*Note: Writing Excuses 10.3 did not contain an assignment.
Did you think I gave up on the Writing Excuses Self-Assignment? I thought about it, especially after looking at 10.4. This assignment really threw me for a loop. I was intimidated by this one. This session’s homework is:
Take one of the ideas you’re excited about, and then audition five different characters for the lead role in that story. Make sure they’re all different from each other.
Picking out the story wasn’t hard. It was coming up with five different characters for the main role. I had an idea of who I wanted. So I had a mental block when it came to think of other types of people. I was worried I would do it wrong and all my characters would be too much alike.
I made a list of questions to ask my candidates. Then I sat on it all for weeks. Frozen in self doubt. Then one day I forced myself to finish the task. So buckle up everyone. My main character interviews for my ‘tracking witch in the 1800s is sent to bring in the chief of an American Indian tribe, but she falls for him and turns him in anyway’ story. It’s the last story idea from 10.2.
Writing Excuses 10.4: Q&A on Ideas
Five Auditions for the Main Character
Annabel
What is your name and age?
- 22 my name is Annabel
How comfortable are you traveling day to day?
- Very. My dad taught me to ride and I delivered packages for him around the town.
Would you like to travel West?
- Yes. Exploring the world sounds fun
Can you defend yourself?
- If you’re asking if I can shoot, then yes.
Tell me about your ability to locate things.
- It’s a gift from God. Mom says every girl in our family gets a gift. She believes it comes from the Earth. We aren’t allowed to talk about that in from of dad.
Do you want to use that gift for now than your father had you using it now?
- I would long to use it for the greater good.
How do you feel about wearing men’s clothes?
- I’m not sure I understand
I want you to pretend to be a man and work for me. Finding misplaced packages and men on the run.
- That sounds dangerous. Do you think my brother could come too?
As long as he treats you like a man. And teaches you how to fight.
Is presenting yourself as male a problem?
- I suppose not, as long as my brother’s there.
Are you loyal?
- Of course.
What do you have to lose?
- My parents, but they will be here, so I guess just my brother.
Can you defend yourself?
- I can shoot decent.
Would you kill someone? In self defense?
- I don’t know. Do you think I’ll have to?
What would you do for someone you love?
- Anything.
For money?
- Money’s never been that important.
To stay alive?
- I don’t know.
How do you greet people?
- With a smile. I love meeting new people.
How do you wind down at night?
- I read passages from my Bible and sit in front of the fire.
How do you wake up?
- My brother says I’m a bear in the morning. It takes a while for me to wake up.
Are you a light sleeper?
- No. I can sleep through a tornado.
Can you fend for yourself on the road? Camp? Find food?
- I can camp and find food no problem. I can even cook over an open fire. Sleeping on the ground isn’t something I relish, but I can manage.
Previous experience?
- I can locate anything. But I have little experience traveling long distances.
Background?
- Daughter of a local tradesman. She delivers his goods and is well known and liked in town. No real life experience.
Mary
What is your name and age?
- Mary. 33 just last month
How comfortable are you traveling day to day?
- I travel all the time. Since I was 16 I’ve been on my own. Going from town to town looking for work.
Would you like to travel West?
- I’m not opposed to going west.
Can you defend yourself?
- *Stares* I imagine I can.
Tell me about your ability to locate things.
- It’s useful. Gets me jobs. Being close to the Earth has its advantages and it’s a gift part down through my mother’s love. It’s a treasure. My last look too my family.
How do you feel about wearing men’s clothes?
- *Looks down* If rather be wearing them now. Easier to ride and work, but finding a job requires this skirt.
I want you to pretend to be a man and work for me. Finding misplaced packages and men on the run.
- How much you paying?
Cost of travel And a clothes allowance plus a bonus for each find.
Are you loyal?
- I’m as loyal the money I’m being paid.
What do you have to lose?
- Nothing.
Would you kill someone? In self defense?
- Wouldn’t you?
What would you do for someone you love?
- I don’t recon I know. Love never came my way.
For money?
- Enough.
To stay alive?
- I’d do everything to stay alive.
How do you greet people?
- A nod and eye contact. You can tell a great deal by staring in a person’s eye.
How do you wind down at night?
- I take a sip of some whiskey by the fire.
How do you wake up?
- Like everyone else. Sun comes up. I get up.
Are you a light sleeper?
- I have to be.
Can you fend for yourself on the road? Camp? Find food?
- Of course.
Previous experience?
- I travel now locating things for people. Doing the same for you won’t change how I live.
Background?
- Mary. 33. Never married. Lost her parents young. Grew up with an uncle in way Kentucky.
Tom AKA Jennifer
Name and Age?
- I’m Tom. 15 years old.
How comfortable are you traveling day to day?
- I travel all the time.
On horseback?
- No. In wagons. Hitching rids.
Would you like to travel West?
- I’ll go where the money is
Can you defend yourself?
- ‘Corse I can. Can’t live the way I do with defending yourself.
Tell me about your ability to locate things.
- I don’t know what you talkin’ about.
I know about your gift?
- Oh yeah? Why don’t you tell me what I’m good at? Help me out quite a bit.
You have the ability to locate anything you think about from food to people.
You’re crazy mister.
How long do you think you can pull off being a boy?
- Forever seeing as I am a boy.
You are a girl named Jennifer. Abandoned when you were 5 and have lived your life thieving.
- Who are you?
Someone willing to give you a lawful job.
- Why?
You have a skill I need and I’m will in to train you.
- Well I can learn but I ain’t wearing no skirt.
Are you loyal?
- Loyal until I ain’t got food in my belly.
What do you have to lose?
- I ain’t got nothin to lose, but you might.
Would you kill someone? In self defense?
- I done it before. It’s a dirty world mister.
What would you do for someone you love?
- Ain’t nobody love me and I ain’t love nobody.
For money?
- More’n you know.
To stay alive?
- More’n you’ll ever find out.
How do you greet people?
- Mister, I don’t greet people. I ain’t doing my job if people look my way.
How do you wind down at night?
- I go to sleep. You find a place to sleep, you don’t make a big deal about it.
How do you wake up?
- I don’t rightly know what you’re askin.
Are you a light sleeper?
- Gotta be. Mister you payin attention to what I’m sayin? I can’t be no deep sleeper to live.
Can you fend for yourself on the road? Camp? Find food?
- I can fend for myself anywhere.
Previous experience?
- I’ll find anything you want for a price. Been doin it for 8 years now.
Background?
- Jennifer is an orphan who learned how to fend for herself on the street. She disguises herself as a boy to get jobs and avoid attention.
Eleanor Chatsworth
What is your name and age?
- My name is Eleanor Chatsworth. And you can expect me to own my age.
How comfortable are you traveling day to day?
- Sir, I travel often. I just arrived back from London last month. Traveling it’s something I enjoy.
Do you ride horseback?
- A lady can do many things including riding horseback. I’m an accomplished Rider.
Would you like to travel West?
- I would greatly enjoy traveling West. I hear there is gold to be found in that Savage land.
Can you defend yourself?
- I am a lady, Sir. I have no need for such knowledge.
Tell me about your gift.
- Well I told you about my riding skill, but I am proficient at the piano, can sew, read with vigor, and an charming wherever I go.
No. Your… Magical gift. The one use to locate objects.
- I see you know more than you should. I’m also skilled with a dagger.
You misunderstand. I am offering you a job using your gift.
- Is that right?
Yes. Can you pass as a man?
- I can pass as your mother if given the chance. What’s in it for me.
Travel fee, clothes allowance and a bonus for every item you bring back.
- Add a weapon allowance and I’ll think about it.
Are you loyal?
- Loyalty can be bought for a price.
What do you have to lose?
- I have everything to lose. My reputation most of all.
Again, can you defend yourself?
- Sir, there is one reason I am alive today and it’s not because I was ever saved by a man.
Would you kill someone? In self defense?
- Yes.
What would you do for someone you love?
- Cut out someone’s tongue.
For money?
- How much money?
To stay alive?
- Anything to keep breathing.
How do you greet people?
- A smile and I present my hand. A wink on occasion.
How do you wind down at night?
- I read and sing. And a glass of wine.
How do you wake up?
- In the arms of the richest man in the county.
Are you a light sleeper?
- On occasion.
Can you fend for yourself on the road? Camp? Find food?
- It’s not my preferred way to live, but I do what I must.
Previous experience?
- You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.
Background?
- Eleanor is the daughter of a noble man who lost his fortune. She has survived the downfall of her family by changing her last name, moving to the states, and reinventing herself. She uses her magical gifts as well as a few others to take advantage of the upper classes.
Magena
What if you name and age?
- Magena. I am 50
How comfortable are you traveling day to day?
- I travel whether I am comfortable or not.
On horseback?
- And on foot.
Would you like to travel West?
- I have traveled west.
Would you like to go back?
- Yes. I would like to see old friends.
Can you defend yourself?
- And you without trying.
Tell me about your ability to locate things.
- I am gifted with the power of the crow. I can find the lost, as it was pasted from my mother and from her mother before her.
How do you feel about wearing men’s clothing?
- Clothes are for warmth not for gender. I wear what works.
Are you loyal?
- More loyal than the moon.
What do you have to lose?
- Myself, my past self, and my future.
Would you kill someone? In self defense?
- The death of one for the life of another is not to be taken lightly.
What would you do for someone you love?
- I would move mountains.
For money?
- Money is the white man’s vice. Not mine.
To stay alive?
- One day it will be a good day to die and I will not stand in the way of fate.
How do you greet people?
- With a nod.
How do you wind down at night?
- With a smoke and a prayer.
How do you wake up?
- In the arms of the earth.
Are you a light sleeper?
- I sleep how I sleep.
Can you fend for yourself on the road? Camp? Find food?
- Better than your most experienced men.
Previous experience?
- I have lived many lives. I have traveled many miles. I have found more than you have lost. My experience shows in the lines of my face and the silver of my hair.
I would like to hire you. What language do you speak?
- I speak enough even the language of the body. You seek to exploit my gift for your grain. I decline your offer.
Background.
- Magena is an American Indian. She grew up living between white mans land and her ancestor’s home. She worked as a translator, guide, and trapper. She seeks peace between the tribes and has no time to work for a fool.
This is the end of my auditions/interviews. I’m a bit nervous regarding the 10.5 assignment. I haven’t looked ahead.
Have any questions or suggestions? Add a comment below. All feedback is welcome.
This post and I are in no way associated with Writing Excuses. I just really liked this idea and wanted to share.
Want to see the previous posts? Look here: 10.1 and 10.2
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