In my conversation with friend and fellow writer Marilyse V. Figueroa, we really got into this question of timeless characters—the ones who won’t leave us. And why should they? HA!
Sometimes we stick with characters because they feel timely for the world, and sometimes we stick with characters because they are timely for us.
Either way, it’s helpful to imagine the concept of home for these folks.
What is our character coming home to?
We should always be posing the question: What does my character want? But sometimes it’s useful to pose something even more specific.
The question of home for our characters can be a crucial element to their transformation. What are the little homes that anchor them throughout their journey? And is there an eventual spot, perhaps at the bend in the river, where they want to hang their hat?
You can apply these prompts to a brand new character, a character from your WIP, or yourself!
Guided Writing Inspired by Ten of Cups
Imagine the perfect house—YEP—either for you or a character you’re working on. What does that mean to you or them? What does the notion of a perfect home look like? How many windows and doors? Are there any windows and doors? Imagine this home using all the senses. Explore every little nook and cranny. Where does it live and what does it contain? What does it feel like to sit down inside this place? How does it sound? Write for seven minutes.
Now, consider your life as it is in this present reality (or your character’s). What are the little homes that live in your (or their) world? What are the daily cottages at the bend in the river? What are you always coming home to—whether it's an idea, a person, a passion, or a place? Keep in mind that if you want to use these prompts for your WIP, you can pose these questions to a character, especially one you want to get to know a little better. Write for seven minutes.
Imagine yourself—or your character—building the ultimate maypole, whatever that means. The point is to create something that celebrates a season of returning to warmth, or growth, or waking up. It’s a physical structure to celebrate having made it through a winter of some kind. How and where do you build this, and what do the pieces look like? Tell the page everything about this process, and who’s involved. And try and lead up to the moment when you sit back and observe it and really pause and drink it all in. Write for 12 minutes.
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