Okay, picture the scene. It’s the weekend, you’re a hot guy. You walk into a bar and spot the woman of your dreams, so you make eye contact, she smiles back.
She’s interested!
You buy her a drink and sit down beside her. Then what? You smile at her, then smile at her some more and wait for her to tell you what a great smile you have and launch into scintillating conversation, regaling you with an animated account of her life story?
Sadly, no. In all probability she’d most likely drink up and then disappear into the night musing over how such a hot guy could be so dull and boring.
Now, picture this scene in a fantasy RPG:
You’re a hot guy. You meet a beautiful siren in the forests outside of town. A group of orcs is attacking her, so you swoop in, decapitate them, and save the day. She immediately falls in love with her knight in shining armor and rides off with you on your white charger.
Get the analogy?
No matter whether it’s a bar in anytown USA or a mystical world in your favorite RPG, the basic concept remains the same, you have to engage and interact with those around you if you don’t want to end up all alone playing with yourself; so to speak.
Everyone needs something to work with.
You can’t simply lurk in the background looking all coy, belligerent, disinterested or whatever and expect folks to read your mind, do all the work, and carry the scene forward. Real-life doesn’t work that way and neither does RPing.
You have to put some effort into it to get enjoyment out of it. Be it a hot chick in a bar or a beautiful siren in the woods, you need to give them something to work with. What you need to leave is a hook.
Let’s go back to our first analogy example. What would happen if you were in that bar, you sat down next to the beautiful woman and all you did was think of how hot she was? You didn’t smile, you didn’t say hello and you barely glanced at her. How is she going to know if you’re interested or boring and dull before she leaves the bar?
She’s won’t, because you just sat and did nothing. You showed no interest. She couldn’t read your mind, and you didn’t give her a hook. She has nothing to respond to.
Role-playing works the same way. We don’t want to know what happens if your character does nothing.
So what do you do? You leave hooks, something for the other players to grab onto and go with. It’s give and take. When you give them a hook, the other player takes it, uses it, and gives you something back.
What kinds of hooks can you leave?
Hooks can be anything from asking a question, making a snide comment to get someone’s anger flared up, or performing a physical action to make someone look your character’s way. It’s not so hard.
If your character thinks something is funny, don’t just have him think it’s funny. Have him laugh aloud, or even laugh so hard he falls off the bar stool.
If your character sees something that makes her angry and you have her stand with her arms crossed and with no expression on her face, don’t think someone is going to care. Have her make a face at the person or object. Have her yell or stir up some trouble to grab attention.
There’s always something to do. Your character just has to do it.
If you don’t leave hooks for the other players to respond to then sooner or later they could get frustrated and either write their characters out of the scene or just ignore your character altogether.
Players who show a consistent lack of give and take when it comes to hooks are missing out in the long-term too, as fellow players end up reluctant to get into future scenes with them.
Did you find any hooks?
One of the most frustrating, demoralizing things in an RPG is when you write an interesting good-sized post, only to get a two-sentence response back that indicates your character is being ‘ignored’.
Ignoring a character or situation is fine, as long as it’s within context and designed to provoke some kind of reaction. To ignore a character due to lack of time or motivation is a cop-out.
Maybe you missed a hook given by the other player or maybe their hook wasn’t clear enough for you. Maybe it wasn’t there at all. What if the other player sounded bored and therefore put no effort into the posts?
This can happen. If it does, then take a little time to PM the person and ask questions. Ask them to point out their hook just in case you missed it or ask them to make their hook clearer to you. If you didn’t feel like there was a hook, ask them if they would please add something for you to work with.
Also, you can ask them if they are bored with the scene. If yes, then ask what you can do to make scenes more exciting for them. Communication is the key here; use it.
If you can’t find a solution and nothing works, just move on. Take your character elsewhere. Start your own thread or join an existing one. Just remember to have fun.
Did you leave any hooks?
Make a comment, ask a question, slay a dragon, slip on a banana peel and end up on your ass looking like a klutz… just say or do something. Provide a hook for other characters to grab and respond to or they may end up leaving you in the dust to play with yourself.
Sites like Escaping Reality invite role players around the world to do more than play with yourself, and there’s no escaping the reality that back-and-forth, witty conversation and interaction between characters is as essential in RPG as it is in real life.
The bottom line is that you can be the most talented writer in the world but unless you have something interesting to say and are prepared to interact with others in the game, no one’s going to want to play with you.
About the Authors: When not scattering hooks around for people to pick up, Tracy Bradshaw and Carole spend their time writing together, plotting what to do next and stirring up a heap of trouble – the good kind.
You think you know what I’m going to say about show and tell, don’t you? You think I’m going to say that you should always, show and never tell, huh?
Well, I’m not. I’m of an age where I no longer have to believe everything my teachers tell me. I’ve been in Language Arts classes since I was seven, and every time we talk about fiction writing I hear the same slogan: “Show, don’t tell.”
But I’m here in all my grown-up, self-important glory to say that any teacher who has taught their students to show and not tell has done their blessed wee ones a grave disservice.
In reality, writing well takes a skillful combination of both.
Why They Tell You to Show
There are times when the best thing you can do for your story is plunge your readers so far into it that they come out the other side wondering why real life is so dull.
Are there scenes in books you’ve read that make you tingle every time you reread them? Is there a scene so well described that you remember it years after you’ve finished the book?
That’s good. That’s what teachers want.
It’s too easy to reduce writing to the bare bones of story. Story is the framework, yes, but “The king died” is technically a story in itself. We have a character and an action . . . Yeah. It’s a story.
But it’s not a good story.
Showing is essential to fiction writing because it brings it to life. Do you ever feel like a character you’re writing about feels distant or even difficult? Sit down in front of a blank sheet of paper and describe him or her. Not,“He has blue eyes and yellow hair and a mustache.”
For one thing, no one should have a mustache.
For a second thing, don’t just tell what your character looks like. Show it. Use elaborate metaphors and concrete language. Describe the way he or she moves rather than using an easy adverb. What does it mean to be graceful? What does it look like for a character to walk like a cat?
Teach yourself how to plunge so deeply into your own imagination that you can see what you want your reader to see.
Why We Tell Stories
Your teachers focused on teaching you to show because telling is something that we all do naturally. We have to learn how to show because paying that much attention to nonexistent details (like those found in fiction) isn’t something innate.
But once you’ve learned how to show, once you can write in such a way that your reader sees what you see in your mind, then you need to relearn how to tell.
Showful writing an art, but telling stories is a craft.
Telling lies at the heart of fiction. Yes, the showing is lovely, but showing is only effective if there’s a good story to show. And that’s why we call it telling stories.
Once you can see your story in your head, then it’s time to decide what needs to be shown and what can be delivered in easily-digestible tablet form. As a writer, you need to learn how to read your own work critically in order to see what is better left shown and what is just as meaningful when told.
Countless stories begin with “Once upon a time” because while this phrase could be made into a showing (try it. I dare ya), it doesn’t need to be to make a story better.
If your character is doing something that doesn’t reveal anything about who he or she is, see if you can summarize. If your character eats like a slob, for instance, show us just what sloppiness is to that individual. But if your character eats because she’s hungry, just say so and move on to what’s important.
Summary, the telling of the story, can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Use it as often or as infrequently as you need to, but always remember to use it wisely.
Why You Should Probably Still Listen to Your Teacher
For one thing, they probably know you better than I do. We don’t all learn the same way, and if a teacher wants you to do your best to show everything after reading your writing, that teacher is probably not pulling the advice out of a hat.
No matter how essential the story is to your writing, it’s often the showing that lingers in readers’ minds. Make your writing powerful; give your readers something to remember.
Speaking of memory, here’s an example:
He remembered kissing her. It had been a good kiss.
That’s okay, y’know? No one’s going to shoot you over that last sentence (unless the “you” is he and “she” is somebody’s wife). But if you’re telling about something meaningful, do your best to let your writing convey just how meaningful it was.
What makes a kiss good? Show me.
He remembered kissing her. Her mouth was soft. Her lips were warm and compliant, as she always was, but they were also strong. She guided the kiss with gentle nudges, with slow movements of her head to make his mouth go where she wanted it.
Telling gets the story across. Showing makes it stick. It gives us a deeper grasp of characters and a more concrete grasp of the events going on in a scene.
Write scenes that are worth remembering. Put them together in the framework of a story that deserves to be told.
To be fair, there are more than three way a person can improve both writing and role-playing. There’s being creative, consistent, concise, captivating, communal, or concrete. Heck, we could write whole books about how to be a great role-player and still leave oceans of awesomeness untouched.
But let’s start simple. Here are three ways to be a good role-player that win you friends and fans no matter where you game.
All Hail King Clarity!
Make sense – and doing so isn’t as easy as it sounds.
Writers like to sound smart, especially creative writers. It’s a common fault, probably grounded in self-consciousness of baring our creative souls to the rest of the world.
We want to impress people with our writing. We want respect. And so we sacrifice meaning in favor of showing off how smart we are, forgetting to draw attention to what we actually want to convey.
Never forget that the basic purpose of writing is to transmit information. That sounds about as exciting as watching amoebas mate, but the spiffiest dialogue and the wittiest descriptions in the world aren’t worth a sack of wet feathers if they’re no more than the sugar coating on content that adds to the story.
Be Colloquial and Talk Local
Even English majors have to go through everything they write with a Pretentiousness Filter. If word choice confuses meaning better than it transmits it, it’s time to put away the diploma and get back to work.
We’re not writing thesis papers here, kids. We’re telling stories. And the best stories are the ones that use words people understand.
Your goal in role-playing should never be to impress other players with expansive vocabulary and fancy words. Blow them away instead with clarity of contribution to each scene, in every single post you write.
Dare to be Eccentric
The one thing that great writers knows is that rules are meant to be broken.
Don’t be afraid to set yourself apart. Be flamboyant! Write with flair that makes people wonder about your sanity. Use pizzazz and sparkle and forget about grammar and syntax.
Never forget the all-important rule of writing, though: transmission of information—the telling of the story.
If you’re going to break the rules, do so in a way that shows you did it on purpose. Nobody wants to read a post where every grammatical error is one that could have been fixed by a little bit of editing.
Grammar rules are there to keep communication as clear as possible. If you break those rules boldly and with good reason for impact, readers can’t help but be delighted—if not by your cleverness, then at least by your daring.
Don’t let your creativity overwhelm your good sense, but if you can tell a story in a way that’s refreshing and new, you’ll win admiration and inspire fellow players to add ingenuity to their story.
And what could be cooler than that?
Want Some of That?
Writing and role-playing skills develop so long as you’re willing to put in the effort to use them. Each one builds on the one that came before it. Start with the foundation (your story, remember?) and work your way up from there.
So keep writing! Focus on telling your story and remember that everything else is just icing on the cake.
A recent post on building suspense mentions ‘hooks’. That means writers need to set bait on a tantalizing tidbit, toss it out and snag the reader or the player’s attention.
A good hook is hard to resist. Before you know it, your rod bends and you’ve got a live one! But how do you know which bait to use? Where are the best fishing spots, and how do you get the big ones to bite?
Writing hooks into your posts or novels requires as much patience and finesse as fishing. You have to know your characters and your audience. You have to think two or three steps ahead of them and the story you’re writing as well. You have to be patient and know exactly how much to give out and how much to keep – and what to throw away.
In fact, it’s a lot like writing transitions. The hook is no different. It’s a transition within a transition, a flick of the wrist that sets the lure into the water.
The Element of Surprise
One of the strongest hooks you can use is the element of surprise. The tone of the scene might be somber or quiet, but at the end of it, you deliver a twist so unexpected it makes readers want to see what happens next – and read your next post.
Here’s an example. Two characters are climbing cliffs near their home. The afternoon is wearing on, and it’s time to start back down. One character starts towards the left side of the shelf. He glances back at the other, and jumps.
Makes you want to know what happens next, doesn’t it? It’s a tense moment that makes you want to write your character rushing over in a panic.
Using Inner Conflict Externally
Writers often use internal dialog or thoughts to express inner conflict their character suffers. A lot of thoughts float around, and it’s an interesting read.
Too often, though, internal thoughts are overused. What good is inner conflict if other characters can’t notice that it’s happening? There are no external clues to demonstrate the character’s feelings are torn or that he feels conflicted.
Show that inner conflict externally. Think about what could be said aloud. If nothing can be said aloud, what body language could you express to other characters? For example, a character that says, “Yes,” while everything about his behavior indicates no is great material for others to hook onto. It gives a powerful indicator that all is not as it seems.
Answer The Question, Please
Ending a scene or a post with a question is a great hook. Someone has to answer, and if they don’t, they need to show their reasons.
Maybe the character has a strong aversion to giving a direct answer. He’ll pace the floor, avoid eye contact, and possibly try to redirect the question back at the asking character. Maybe the opposite occurs, and a heartfelt or panicked explanation pours out.
Anything can happen from a single question. Sometimes even the silent questions left hanging in the air are hardest for readers to resist.
Making A Bold Move
Physical actions can be just as powerful as hooks. A slamming door, a broken dish, a phone ringing at just the right (or wrong) moment adds impact and drama.
Here’s an example: A shape shifter is eating a meal with another character. They’re sharing secrets, and then one reveals too much. The other becomes afraid, wanting to bolt.
To an animal – or a shape shifter – the physical reactions of the fear cause a primal, instinctual reaction. The shape shifter explodes in a fight-for-dominance attack.
Whoa! Where’d that come from? If you’re not on the edge of your seat, you should be.
No Guts, No Glory
You can use emotions as hooks. Reach in and grab right for the guts, or take a character’s or reader’s heartstrings and give a good tug.
Will other characters react out of pity? How about sympathy? Will they become angry and retaliate? Will they melt into a puddle of warm fuzzies? Whatever they do, you can bet the player is exclaiming, “Man, this is too good. I have to answer!”.
The next thing you know, it’s a rush of posting frenzy, with both players tossing out hooks like there’s no tomorrow.
Hooks come in many different shapes and sizes. Use them within each post, throughout the scene, and look for them in the overall arch of the storyline. Hooks are everywhere, even in places the Storytellers or players never intended them to be.
And those are the best hooks of all.
I’m sure you’ve seen dozens of posts on how to be a better creative writer and finding the motivation to write. They usually give tips on creating a nice writing environment, what kind of music helps thoughts to flow, hints about where to visit to get an inspiring break, like an outdoor café, a walk along an empty beach, or climbing to the top of a lonely mountain to find your Zone.
This post isn’t one of those.
Excuse Me, What’s my Motivation for This Scene?
Actors and actresses often ask that question of their director. They need to know what their character feels before they step into the role, and what types of situations the scene presents in order to get into the right frame of mind. What does the director want out of the scene? What’s the motivation to act the part?
In a creative writing role-playing game, that motivation to take on a role and play it well is totally up to you. There is no director leading your acting and telling you what to do. None. Except you, that is.
Think about it. When you’re writing a novel in the privacy of your own home, you don’t have a Storyteller sitting next to you and telling you what your character should feel or what kind of emotions you should evoke to achieve the purpose of the scene.
There often is no pre-planned purpose. And only you know your character best. It’s up to you to find your own motivation for your scenes – and part of that motivation is enjoying the surprise of how the scene unfolds.
Leave the Books Behind
Creative writing forums that use gaming systems as a base present a very unique situation. You have rules of the game that form the framework, and you have more freedom than you would during a tabletop or LARP (Live Action Role Playing) session. Often, game system rules are used very loosely, if at all.
This presents a problem for people who tend to think in linear terms. People seeking a goal, a specific role or purpose for the scene at hand won’t find it. Too many factors and elements depend on what other characters and players do.
With much of that supporting structure gone, linear goal-seekers looking for specific scene motivation are as lost as players who find number-crunching system-heavy games confusing or too complex.
Storytellers in creative writing forums and games typically only go so far as to give you a premise. They may write the first post in a new thread to set up the mood, tone and description of the area, then they’ll offer a few hooks – maybe – for players to work with.
The rest is up to you. You need to find your own motivation to step into the scene, take up your role and start acting. Everything is set up for you, all yours for the taking. The scene rocks depending on how you use the elements and sculpt them into something interesting – or boring.
Savor the Moment
There’s nothing more exciting than diving into a fresh scene. I get a little heady when I have the opportunity to open a new thread and set it up. It’s like having a swimming pool all to myself on the hottest day of the year. You dive right in, enjoy the water, and let yourself drift.
Maybe a neighbor peeks his head over the fence. “Looks good…” So you invite him to come for a dip, too. A conversation begins as you enjoy the water, and lo and behold…
Well, if that pool was your scene, it just took off.
The point is that if you always try to rigidly determine roles, then try to figure out the purpose of the scene and its goal, that’s not going to be much fun. You’re pre-planning how the scene should unfold and trying to know the results of it before you’ve even begun to play.
Playtime is your motivation. Not pre-planning.
Being True to Your Character
Characters have minds of their own, very often. You want to do this, but you you’re your character’s personality means he should do that. What now? What if you don’t want to do something you feel your character should do? The motivation to write and rock a scene becomes difficult.
The answer is that if you’re not motivated, don’t do it – despite what would be in character for your character. Find reasons for what your character doesn’t do. Explore the options and think up a reasonable train of thought that leads up to an action you’re happy with.
If you can figure out a viable reason why your character would or wouldn’t do something, or even if they would or wouldn’t be in a particular place, then you’re being true to your character.
Remember, too, that you don’t always have to be true to your character. There are moments when we humans act out of character, and that’s normal. Don’t box yourself by staying 100% true to a character 100% of the time.
How do you find the motivation in a scene? Stop looking to others for answers, for starters. The Storytellers and your fellow players don’t know you or your character like you do. They don’t have the answers – and they’re just as busy finding their own motivation too.
Your best bet is to set aside the rules, the goals, the preconceived notions, and open up your heart and mind so you can hear what your character says. Listen carefully. You’ll be surprised what you hear.
How do you keep a reader in suspense?
I could be mean and leave this post at that question just to illustrate my point, but that wouldn’t make for interesting reading, now would it?
Suspense is all about building anticipation. That anticipation keeps your readers turning pages or stuck on the page, and anticipation keeps readers coming back for more. Anticipation and suspense makes a story great.
Bait and Hook
There is a term in both writing and music called “the hook”. The hook is the part of the story or the song that makes the reader want to come back for more or makes the listener want to hear the song again. The hook is an element so addictive that no one can stay away.
In writing, the key element to a good hook that creates suspense is that it doesn’t give readers what they want. You heard me: Don’t give them a thing.
Maybe readers have an idea where the plot is going and they’re not quite sure, or maybe they have no idea at all and want to find out so badly they can’t stand it. Either way, don’t reveal your hand too soon.
The Strip Tease
The more you tease, holding back on giving out, the more readers want to know what happens. Just a hint is enough to entice curiosity and make a reader want to have more of what he or she can’t have right now.
Do you remember waiting for your birthday to come or Christmas to arrive? You might have counted the remaining days on the calendar or even tracked hours until that special day arrived. Your parents might have been the type to drop little teasing clues along the way, just enough to keep everyone guessing.
That’s how you add suspense in your story. Reveal a little bit at a time. Heighten the uncertainty. Create a situation where the reader catches just a glimpse of what’s coming and yet cannot say for sure that will be the outcome.
Creating suspense and anticipation is an art. Reveal too much, and you’ve blown your cover. Sound the surprise too soon, and it won’t have impact. Wait too long, and readers lose interest.
The Prestige of the Moment
Finally, you pull back the curtain with a flourish, revealing the truth, and you shout, “Ta DA!”
If built up to the moment properly, readers smack their palms to their foreheads. They should have seen it coming, and of course! How fantastic! Then all the clues and hints you’ve revealed will fall into place, and readers see that it was right there in front of them the whole time.
Creating good suspense is like hunting. You might have to sit in a tree stand in the cold dawn for days on end, waiting and watching while readers wander in and out of your sights. The suspense of their suspense is as much of a flurry of anticipation for you as it is for them.
Finally, the time is right. You can draw the bowstring back and let the arrow fly.
Do you enjoy suspense? How do you feel when anticipation starts to build? Have you recently experienced that agony of not knowing and the need to know more?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHzdoxlNvNQ&feature=related[/youtube]
Write what you know is one of my mantras. I tell this to new writers and gamers all the time. First-hand experience of an event or a particular local makes your fiction writing work come alive with detail.
But what if you have a character so unlike you that you’ve never experienced half the things your character has? A little research takes care of that.
I’m talking about the little things we take for granted. What if your character needs to roll a cigarette, but you’ve never rolled your own? What if your character gets drunk, but you’ve never been drunk yourself?
Within the larger scheme of experiences, no one would know the smaller details unless they have been through it themselves.
Living Vicariously
How do learn an experience? Where you find this information?
The Internet is your friend. It’s amazing what you’ll find if you look. Need to know the effects of a particular drug or the effects of alcohol? You’ll find everything from medical reports to first-hand accounts on the web.
I had one player ask me how to roll a cigarette, and while I’ve done that, I couldn’t explain it well. A quick search on You Tube provided dozens of how-to videos.
If you want more flavor, you could risk a little bit of embarrassment and ask someone who’s experienced the situation to describe it. I find that when you tell people that you’re a writer and need help, they’re more than willing to go through a quick interview.
Videos and articles can give you the basics, but there are small details people can tell you that bring the experience to life. These details add credibility to your fiction so that your reader says, “Wow, he really knows what he’s talking about! I felt just like that!”
Much of dissecting experiences is emotional. People never have the same experience. Just look at how different people act and behave when they’re drunk. Some are happy drunks, some get mean, others get downright stupid. Sometimes the type of alcohol plays a part in modifying basic behaviors while drunk.
In some ways, writing from inexperience is no different from writing about a specific genre or setting, like writing about medieval times or futuristic space. You still have to do your homework and research.
There are certain experiences you can try for yourself, but use discretion and don’t try anything dangerous. Half the fun of writing is acquiring vast knowledge on many subjects. It keeps your writing fresh, your readers interested, and goes a long way in creating strong suspension of disbelief.
‘Write what you know’ is a phrase often heard within creative writing circles and it’s a almost a cliché. There is good reason for the saying, though, and within gaming and role-playing, writing what you know provides one of the keys that let you add depth to your storylines and characters.
No Golden Shovel Awards
You can fluff some of the details and use creative freedom, yes. You don’t need to be an expert. But if you try to fake the details too much, it’s guaranteed that someone will call you out. People know bullshit. They know when you’re bullshitting them. Players can smell it from a mile away.
Writing with authority isn’t enough. You have to have a foundation to back it up, or at least write enough of the truth to help suspend gamer disbelief.
You Know A Lot More Than You Think
Writing what you know goes beyond research or experiencing the event or activity for yourself.
Writing what you know means exactly that – writing what you know. For example, I enjoy reading fantasy and creative fiction in the horror genre. Would I attempt to write a murder mystery or political thriller?
No, I wouldn’t. I have no mind for politics or the behind-the-scenes subterfuge, nor do I enjoy figuring out convoluted mystery plots. I know fantasy. I know horror. I know what works in these genres and what doesn’t.
The same goes for you. Look at what you read and what you enjoy. Start there. You can probably create your own work just from what you already know. You have all the information right there waiting for you.
Names have magic. Some primitive cultures believed that to give your name was to give another person power over you. And tales mention that if you ever meet a demon, you should try calling it by it’s true name and see what happens.
I believe names do have power. If chosen correctly, names help define your character. A poor name falls flat. When I choose names for characters, I spend hours cruising sites on names and looking through various language books for the name that fits just right.
Brainstorming through words helps. So do watching movies and reading books. Even billboards can give you good naming ideas.
Take Jake Verona from the game boards at Escaping Reality, for example. The first name was an easy choice. I’ve always liked the name Jake. It’s my nephew’s name, after all. But I was at a loss for a last name. Nothing seemed to fit.
Then while cruising home from Costco several months ago I saw a billboard for a new development of condominiums in the area. There it was: Verona.
Some Naming Silliness
I never intended to get too deep or serious with this post. I really just wanted to write out a meme. So, here’s something fun for each of you. Find your special names by filling out the prompts and have a laugh. Drop your answers in the comment section if you feel like it!
Who knows? Maybe you’ll get your next great character name out of it.
1. Your rock star name (your pet, current car): Lakota X (VTX1800 is a little too sci-fi)
2. Your gangsta name (favorite ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe): Phish Food Steel Toe (ugh)
3. Your Native American name (favorite color, favorite animal): Red Wolf (wasn’t that a beer?)
4. Your soap opera name (middle name, city where you were born): Connar Lawrence (now we’re getting somewhere)
5. Your Star Wars name (the first 3 letters of your last name, the first two letters of your first name): Oed Ha (I prefer Darth Reason)
6. Superhero name (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Black Colada (What the hell kind of super powers would this guy have? Commanding a legion of African Sparrows and dropping coconuts on the citizens of Metropolis?)
7. NASCAR name (the first names of your grandfathers): Frank John (meh)
8. Stripper name (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy): Polo Snickers (ok, Snickers aren’t my favorite, but it was funny.)
10. TV weather anchor name (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Sorry, going to have to pass on this one. I can’t remember my 5th grade teacher’s name.
11. Spy name (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Do pagan holidays count? Pass.
12. Cartoon name (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now): Cantaloupe T-shirt (huh?)
13. Hippie name (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Scrambled Egg Sequoia
Seriously though…
Naming characters really does take a lot of thought and consideration, unless you’re building a red shirt. Put as much effort into finding the right name as you would with all the other details of your novel or character concept.
Your characters are your children, so name them well.
Let’s take a break from the world of role-playing and look at the other driving force behind this blog: creative writing.
It’s hard for some to get into the mood for writing. We have plenty of excuses for that lack of inspiration. The laundry needs to be washed, the house is dirty, the desk is cluttered, it’s raining, it’s too nice out… You get the idea.
Where do you draw the line and say, “Enough is enough”?
When Perfect Really Isn’t
There’s really very little in the house to distract me. My roommate works, so I have the house to myself all day. No need for an office door. The cats are scarce. No one telephones (except maybe Mom when she hasn’t heard from me in a while). No one drops in for an unexpected visit.
Don’t get me wrong; I’m not complaining. Sometimes having the perfect environment can be just as bad as having one that isn’t. I still have to figure out what works best for me. I have plenty of distractions throughout the day, and most of them arrive in the form of instant messaging and email.
I work on graphic design on my computer in the office for eight hours or more a day. By the time I need to write, I’m tired of sitting in that comfy office chair and staring at the dual high-tech monitors. Some people would kill to have my quiet home and that office. By the end of the day, I don’t want to be there anymore.
Finding Your Writing Space
Every writer has his or her special place for writing. Hemingway had the tropics, Kipling had a desk on the landing of a staircase in a swank hotel, and Stephen King has his office – with a door.
Finding your space doesn’t necessarily mean creating a physical space for working, although that is a big part of it. Finding your space is a way of getting your mind prepared to focus on the task. Your space is your trigger. When you go there, your brain knows what you’re going to do – and it does it.
For me, taking the laptop into the living room and sitting on the couch with my feet up and the TV on in the background is heaven. James constantly asks how in the world I can work with the TV on. It’s easy for me. The pictures on the screen aren’t words. The opposite is true when I work on graphics; I listen to music. See? It all balances out.
At night, I can let my words pour out. It’s like setting my mind free to wander. Even King admits needing AC/DC cranked up on the stereo while he writes. The louder the better, he says.
What sets your mind free? What helps you to shut out the world and dive into that blank page?
