Get to Know Your Characters

A friend of mine is exploring writing, so I've given her a few suggestions, the biggest of which being: get to know your characters!  When writing fiction, it's important to know the characters in your story in order to accurately write about them.

It's kind of the same idea as writing about someone's life, or telling a story about a celebrity.  You have to know the celebrity you're writing about in order to tell the story.  And even if you don't include every aspect of that celebrity in the story, you have to know it so your writing reads as complete.

Your characters need to be round characters, and in order for them to be round, you need to know who they are.  Fortunately, there are lots of ways to develop your characters.

Character Biographies

Probably the best-known method, writing a character biography is simply writing about your character in the same way you would write a biography for yourself.  These biographies can be as simple or elaborate as you choose, and I regularly use them to get me started with a new character.  Simple, straight-forward, and informative.

Character Interviews

There are lots of great interviews available (especially an in-depth life interview included in Robert Atkinson's The Gift of Stories), so find an interview--or create your own--and answer the questions from the perspective of your character.  Don't limit yourself to one-word or one-sentence answers.  Elaborate as much as you can, the way any person would in answering the same questions.

Character Journaling

This is a technique I use often.  I get out my writing journal and just start writing as if I am the character, and let things reveal themselves through the writing.  This can be especially beneficial when working through a particular aspect of the plot with the character to help get the character's opinion on the situation.  Some people find this technique useful in conjunction with character interviews; it works best when you have some sort of foundational knowledge of your character on which to journal.

Character Outlining

I know outlining is a bit of a sensitive topic for some, so please don't assume I'm saying you must outline to get to know your character.  However, for people who use outlines, it can be a great resource, especially for referring back to your character's life as you write.  All you have to do is outline your character's life as if you're writing a story about him or her.  Start with birth (or even family background information), and go from there.

Character-based Free Association Writing

Anyone who's done free association writing knows it can be utilized in a number of ways, and character development is just one of them.  In free association writing (FAW), you set an amount of time and keep writing through that time, usually without picking up your pen or pencil even to worry about punctuation or paragraphs.  You let your thoughts drive the writing, even if you get a bit sidetracked.  With character-based FAW, you use the character as a jumping-off point for the writing.  This is similar to character journaling, but is written instead in the third-person.

These are certainly not the only ways you can get to know your characters, but these are methods I've used effectively in my own writing practice.  I'm always open to other writers' suggestions!

Next time you're stuck with what a character would do or where to take your plot next, try getting to know your character a little better.  It just might be the jumpstart you need to keep going.

Happy scribbling!

Banned Books Week

Remember when you were in high school and you read a book that had, at one point, been banned in schools and/or libraries?  I'm sure at the time you wished it was still banned so you didn't have to read it, right?  Surely you've grown from that, yes?

It's Banned Books Week.  The event runs from September 27 (which was Saturday) until October 4 (which is next Saturday).  During this time, you're encouraged to read a book (or more than one--why not?) that has ever been on a Banned Books List.

When I was first introduced to Banned Books Week, I thought it was more a memorial-type event, reminding readers of "those dark times" when books were censored/challenged.  I didn't think it still happened.  Sadly, it does.

According to the American Library Association:

The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom received a total of 420 challenges last year. A challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness.

420 challenges may not sound like a lot to you.  Compared to the number of challenges/bans that have occured in the past, 420 is not a large number.  (In 2006, that number was more than 500.)  But we live in a nation where that number should be zero.  I won't get on my soapbox here (rest assured, it's coming), but do you really think a nation that claims to be free should be censoring books?  Then again, I suppose the people that challenge these books are the same people who blame school violence on the video games they let their children play.

I have to stop or I'll be off on a tangent.  Back to the important issue, yes?

Here are the ten most challenged titles in 2007 (and why):

1. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell (Reasons: anti-ethnic, sexism, homosexuality, anti-family, religious viewpoint, unsuited to age group)
2. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier (Reasons: sexually explicit, offensive language, violence)
3. Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes (Reasons: sexually explicit and offensive language)
4. The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman (Reasons: religious viewpoint)
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (Reasons: racism)
6. The Color Purple by Alice Walker (Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language)
7. TTYL by Lauren Myracle (Reasons: sexually explicit, offensive language, unsuited to age group)
8. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (Reasons: sexually explicit)
9. It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris (Reasons: sex education, sexually explicit)
10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (Reasons: homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, unsuited to age group)

I won't go into how I feel about the reasoning behind challenging these books (or challenging books in general) in this post.

The most common thing people do during this week is to read a banned book.  Great!  I'm a huge advocate for reading books others want thrown on a fire.  But there is more you can do!

The Banned Books Week website recommends:

• Fight censorship by reporting banned and challenged books.
• Educate yourself about book banning and challenging.  The ALA is a great place to start searching for information, but branch out from there. (Be sure to read both sides of the issue so you can make informed decisions about how you feel.)
• Wear a free speech button or t-shirt.

Many libraries and bookstores will be hosting Banned Book Week events.  Check their events calendars to find out what's going on this week, and try to attend events to show your support.  And, of course, read a banned book.

This week, I'll be reading Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.  What will you be reading/doing?

A Report to the Elitist Board on the Maiden Voyage of the Caribbean Elite

From the Cabin of Captain NP of the Caribbean Elite

As the captain of this ship, it is my pleasure to captain the Caribbean Elite, the first luxury liner designed entirely to cater to the elite of the world.  Our maiden voyage has proven to be better than I expected.  The conversation was wonderful, the weather was perfect.

I submit to you, Elitist Board, this venture into the Caribbean waters has been a success, and your seal of approval has not been misplaced.  I sincerely hope you will continue to endorse the Caribbean Elite, and any sister ships that may emerge, as the single way to travel for those individuals, businesses, and corporations who receive your support.

To express the true ambience of elitism that came with the passengers on the ship, I submit to you some of the highlights from the cruise:

As the passengers boarded the ship, a few non-elitists managed to sneak past a security guard (who was promptly relieved of duty) and hurled insults at the passengers, demanding to be allowed onboard on the basis that elitism is arrogant.  Massimo Pigliucci, the only passenger to be invited to cruise without having requested it, turned before boarding and explained, "The answer is simple: I am an expert."  He went on to explain in his impromptu speech to these non-elites:

Intellectual arrogance, in the utmost degree, is being displayed by those who dismiss out of hand the considerate opinion of someone who has studied a field for 25 years only because they cherish a particular religious worldview that has no independent foundation in reality.

The catcallers stood for a moment, stunned, and left the port.

Day One: Embarkation

The first day was a flurry of activity.  After all the passengers were on board, the ship underwent the emergency drill to ensure all passengers knew where to go in the unlikely event of an emergency that called for abandoning the ship.  Thankfully, our drill was as close as we got to needing to utilize emergency procedures.

Shortly after the drill, the passengers stood on their balconies and on the main deck of the ship to bid farewell to their friends and families.  As everyone was waving and bidding the elite "Bon voyage" in stereotypical cruise fashion, a voice rang out from a balcony, stilling the air, and starting off the cruise in true Elitist Bastard fashion.  Though I heard the voice--somewhat muffled--from the bridge, I didn't learn until later that was Bitter Hinterlands leaving the echo of a call for a petition in the hearts and minds of those left on the shore while the Elite left the government behind for their seven-day adventure into the blue.

As we pulled away from Port Canaveral, the passengers took the opportunity to settle into their staterooms and explore the ship deck by deck.  As they wandered, snippets of conversation could be overheard, which reinforced the elitist atmosphere of the cruise.

In the spa, Avi reminded the other passengers a non-elitist world does, in fact, exist on land, and it's attempting to infiltrate the elitist world.  About Sarah Palin he said:

Pull the string and out tumbles another ridiculous talking point she neither understands, nor can deliver with anything approaching sense.

(Thankfully, the spa crew was on hand for a relaxing massage to work the nitwit-induced knots out of his shoulders.)

On the Promenade deck, several passengers sipped a cappuccino or an espresso macchiato while they chatted, led by Cujo359, about the world they were happily leaving behind--a world where...

If you repeat a rumor with enough sarcasm and a warning of the "Politics of Fear" sort, people learn that you think that they're drooling idiots if they believe it.

Day Two: At Sea

The first full day of the cruise was spent at sea, allowing the passengers to explore the ship further and enjoy being in the ocean, away from the chaos and frustration of everyday people.

Though ordinary people would have felt insignificant in the vastness of the ocean, the passengers of the Caribbean Elite felt at home: large people in a large ocean away from the small-minded people that constantly create problems for the elite.

A discussion in the luxurious dining room of the ship, prompted by Ames, the passengers were reminded that unity is important.  Ames said:

Palin makes the vital mistake of imagining that, despite our differences, we don’t need each other, and the equally dangerous mistake of pigeonholing our towns & cities into pre-determined antagonistic roles. If we’re stuck in a culture war, it’s because people like Palin insist on re-digging our trenches when it’s beneficial to their political career.

Day Three: At Sea

Formal night was quite an affair on the maiden voyage of the Caribbean Elite.  The passengers dressed in their elitist best and went to the Formal Dining Room for dinner and drinks.  As they perused the menu, Vifargent cautioned the other diners, saying:

It used to be my custom to order a nice blue/saignant petit filet about twice a year, but due to the current subprime perfect storm of red meat in battleground states between enemy combatants on the ground, at the end of the day I think it will likely be some few years before I have the stomach for another one.

Being formal night, I had the pleasure of joining the passengers at dinner, entertaining them at the Captain's Table.  We had no more than ordered our appetizers when Cujo359 launched a discussion on the perception of elitism in politics, saying:

H.L. Mencken once observed, no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public. Last time I checked, Republicans weren't going broke in excessive numbers.

I was amazed anyone actually finished their meals.

Day Four: George Town, Grand Cayman
Our first port of call was George Town, Grand Cayman, a beautiful town for shopping.  Many of the passengers disembarked for the day, and as they wandered from store to store, the elite atmosphere was not left on the ship, this time taking the form of science.

At the first section of stores, Atheist Chaplain opened the discussion, talking about medical research, saying:

[R]esearch like this sends a tingle down my spine. I see this as a light………  no a beacon, that may one day help people avoid going through what My family had to go through with me, If this research helps one person recover faster, if it stops someone from becoming a complete barstard towards his family then I am 100% behind it.

Avi picked up the thread of conversation at the restaurant where the passengers stopped for lunch.  He opened his discussion by informing the others:

The amount of attention this little problem has attracted on the intertubes proves two things:

1. People have far too much time on their hands (myself included), and
2. People generally don't know shit about even reasonably simple physics.

Avi's comments prompted Blake to share his own thoughts on physics over drinks once the passengers were back aboard the Caribbean Elite and ready to get underway.  He ponders:

Lately, I've been wondering whether physics in fact has it worse than other subjects. I don't have the data to answer that question, but I can at least sketch what I suspect to be a contributing factor which other sciences might encounter to a lesser extent or in a different way.

Day Five: Cozumel, Mexico

Cozumel, Mexico was the next stop for this cruise.  Several passengers took the opportunity to take tours of the historical sights in the area.  Unfortunately, the first tour guide did not meet the elitist standards the passengers expected, prompting a discussion on education by Progressive Conservative.  He shared his experiences in secondary school, saying:

[B]eyond academics, beyond the talent of the students and teachers, what made my high school and others like it successful was a sense of elitism. We were told nearly every day that, “Excellence is our standard, not the exception.” We were told that we should thank our parents for sending us there. We were told that we represented our school wherever we were and we were to carry ourselves accordingly in the local community (we could receive disciplinary actions for a speeding ticket or a fight on the other side of town). We were fortunate enough to be a powerhouse in local athletics and that also contributed to a general sense that we were special.

Jason, in the spirit of elitism in schools, added his own thoughts about the perception of Ivy League schools, using his own background, as well as, to use his words, "one of the dopiest essays I have ever seen in my life" to explain his thoughts on educational elitism.

Though the next tour guide was better informed, the stage had been set for the elitists, and Cruise Director Dana made sure the tour guide knew, with a wag of her finger in his non-elitist face:

Those who don't take the past seriously, who treat history as a trivial handful of facts, interesting stories, and events that have no bearing on today, won't have the wisdom to create a better future.

Day Six: At Sea

The final full day on the cruise was at sea, and I took time to give the passengers a tour of the parts of the ship "normal" people would not have the opportunity to see.  The Caribbean Elite is, of course, state-of-the-art, and I took pleasure in showing them the systems on the bridge.  As I showed the passengers all the technology that helped create such a wonderful experience for their cruise, John reminded everyone:

It's true that cluster bombs, attack submarines, intercontinental ballistic missiles, military space platforms, and nuclear weapons could not be made without science and technology. But, then again, neither could communication and weather satellites, cell phones, computers, automobiles, airplanes, diagnostic medical scanners, radiation therapy for disease, electric lighting and the myriad other results of that selfsame scientific and industrial revolution that have saved millions of lives and reduced poverty, death and disease. That's not even counting the additional benefit of further knowledge those technologies have made possible in the form of electron microscopes, space probes, atom smashers, space telescopes and the like.

Day Seven: Disembarkation

The next morning, the passengers left the ship, taking a moment to say goodbye to each other before going back to their lives on land, full of idiocy and non-elitism.  I hope they were reluctant to leave, having experienced a relaxing week surrounded by elitism and luxury.

As I stood with them at the port, wishing them well, Jim approached me, handing me a sheaf of papers.  I was unable to read it at the time, but once back aboard the ship, I learned he was offering his own version of events, and asked me to submit it to you in conjunction with my own report.  That report is attached.

Final Thoughts

Being the maiden voyage of an unprecedented ship, there were aspects that I wish could have gone differently, of course, and there are changes that will be made before the next sailing of the Caribbean Elite.  However, as you can see from the highlights here, the discussions prompted by the events of the week show the elitists aboard the ship were, in fact, surrounded by elitism on the ship, which cultivated an atmosphere that allowed them to speak their minds freely and without fear that some non-elitist would question them, bring them down, or remind them they are in the minority in this world.

The cruise was an escape, and I hope the next sailing will be able to offer that escape to even more elitists, giving them a break from fighting the good fight.

Sincerely,

NP

Captain of the Caribbean Elite

Formal Friday: an Explanation

At the esteemed offices of NaNoWriMo, the general dress code is casual for employees except the last Friday of every month when the staff dresses up to celebrate the fact they don't have to dress up.

Clever, yes?  Here's a picture.

Since I am a self-employed, work-from-home freelance writer, I've decided to incorporate Formal Fridays into my own office dress code policy.  (Ha!)  I'll dress up on the last Friday of every month and post a picture for you.  This month is a bit of Bohemian formality.

Caribbean Elite Set to Set Sail

EP--As the sailing date for the maiden voyage of the Caribbean Elite nears, passengers are being reminded to have all their paperwork in order on or before Friday, September 26th in order to be admitted to the ship.

Captain NP has been unavailable for comment since her recent statement to the press, and is rumored to be doing walk-throughs with the crew of the ship to ensure everything meets the high standards that have been set for the ship.  There have been no leaks about the current passenger manifest.

The ship is the first luxury liner to be designed exclusively for the elite, and even press coverage has been limited.  The maiden voyage sets sail Saturday, September 27 out of Port Canaveral.

The Seven Sacraments Series: a Conclusion

Over the last several weeks, I've explored the Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church.  There are many who use the sacraments as a point of argument against the Church.  (Perhaps it's because they don't know about these sacraments that they are against them.)  I firmly believe that knowledge can combat hatred, so I'm happy to openly discuss my faith to help break down stereotypes and show the similarities between people, rather than differences.

My original intention in this series was to unveil truth about the sacraments, but in writing the pieces, it developed into more.  This process has been a good experience for me.  I've been able to brush up a little on my Church doctrine, and I've learned things about the Church I didn't know.  I hope it was as informative to you as it has been to me.

To recap:

The Sacrament of Baptism is the first sacrament in the Church, usually given shortly after birth.  Baptism in the Catholic Church forgives original sin, as well as acting as a promise by the parents and godparents of the child that that child will be raised in the Church.

The Sacrament of Confirmation is a profession of faith in the Catholic Church.  It is usually taken after Holy Communion, and brings the faithful in full communion in the Church.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion is the participation in the Lord's Supper.  The faithful are encouraged to participate in this sacrament as often as they like; the Eucharist is (usually) offered even during Daily Mass services, so many people take this sacrament every day.

The Sacrament of Confession is usually made prior to First Communion, to prepare the heart for the Eucharist.  The Church requires Confession, also called Reconciliation, at least once a year as part of the Easter Duty, but the faithful are encouraged to confess often.

The Sacrament of Marriage is a sacrament not taken by everyone, but is one that, when undertaken, should be met with as much seriousness as all other sacraments.  Marriage is a holy joining of two people in faith and love.

The Sacrament of Holy Orders is, quite simply, the clergy.  Those who choose to take the Sacrament of Marriage can't take the Sacrament of Holy Orders and vice versa.

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is given for those who are ill, or have upcoming medical procedures.  Originally it was called Last Rites, but the intent of the sacrament has changed, as well as the name.

Excuse me?

Clinton said:

I come from Arkansas, I get why she’s hot out there, why she’s doing well.

Really, sir?  Really?

Poor choice of words, perhaps?

Captain NP Speaks to the Press

EP--NP, Captain of the Caribbean Elite, first luxury liner catering exclusively to the elite of society, issued a statement today to explain the importance of the no-press policy to this point.

NP said, "We are proud to be certified by the [Elitism] Board, and the commendation we received from them even prior to the christening are taken very seriously by myself and the crew of the ship.  [That's why] we have avoided speaking with the press until now."

She went on to explain, "We have done rigorous background checks on all our passengers to prevent non-elites from 'slipping through,' and there will be absolutely no press allowed on board before or during the maiden voyage."

The first actual photo of the Caribbean Elite (shown right) is now available, taken by Jay W. of EP.  He managed to snap the shot during some routine tests of the ship shortly after its christening.

The maiden voyage of the ship is scheduled for September 27th, and all passengers are reminded by Captain NP to ensure their boarding passes are in order by September 26th.

EP will continue to provide coverage of this controversial cruise with amusing alliteration for all.

On This, the First Day of Autumn

I love autumn.

Summer greens are bright and beautiful, but the yellows, oranges, and reds of autumn create a prettier palette.  The colors blend, but because of the different shades all over, the colors attract my eye more than summer hues.  Nature begs to be walked in, photographed, admired, more in fall than any other season.

I love getting out my jeans and sweaters for the first time in the fall.  Before winter starts to set in and things turn gray, I love taking a journal outside to a park with lots of trees and scribbling, smelling the crisp, fresh air, being in nature.  It's refreshing to be out when it's cooler in the evenings--cool enough perhaps for a jacket--and writing.  Autumn allows me to write outside more (spring is too wet, winter too cold, and summer too hot), which has always been inspirational to me.

Living in Orlando makes me feel a bit cheated.  Here, it gets a bit cooler, but everything stays lush and green, so it doesn't really feel like fall here.  Even the temperature change isn't as drastic.  And, being hurricane season, fall is quite a bit wetter here, so it's not as inviting to sit outside when it's pouring nearly every afternoon.

I love autumn.  I just wish it was here.

Wonky Blogger?

Is anyone else having trouble with Blogger today?  I updated my personal blog, and while I can see the new post when I view my blog, it doesn't show up in the list of posts in order for me to edit it.  And my Blogger Following tool is not updating, either.  I hope this is a temporary problem.... Maybe I'm supposed to stay away from Blogger for a while?