventful. In the end I want her to have something like an epiphany. I'm a sucker for happy endings so this one will have to have one!
4. The plot has a lot of gaps in it currently. I have several ideas of what will happen and what the character will go through but I don't have it completely figured out yet. I studied bipolar disorder before and I know someone with it, so I can say he character will be faced with a lot of challenges and put in crazy situations.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Exercise 53 - The Skeleton
There once was a young princess. She was the most beautiful princess in the land. Princes, servants and town folk were amazed by her beauty. They couldn't help but stare. She had fallen in love with one of the princes, Prince Edward. He was handsome, and together they made a picture perfect couple. But the princess had a secret. A secret which no one knew: if she were to marry the man she truly loved, she would lose her beauty and become an ugly princess.
"Why I can't I marry you?" Prince Edward asked, "You are the most amazing woman I have ever met. You are smart, caring, and you would make the most beautiful bride. You take my breath away every time I look at you."
The princess didn't know what to say. She wanted to marry Edward more than anything, but she knew if she did he would quit loving her. The day following their wedding night he would roll over to kiss his beautiful wife good morning and find a hideous woman, not fit to be his queen.
He worked on her. He showed her the ring he bought. He asked her over and over to marry him, but her answer was always the same, "I love you Edward, but I cannot marry you."
One day the princess went for a walk. She stopped in front of a fountain on her father's land, sat on the edge and dangled her toes in the cool, crystal blue water. The gardener, an older woman, came over and sat next to her. "What's troubling you Princess Grace?" she asked.
Before the princess could answer the woman said, “I know what it is. Your mother had the same problem: if you marry the man you truly love, your beauty and poise will be gone forever.”
The princess slowly turned her head and looked at the woman as she continued to talk, “Your mother decided to keep her beauty and look where she is now. Don’t make the same mistake your mother did, Princess. Marry Edward and on your wedding night before you go to bed, take this cream and rub it on your entire body. Make sure you don’t miss a spot, and make sure Edward doesn’t use it on himself.”
The princess was hesitant but she thought about what the woman said and the woman was right even if she turned into an ugly princess. So, she did as she was told. The next morning she went straight to Edward and said, “I love you, Edward and there is nothing I want more than to marry you!”
That Saturday, Prince Edward and Princess Grace had the most beautiful wedding. They danced the night away and at the end of the night Princess Grace rubbed the cream on her entire body just as she was told. She woke up the next morning and ran straight to a mirror. She cried, “I’m still me! It's really me!”
Edward walked over to her and said, “Of course you are sweetie, who else would you be?” She shrugged her shoulders and smiled as he pulled her into a tight embrace, “Now, let me kiss my beautiful wife.” She kissed him and reminded herself to take a walk by the fountain later. There was someone she owed a big thanks to.
"Why I can't I marry you?" Prince Edward asked, "You are the most amazing woman I have ever met. You are smart, caring, and you would make the most beautiful bride. You take my breath away every time I look at you."
The princess didn't know what to say. She wanted to marry Edward more than anything, but she knew if she did he would quit loving her. The day following their wedding night he would roll over to kiss his beautiful wife good morning and find a hideous woman, not fit to be his queen.
He worked on her. He showed her the ring he bought. He asked her over and over to marry him, but her answer was always the same, "I love you Edward, but I cannot marry you."
One day the princess went for a walk. She stopped in front of a fountain on her father's land, sat on the edge and dangled her toes in the cool, crystal blue water. The gardener, an older woman, came over and sat next to her. "What's troubling you Princess Grace?" she asked.
Before the princess could answer the woman said, “I know what it is. Your mother had the same problem: if you marry the man you truly love, your beauty and poise will be gone forever.”
The princess slowly turned her head and looked at the woman as she continued to talk, “Your mother decided to keep her beauty and look where she is now. Don’t make the same mistake your mother did, Princess. Marry Edward and on your wedding night before you go to bed, take this cream and rub it on your entire body. Make sure you don’t miss a spot, and make sure Edward doesn’t use it on himself.”
The princess was hesitant but she thought about what the woman said and the woman was right even if she turned into an ugly princess. So, she did as she was told. The next morning she went straight to Edward and said, “I love you, Edward and there is nothing I want more than to marry you!”
That Saturday, Prince Edward and Princess Grace had the most beautiful wedding. They danced the night away and at the end of the night Princess Grace rubbed the cream on her entire body just as she was told. She woke up the next morning and ran straight to a mirror. She cried, “I’m still me! It's really me!”
Edward walked over to her and said, “Of course you are sweetie, who else would you be?” She shrugged her shoulders and smiled as he pulled her into a tight embrace, “Now, let me kiss my beautiful wife.” She kissed him and reminded herself to take a walk by the fountain later. There was someone she owed a big thanks to.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
May 14, 2009
In Exercise 14, my character could be described like this:
Cayla was the snotty but popular girl at school and for a while she was my best friend. Everyone wanted to be her friend. Three was a crowd with her and someone was always left out. She was rebellious. She made girls lie to their parents. She made me lie, which was exceptionally rare. She didn’t physically make us do it, but she had a weird control over others decisions.
She was conniving and backstabbing. And oddly enough, she was jealous of me. She made me lose some of my closest friends. She played us against each other and usually it worked. She always wanted to smoke cigarettes and drink at such a young age. She was interested in guys from the get-go. Around age fourteen she was stealing girl’s boyfriends and then cheating on them.
I imagine she is still a partier to this day. She’s twenty and I’m sure she has a baby now, probably a toddler. Her and her baby’s father are probably split up because she was unfaithful. I can see her still living in her mother’s house and her mother still giving her everything she wants. She isn’t going to school and she doesn’t have or even want a job. She will eventually make a rich man fall in love with her; marry her; and then she’ll use him for his house and money, while she sleeps around town with whomever she pleases. Poor guy. I feel sorry for whoever he is.
While completing Exercise 27 I learned a lot about my character. It made me really consider how she would be thinking and living her life. I learned more about the everyday details of my character. I figured she would have comfy clothes including sweat pants and sweat shirts for lounging around at home with her child and I am positive she has several seductive shirts, skirts and dresses for going out with friends. I decided her refrigerator would have items like baby food, healthy food and beer, and her medicine chest would also have baby medicine, adult medicine like tylenol, and then birth control and possibly condoms. The hardest thing to consider was the items in her car trunk. I imagine there would not be a lot in it. There could be some extra clothes for her or the baby. She may have extra diapers or wipes, or even an extra diaper bag in case she ever forgets something. She could have some sort of emergency bag and probably a stroller.
Looking back on these exercises, there were several things that surprised me. The most surprises I found were during Exercise 27. The first thing that surprised me was what that exercise asked you to do. It is not something most people would think to do, which is probably why it is an exercise. These everyday, real-life items found in these places make the character authentic and easier to relate to. The next surprise was that I actually could come up with items in all of these places and I really began to think in the mindset of how my character would be. I think this was a great exercise to do and should really be done on any character you are creating. Lists, such as these, can help you develop a character in the story if you get stuck and need some help. These lists help you remember who your character is and what they are all about.
Cayla was the snotty but popular girl at school and for a while she was my best friend. Everyone wanted to be her friend. Three was a crowd with her and someone was always left out. She was rebellious. She made girls lie to their parents. She made me lie, which was exceptionally rare. She didn’t physically make us do it, but she had a weird control over others decisions.
She was conniving and backstabbing. And oddly enough, she was jealous of me. She made me lose some of my closest friends. She played us against each other and usually it worked. She always wanted to smoke cigarettes and drink at such a young age. She was interested in guys from the get-go. Around age fourteen she was stealing girl’s boyfriends and then cheating on them.
I imagine she is still a partier to this day. She’s twenty and I’m sure she has a baby now, probably a toddler. Her and her baby’s father are probably split up because she was unfaithful. I can see her still living in her mother’s house and her mother still giving her everything she wants. She isn’t going to school and she doesn’t have or even want a job. She will eventually make a rich man fall in love with her; marry her; and then she’ll use him for his house and money, while she sleeps around town with whomever she pleases. Poor guy. I feel sorry for whoever he is.
While completing Exercise 27 I learned a lot about my character. It made me really consider how she would be thinking and living her life. I learned more about the everyday details of my character. I figured she would have comfy clothes including sweat pants and sweat shirts for lounging around at home with her child and I am positive she has several seductive shirts, skirts and dresses for going out with friends. I decided her refrigerator would have items like baby food, healthy food and beer, and her medicine chest would also have baby medicine, adult medicine like tylenol, and then birth control and possibly condoms. The hardest thing to consider was the items in her car trunk. I imagine there would not be a lot in it. There could be some extra clothes for her or the baby. She may have extra diapers or wipes, or even an extra diaper bag in case she ever forgets something. She could have some sort of emergency bag and probably a stroller.
Looking back on these exercises, there were several things that surprised me. The most surprises I found were during Exercise 27. The first thing that surprised me was what that exercise asked you to do. It is not something most people would think to do, which is probably why it is an exercise. These everyday, real-life items found in these places make the character authentic and easier to relate to. The next surprise was that I actually could come up with items in all of these places and I really began to think in the mindset of how my character would be. I think this was a great exercise to do and should really be done on any character you are creating. Lists, such as these, can help you develop a character in the story if you get stuck and need some help. These lists help you remember who your character is and what they are all about.
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