Writing Tips — What is Your Princess Like?
At this week’s Story Club, my young writer’s workshop on Zoom, I shared some questions that I have used to create characters. Though I suggested the character be ‘a princess’, these questions could aid in developing any character.
What is your princess’ name?
What country does your princess live in?
What sort of house does she live in (a treehouse, a castle, a cottage, a cave?)
What does your princess wear?
What are her duties (if she has any)?
What are three things your princess likes?
What are three things your princess does not like?
What does your princess want most in the world?
My newest member wrote furiously, getting through all the questions in record time. She created Lilia, who owns and runs a cafe in New York City. She sings as she bakes everything for the cafe from scratch, wearing her favourite dress and black books. Lilia doesn’t like anger or loud noises, and she wants to live in a mansion and have a happy life.
I then asked her to write a scene where her princess tries to get what she most wants in the world.
This resulted in a scene which became the end of the story. Lilia saves up enough money from her hard work and buys a mansion. She runs the cafe out of her mansion, which I thought was a nice touch (she seems to be running the cafe out of love more than just a need for money).
We went on to write the beginning, where Lilia is introduced (which was basically the answers to the questions), and the middle. The only ‘rule’ I suggested for the middle was some tension. Might Lilia not get the mansion? Or perhaps she’s worried and needs to find some inner confidence to reach for her dream?
The result was an entire story, written in an hour, by my newest Story Club member. I loved Lilia’s story, a working princess who has a kind of flair and knows what she wants. (She worried another buyer would get the mansion, but Lilia prevailed in the end). It made me realise how we can indeed compose a story in a short time, if we have the right questions.
Try it! What is your princess like? I’d love to read about your character, or any story that results from this exercise.
