Week 2: Chapters 3 & 4: 3-2-1 Response to the reading

3. This week we read Chapters 2 and 3 about characterization and we learn that format and style are important in allowing the dialogue between characters, or from the character to the reader, to flow naturally and avoid having the reader realize that they are, in fact, reading. This lets them get caught up in the reading and use their imagination to see the picture the author is painting for them. Thought,which as the text describes is "the territory of the characters mind above all likely to be the center of action," is what we are seeing through the characters eye. This can show you what the characters wants are, and why they do certain things. This tied in with what we discussed from the point of view chapter in  Chapter 8. The section on credibility explains how we as writers need to give the reader an explanation of gender, class, age, class, time period, and so on soon into the reading in order to keep them intrigued. It isn't necessary to explain it all, but rather to let the dialogue and context clues in the story allow them to make the proper connection. 


2. One thing which can use further explaining is the section on pacing. Without being an experienced writer it is very difficult to know when you are giving enough and when you are giving too much about the character and the current scene. When writing the epiphany for last weeks assignment, it was difficult to know what parts of the story to elaborate on to build the character, or if it was more important to get the entire story out in the allotted pages.


1. Something to talk about during Saturdays class is the way we used the characters in our writing assignment to describe the situation, and which parts of characterization from the reading assignment would be helpful to concentrate on to help build our characters.