Write on Wednesday - Think with Character

This week’s Write on Wednesday prompt is at its core a character analysis.  It is interesting but also difficult, especially since in at least a few of my entries I have failed to name the characters.  When I start writing and cannot come up with a name quickly I often just put in the corresponding pronoun (he or she) so that I can just move on with the story.  I always tell myself that I will go back and add a name when I am done, but by the time I have finished I typically cannot find a name that matches up to the character.  Since this is an ongoing problem, I am going to challenge myself to name a character and then develop his/her story so as not to find myself with tons of nameless characters.

But, names or no names, the writing must go on, and who knows, maybe in developing one of my nameless characters, I will uncover an appropriate name.  Here is this week’s prompt:

Write On Wednesdays Exercise 9 - Think with Character. Choose a character from your writing posts. You can still do this exercise if you are new to WoW - select a character from another piece of your writing or simply work through the exercise from scratch.   Now, think about the character in regards to their: gender, age, occupation, physical appearance and mood at this moment. Is your character in the city, the country, inside or outside? Do they live in rich or poor surroundings? Alone or with others? Answer all, some or one of these questions. Now, set your timer for 5 minutes and write the first words about your character that come into your head. Stop when the buzzer rings. This may be one week where you feel you need to throw the timer and take your time. Do whatever works for you. You may also like to consider: Complexion, Style of dress, Hair colour/style, Speaking voice and likely vocabulary, Strengths/Weaknesses, Mannerisms

During law school Emory had been so enamored with how her life as a lawyer would be that she often forgot to live in the moment.  She was always looking forward to the next big thing.  She could not wait for school holidays and vacations.  She would count days until graduation, excited about what was ahead.  She must have wished a million times for days, weeks, semesters to be over so that the next one could start.  Now standing in front of the mirror Emory had only one wish – she wished to take back all those previous wishes. 

As Emory removed her makeup, washed her face, and brushed her teeth, she looked in the mirror just as she had every night as long as she could remember.  Her ocean blue eyes stared back at her but there was something missing in them, that formerly ever-present sparkle was gone.  The face starting back at her was practically that of a stranger. 

At just twenty-five years old Emory had accomplished a great deal, but that did not matter to her.  Her 26^th birthday loomed just a few days ahead and her life was not anywhere close to where it was supposed to be.  Just a year ago she was living in Southern California, in her own apartment.  Her schedule was full of things to do, both personal and professional.  Weekends were filled with showers, birthday parties, dinners with friends and the like.  During the week she put in at least 20 hours of work at the law firm where she clerked, gave tours at the law school, planned and attended networking and academic events, and spent countless hours researching, reading, and writing for her 6 classes and law review.  Her days were overwhelmingly full and she loved it. 

“Why did I wish it away?” Emory muttered as she placed her toothbrush back in its holder and wiped her hands on the small green towel hanging next to the sink.  She grabbed a rubberband out of the second drawer and scrutinized her face.  The laugh lines she had grown to love had been replaced by worry lines.  Her once glowing skin was now almost transparent since the constant San Francisco fog hid her beloved sun.  The somewhat golden tresses adorning her head also had seen better days, days where she had religiously kept hair appointments to ensure that the color and style remained near perfection. 

Emory swept her hair into a loose ponytail.  She turned her head first to the left, then to the right.  She leaned in close to the mirror and then pulled back.  She ran a delicate finger over the dark circles under her eyes and her gaze fell to her small pink lips.  She wondered how long she had been wearing that terrible frown. 

Emory knew intimately the events leading up to this very moment, but until now she had not realized how they had changed her.  The vibrant person she once was had slipped away leaving just a shell, a whisper of the person she had once been. 

I think bits of Emory have appeared in previous posts, even unintentionally.  She is a character I want to develop more fully when time permits.  BTW for those who are wondering, this piece definitely took more than 5 minutes. :)

Developing and exploring characters takes gumption!