This Is So Gorgeous

So my problem with most ‘get to know your character’ questioneers is that they’re full of questions that just aren’t that important (what color eyes do they have) too hard to answer right away (what is their greatest fear) or are just impossible to answer (what is their favorite movie.)  Like no one has one single favorite movie. And even if they do the answer changes.

If I’m doing this exercise, I want 7-10 questions to get the character feeling real in my head. So I thought I’d share the ones that get me (and my students) good results: 

What is the character’s go-to drink order? (this one gets into how do they like to be publicly perceived, because there is always some level of theatricality to ordering drinks at a bar/resturant)

What is their grooming routine? (how do they treat themselves in private)

What was their most expensive purchase/where does their disposable income go? (Gets you thinking about socio-economic class, values, and how they spend their leisure time)

Do they have any scars or tattoos? (good way to get into literal backstory) 

What was the last time they cried, and under what circumstances? (Good way to get some *emotional* backstory in.) 

Are they an oldest, middle, youngest or only child? (This one might be a me thing, because I LOVE writing/reading about family dynamics, but knowing what kinds of things were ‘normal’ for them growing up is important.)

Describe the shoes they’re wearing. (This is a big catch all, gets into money, taste, practicality, level of wear, level of repair, literally what kind of shoes they require to live their life.)

Describe the place where they sleep. (ie what does their safe space look like. How much (or how little) care / decoration / personal touch goes into it.)

What is their favorite holiday? (How do they relate to their culture/outside world. Also fun is least favorite holiday.) 

What objects do they always carry around with them? (What do they need for their normal, day-to-day routine? What does ‘normal’ even look like for them.) 

just ordered "hold still" with a gift card i got from donating blood. it doesn't get much better than this

i picked up "watch over me" by nina lacour today after having it on my desk for almost a month now because i was afraid it wouldn't make me feel as much as "we are okay" did. and oh boy was i wrong. i don't know how she does it, but she just gets the loneliness i experience so often

i wonder

i wonder if anyone would notice

if i just stayed here

in bed

it's getting so dark outside

and I can't pull myself up

can't bring myself to leave

i wonder if anyone would notice

if i just sank into

the pillows

deeper and deeper

until the world is shut out

and all these fears can't find me anymore

i wonder if anyone would notice

if i just stayed home

with tea and a book

so i can witness

other people fighting their demons

hoping they are braver than me

metalcore mixed with 80s synthesisers is the BEST genre of music. no i won't accept constructive criticism

so I opened my phone this morning and found out via some random insta video that there's a new song from Linkin Park and they're gonna release a new album? With a new singer?????

i took a photo of the moon while she was watching over me as i wrote a lab report tonight

sometimes i feel like a black hole

swallowing even pure light

disintegrating each and every thing whole

so i stay away, i keep the distance

afraid there's no end to this night

i'm alone in my universe

wondering when this ends

or if it just gets worse

TRANS LESBIAN FLAMING SWORD

naming the main character of the acolyte Osha and then having her set something on fire within the first ten minutes of the show really is the funniest fucking thing I've witnessed in a while