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Andrew Clover

Storyman

Mr Clover’s Summer Writing School: How To Write Characters

August 12, 2016 by Andrew Clover Leave a Comment

Hello friends!   I’m really enjoying the Character Breakdowns you’ve been sending.  I’ve got a lot of Superheroes.  I’ve had a variation on Batman, a variation on Spiderman, why don’t we try to think of a kind of animal that’s never been a superhero?  What could that be?

Duckman?  (He can fly.  Also he can land on water with a big splash).

Fishman?  (When there are baddies, he swims through the air, and stands in front of them blowing bubbles?)

I’ve been doing Character Breakdowns for this TV script I mentioned last week, about the ten year old boy, who thinks he’s the world’s greatest detective.  (He’s not.  He’s just seen loads on TV…)  This is what I’ve come up with so far.  As you can see, my main focus has been to think of characters who Rory has strong feelings about.  I also like a character who has a contradiction (eg they’re tough, but small).  So this is what I’ve got…

Cassady

She is a very exciting person.  Rory only knows her because she lives over the fence, otherwise he’d never get to see her.   She is one of those naughty, ginger-haired girls who are brilliant at being the centre of attention.  Whenever you see her, she’s always surrounded by six people laughing, or she’s letting off a fire extinguisher at the dinner ladies.   (This is a picture of someone who’s a bit like how I see her.  I think it’s Emily Watson from Perks of Being A Wallflower – such a brilliant film, and book.)hello_world_i__m_your_wild_girl_by_d_n_a_35

Isolde

On Rory’s street, there is a girl called Isolde, who’s always hanging around, hoping for someone to play with.  She’s in the year below, and she often knocks on the door, saying “Is Rory able to come outside and play Mrs Flanagan?”   Rory hides under the sofa, furiously shaking his head,  and sometimes, just to stitch him up, his brother says:  “Yes, Isolde,  Rory is right here.”

Steven McEver

is Rory’s friend, when he wants to be a bit hard.   He’s the kind of guy who you’ll see out and about, throwing a supermarket trolley, onto the motorway.  Whenever anyone comes into the playground, he’ll kick a football at their head.  He is full of spikey energy, and rebelliousness, and is always spoiling for a fight.  It’s partly because he’s so small.  He sometimes avoids Rory these days, because he hangs out with Jason Plumb, whose brother is a proper, actual criminal.

Amelia de la Court

is a snob and a bully and an eye-roller.  Her dad is the richest person in the area, and she always gives people that look that seems to say I-am-so-much-more-gorgeous-than-you-I-can’t-be-bothered-to-say-I-hate-you.   She is Cassady’s main nemesis.  (I had a picture of Kyle Jenner to illustrate this, but then got scared I’d be sued.)

Mr Meeton

is a legend.   He’s Rory’s favourite teacher by about a mile.   He teaches him table-tennis, and says things like:  “You need to try out for the District Tournement”.  He wears jeans and trainers, and teaches Music.  Apparently Mr Meeton was once in the Arctic Monkeys.  He even played in their first gig, which was in a school.  The only reason Mr Meeton wasn’t in their second gig, was because when the Arctic Monkeys went home after the first gig, Mr Meeton wasn’t in the van.  Mr Meeton could have been in the Arctic Monkeys, if it wasn’t for that.

 

Do you like any of these characters?  Paul (the producer of the TV show) has decided that the show will be partly animated – as if Rory is showing off his world, by drawing it.  Would someone like to draw pictures of these characters?  They don’t have to look great.  They have to look like they’ve been drawn by Rory, who’s ten.  Do you fancy having a go?

Alien Invasion In Mr Clover’s Writing School
A snob, a sneerer, and a Selfie Queen

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