Develop A Character And Write A Story About Who You Create

Natalie Goldberg Writing Down the Bones Deck Prompts - You might want to try fiction? Think of a character and write about him/her/them. Tell who they are.

Simon was a pie man

he made the best pies in Towman

His bakery was well-known

throughout the town, and was shown

favor even in neighboring places

he ran out of spaces

in his bakery for all the fresh faces

That is Simon the pie man.

Natalie Goldberg Writing Down the Bones Deck Prompts - Be detailed. What do they look like, what do they wear? What's their favorite music? Their age? Where do they live, who were their parents? Do they read books, go to school? Is this person a lawyer, car mechanic, waitress, clerk in a clothing store, gardener, librarian, political activist? What religion are they? What do they eat? What sexual orientation are they? What race?

Now to get to know your character better, let that person speak in the first person. Give them a topic and let them do writing practice. At first it might be awkward and you won't be sure if you or your character is speaking. Be patient. Start by giving them at least one thing you'd never be interested in - race car driving, animal husbandry, rifles, tango lessons -- and have them begin by writing about that. It might help jolt them out of your mindset.

Give them another topic -- for example, how they learned about sex or how they learned to read.

And another, until you almost physically feel they are speaking and you are out of the way.

Simon wears white coveralls and an apron just for work. He is a pretty plain dresser other than that. Mostly jeans and a t-shirt with Heydudes on his feet day and night.

Simon will listen to old country while driving in the car. He has been known to hit a club and dance to just about any music playing though. He is looking at retiring in just a few years, if that is really something a baker can do.

Right now he is living above the bakery and they have for many years now. He would love to have a small hobby farm in the country with a few chickens. His family comes from Sweden. His grandfather settled in Towman almost 100 years ago now.

He is Swedish and his wife is Mexican. And they love to eat Mexican food and Mexican pastries, which they sell in their bakery.

Simon said, "I thought I wanted to be a race car driver and I did get the opportunity to do that. It just wasn't my thing. The best thing about it is you build up a fan base and that is where I met my wife-to-be. However would I meet someone as pretty as her in Towman?"

"My wife was great at making pastries and together we would bake. We even took a baking class to learn to make pies, both her way and now I had my way. I am so lucky to have found such a smart and beautiful person as my wife."

"I learned to bake and my wife learned to speak and write English from me. Now she doesn't ever not write. She loves making up stories about people coming into the bakery. She thinks everyone should have a story and she is going to make sure that they do. True or not."

"Well last year she submitted a romance book she had written and it was published. Imagine that. Just that quick and she is an author. How does that happen? Well, it did for her. Now to get her back in the kitchen to help in keeping the business going."

"Her agent wants her to get out there and sign copies of her book, talk about her book, write other romance books, and sell more copies of her book. However, will we survive this now? It doesn't sound good, but she is having the time of her life. I guess maybe our son can help out here."

"After all, he is between jobs and likes to bake. And he knows almost as many recipes as his mother. There the problem is solved for now."

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Authors Note: I am not a fiction writer, yet as you may be able to tell. I am in the middle of a Poem a Day in February and this week is nonsense poetry. My first response is what I wrote for my writing group this morning.