Wicker Stair Basket

Posted by admin on Monday, March 30, 2009 · Leave a Comment

wicker stair basket
where and how should i introduce the characters emily and percy? (OPEN)?

As they heard their mum shouting them to come inside for dinner, Percy and Emily hurried and turned back down the steps from the park. Percy and Emily were brother and sister and had never disobeyed their parents, but they both knew tomorrow would be different. They had been planning to go on a big adventure to visit the golden fields of Binglebore wood at the other side of town. It was such a long journey, so they decided that they would set off early to get back in time for dinner.
They got up at 5 o’ clock, and in a matter of minutes they were dressed from head to toe ready for their big adventure. They carefully crept down the stairs, making sure not to wake up Beans the dog that looked peaceful as he slept silently in his wicker basket. They grabbed whatever food they could from the kitchen cupboards and excitedly stuffed as much as they could into their pockets. They eagerly opened the back door with care and ran out free ready to set off on their journey.

Traditionally, you should introduce your characters by describing an activity that suits their role in the story. For example, if they are going to be ‘rescuers’, then they should be doing something that illustrates that ‘rescue’ will be their reaction to a threatening situation; for example, searching for and releasing the kitten that’s become stuck in a tree, shed or airing cupboard, or averting some minor disaster at home.

(The text you included, allows the reader to wonder what was going on in the park, and why the siblings are now keen to disobey, to change their routine, to seek ‘adventure’, and to do it without the dog (the famous five never did). they are also skilled in creeping around the house without waking people or animals, which seems at odds with the bit about never disobeying. Your preamble could give these aspects of the narrative some ‘backstory’.)

This principle applies to any character, because the reader will interpret the character’s personality from the total range of activities they have been doing so far.

In a long story, you can change the kind of activities that a character is described doing, but not too abruptly. Some writers like to take somebody whose personality is one way, and make them act in a different way at the climax of the story. For example, the shy protagonist who suddenly becomes popular and persuasive in order to save the day. But for most readers (at any age), this strategy is disappointing, because it seems far-fetched.

A change of personality during the story should be explained by the story’s own ‘arc’; the character’s experiences during the story will inform and persuade them, so that their motivation and behaviour change as a result.

Introducing a character to the reader works in the same way; you are telling the reader what to expect. These expectations can be challenged, but if you do this too strongly, you will lose the reader’s trust, by making them feel tricked.

If you keep asking yourself the question ‘WHY am I telling them this?’, situations and methods will often suggest themselves.