“Where do I Begin?”
INSPIRATION TO START
THE NARRATIVE ESSAY
Inspiration
 Listen to music (especially soundtracks).
 Look at images or paintings.
 Read current events in the news.
 Use the first line of a book or poem.
 Go to a public place and write.
The Essence of Your Story
________ (name of character) wants
________ (goal to be achieved) because
________ (motivation for acting), but she faces
________ (conflict standing in the way).
Literary Example
Jay Gatsby (name of character) wants
Daisy Buchanan (goal to be achieved) because
he loves her and wants to repeat the past
(motivation for acting), but he faces
Tom Buchanan, family values, and time
(conflicts standing in the way).
“How do I Create Character(s)?”
WAYS TO DEVELOP YOUR
CHARACTER’S PERSONAE
Protagonist needs a conflict
 Man vs. Man
 Man vs. Society
 Man vs. Nature
 Man vs. Self (internal)
Create a Biography of
your Character
DEVELOPING YOUR HERO & HEROINE
(N.B. DO NOT TRY TO ANSWER ALL OF
THESE QUESTIONS IN YOUR STORY.)
Basic Background Knowledge
 What is your character’s name?
 What is her astrological sign? Does it matter to her?
 What is her education?
 What are her hobbies?
 What is her job?
How does she feel about work?
 Is this a long-term career or just a job?

Character’s Physical/Psychological
Characteristics
 What does she look like?
 What are her most likeable and unlikeable traits?
 What is your character’s age or birth date?
 What trait does she want to keep secret from the
world?
 Is she introverted or extroverted? What makes her
so?
 Is she a natural leader or a follower?
Dynamics of Character’s Family/Friends
 What are her parents like?
 Does she have any brothers or sisters?
 Does she have children?
 How important are her family relationships?
 Who is her best friend? Why?
 Who is her worst enemy? Why?
 Who is this person’s love interest?
 How would a former date describe her?
Character’s Setting
 Where does she live? (Urban? Small town? Rural?)
 Why does she choose to live there?
 Does she live in an apartment? House?
What type or style?
 Did she choose the residence, and why?

 Does she live by herself? With others?
Philosophical Questions
the Character Should Consider
 What does she want to be doing in twenty years?
 What is her ideal happy ending?
 What does she (dis)like most about her life?
 What would this character die to defend?
 What does she believe in?
 As the story begins, what is her main problem?
 What does she do to make the problem worse?
 What reaction do you want readers to have to her?
 Why should the reader care about her?
What is her flaw?
She has to have at least one
flaw.
On your Chrome books, start answering these
questions and develop your protagonist or antagonist.