Unit 1: The Art of Character and Concrete Detail
Unit 1: The Art of Character and Concrete Detail
We begin with the building blocks of storytelling: character, sensory detail, and perspective. A story lives or dies by the characters within it, so we spend time making people real—not just in broad strokes but through concrete details. What does a character’s eating habits say about them? How does their room reflect their history? What kind of backstory emerges from a single photograph of a child’s bedroom? We explore these questions through exercises like Dungeons & Dragons-style character sheets, descriptive micro-fiction, and backstory-driven worldbuilding.
How do objects define us? What can the things we carry reveal about identity, personality, and unspoken emotions?
What is left unsaid? How does writing around a character—describing their belongings, posture, and habits—create deeper meaning than directly stating facts?
How do details shape a narrative? What role does specificity play in storytelling? How do small details build character and mood?
How can voice and perspective transform a moment? How does a narrator’s attitude toward their surroundings shape the reader’s experience?
What makes an ordinary moment extraordinary? How can a simple act—unlocking a door, sitting on a bus, carrying a book—become something bigger through writing?
Students will be able to create a character solely through the description of their belongings, clothing, and posture.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of indirect characterization by avoiding direct statements about age, background, or job.
Students will craft vivid descriptions by incorporating specific objects, textures, and sensory details.
Students will use precise word choice to establish tone and mood.
Students will develop a distinct narrative voice by experimenting with tone, sentence rhythm, and internal thought.
Students will explore how a narrator’s perspective changes the way a scene is interpreted.
Students will structure their writing so that small moments feel important and immersive.
Students will practice pacing techniques (expanding and contracting time, focusing on significant details) to heighten engagement.
Students will analyze their own writing for clarity and impact, revising for stronger details and characterization.
Students will reflect on what their writing reveals about their characters, making intentional choices about what to include and what to leave out.