Writing Character (Lit Starts): A Book of Writing Prompts Misc. Supplies – September 10, 2019

What's not to like? A superb introduction from renowned writing teacher (and acclaimed journalist and author) Constance Hale and a plethora of inviting exercises that make practicing character sketches a joy. I started with this one: Describe yourself in the third person; be self-deprecating. Then do the same thing, but be grandiose in outlook. The words flowed and I learned a lot. Thanks and kudos to Connie and the San Francisco Writers' Grotto.

I'm a photographer and writer so and am inspired by books like Lit Starts that incorporate both visual design and great writing. My favorite of this series is Writing Character, because I believe that in writing everything starts with people and their stories. Whenever I go to tell a story on my blog, I’m always looking at how I can tell an emotive story about my clients and those I work with. Constance Hale frames the importance of character in her Foreword, and shares helpful tips. But my favorite part is the writing prompts. They are short and inventive and help get me writing in a new way. I’m a hands on learner and this book helps me really take action with my writing and gives me the perfect jumping off place to cultivate my skills. I plan on using this helpful guide as I continue to evolve my storytelling.

Writing Character was the first Lit Starts book I picked up, because the introductory essay here is by Constance Hale, author of one of my all-time favorite writing books, Sin and Syntax. Her new short but advice-packed little book is also a gem. Hale draws on examples of masterful portraiture from the New Yorker, Louise Erdrich, and her own verbal sketchings (which proves she can walk the talk!). Her voice is encouraging and non-pretentious. Her concluding list of six tips should be tattooed inside the eyelids of every aspiring magazine writer. What a helpful book. It left me revved to write.

This craft book combines aspects of a diary with acute observations on what building blocks go into making a well-developed character. "To convey character begin with acute observation." The advice is succinct and to the point, and suits both a beginning writer and a writer well into their career, looking to start a new project. This is a great tool for overcoming the fear of the blank page and focus on the most important elements of a story.

Short, dense, to the point, with a gentle guide for writers who want to dig deeper to create richer characters. This is a great resource for serious writers who want the characters in their heads to become memorable on the page. Tolstoy believed that in good writing there should be no separation between writer and reader, and richer characters are a piece of that.

A master shares tips of the trade, then offers wonderful prompts that make you want to sit down and get started with your own writing. Best thing is you can respond right there in the book. An adorable and complete package.

Fun, dense, useful. I am so happy to find a writing guide that makes it dead easy to "just do it" instead of worrying myself to death about how to do it. If you're ready for a guide on how to write and get over yourself (I'm not there. YET!) this is the one.

Constance Hale is a master at teaching writers how to sharpen their work. Her foreword offers concise details on how to capture each character's unique qualities, and the writing prompts that follow give you the opportunity to practice and hone your skills.

Accurate description, quick arrival