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Happy American Thanksgiving week.
Everyone is talking about thanks and gratitude, so let’s do a little of that here. But instead of you, what are your characters thankful for? Imagine what the antagonist / villain might be grateful for … not just want, grateful for what they already have.
WRITING EXERCISE: Choose two characters in your present Work In Progress and come up with three things they are grateful for. Be specific.
Let your imagination run wild. And don’t go for broad generalities. My family goes around the table about four times, and with all those people, we get pass the “my family”, “good health”, “a nice job” very quickly.
My Attempt (present WIP: Generations, a Space Gothic)
Poppy Campbell Junior – 1. I’m thankful for the last two generations actually saving records of their attempts to fix the food dispensers. 2. My immediate family – love you sis, mom, and dad. 3. Finally being too big to climb in the tubes.
Page Higgins Holder – 1. I’m grateful One Giant Leap continues to fly true and straight through the stars. 2. I’m grateful to the Captain and her leadership, the First Officer, and the Crew. 3. I’m blessed to choose my husband from the Lots. — At least, this is what she would be willing to say out loud. She is the Captain’s Spare after all. Internally, she would struggle. Her wants, wishes, and desires have never had a place in the world and the thought of giving thanks never entered her head before. Because gratitude indicates options, and that has never been handed to her … until she meets Poppy.