9:00 – 9:30 AM Share and Discuss Assigned Writing Exercise: (Either email a copy to everyone, be prepared to read outloud or bring enough copies for everyone. Contact Kathie for further information and instructions.)

“Character: Write a scene using no physical characteristics to describe a character or characters. Give them movement, dialogue, reactions, but don’t tells us what they look like. How much depth do you get from what it is they say and do?” (from Word Ferret)

9:30 – 10:00 AM Craft Chat: Character

Many craft books and teachings for novice writers suggest a list of questions to answer before writing character. You have seen these questions: What’s the character’s eye color? Where was he born? Hobbies? What’s in his pockets? These answers do not deepen character as real character exploration hasn’t yet occurred. Your goal is to create a character who is real. So what is a better way to think of character? There are a different set of questions that can better draw you into the character’s life. We will explore these.

10:00 – 10:30 AM Manuscript Critique: Manuscript from R. A. S. (please contact Kathie at: kathie dot blog at gmail dot com to request a copy of the manuscript if you have not already received it.) Critique will be lead by Kathie whom will use the following Critique Worksheet (please use this sheet to help guide the critique):

Author Name / Title of Piece
Concept (Scope/Originality)
Plot (Conflict/Crisis/Resolution)
Characterization (Action/Appearance/Thought)
Dialog (Tension/Rhythm/Diction)
Setting (Time and Place/Concrete Detail)
Tone (Language/Style)
Additional Comments

Note: You can download this form by going [here].

This meeting is open to anyone who can physically attend. If you are out of the area but still interested in a writing group, please contact Kathie at kathie.blog@email.com.

UPDATED Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 8:46 AM & 4:03 PM, link to form added 8/14/08 at 9:39 AM