| All writers, established and beginner; novelist, | | | | hold in your life? Is there anything emotional (such |
| screenwriter and playwright; every writer can | | | | as a letter from an old girlfriend) in your bag? Is |
| benefit from the writing exercise. Whether it's to | | | | everything in your bag strictly functional? Is there |
| enhance their current project, a way around | | | | anything in your bag that shouldn't be? Look at |
| writer's block, or to explore a potential idea, | | | | the bag itself. Why did you choose it? How long |
| exercises help keep the imagination working at | | | | have you had it? Do you need a new one? |
| top speed. | | | | Once you've answered all the questions, look back |
| Writing Exercise: Creating Character Details. | | | | at what you've written. What does your bag say |
| The most interesting characters come alive in the | | | | about you? What is expected about your |
| smallest details: a favourite food, a favourite type | | | | answers? What is unexpected? |
| of music, a fear of spiders, an allergy to plums, a | | | | Now, apply the same process to the main |
| scar from a fall at two years of age, a love of | | | | character in whatever project you are working |
| reality television. These details are what makes a | | | | on. Give this character a bag. What does the bag |
| character three dimensional and human. They | | | | look like? Why does the character carry this bag? |
| may seem mundane, but think about what | | | | If the character definitely wouldn't carry a bag, |
| defines you as a person. Is it the grand events in | | | | create the reason why. How do they carry |
| your life, or the day to day? These details of the | | | | what's necessary for their day? How old is it? Is |
| small add a layered richness beyond the world of | | | | this character the type of person who can't leave |
| the story. The more you know about your | | | | the house without a huge bag? What do the |
| characters, the deeper the well you have to draw | | | | items in the bag help the character to do? Is |
| from, the more specifically you can write for | | | | there anything job related in the bag? Based on |
| them. | | | | what you know of the character, what items in |
| This character development exercise allows you | | | | the bag are expected? Put one thing in the bag |
| to create the details of the small for your | | | | which is unexpected. What does that unexpected |
| characters. | | | | item say about the character? What does this |
| What's In Your Bag? | | | | bag tell you about this character? |
| Empty out the bag you use most regularly, | | | | Now write a moment that takes place in the |
| whatever you take with you when you go out. If | | | | world of your story involving this character and |
| you don't carry a bag, think about how you carry | | | | their bag. |
| what's necessary - what's in your pockets? Write | | | | Exploring the world of the small in your characters |
| out in a point form list each item in that bag. Why | | | | is always going to give you a wealth of material |
| do you carry each item? What purpose does it | | | | to work with. |