Noticing xci - writing exercise

Yesterday my writer sister-in-law sent me a writing exercise devised by Michael Cunningham, author of, among other works, The Hours. I enjoyed that book—and I understand the movie is good too. Cunningham has quite a bit to say about writing, including the pleasure that comes from doing it, who we are writing for (and also translation), and the lack of a Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2012.

I printed out the exercise my SIL sent, but I know that I will inevitably misplace it. So, I'm going to archive it here. With thanks to Mr. Cunningham. It's about building a story, starting with the main characters. When his writing students complain that they have trouble with plot,  he says, he generally responds: "There's really no such thing as plot. What I think you're saying is that you have trouble creating characters. Because fully formed characters always produce a plot." The exercise is really quite basic, but sometimes it's comforting to just follow the instructions, right down to the time allotted for each step. It can lead to good surprises.

1. Devise the main character (Character A): 5 min 
    a. Race/ethnicity
    b. Age
    c. Gender
    d. Sexuality
    e. A's most intense emotional attachment (Character B) (and B's age, race, etc.)
    f. A's occupation (not too exotic, please)
    g. A's name
    h. A's children (if any) and their ages and genders
    i. Circumstances surrounding A's relationship with the other parent
    j. Relationship history with B
    k. B's name and aspects of current relationship
2. What does A want most? Spin out several and circle one. (ex: to be a doctor instead of a nurse) and what is getting in A's way? (ex: taking care of children and supporting B) 2 min
3. What is A's biggest secret? This should be something she's never admitted to anyone. (ex: A sometimes wishes she didn't have children) 3 min
4. What does B want more than anything and what is stopping her? What is B's secret? Spin out a chain of cause and effect answers. (ex: B wants to be a famous anthropologist, but it's hard for her to study living with A and the kids, but she loves A, so she doesn't move out. Her most closely guarded secret is that she's having an affair, which A suspects) 3 min
5. Notice how the characters could begin to create themselves by acting and reacting to one another and write out a list of possible events that might occur as a result of character actions. 3 min
6. Can some of the events be shaped into a story? If so, write a brief summary of the story and a few ideas about possible endings. Endings should relate to the secrets you discovered; if you find an ending that feels right, the story may almost write itself. (ex: A finds out about B's affair) 5 min
7. Write a description of the most interesting event discovered in #5. (ex: A doesn't confront B, but instead decides to buy her a gift to curry favor) 5 min
8. Write a scene based on #7 (setting, dialogue, etc.). Make the scene include the relationships and conflicts you've established. Also make the scene exculpatory of A's big secret. (ex: A's daughter wanders off in the store where she's buying the gift and for a moment A doesn't go look for her, making her confront her shameful thoughts about not wanting children) 15 min

Random character ideas: someone who overspent during the holidays, someone who went grocery shopping late at night, a physicist looking to start a club for people who knit mathematical surfaces, a food writer who is prone to nausea, a woman who's just been hired as a coach for a pro sports team, a teenager sent home from school because s/he doesn't have the correct vaccinations, the spouse of someone killed when a crane fell on their car, someone who makes a living posting pictures of her dog on Instagram.

And for another exercise about character, this one maybe from Brian Kiteley's The 3 A.M. Epiphany, list 100 things you know about your main character. It's not easy, but it's rewarding!