Character In Stillness: A Writing Exercise

“Seven Attitudes of Mindfulness Mindfulness means to be aware, awake. To be alive, attentive, receiving as we move through our day. Not brittle, blind, disjointed, out-of-touch, stressed, nervous, excited—or at least aware of these states and even having a bit of compassion for ourselves. This list is a reminder of another way to be in the world—really a relief, a way out of our distress.
1. Nonjudging
2. Patience
3. Beginner’s mind
4. Trust
5. Nonstriving
6. Accepting
7. Letting go
These seven attributes are the state of mind advantageous for writing, sitting, walking.” (Natalie Goldberg, The True Secret of Writing)

Character In Stillness: A Writing Exercise

Quotation:

“Seven Attitudes of Mindfulness… These seven attributes are the state of mind advantageous for writing…”

—Natalie Goldberg, The True Secret of Writing

1. Key Writing Practice Development Techniques Illustrated by the Quotation

• Beginner’s Mind in Characterization: Approach each character moment with openness and curiosity. Avoid assuming what a character “would” do. Instead, observe what they are doing as if for the first time. This combats cliché and invites freshness in rendering.

• Accepting and Letting Go in Emotional Rendering: Resist the impulse to fix, explain, or justify emotional states. Let the character’s internal world remain unresolved. Emotional ambiguity adds complexity and realism.

• Nonjudging Narrative Presence: Refrain from moralizing or evaluating the character’s thoughts or actions. Let the reader form their own conclusions through raw, honest observation.

2. Writing Prompt (500 Words)

Write a 500-word scene in which your character performs an ordinary task—brewing coffee, folding laundry, feeding a pet—but their emotional state is adrift, submerged beneath the action. You may not name or explain their emotions. Let the emotional truth emerge through how they move, what they notice, what they fumble or repeat.

Rules:

• No dialogue

• No backstory or exposition

• No overt emotional labeling (e.g., “She was anxious”)

Focus on:

• Physical precision and pacing

• Tension between mind and body

• Incongruous or subtle gestures

• Sensory details that carry emotional charge

3. Evaluation Criteria for a Successful Response

Strong Responses Will:

• Use sensory detail and physical gesture to imply emotional complexity

• Avoid interpreting or explaining the character’s internal state

• Sustain tension between outer calm and inner turbulence

• Create emotional resonance through implication and restraint

Weak Responses Will:

• State emotion directly rather than dramatize it

• Use generic or routine gestures without meaningful variation

• Insert explanatory narration or unearned insight

• Fall into character tropes without discovering anything new

4. Follow-Up Questions for Workshopping/Revision

• What emotional truth is implied through the character’s behavior?

• Is there a disconnect between what the character does and what they feel?

• Where do small physical choices reveal inner conflict?

• Did any unexpected detail emerge that felt truer than your initial intent?

• How might changing the pace or rhythm of the task alter the emotional effect?

5. Recommended Reading

Joy Williams, “Taking Care”

A masterclass in restraint. The protagonist’s grief is never named outright, but it pervades every small gesture—turning off a lamp, washing a dish, watching a bird. The emotional undercurrent emerges not through narration but through an accumulation of quiet, unremarkable acts.

Spend two hours. Let the scene unfold in real time. Stay with the task. Let your character show you who they are—without judgment, without agenda. Just attention.