GACW Fall 2025 - Day 3: Building Characters

1. Welcome & Warm-Up

• “Tell me something good”

• Transition:

• “Who is your favorite character from a book, movie, or show?”

• “What makes them memorable — is it how they act, what they want, how they talk, or something else?”

• Quick group share/discussion.

2. Mini-Lesson: What Makes a Character Work?

Three Layers of Character

• Characteristics: the big, general personality traits (smart, shy, bold, loyal).

• Quirks: small unique habits or details that make a character feel real (nervous laugh, always carries a notebook, refuses to wear pink).

• Motivations: the deeper reason for why a character does what they do (to belong, to be powerful, to protect someone, to prove themselves).

Modern Examples

• Wednesday Addams (from Wednesday)

• Characteristics: dark, sarcastic, independent.

• Quirks: wears only black, plays cello, writes murder mysteries in her notebook.

• Motivation: to uncover the truth and stay true to herself in a world that wants her to “fit in.”

• Elphaba (from Wicked)

• Characteristics: passionate, misunderstood, brave.

• Quirks: green skin, sharp tongue, can’t stand unfairness.

• Motivation: to fight injustice and prove she’s more than what people assume about her.

Model Example Description

“Elphaba isn’t just brave—she’s the kind of person who will storm into a room if she sees someone being treated unfairly, even if everyone else is too afraid. She’s sharp-witted, sometimes to the point of rudeness, and she wears her difference on her skin, literally. Her green face makes her an outsider, but instead of hiding, she pushes harder to be heard. Deep down, her fight isn’t just about magic or power—it’s about proving she deserves a place in the world.”

3. Brainstorm & Character Creator Worksheet

When you make your character today, think about these three layers. What do they look like on the outside? What little quirks make them unique? And most importantly—what do they want deep down?

• Be specific and unusual (not just “nice” or “funny” but “always cracks jokes when nervous”).

• Think about contradictions (a brave character who is secretly terrified of the dark).

4. Sharing & Refinement

• Partner work: Ask questions as if interviewing the character.

5. Wrap-Up

• “What part of making a character was easiest for you?”

• “What was hardest?”

• “How might knowing your character deeply help when writing a story?”