Teachers Write 2: Character creation, my friend Peg, and your next prompt :-)
Happy Monday, Teachers!!
Today I want to talk about people. More specifically, characters and how we develop them so that they become unique, believable, loveable (or detestable, depending on your aim) and, most importantly, memorable.
Yesterday, I went to the memorial service of a very dear friend, Marguerite (Peg) Davol. Some of you may have used her beautiful picture books in your classrooms. My favorite is The Paper Dragon, Illustrated by Robert Sabuda. I was asked to say a few words about Peggy at the service, and it was both very difficult, and very healing. Peg was a special lady. I both miss and still feel her love and light very strongly. Last night as I was trying to fall asleep, I began to think about all the things I loved about Peg. The things that made her unique, believable, loveable (always) and, memorable. Here they are in no particular order:
I remember Peg's eyes the most
how, if you dared to look in them,
you could feel them see right into your soul
how they defined her smile
and how, cliche as it is, they sparkled
they really did!
she had thin, wispy hair which she had curled once a month
and whenever she'd come from an appointment, she'd pat it gently
and grin in a pleased and mischievous kind of way
as though curly hair was also a little naughty somehow
an indulgence
she enjoyed reading the Times every morning
and doing the crossword
and confessing to crossing out George Bush and Dick Cheney's faces with her pencil
it feels good, she told me once, and I don't feel guilty at all!
I remember her bright blue toyota RAV and how well she drove it
our drives to New York City, once in a snowstorm
tiny Peg at the wheel saying not to worry
and I didn't
I remember her hard-to-read handwriting
on the Christmas photo cards she sent every year
and pointing out how she was one of the few people left to still write a note
the way she said I love you with a jutted out chin
pointed in my direction
I remember her hugs--she always squeezed with both hands
as if she were holding on to you
as if she wanted you to know she had you
it felt so good
and I try now, to hug the same way
I remember her tattered notebook with worn-soft pages
and how lovely it was to see someone at our table of writers
still using pen and paper
not hiding behind a laptop screen but
instead constantly looking up and around
listening, watching, learning,
writing it all down
how she hated the word "suddenly"
and taught us all how to avoid using it
how she referred to those she wasn't crazy about by last name
how she always showed up
even though in the final years it was very hard
she called herself a conference junky
and made me one, too
she admitted my work was hard to take sometimes
too raw
but told me not to change it
she ate like a little bird, filling up quickly
and would always save the leftovers to bring home to her husband
she wore rings on most of her fingers
and moved her hands constantly
with a signature flick full of attitude
most often used to dismiss
but sometimes used to direct
and sometimes to emphasize a particularly good joke
I always wanted to tell her she was the grandmother I never really had
but I didn't
because I don't think she would have liked that
for me to create an age barrier between us
we were friends most importantly
colleagues
writing partners on occasion
but always friends first
and we loved each other the way friends do
and will miss each other the way friends do
she is with me, and she is not with me
but I can remember her
I can hold those memories in my heart now
and that is more than enough...
that is a gift.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Monday Morning Warm-Up:
Think of someone you love or have loved (or detested, that can be fun too!) and make a list poem like the one above, describing all of the traits that made that person special, unique, memorable, frightening (you get the picture). Try to avoid clichés. Instead, give us specific tidbits that show how the person's eyes sparkled rather than say they did--don't fail at it like me! :-) Once you have your list, circle your favorites. Think about why you like those the best. Now try to use similar ones to describe the characters in your works in progress. Give them their own particularities that might reveal something deeper about their personalities. But mostly, as I said last week, try to have FUN!
Keep up the great work!
Love,
Jo
Today I want to talk about people. More specifically, characters and how we develop them so that they become unique, believable, loveable (or detestable, depending on your aim) and, most importantly, memorable.
Yesterday, I went to the memorial service of a very dear friend, Marguerite (Peg) Davol. Some of you may have used her beautiful picture books in your classrooms. My favorite is The Paper Dragon, Illustrated by Robert Sabuda. I was asked to say a few words about Peggy at the service, and it was both very difficult, and very healing. Peg was a special lady. I both miss and still feel her love and light very strongly. Last night as I was trying to fall asleep, I began to think about all the things I loved about Peg. The things that made her unique, believable, loveable (always) and, memorable. Here they are in no particular order:
I remember Peg's eyes the most
how, if you dared to look in them,
you could feel them see right into your soul
how they defined her smile
and how, cliche as it is, they sparkled
they really did!
she had thin, wispy hair which she had curled once a month
and whenever she'd come from an appointment, she'd pat it gently
and grin in a pleased and mischievous kind of way
as though curly hair was also a little naughty somehow
an indulgence
she enjoyed reading the Times every morning
and doing the crossword
and confessing to crossing out George Bush and Dick Cheney's faces with her pencil
it feels good, she told me once, and I don't feel guilty at all!
I remember her bright blue toyota RAV and how well she drove it
our drives to New York City, once in a snowstorm
tiny Peg at the wheel saying not to worry
and I didn't
I remember her hard-to-read handwriting
on the Christmas photo cards she sent every year
and pointing out how she was one of the few people left to still write a note
the way she said I love you with a jutted out chin
pointed in my direction
I remember her hugs--she always squeezed with both hands
as if she were holding on to you
as if she wanted you to know she had you
it felt so good
and I try now, to hug the same way
I remember her tattered notebook with worn-soft pages
and how lovely it was to see someone at our table of writers
still using pen and paper
not hiding behind a laptop screen but
instead constantly looking up and around
listening, watching, learning,
writing it all down
how she hated the word "suddenly"
and taught us all how to avoid using it
how she referred to those she wasn't crazy about by last name
how she always showed up
even though in the final years it was very hard
she called herself a conference junky
and made me one, too
she admitted my work was hard to take sometimes
too raw
but told me not to change it
she ate like a little bird, filling up quickly
and would always save the leftovers to bring home to her husband
she wore rings on most of her fingers
and moved her hands constantly
with a signature flick full of attitude
most often used to dismiss
but sometimes used to direct
and sometimes to emphasize a particularly good joke
I always wanted to tell her she was the grandmother I never really had
but I didn't
because I don't think she would have liked that
for me to create an age barrier between us
we were friends most importantly
colleagues
writing partners on occasion
but always friends first
and we loved each other the way friends do
and will miss each other the way friends do
she is with me, and she is not with me
but I can remember her
I can hold those memories in my heart now
and that is more than enough...
that is a gift.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Monday Morning Warm-Up:
Think of someone you love or have loved (or detested, that can be fun too!) and make a list poem like the one above, describing all of the traits that made that person special, unique, memorable, frightening (you get the picture). Try to avoid clichés. Instead, give us specific tidbits that show how the person's eyes sparkled rather than say they did--don't fail at it like me! :-) Once you have your list, circle your favorites. Think about why you like those the best. Now try to use similar ones to describe the characters in your works in progress. Give them their own particularities that might reveal something deeper about their personalities. But mostly, as I said last week, try to have FUN!
Keep up the great work!
Love,
Jo
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