Then perhaps you’re developing a character who is ANXIOUS.
anxious | adj.
- Uneasy and apprehensive about an uncertain event or matter; worried.
- Attended with, showing, or causing anxiety: spent an anxious night waiting for the test results.
- Usage Problem: Eagerly or earnestly desirous.
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Characterizing the anxious person is simple. We have all been anxious at some time or another. Stop and think about a time you have been anxious.
Remember the cold, clammy hands just before you had to give a book report in front of the class? How about your first date? Your first job interview? How did you feel when you made your first book pitch? Anxious likely characterizes your feelings at one or more of these times.
Now, write for 10 minutes creating a scene where you center on a character who is feeling anxious using either the word “anxious” or other words conveying that feeling or what you were feeling at a time you were anxious.
Here’s an image that may help you.
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AND “A” also stands for ARLEE BIRD who began the A to Z Blogging Challenge in 2010. Today we’re taking this opportunity to thank ARLEE for his challenge to the rest of us, and for his encouragement as we all take on this year’s challenge. THANK YOU, ARLEE!
Click on images for attribution.
Very good choice of image to get the imagination going. It immediately fires the correct centres of the brain for me :).
Tasha, glad the image did what I hoped it would. Look forward to the rest of the challenge. 🙂
Good one thank you! Yup, those anxious feelings and thoughts contain a wealth of use if we tap into them. Great image thank you.
Susan, appreciate the positive feedback. Anxious feelings and thought as we develop characters can sometimes fly back in our drafting and make us the anxious ones.
Great theme! Anxiety is actually quite easy to show. Clammy hands, quivering fingers… cotton-dry mouth… 🙂
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Hello, fellow A to Zer! I love the theme you’ve chosen for the challenge. Looking forward to more posts! 🙂
C.B., thanks for the positives! Love that you’re looking forward to more. Hope I don’t disappoint you. 🙂
Yes Anxiety is a good emotion for characters. And to show it is not easy! Good subject matter
Sue, thanks for stopping by with a comment or two. Appreciate the encouragement as we begin the challenge!
The problem I seem to have, is that it is me that gets anxious about writing the characters!
Ionia, I know exactly what you’re talking about. Will I get it right, get it wrong, get it all in describing my characters for my readers? It’s a juggling act, I do believe!
Hi Sherrey, this looks like an interesting idea. Are you going to create writing prompts for every letter of the alphabet? You certainly picked a good one for A. You might enjoy the podcast of this week’s This American Life. One of the stories was about a woman whose anxiety is best calmed when someone whispers or inanimate objects softly hit each other. A strange condition known as ASMR. Have you ever heard of it? see Act II here: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/491/tribes
It’s good to be able to visit other blogs again. I was completely offline blog-wise there for a few weeks. Cheering you on again.
Hi, Shirley! I’ve been missing your presence. I had not planned to do writing prompts for each; there’s a definite twist from that tomorrow. I have drafted up through the letter “J” and so far this is the only post containing a prompt. Somehow I was having trouble closing this one out. I have never heard of ASMR. I will definitely check out Act II.
Glad to have you back in my cheering section!
Hi Sherrey, congratulations on launching your A-Z blog challenge. Anxiety is certainly a common feeling but the challenge is to convey it effectively in writing. Your photo offers a great prompt. This should be an interesting series and I’m looking forward to following it!
Kathy, thanks for confirming what I felt about the image. My hope was to underscore my words with that photo. Appreciate your encouragement.
I like what you’ve got going on here, new friend. This A-Z idea is cool and the commitment this blog shows to learning to write better is great!
Hi Duane! So nice to find you here encouraging me along. Thanks, friend!
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