tell me without telling me: a writing exercise (aka proust questionnaire i fuhuhuhuhkin hate u)
Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2024 10:42 pm
Hello, writer dudebros
Skewl just started back up, and I am struggling with this week's exercise, which is to create a character with the Proust questionnaire and then start an opening of a novel using that character.
Iiiiiii hate the Proust questionnaire so much. I'm not sure what it is about the questions that I just do not vibe with on a character creation level. Maybe I just hate Proust lmao.
But anyway here's the writing exercise if you feel like suffering today. Pretty good exercise, all in all, even if it is kinda torturous
(p.s. yes i know it says "possible questions" but i'm gonna eat this fuckin frog and DO THE THING damn it)
Skewl just started back up, and I am struggling with this week's exercise, which is to create a character with the Proust questionnaire and then start an opening of a novel using that character.
Iiiiiii hate the Proust questionnaire so much. I'm not sure what it is about the questions that I just do not vibe with on a character creation level. Maybe I just hate Proust lmao.
But anyway here's the writing exercise if you feel like suffering today. Pretty good exercise, all in all, even if it is kinda torturous
(p.s. yes i know it says "possible questions" but i'm gonna eat this fuckin frog and DO THE THING damn it)
Writing exercise
Tell me without telling me
For this week's exercise, you're going to start by picking a character. This may be a character you're thinking of writing about, or one from one of a book that you've read, or one you've just created. Any character will do.
Step 1: Start by interviewing your character to get to know them. Below are some questions that you might ask them, or you can make up your own. The idea is to get an idea of some of the elements that make up your character. Try to get quite detailed, specific answers to the questions you put to your character. Don't let them put you off with vague responses.
NOTE: This interviewing of our characters can be a great first step in getting to know them, but it is only a first step (and perhaps a somewhat superficial one).
Step 2: Now that you've got to know your character a bit better, get them to narrate the opening few paragraphs of a novel. In these paragraphs, they describe sitting down to a meal. They may be on their own, or they may be accompanied by others.
Your challenge is to give the reader the who, where and what of the novel and to give the reader information about the character without telling. You'll want to focus on their language, perhaps their descriptions of the meal, possibly dialogue or indeed any other tool. But keep reminding yourself that the goal is to tell without telling.
Some possible questions: The Proust Questions
The Proust Questions is a series of questions that the writer Marcel Proust popularised in the form of a parlour game. You might have encountered them already, as they are sometimes used in interviews. Here are some of them to get you going with this week's exercise. If you want more, google The Proust Questions.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
What is your greatest fear?
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Which living person do you most admire?
What is your greatest extravagance?
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
Which living person do you most despise?
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
When and where were you happiest?
Which talent would you most like to have?
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
Where would you most like to live?
What is your most treasured possession?
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Who are your heroes in real life?
What is your greatest regret?