Elements of the Writing Craft. Part Two: Character, Lesson Thirty-Nine: Characters Who Talk to Themselves.

  1. We are most apt to talk to ourselves when we are alone. List five occasions that allow a character to be alone. Name a character for each.
    Brigid stood behind the curtain waiting for her cue.
    Erin looked out over the silent camp.
    Beatrice cracked open the balcony door and slipped outside into the rushing wind.
    Eoghan pulled the blankets over his head and ignore the knock at his door.
    Carn sat alone on his throne the last petitioners left the hall hours ago.
  2. Imbue each of the five occasions you have listed with a feeling of silence, an invitation to talk to oneself.
    The buzz from the crowd outside and the clamor from the backstage staff combined to make a hum in her ears that blocked out the world.
    Erin scanned the empty horizon waiting for the sun to break.
    Beatrice shivered against the chill and slipped the cork from the bottle.
    Carn hung his head and leaned his elbows on his knees.
  3. Choose one of your movements and continue, making a turn similar to the one in the lesson.
    Before her the crowd waited, behind her, the theatre staff scurried about.
    At this moment, between onstage and backstage, she was alone.
  4. Now move into dialogue, but first, prepare for it by finishing your narrative.
    With none to hear her she spoke to herself, “Okay Brigid, it’s showtime. Get out there and give them the best you’ve got, the best they’ve ever seen. Go out there and be legendary.”

Brigid Saehe stood behind the curtain, waiting for her cue. The buzz from the crowd outside and the clamor from the backstage staff combined to make a hum in her ears that blocked out the world. Before her, the crowd waited. Behind her, the theatre staff scurried about.
At this moment, between onstage and backstage, she was alone. With none to hear her, she spoke to herself,
“Okay, Brigid, it’s showtime.” She smiled and ran her fingers through her red curls. “Get out there and give them the best you’ve got, the best they’ve ever seen. Go out there and be legendary.”

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