Writing Exercise 24: An Imaginary Friend
Many children have imaginary friends. Even if you didn't have an imaginary friend in childhood, it's possible you would like one now. It can help to create an imaginary friend as a possible reader of your creative writing.
Stage 1.
A friend is often someone with whom we share interests or points of view. Write down between three and five interests or points of view you would like your imaginary friend to share. Decide on three other points about your imaginary friend. One should be their age. One should be their gender. One you can decide for yourself but it should be something fundamental to that person. Write this all down.
Stage 2.
It's important that a friend shouldn't be identical to you. The friend has to bring something new to this imagined friendship. Write down between three and five interests or points of view the friend has that you do not share.
Stage 3.
Write down up to five things that your friend likes a lot and up to three things that your friend dislikes.
Stage 4.
Give your friend a name. Think hard about what name would suit them.
When you have done this, begin to describe your friend. Consider the sound of their voice, the way they move, and their physical appearance. How would this friend greet you on the telephone, in a text message or in the street?
Stage 5.
Write down a brief account of how your friend is dressed today followed by a brief account of the place in which they live.
Stage 6.
Now imagine the friend is alone in the room where you are now. What is the friend doing? Write an account of the friend starting in that room. The friend should undertake two or three of your usual activities before you walk into the room and say hello. Write it all down and then go on to write down what happens next.
Do you have some material for a story, script or poem here? Is this new imaginary friend a possible reader for some of the things you write? Would you like to write a letter to this new friend?
Stage 1.
A friend is often someone with whom we share interests or points of view. Write down between three and five interests or points of view you would like your imaginary friend to share. Decide on three other points about your imaginary friend. One should be their age. One should be their gender. One you can decide for yourself but it should be something fundamental to that person. Write this all down.
Stage 2.
It's important that a friend shouldn't be identical to you. The friend has to bring something new to this imagined friendship. Write down between three and five interests or points of view the friend has that you do not share.
Stage 3.
Write down up to five things that your friend likes a lot and up to three things that your friend dislikes.
Stage 4.
Give your friend a name. Think hard about what name would suit them.
When you have done this, begin to describe your friend. Consider the sound of their voice, the way they move, and their physical appearance. How would this friend greet you on the telephone, in a text message or in the street?
Stage 5.
Write down a brief account of how your friend is dressed today followed by a brief account of the place in which they live.
Stage 6.
Now imagine the friend is alone in the room where you are now. What is the friend doing? Write an account of the friend starting in that room. The friend should undertake two or three of your usual activities before you walk into the room and say hello. Write it all down and then go on to write down what happens next.
Do you have some material for a story, script or poem here? Is this new imaginary friend a possible reader for some of the things you write? Would you like to write a letter to this new friend?
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