Creative+Writing

Creative Writing

1. List 5 Positive consequences and 5 Negative consequences? 2. Describe your character. Complete these questions on your wiki. Create a page called "Character Development" 3. Describe the setting. 4. What is the main conflict?

Positive Consequences:

1) It would attract publicity 2) Great minds could be preserved to teach later generations 3) Bearers of endangered languages could live on 4) It would force people to control overpopulation 5) The water might have healing properties

Negative Consequences

1) The world might be more crowded if there is a small death rate 2) It would start conflicts over who owned the water, maybe even war 3) One country could have a monopoly over the water; they could sell it a ridiculous price 4) If there are not enough young people for labour-intensive work, that work would become obsolete <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">5) Young people are very imaginative and are good at thinking up of solutions for problems <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">6) If there were only people, say, over 50, who have a specific way of thinking, we might be stuck in a rut (to some extent)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Character Development

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">How much about your characters do you really know? Small details might seem superfluous even irrelevant to the story you intend to write, but the smallest detail informs the bigger picture. The more you know about your characters, the better you’ll create believable characters who live and breathe on the page and in their own fictional world. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Take time to answer each of these questions candidly and deeply. Expand your responses to include other questions that may arise.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">1. What do you know about this character now that s/he doesn’t yet know? He will be extremely influential in discovering the fountain of youth <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">2. What is this character’s greatest flaw? He is stern and not an outdoors sort of person <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">3. What do you know about this character that s/he would never admit? that he has been kicked out of his own country <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">4. What is this character’s greatest asset? He is fair and an opportunist <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">5. If this character could choose a different identity, who would s/he be? Ruler of the world? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">6. What music does this character sing to when no one else is around? Bagpipes <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">7. In what or whom does this character have the greatest faith? Money <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">8. What is this character’s favourite movie? He believes visual entertainment is bad for the soul <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">9. Does this character have a favourite article of clothing? Favourite shoes? Top hat with stiff collar jacket and (polished) leather shoes <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">10. Does this character have a vice? Name it. He must always have perfectly shined shoes and cannot stand messy, hands-on work <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">11. Name this character’s favourite person (living or dead). His great-aunt (deceased) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">12. What is this character’s secret wish? He secretly wishes he could earn enough to build his own railway <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">13. What is this character’s proudest achievement? To find gold <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">14. Describe this character’s most embarrassing moment. When he trips over a rock in his childhood and ends up with a mouthful of dirt or when he threw up on his friend’s new dress on a cruise <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">15. What is this character’s deepest regret? That his great-aunt is not alive <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">16. What is this character’s greatest fear? Death by choking on dust <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">17. Describe this character’s most devastating moment. Being kicked out of his country <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">18. What is this character’s greatest achievement? Being the first to find gold in his area <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">19. What is this character’s greatest hope? To find more wealth <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">20. Does this character have an obsession? Name it. He is completely obsessed with clean shoes and squirrels… <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">21. What is this character’s greatest disappointment? That he is not famous <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">22. What is this character’s worst nightmare? Being in a desert during a dust storm <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">23. Whom does this character most wish to please? Why? His family, because he feels under-appreciated by them. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">24. Describe this character’s mother. An even wealthier aristocrat, who originally lost all her money by investing in a so-called “flying submarine”, she is a notoriously opportunistic person who jumps at any offer. Not the best family member to stay with, as the protagonist often found himself trying out new “wonder products”, but at least she supports her son. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">25. Describe this character’s father. A wealthy aristocrat that spares no money to anybody else, kind, yet selfish, he pays little attention to the protagonist <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">26. If s/he had to choose, with whom would this character prefer to live? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">27. Where does this character fall in birth order? What effect does this have? The protagonist is an only child…though there are rumours… <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">28. Describe this character’s siblings or other close relatives. The protagonist has not met much of his extended family, as many live on different continents. However, he knows his uncle is an ambitious professor with the vision of creating a new British Empire in the Gobi desert, and his cousin a famous circus clown living in Paris. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">29. Describe this character’s bedroom. Include three cherished items. Currently, the protagonist’s bedroom is in the interior of a huge, lavishly decorated cabin, filled with his dearest possessions, including a pair of gleaming dress shoes, his first gold nugget and a pair of shoe covers for his outdoor walks <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">30. What is this character’s birth date? How does this character manifest traits of his/her astrological sign? The character’s birth date is November 26, 1902. He happens to coincide with his zodiac sign, Sagittarius, because he is optimistic, wishes to make a difference in the world and likes to live the good life. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">31. If this character had to live in seclusion for six months, what six items would s/he bring? He would bring shoes, papers, books and a rug (wild ground is sooo dusty and dirty) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">33. What calms this character? The protagonist is calmed by opera music, animals and civilized areas <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">34. Describe a recurring dream or nightmare this character might have. A recurring dream the protagonist has involves his whole stash of gold turning into dust and burying him <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">35. List the choices (not circumstances) that led this character to his/her current predicament. Remove? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">36. List the circumstances over which this character has no control. The divine, his family’s spending, the (cursed) rain <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">37. What wakes this character in the middle of the night? The wind howling outside his window, the sound of people working, music <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">38. How would a stranger describe this character? Eccentric, good-mannered, having an air of self importance <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">39. What does this character resolve to do differently every morning? Every morning, he resolves to go outside and help with the work (he never does) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">40. Who depends on this character? Why? Besides his workers, who depend on him for income, only his pet squirrel needs him <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">41. If this character knew s/he had exactly one month to live, what would s/he do? He would probably pour all of his funds into building his dream railway across the pacific. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">42. How would a dear friend or relative describe this character? Cunning, naive, understanding <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">43. What is this character’s most noticeable physical attribute? Immaculately combed hair <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">44. What is this character hiding from him/herself? He hides from himself the fact that he may not be successful in his work, meaning he might not have any work (or money) at all <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">45. Write one additional thing about your character. He is charismatic, has fun plying around with technology, knows when to stop fighting and believes in karma

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Setting

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">The story is set during the early 1900’s (1920-1930). The young protagonist currently lives near the amazon rainforest, in a small, lavish cabin on his father’s work camp. He has his own business, watching over the nearby gold mine, a project he hopes will be successful. Not so far away, there is a lush grove of rainforest, which the miners must pass through every day to arrive at the mine. There is also a run-down village next to the camp, where most of the miners go for supplies and little trinkets.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">MAIN CONFLICT (drumroll)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">The main conflict of the story involves the protagonist (a slightly posh English boy) looking for a fountain of youth rumoured to be in a forest near his mining project. Though nature throws a few obstacles at him, He mainly fights himself in a crisis on conscience as he debates in his head what, if anything, he should do with the fountain’s water.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">PLOT OUTLINE

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Introduction: A little of the protagonist's background, why he is where he is and his frustration at the apparently futile task he has to conduct <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Rising Action: The Fountain of Youth is found! the protagonist goes off in search, avoiding many well-placed natural hazards (swamps, thorn forest, a small desert, etc.). He turns over the question of what to do with the water, and has a few conflicting flashbacks, before finally discovering the fountain. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Climax: The protagonist goes to drink from the fountain, only to find that is empty. However, he finds, to his amusement, that it has enough gold to start his dream project. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Conclusion: the character addresses the reader, inferring the theme of the story.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Short Story Assignment

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Title: Broken Gold (only a backup if I need one)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> “ Well sir, it’s sure nice to so you out for a change” the worker managed to say. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Insolent people, these workers, always finding chances to taunt you. Still, this leaves me wondering if my interpreter is subtlety threatening me for a pay raise, or if I really am that paranoid (probably a good bit of both). Who really cares out here? This is the Amazon, not polluted, overcast, ridiculously formal London! <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> “Sir?” <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> What could it be now? Some drunken worker trip over a rock? Did some jaguar get a little too close to my pet squirrel? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> “There’s someone here to see you.” <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> “I’ll be right there,” I shouted at my “messenger”. Angrily brushing off any trace of dust from my immaculate shoes, I hurried over to the “communications” tent, a spartan enclosure off to the side of cabin. Haughtily standing next to the tent flap was a man obviously unaccustomed to this environment, possibly some wealthy foreigner. Surprisingly enough, he resembled somebody familiar, maybe a court official? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> The man pulled out a crisply folded square of paper, which he proceeded to gingerly pass over like some sort of holy relic, before scampering away to escape the pelting rain. Quickly, I unfolded the already-damp paper, only to find it covered with my mother’s signature handwriting. Apparently she had heard news confirming the fountain of youth was built in the amazon—near where I am now. Being an “opportunist”, She just had to get somebody finding it, somebody that just happens to be me… <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> “Your parents haven’t forgotten you, Nathaniel.” <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Ouch, that had an impact. Not only did he use my full name, but there’s no denying the hint of criticism in his voice. Only one thing I can say to get out of this situation in one piece, and that’s to appease the madman standing at my doorstep. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> “Sure, I’ll try. It’s got to be better than looking for gold here!” You don’t come from an aristocratic family without learning how to insult. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> I’m lost in the pitter-patter of the rain for what seems like ages, until a faint rustling sound catches my attention. Whirling around, I catch my messenger desperately while trying to regain his composure, only to wither under my stare. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Backing away like some exposed millipede, the man has no choice but to blurt out his message: “I-I’ve already assembled some guides and packed your supplies, sir.” he manages to say before completely losing all formalities and running away at full speed. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> A wave of sadness broke my weakened web of despair, and even feeding my bushy-tailed pet didn’t help me to escape my emotions. I could never see this cabin again if my mother doesn’t cancel this investment soon, I thought in the privacy of my mind. Some things are actually possible, say a flying submarine. But the fountain of youth is just a myth, and myths are not good places to invest in. As the annoyed wind knocked angrily on the side of my cabin, I finally realised there was no going back on this wild-goose chase… <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> “Look, ruins!” <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Next day brought with it some fresh hope. There just happened to be some ancient ruins conveniently placed by my mining camp, albeit rather weather worn ones. With the other explorers scurrying around the places with an air of excitement, I was finally left alone with my thoughts. It took some time to realise my feet were numb, before I felt suction, before I tried to escape with futile efforts. “Quicksand” is a rather misleading term; it seemed I was sinking into solid ground. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Once again, it had to be somebody who actually knew how to live outdoors that helped me. With some effort and a ton of vines, I finally managed to escape the overwhelming suction, only to find myself trekking through one of those cliché tropical jungles (you know, the ones with the two-inch long killer flies). Out of complete frustration, I yell at nobody in particular: “You know, it seems everything in this blasted jungle is trying to kill me!” <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> “True, this happens to be one of the most dangerous places for humans. Makes me wonder why you even bothered to set up camp here.” <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Great. Not only did I waste my breath, but my fellow explorers now think I shouted like a madman, not to mention the profanities. Things do brighten up slightly when we enter the centre of the ruins, however, and not only because there’s no quicksand. Finally I can get some rest, maybe even share some scotch with my new accomplices (not that I drink it). Then the night is my blanket, wrapping around and enveloping me into the senselessness that is forgotten with sunrise… <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> It’s interesting that literature always makes main characters in novels have really deep, meaningful dreams. Unfortunately, I’m afraid nobody wants to write about dreams involving great-aunts eating pet squirrels, though I guess humans do not like dealing with such trivial things. To attempt at something useful, I help collect water from this small, murky stream running nearby. Not delicious or polite, but I guess it’ll have to do. We set off early, wanting to escape the resting sun, following what appear to be engraved landmarks to an old hut-like structure in what appears to be, in this town, the literal middle of nowhere. Maybe it’s just my vision, but the stone building seems to shimmer with the weak rays of light. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> We enter cautiously, ready for any poisonous cobras or scorpion-filled pitfalls, but all seems well. At least I do, for I’m probably the only one here who believes what they read. Mentally kicking myself for being so paranoid, I dash straight to what looks to be some sort of stone pedestal jutting out at an awkward angle from the paved hieroglyphic floor. A curious explorer leaves his search to take a closer look. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> “It looks like the main stand of some broken fountain,” he muttered as I went in to a take a closer look. “Seems this is supposed to be the fountain of Yout—” he cuts off. Right now, we’re thinking the same thing—it can’t be that easy. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Evidently, it isn’t, as the floor beneath me breaks away without any fancy trapdoors or other contraptions, and I am left falling … <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> …My cabin never looked so welcoming before as my now-loyal companions helped me up the doorstep. Once inside, I realise concussions are no fun, because there are my parents, looking solemn-faced and wavering slightly with my vision. Unexpectedly, my mother completely loses her dignity and starts jumping around the small place shouting something about how proud she is and what all the gold we have now. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Proud? Gold? I look to my father for an explanation. His air of appreciation and respect is more than enough. Still, when I can actually sit up, I grill the other explorers about the gold. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> “Well, apparently that building was mad of brick over solid gold.” One piped. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> “The fountain.” I manage to croak. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> “Sorry, seems it was cracked. Here, have some of this fresh stream water.” <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Then it hits me. “The fountain was right next to the stream, wasn’t it?” <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Silence confirms my theory. Great, what am I to do now?


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Post-Writing Process Questions **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">5. How does the main character change over the course of the story? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">The main character changes over the course of the story form a upright, slightly withdrawn distant person to somebody who is confident (albeit less formal), in touch with the world and more, how to put it, normal? He finds a sort of spiritual "peace" when searching for the fountain, and it is an important catalyst in changing who he is.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">6. Describe the use of Irony in your story. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">The story has some irony, mainly in the main character's thoughts, though there is situational irony when the main character encounters no danger when he expects it and falls in danger when he is not. There are few instances of dramatic irony, as the story is told in first person, and verbal irony is also lacking, as the characters all speak formally and are well-educated in the use of language and do not have any prominent accents.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">7. What symbols are present in your story? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">The fountain of youth represents the them of the story, as does the "hut". The leaking fountain water symbolizes how we can think we have nothing to do with things and yet be affected and/or affect them greatly.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">8. What is the theme of your story? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">The theme of my story would have to be something around the lines of "Reality is a fragile as myth, only by breaking away and looking can you actually see it."

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">[|Presentation]