Reading the news online can be so depressing. Some people just don’t have a clue! Every day introduces us to new Darwin Award nominees.
A two-year-old girl was strangled to death by a 12-foot python. The snake belonged to her mother’s boyfriend. Also living in the house was a boa constrictor. Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but I belong to the generation that installed stairway gates, moved dangerous objects out of reach, and basically “baby-proofed” the house. I find it hard to believe that any parent would allow such large snakes to live in the same house with their young children. What happened to the “good old days”?
In other news, one town used their stimulus money to hire a full-time person whose full job was to manage the money they received and to get more stimulus funds. Another town used their money to renovate an antique train. These are probably the same people who complained that the car dealership execs arrived in private jets to beg the government for money. What was that old saying about casting the first stone????
Well, enough of the downers. On to the brighter news.
The Fourth of July is almost here! Cookouts, parties, fireworks, friends, family, and booze. The best part is that it falls on a weekend this year. Holiday weekends always turn into a two- or three-day partyfest. I, on the other hand, will be working on my writing - locked away from society in my apartment. Don’t feel sorry for me - I actually love being alone on my computer. I’m really looking forward to immersing myself into my storylines and discovering what will happen next in my characters lives.
It is really amazing to me when I write. I start with my main characters and a basic idea for a storyline. However, as I start writing the story, it goes off on its own. Many of the secondary characters become full personalities which demand their own stories. And my idea generally branches off in a direction I never expected it to take. So, writing is always an experience I enjoy. It’s like watching a movie unfold on my PC.
When I started writing Tufor, the main characters were Virginia Mae and her brother, Jason. By the end of the third chapter, Jason’s roommate became my focus character. I couldn’t allow him to take over the story, but it did allow me to develop a sequel which focused on his life.
Ms. Carmichael was my first memorable character (in my opinion). She was the subject of the story and she held her own as a character. Her neighbors were introduced simply to move the story forward, but they developed into much more and will appear in future short stories.
Davey was the main character of Spy-In-Training. Mrs. Kingman was intended to provide Davey with a “mystery” to solve. She handled her task admirably and became more of a mentor to Davey than I originally planned. She became another personality that appears in the sequel and in a story of her own.
Marlon is the best example of secondary characters coming to life. A middle-aged couple that runs a combination diner/motel were written simply as an introduction to the town. However, their witty banter and eccentric attitudes made them more memorable. They “took over” the story, becoming more intricately involved in the plot.
Many writers plan their script ahead of time. They outline, draw charts, and plan their entire story before they begin to write. I write from my imagination. The outlines and background information is completed only after the story is finished. Then, I may have to re-write certain parts to incorporate the changes needed. After everything is finalized for the story, I’ll go back to the beginning and make changes in grammar and format.
These “self-developing characters” became so entwined in my head that I utilize them in other stories. One of my favorite writers (Stephen King) crosses his characters and towns between his books. Mentioning the connections adds another level of enjoyment to those readers who recognize the connection, but it does not detract from the story for those who don’t “catch” it. That is the ultimate goal with all of my writing - to develop not just a story, but an entire inter-connected world where characters overlap and merge with each other.
Fantastic situations occur in my stories, but they are generally restricted to the awareness of the characters involved. Just like in real life. Aliens are among us? There are many who believe it is true but have no proof. Alternate realities? Again, no proof. Vampires, werewolves, ghosts, witchcraft, fairies, superpowers, time travel - why is there no evidence of these? Maybe it is a coverup to protect those involved. Maybe they don’t really exist. Maybe the next person you see is a telepath. Or a werewolf. Who’s to say that it’s not true?
Think about it the next time you are around a group of people. Watch them. Everyone has their own agenda.
Paranoia can be healthy if THEY really are out to get you!
Writing is fun. And writing fiction is an amazing experience. Just remember that approximately 10% of everything you read is true. What if that 10% was the “doorway through time” or the mind-reading child?
Food for thought.
Until next time,
Xander Riley - your portal to the unexpected and unknown.
