The Stories You're Missing in Your Everyday Life - The Creative Corner

Think your life is boring? Hah! Think again.
Even the most “ordinary” moments can inspire incredible stories, rich characters, and unforgettable scenes. I happen to think it's the ordinary moments that, if written well, make a story so relatable.

In this video, I share two real-life, everyday moments that sparked my writing—one with dentures, one with a sweet older couple dancing in the grocery store—and show you how observing life, humour, and small details can make your fiction and storytelling more vivid and relatable, especially when it comes to creating layered characters.

Next comes a 14-question character development exercise to build deep, layered characters that feel real. By the end, you’ll be able to write compelling characters, craft engaging scenes, and turn ordinary life into extraordinary stories. Perfect for writers, novelists, screenwriters, and creative storytellers looking to improve their craft. Or maybe you just wanna mess around and have fun. In any case, I hope you’ll play! Here are those 14 questions (order isn't important):

1. Your character’s name:

2. Three physical characteristics:

3. Favourite food:

4. Worst habit:

5. Things they cannot live without:

6. Biggest regret:

7. Happiest moment:

8. Favourite book:

9. Best friend:

10. Biggest mistake they ever made:

11. Biggest dream:

12. Secret pleasure:

13. Biggest fear:

14. Favourite song—and why

Share your character in the comments! Let’s explore storytelling, creative writing, and character development together. Also, I'm curious to see how you built your character!

Happy writing.

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I'm Carol Anne Shaw, award-winning traditional and self-pubbed author of seven novels and an audiobook narrator. Here at Paperlight Stories, I share original fiction I’ve written and narrated, plus offer gentle guidance and insights for writers reconnecting with their creativity at any age.

Here you'll find:

✨ Original narrated short fiction
✨ Writing advice for beginners & late bloomers
✨ Reflections on the creative life, writing exercises & journaling prompts

This is a quiet corner of YouTube for anyone who loves words, depth over hustle, and believes it’s never too late to tell their story. It's just me, my Freewrite smart typewriter, and my microphone—stories originating from a human heartbeat.

Vancouver Island, BC CANADA


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