Arianne's Character Questionnaire - Part Three

Continuing Arianne's series on Writing Characters...

It's time for the final section of the questionnaire! This set of questions will help you fill in the gaps of your character's personality and make them really stand out. This is where you start getting into 'story mode' and writing about things that have shaped your character's life, so remember to think hard and make your answers as unique and useful as you can.

10. What is your character’s biggest goal in life?
(What motivates them? What inspires them? What are their ambitions? When the going gets tough, what do they do? What keeps them moving on through your story?)

11. Is your character an introvert, extrovert, or somewhere in between?
(Is your character shy or outgoing, quiet or excitable? Do they like being in a group or are they happy being on their own? You don't have to give them just one type, either. Maybe they're an introvert in some situations and extrovert in others? Why are they like this?)

12. What is the worst thing your character has ever done? Likewise, what is the best thing your character has ever done?
(Nobody is perfect! What is your character most ashamed of? Why did that deed stick with them? Everybody's done something good in their lives as well, though, so talk about that too.)

13. What is your character’s most embarrassing moment?
(Tell the full story! This is one of the most fun questions to answer, and it could become a big part of your plot, so make use of all the details!)

14. What role does this character play in your story?
(Are they the hero with a mission or the sidekick with all the answers? Are they the cause of all the problems or are they fixing someone else's mistake? Which other character do they care about most? Which other character do they spend the most time with? What's happening to them at the start of the story and where are they at the end?)

15. What question isn't on this questionnaire that your character is just burning to answer?         (Maybe there's one important thing about your character you haven't been able to fit into this questionnaire so far. Now's your chance to put it in by asking them a question for yourself!)

Bonus Question: Write your character into an unusual situation and see how they cope. What would they do if they were stuck on a desert island with only a bottle of orange juice and a pet monkey for company? If they were transported to a strange planet full of aliens with ginormous eyes and legs made of jelly, how would they react? Are they tough and resourceful or would they totally freak out? This is just for fun but it could help you to beat writer's block and will tell you more about your character.

And there you go, we're all done! Your character has grown with every question you answered and you're ready to get writing. Remember, you can keep using this questionnaire format for other characters, but it's important not to use it too much or it will become boring and nothing new will come from it. If your answers were exciting, then your story will be too!
Feel free to leave a comment and share your experience of the questionnaire with us! Did you find it useful and exciting? Are there questions you wish had been included or have you some other method for creating great characters? We'd love to hear from you, so don't be shy, get in touch!

Arianne's Character Questionnaire - Part Two

Continuing Arianne's series on Writing Characters....
Right, so you've worked out the basics of your character - now it's time to take things to another level and work out exactly what kind of person they are!

5. What are the best and worst things about your character's personality?
 (Remember, this questionnaire is about not getting bored so don't just list things for this one! Instead of 'she is pretty' or 'he is nice to his mum', maybe your character is 'especially kind and trusting' or 'really positive and optimistic'. Instead of 'she is evil' or 'he hates everyone', maybe they're 'rotten to the core' or they 'eat good guys for breakfast'. Maybe they're just ordinary and somewhere in between, so you could put something like 'she is really determined and focused, but she can be too competitive sometimes' or 'he's vain and spends too much time looking at himself in the mirror, but he's brave and loyal'. This question is really important so don't rush it!)

6. Does your character have any special talents or skills?
(Everyone is special in some way. Maybe your character is a brilliant super-spy, or maybe they're just really good with animals? ? Maybe they're sporty, arty or hard-working. Write anything that marks your character out as different here.)

7.When your character is happy/sad/angry, how do they express themselves?
(Go through each emotion separately. You want your characters to be vivid and realistic so you can include other emotions, too. Maybe they have dimples when they smile or a big, braying laugh when they hear something funny? Maybe they cry loudly but go absolutely silent when they're angry? Can people easily read every emotion on their face?)

8. What does your character care about most?
(What does your character value above all else? Family? Freedom? Fame? Good looks?Wealth? Health? Hope? Explain the reasons for their values and don't be afraid to pick ones not listed here.)

9. What are some of your character's favourite things?
(Everyone has favourite things. They might be small but they could prove important. Maybe your characters are on a camping adventure and their camping site is attacked by a bear. However, some of the characters prefer sleeping under the stars and some of the characters prefer staying inside the tent so when the attack happens they react differently. Go into as much detail as you think is needed for your story, from food - let's say it's pizza, but what kind of pizza? - and films to books and school subjects.)

Bonus  Question: Can you name some objects which are important to your character?
(Maybe an object is an important part of your story - you can talk about it here. Is there an object your character would protect above all else? Maybe their most treasured 'possession' is a power or their friendship with another person? Maybe it's something simple like a necklace or a photograph - but it could literally be anything!)

It's really important to know what your character is like because it will affect their choices, decisions and reactions throughout your story. You want your reader to believe the character and connect with them, so you have to make their personality realistic and interesting. Nobody likes a character who is totally perfect, but everyone loves a character who is memorable and has lots of different traits! This questionnaire will help you figure out these details clearly.
And remember, Part Three is on its way soon!

Arianne's Character Questionnaire - Part One

A few years ago, my favourite way of building characters was to write character profiles. I liked to list everything from their appearance to their personality in a few short paragraphs. It was when I started to lose interest in writing the stories the characters were part of, that I realized I must be doing something wrong. Since I 'knew everything' about my character already, why bother creating a world for them to live in or an adventure for them to have? I was getting bored!
Then I discovered Character Questionnaires. They're very simple, but they get you thinking about your character in ways you'd never imagine! They help to build a well-rounded and realistic person instead of a collection of details that doesn't really come to life. There are loads of different types out there, but stick with me and I'll take you through a questionnaire specially designed for SftW that's guaranteed to help you kick-start your stories again!

The Questionnaire - Part One
Character Name: (pick a first name and a surname to start with, but you can include a middle name and nickname too, as well as where they came from or why the character has the name in the first place.)
1. What is your character’s basic history?
(What is their birthday and age? Where were they born? Where do they live? Have they moved a lot? This is just as important for real world stories as it is for fantasy, so don't be tempted to skip over these facts!)

2. What kind of family does your character have?
(Are they an only child or do they have lots of sisters and brothers? Are their parents married or divorced and if so are their part of a step-family? Maybe they were raised by a single parent or they were adopted. Do they get along well with the members of their family? If they have no family at all, who in the world are they closest to?)

3. What does your character look like?
 (Go crazy with this one. It could be one of the most important questions you answer, do don't hold back. Construct your sentences as you would writing them into a story, don't just catalogue their traits in a boring list. Include hair colour, eye colour, skin tone and face shape, but remember to use things like 'lots of freckles', 'ginormous wart on neck' and other unique features, too!)

4. What does your character wear?
(Go into as much detail as you want here. Don't just say 'jeans and t-shirt' - put the colour, style or even brand too. Talk about the character's favourite outfit or least favourite outfit, about the hoodie they only wear when they're feeling sad or the slippers they only wear when they're sick. If you've already started writing your story, you could reference a particular scene where what they're dressed in is out of the ordinary. Equally, you could describe what they wear on a daily basis or what they'll appear most in.)

Bonus Question: Do they have any special or unusual physical characteristics?
(Do they have a scar or a piercing or a tattoo, or maybe they have all three? Are they especially short or especially tall? Do they have huge feet or a tiny nose? This is your chance to think of anything your forgot in question one, so spend time on it!)

What do you think, readers? This is only Part One of the questionnaire, but it's probably the most important because it sets out the foundations of your character - if you imagine building a character is like building a house, then these questions are the blank walls ready for your to paint on with all the colours of the rainbow.

Why don't you take some time to fill it out and then tell us how it worked for you?

Finding Cherokee Brown by Siobhan Curham (review by Arianne)

Claire Weeks isn't who she thought she was. Bullied and alone, the day she finds Cherokee Brown is a day that changes her life. Just as she realizes her world is full of secrets being kept and lies being told, she also realizes that if she's brave and dares to dream, she might really be able to
make a difference. Things might get a little bit crazy along the way,though...

I really enjoyed the writing in this book. The dialogue was sometimes repetitive, but the storytelling, description and overall characterization were all top class. 

One of the big themes of this book is bullying. Cherokee's been bullied at school ever since her best friend moved away, and it's slowly eaten away at the person she is inside. Like so many real kids, she's been targeted by a group of her classmates who want nothing more than to make her life a misery and worst of all, her teachers ignore it for the sake of their reputation. Sometimes reading books about such a harrowing topic can be tough, but this book dealt with the theme incredibly well.

I was rooting for our heroine every step of the way. She was a great narrator; strong, clear and totally unique. Following the advice of the fictitious Agatha Dashwood's So You Want To Write a Novel? (one of the funniest features in a book that was surprisingly humourous) she sets out to write a book about what she knows, and what she knows is a life full of struggles but also little moments of hope.
The plot is excellently crafted. By the time she receives message from the father she thought had given up on her long ago, Cherokee's ready to make a change and stand up for herself. 
The book is really about identity and exploration of the self, but the journey our main character takes into her father's world of music, laughter, well-loved vans and gorgeous boys named Harrison (who was totally loveable and definitely deserved more page-time than he got, even if the age gap between him and Cherokee did make the romance seem a little bit unrealistic) is very much the driving force of the action.
Of course the book wasn't without its downsides. I would have liked to have seen more of Cherokee's relationship with her little brothers, as I felt their presence was under-utilised, and I was also left frustrated by the lack of real confrontation between Cherokee and her frankly neglectant mother. On the whole however, my only real wish was that the book had been longer!
Writing: 4.5/5   Characters: 4/5   Plot: 5/5   Impact: 5/5   Overall: 4.5/5
In short: I absolutely loved this book. It was heart-breaking and heart-warming all at the same time. I'd been looking forward to it ever since I'd first heard about it so I had high expectations, but they were definitely well met! -Arianne

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (Book Review by Arianne)

Sean Kendrick – a young man of few words and little fear - is the returning champion of the Scorpio Races, the toughest contest there is in his world. Competitors simply have to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Many die.


Kate ‘Puck’ Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races, but fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. She’s the first girl who ever entered, but she might also be the last.



As a big fan of this author's Mercy Falls trilogy, I had both expectations and reservations about this book - but it has definitely done one thing, and that is put Maggie Stiefvater ahead of the pack when it comes to variety in the young adult genre.

First of all, the water horses. These steeds aren't your normal racing thoroughbreds. They’re volatile creatures that feed on blood and require charms and magic to ride. At any moment they can turn on their riders and attack. I loved Stiefvater’s audacity in choosing such a bloodthirsty legend to focus on. It’s not something you see every day and I was completely sucked in to the wilds of the island, a place dictated by the whims of nature and where inhabitants are pushed to extremes just to survive.

The Scorpio Races are a high stakes game, and no one is more at risk than inexperienced riders like Puck, but there’s nothing rash or rushed about her narrative. While I did question her motives for entering the race, once the stage was set there was nothing I could do but keep turning the pages. I eventually warmed to Sean but as the races themselves only start in the last few chapters of the book (the rest is necessary build-up that can sometimes drag) I was left feeling a little unsatisfied with the supposed romance between the two characters. Still, it made a refreshing change to read a book focused on its plot and not the amount of unlikely lip-locks that can be fitted in to a narrative.

The alternating points of view in this book are barely distinguishable, but I have to admit there is a real sense of timelessness about it. It’s written to a high standard and presents itself almost as a work of enjoyable literary fiction.

However, one thing that really got on my nerves was the forced Celticism of it all. Being a minority native reader, the obvious but unspoken Irishness was very off-putting – not least because the pronunciation and grammar of the Irish words used was often completely wrong!

Writing: 4/5

Characters: 3.5/5
Plot: 3/5
Impact: 3/5
Overall: 3.5/5

In short: This book has all the makings of a classic. I won’t be surprised if it’s still selling ten years from now, and though I didn’t fully connect with the characters, it’s a stand-out title in a sea of mediocre alternatives.

Book Review by Arianne

Spring is in the Air!

 

Yes, really!

Even though you might have snow on the ground at the moment, lambs are being born, buds are swelling on the trees and ponds are beginning to fill with frogspawn.

This Easter, Stories from the Web is down on the farm with lots of fun activities for ages 5 to 11.



We re-visit two old Stories from the Web favourites; Satoshi Kitamura's hilarious book Sheep in Wolves clothing and the wacky Cows in Action by Steve Cole.

Sheep in Wolves' Clothing
Published by Andersen Press 

Stories from the Web members can read extracts from these books and then write their own funny stories and poems or tell us what they thought of the books and there is a Cows in Action wordsearch puzzle to complete.

In keeping with the Easter theme there is an origami Easter chick to make, and a yummy chocolate treat recipe to cook. There is a wordsearch, spot the difference and a growing activity to download too.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Arianne’s Top Ten Tales That Tackle Tough Issues

1) Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
This may be my favourite book of all time, but it is also one of the most difficult to read novels I have ever come across. Every word, every lyric, is like a stab wound right to the heart – but you want to keep reading, no matter what. If there is one book that defines the most extreme hardships any human being - let alone a teenager - can face, it’s this one.
2) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
From the moment this book hit the shelves I have heard nothing but praise for it. In a world where we take our health for granted, John Green takes an inspiring, funny, and at all times raw look into the life of somebody very much on the edge of life itself.

3) Dear Dylan by Siobhan Curham
This thoroughly modern story of fourteen-year-old Georgie Harris is told entirely through emails, but still manages to cover issues ranging from domestic abuse to the importance of friendship with tact, honesty and realism in a story that will appeal to readers of every ability.
4) Finding Cassie Crazy by Jaclyn MoriartyThis book may seem like your average teenage fare, but it touches poignantly on subjects like dealing with grief and learning how to trust again after people have taken advantage of you.

5) Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

This heartfelt standalone thoroughly explores the idea of life after death, taking an unusual but intriguing stance on the subject. Featuring a cast of colourful characters and well-executed prose, this one is definitely worth a read.
6) The Year the Gypsies Came by Linzi Glass
This book has been featuring in lists of mine for a long time now, but the true beauty of the story is that the more you read it, the more there is the think about from it. Again and again I am drawn to this heart-breaking story of a family in crisis, a girl in isolation and the extraordinary events which will either make them or break them in turbulent 1960s Johannesburg.

7) To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
In making a list of books that tackle tough issues, there is no way I can leave off the literary world’s standard racism text. There is more to it than that though - much more. I have yet to find a modern book which covers so many aspects of life for one person, but also one whole generation.
8) The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson
Though I have expressed distaste for some of her recent work, this is a children’s website and therefore no list is complete without a Jacqueline Wilson title. One of the first books for young people that directly documented life in a modern care home – free from abuse but full of its own new challenges – and all through the eyes of sarcastic, surly protagonist Tracy Beaker.

9) Heartland by Lauren Brooke

This classic long-running series may be most famous for its horses and the TV show it inspired, but in the early books (and indeed throughout the subsequent novels) it focuses on love and loss in a very beautiful manner.
10) Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
This was the first school-recommended text that I ever made me want to own a copy for myself, and for that reason alone, it deserves to make this list – it’s not often that required reading wins its way into the hearts of students, but in this case, it was an easy to choice to make.

Books Reviewed by Arianne

Velvet by Mary Hooper (Book Review by Arianne)

The year is 1900 and times are hard. When orphaned, over-worked laundress Velvet is spotted by glamorous clairvoyant Madame Savoya and hired as a lady’s maid, she can’t believe her good fortune. Given elegant clothes and a new residence, she’s in awe of her new employer and confidante. The longer she works for Madame, however, the more she realizes this is a woman who is not what she seems.

Mary Hooper’s bread and butter is transporting girls with 21st century attitudes back to centuries past, and she relies once again on this strategy in Velvet. Unlike the incredible At The House of the Magician, however, she fails to add enough star quality to this novel to really make it shine. My gut feeling was disappointment; a feeling that there could have been so much more, but there just wasn’t.

The cast ranges from flat to flamboyant, from ordinary working-class girls like Velvet struggling to make ends meet to wealthy, enigmatic Madame Savoya and the legion of supporting characters she brings with her. My favourite character-related aspect of the book was Velvet’s past and her relative hope for the future, but I found I wasn’t always connected with or invested in her as I wanted to be.

The plot takes several surprise turns which are very enjoyable. The contrasting experiences are rooted in tales of social class and fighting for the underdog, and while the central themes are classic - if predictable – subjects, one major shock is the exposition on the horrific Victorian practice known as baby farming. This was an interesting and almost brutal revelation, but in retrospect it’s really the only reason this book would stay off the kids’ shelves. By eliminating such a large potential audience and failing to provide for the market chosen instead, Hooper is forced to pursue the hopeless rags-to-riches thread of the story which remains.

Filled with huge descriptive paragraphs and archetypal Victorian settings, it’s historical fiction through and through – indeed, this style entirely suits the luxurious pleasures portrayed in the early and middle parts of the book – but, like other historical fictions, the technique failed to engage me.

On a lighter note, towards the end things really picked up. It was both exciting and action-packed, bringing to life a main character as one-dimensional up to that point as the page she is written on. I would have liked more consistency over the whole course of the novel, but the climax definitely made up for some of the other shortcomings within the book.

Writing: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Impact: 2/5
Overall: 3/5

In short: this book doesn't leave you breathless or begging for more. It looks sadly like Hooper is fading into the background of her genre - I for one won't be rushing to pick up her next release any time soon.

Book Review by Arianne

National Libraries Day 2013

So on Saturday 9th February it's National Libraries Day 2013, a time to celebrate all things Library. With this in mind I just thought I'd share one of the more bizarre sightings of The Gruffalo seen having its blood pressure taken, during last year's special day.

If you're attending an event have fun and enjoy, but beware, for you too may bump into something or someone as equally entertaining!! Find out more about National Libraries Day

Hounds of Artemis by James Goss (Audiobook Review by Arianne)

Review for The Hounds of Artemis written by James Goss - read by Matt Smith and Clare Corbett.

Smyrna, Eastern Turkey, 1929. When rich Lord Woolworth and his team break open the fabled Tomb of Artemis, sealed for thousands of years, they are astonished by what they discover. But what they don’t know yet is that something very bad is going to happen: something that will cause a lot of people to die and an entire, magnificent Temple to be found and then immediately lost again. The Doctor and Amy have taken it upon themselves to solve the mystery. Who – or what – is picking off the archaeologists, one by one? How is it connected to the terrifying howling in the night? And will they end up regretting their choice when they get closer to the truth?

When I discovered this audiobook I was immediately excited by its premise. All the elements of a classic mystery novel are there – ominous disappearances, rumours of a curse, a stunning setting – and with the added delight of the Doctor and Amy being the protagonists, I was certain I would love it. The plot look set to be perfectly predictable, but surprises at every turn kept me guessing and enthralled.

I’d read several Doctor Who novels by James Goss before, but this was definitely the best I’ve come across. It was extremely visual, though it wasn’t exactly episode material – which made it the perfect companion audiobook. The description was excellently vivid from the get-go, with a balanced mixture of action, characterization and even a few well-placed moments of gore.

Matt Smith and Clare Corbett were a great match when it came to being alternate narrators. Having two sets of voices for each character took a while to get used to, but otherwise the acting was superb. They created a brilliant sense of atmosphere and occasionally some very necessary humour. As Karen Gillan is no longer starring in Doctor Who (much as we wanted her to stay) it was a great reminder of her character, though I would have liked to hear her voice.

My favourite part of the story, however, was the setting. The radiantly vibrant culture and history of Ancient Turkey gave the whole tale real gravitas and weight, not least an added layer of adventure and intrigue. I loved the historic aspects; it was thrilling and totally absorbing, never seeming to grow dull.

Writing: 3.5/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Setting: 4.5/5
Voice Acting: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

In short: this incredibly visual and fascinating Doctor Who audiobook ventures into both modern and ancient history with a great sense of fun as well as drama. There were of course ways it could have been improved, but overall it was a very satisfying, exciting and atmospheric standalone escapade with wonderful narration that l really enjoyed.

BONUS: I couldn't leave you without a bit more insight into this hilarious story, so here are a few of my favourite quotes...

“I’m saying your brains got the builders in, and whoever it is – total cowboy. It’s not subtle, just sledgehammering away!”

“Psychic fields and food go hand-in-hand, like shampoo and conditioner.”

Amy: (wondering how bad the danger they're about to be in can really be) “Leave-now-trouble or stay-and-fight-trouble?"

And last but not least:

Amy: “I’m not sure what the exchange rate is, but I think I’ve just given her enough money to buy a small island…”
The Doctor: “When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping?”

Happy Year-Of-Doctor-Who's-Fiftieth-Anniversary, everybody!

Book Review by Arianne