Writing Exercise: Your Personality as a Child
March 10, 2006 by John Hewitt
Writing honestly about yourself is a difficult and but rewarding way to stretch as a writer. Honesty, especially emotional honesty, is difficult for many people. Putting it in writing is even more difficult. Think about your personality as a child. Take an unflinching look at who you were. Explore your memories.
Write a short essay about your personality as a child and how it has changed as you’ve gotten older. Have you changed? Have you improved? Do you think you could relate to your younger self? Would your younger self approve of you? Are there core values that have always guided you or have you truly been a work in progress? Where would you like to go from here?
Related links
- Fifteen Writing Exercises (0.500)
- How to Create Fictional Characters Using Adversity (0.500)
- 12 Exercises for Improving Dialog (0.500)
- How to Create Fictional Characters (0.500)
- Writing Productivity -- Using an Idea Log (0.500)
Contact John Hewitt
Writing Content and Web Consulting
Email: hewitt@poewar.comPhone: (520) 261-6104
LinkedIn: poewar
Twitter: @poewar
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Born during the years of Jim Crow Laws in the hot, sweltering racist lands of a
the Mississipp Delta, I knew even before I began living life, that I’d need
help to survive. My help came creatively to me at an early age. I loved to
sit and listen to the stories from the Elders as a child. I loved reading/
Imagining a different life outside of the one I was living.
Eventually, I began to write down the bare bones of emotions that I sometimes
acted upon. I was labeled ‘a weird child’ by family , friends because I was
often angry. Writing has become my sanctuary through the years. It keeps me
grounded;Focused.
My parents used to say how I came into the world screaming and hollering. I
like to think that I came into the world; ‘Protesting.’
I am the middle child and I was a very quiet child. Sometimes no one noticed I was there. I always wanted to stand out but never did. My other siblings were so much more vocal than I was.
I “spoke” out through writing. I always kept a diary, then a journal since I was about 10. I become more enpowered through my words.
Now as an adult, I think I’ve come a long way. I’m still pretty quiet and respective of others, but ow I speak up whenever I can. I still find that difficult to do in the workplace, however. I think I’m intimidated by my boss. w Whenever I do speak out, she shoots me down.
I find that when I’m angry, you better watch out. I really speak what’s on my mind then. But it’s so unfortunate that it has to come to that to be outspoken.
I definitely think that my younger self would approve the way I turned out. I’m successful (an editor at a health care organization) and I like the person that I’ve become. So I’m an introvert. I speak out when it’s important. Whenever I can’t,I write.
We tried this exercise with some of our clients (seniors), and they loved it. They enjoyed getting their experiences and thoughts on paper. Thanks much.
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