Jue's Workbook for Cat's Writing Boot Camp

Exercise 1 Pt B: Getting To Know Your Characters

Jue: Good day readers and writing boot camp fellas!! This is the second assignment of Cat's writing boot camp. As the title says, this time we want to know about the characters from the scene in Exercise 1 part A. Therefore, we're about to have a little chat with them. Right now, I am sitting with 6 characters from the scene. The chairs are arranged in circle so we're facing to each other and... it sure is a lively room...

(Every one chatters: it is... it is...)

Jue: Let's just start it. Good day, guys!

Every one: Good day!

Jue: Let's get to the point. In order to know each of you well, I need you to introduce and describe yourself to the readers first. And you can share about your childhood memory and your family. So, who want to go first?

John: May I?

Jue: Sure, John. Please!

John: Okay. First, my name is John Halbert. I'm 30 years old white male, 5'11", 160 lbs. I have pointed nose, clear blue eyes, brown hair, thick eyebrows. People say I'm quite charming (smirk). They say I have a masculine face, maybe because of my strong jawline. I am the only child. I've got MBA from Oxford. I earned it before I got into this mental facility, of course. And I'm a fashionable man.

Jue: OK, so how do you describe yourself? Are you a moody person?

John: No,, no. I'm very easy going, relax.

Jim: He's never serious!

John: And you are too serious!

Nurse Thalia: Guys!!

John: Sorry, Nurse Thalia.

Jue: Carry on, John!

John: My mother is a businesswoman. She has some Italian restaurants, jewelry, shoes and clothes lines. My father is a lawyer. I'm closer to my Mom than to my father because he's very strict, serious and stubborn. I told you that I'm an easy going person, not serious, not strict but I can be very stubborn when it comes to few personal things. When I was a kid he used to beat me if I got bad scores at school and my Mom would be the one to wipe off my tears. She knew very well how to talk me into something. In fact, she still does. She used to put me on her lap and gave me a lot of good reasons why I should get good scores. I think it's safe to say that all good things I've achieved today is because of her.

Jue: What a wonderful mother!

John: She is! I remember that anytime I felt bored or sad I would sneak into her office. The room was full of fashion magazines. If I was lucky, I would find her sitting at her desk when I opened the door. We would spend time together looking at fashion magazine. It was fun... maybe that's why I like fashion.

Jue: OK, so why are you here?

John: I was depressed.

Jim: You still are, young man! That's why you're here.

John: I know! But in the past it was very bad. My love of my life betrayed me, lying to my face for 2 years of our relationship and she ran away this fucking man. I was brokenhearted. Too busy with my sadness, I abandoned my business so everything just collapsed. It's not like I went broke and became a poor guy. My parents are rich, I can always ask them, especially my Mom, for money. What really hurt was the betrayal, plus my father's mockery. He said I was being childish for crying just because some woman left me. My life became an embarrassment, so I turned to alcohol and drugs. Cut myself on the wrist once. My Mom found me lying on the bathroom floor, bleeding. She got hysterical so she sent me here to get some help.

Jue: I see.... what is your biggest strength and weakness?

John: hm,,,, strength... I think it's my look...