Writingcamp Words That Bloom

Week 2: How to Design Characters?

My protagonists were Artavius Winner and Joyce Scott. For this activity, I choose Joyce since I already have this ‘visual’ of what she might look like and I already like it. While for Artavius, I am still thinking of some mystery to attract readers. I am more on girl-to-girl relationships, so this is the first time I use a guy as a protagonist.

At first, I want to write about Artavius, but this activity made me think of a better character for him but still no idea yet. So, I choose Joyce for now.

Also, with this activity, I realize my lapses in some of the scenes in my previous story. I am excited to learn more.

-Joyce Scott-

Step 1: Design the Background of the Protagonist

Joyce grew up with just her Filipina mother, Elsa, at her side while her father, all she knew as Joe Scott, left when she was still a baby. She lived in a crowded and polluted place but she adapts to it just to survive. She sells different things just to get a small amount of money. She did it because she saw how her mother worked two jobs just to get some money for their food and other expenses. But even with poverty, she was a happy child, friendly but shy, and has a beautiful memory with the people around her.

She’s intelligent so she used it for good and got some honor at school. Because of this, she became a scholar at every school she went through. But even at school, she still sells some snacks where the profit that she will get will go to her projects. She also learned how to escape danger because of their place and she’s also attracted to trouble.

Her mother loved her and supported her in everything that she wants so she also worked harder to achieve it and not let her mother down. She taught her a good value in life even in this cruel world. She was her strength and weaknesses that was why she worked harder.

Step 2: Figure out Your Character’s Personality

Joyce is a sweet and shy girl who focused on studying. All that was in her mind was to study and achieve her goal in life. When she was sad, she wrote all thing she thought. Writing became her outlet when she was down. But even down, she always wore a smile on her face. She was always smiling which attracts everyone to befriend her, but it also made some jealous. Because of this, she always had a plan to escape trouble. You can say that she’s a good person with a great personality that you want to sit by your side.

Step 3: Figure out the Physical Features

Joyce got her features from her father that is why many of her neighbors called her ‘Tisay’, a fair-skinned lady or a mixed-race person. She’s like a shining pearl in the black sea with her fair skin even she was bathed in heat of the sun all day. Her height was not average to Filipino which is five feet ten inches tall just by sixteen years old, and she grew up with a petite body even she eats a lot of food. She also has brown hair, heart shape face, a duchess nose, and the most striking feature she has was her green eye.

Step 4: Build Social Relationship

Elsa Diaz- Joyce’s mother that works so hard for her child. One time in her life, she was blinded by love and that product is Joyce. She gave her all just to give Joyce a home. She supported her daughter to it’s every dream and her great motivation to survive is Joyce. She’s the only relative Joyce has. 

Rowena- Joyce’s best friend since three and also they were neighbors. She helped and supported Joyce in everything. She’ Joyce's savior every time she’s in trouble. But she attended a different school when they got to college. 

Amelia Winner- second best friend and met when she was in college. Soft-spoken and shy so they both click in and became friends. 

Bernadette Padua- a former teacher who gave Joyce money as capital for her small business. She’s nice and babysits Joyce when she was still a baby. Also, the person who pushes Joyce to get an exam for scholarship. 

Artavius Winner- a guy that will make her confused about what she really wants as her future. He helped Joyce to achieve what she wants but will be the person who will also destroy her, not directly.