An exercise to develop character outlines
Protagonist is from my novel 'Silent Invaders', which won the quarter finals of Screencraft Hollywood Cinematic Story Contest:
Q)List the character’s major actions. Start from the end and work backwards. (Don’t analyse how or why; just create a list of actions.)
1.Protagonist submits to the court's decision. (end action)
2.She is being treated for mental illness in jail and through hypnotherapy, reveals all she knows about the murders and the murderers.
3.She collects a specific piece of ornament from the dead body of each victim.
4.All forensic evidences are against the protagonist, but she is entirely oblivious of all the murders and polygraph expert proves she is telling the truth. Later on it is established that she has a serious and horrific mental illness.
5.A series of murders are committed and are in the news.
6.A history of severe childhood abuse and torture of the protagonist is revealed.
7.Out of the blue protagonist is arrested for a murder of one of their close family friends. But she is completely unaware of her links with the murder. She is innocent.
8.Has a job in an NGO which works for betterment of abused and neglected children of the society.
9.Protagonist is a simple girl-next-door type, in her twenties, self-centered but loves her adopted parents.
10.Protagonist is adopted by an educated and well-to-do family in north-east of England. (beginning)
Q)Analyse the list to reveal the character’s wants and needs. Is the character aware of what they want?
Character is entirely unaware of her condition and her surrounding situations. She doesn't know why she is in jail and is being tried in court for serial murders.
Q)Describe how the character thinks and look at his or her basic psychology. Intelligent? Intellectually engaged? Cognitive Biases? Impulsive? Cautious?
It is established she has a horrific mental illness triggered due to her history of severe childhood abuse.
Q)Describe the character’s superficial affect. How might a casual acquaintance describe them?
Pleasant, bright but sometimes inattentive.
Q)List any important physical characteristics
In her twenties, slender body, pretty face, brown hair and eyes but never satisfied with her looks.
