This week I’m at John C. Campbell Folk School teaching a class called “Opening the Door to Your Novel.” I love teaching at the John C. Campbell. It’s a beautiful setting, folks are all interesting, the instructors are all talented, the staff is helpful and happy, and the food is terrific.  How good can it get?

This week we will begin with character development, and you can too, whether you write fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.

Check out John C. Campbell Folk School website: www.folkschool.org

 Writing exercise for fiction writers:

Part One: Answer the following three questions, then write scenes that demonstrate that information without coming out and saying it.

What three things does your character know  for certain?

What three things does your character want to know  for certain?

If your character could be doing anything other than what he’s or she’s doing, what would it be?

Part Two:

What do you know for certain about your character?

What would you like to know about your character?

Start writing in a direction that may give you your answers.

Writing exercise for poets and nonfiction writers:

Answer these questions about your self, then turn what you have into a poem or a series of poems, or a an essay or short memoir piece.