Writing Tips, Prompts, and Inspiration
A thumbnail sketch for a mythical character presents so many possibilities. Is it a sentient being from a civilization? Or an animal? Does it live in our world or a fantasy world?
If the character is an animal, my sketch is:
Loyal, protective guardian
If the character is an intelligent being, my sketch is:
No-nonsense, determined ruler or soldier
What sketch can you come up with for this mythical character?
This month’s theme is probably my favorite. My site is all about characters in May. I’m a character writer. A setting can inspire me, or a plot can intrigue me, but if I don’t have characters in mind for them, those inspirations just languish in the back of my imagination. One technique I’ve learned when I want to make sure my characters act and perform differently from each other is to write a thumbnail character sketch for them. A sketch includes two or three adjectives and a noun.
I build most of my characters from faces that my imagination thinks have potential. So today’s prompt is a portrait that caught my attention because of the young man’s expression. Below is my sketch:
Observant, dry-humored college student
For more on using thumbnail sketches, click here. What thumbnail character sketch would you write for this photo?
JPC Allen Writes