Do You See What I See?

What is this? What is its purpose? Who uses it? Discuss.

Getting to Know You: Musical Talents

This weekend, my home – the French Quarter of New Orleans – was inundated with music lovers from far and wide. Residents and tourists alike had come for the 28th annual French Quarter Festival – one of the largest free music festivals in the American South. Featuring hundreds of musical performances – from solo guitarists to lively zydeco bands – the festival was, as usual, a huge success, filling the streets of my beloved neighborhood with song and merriment.

All that revelry made me wish that I were a little better at playing my own guitar – and also made me wonder about the musical talents of the authors and characters that visit CIC. Though I'm aware of some – like Abigail and her flute, Marcus and his voice (despite his relatives' constant ragging) – I'm curious about other musical abilities, obvious or otherwise.

So, authors and characters, I ask you:

Do you have any musical talents? If so, what are they? And if not, what instruments would you most like to learn?

Getting to Know You: Duty

Lately, you might have noticed that two of our authors – Betsy and Christine – have been participating in a series of experimental “story threads” on Come In Character. Such ongoing sagas have allowed them to merge their fictional worlds and simultaneously explore their (very different) characters – which may even give them fodder for their actual novels. Frankly, I've found such brainstorming sessions to be quite inspiring – if not a bit time-consuming to read!

Still, to make sure that no one feels left out, Christine and I will try to keep posting prompts that appeal to everyone. Also, if any other authors are interested in setting up “story threads” between their own characters, please let me know (by emailing me at [email protected]). I'd be more than happy to facilitate such creative endeavors.

In the meantime, I thought we could explore a concept that seems to crop up a lot on this site – most notably, in the recent story threads between Aidan and Marenya. That's, of course, the concept of duty – that is, the action, task, or chore that is required of you because of a military position, a professional occupation, a familial responsibility, a legal obligation, or another reason altogether.

So, authors and characters, I ask you:

What is your specific duty, and why do you strive to fulfill it? Of course, if you choose to ignore such duties, feel free to share that, too.

(As I've already said, I don't want anyone to feel left out – even authors and characters who shirk their duties.)

Social Saturday: Meet and Greet

We have some new faces here at CIC, so today it's time for a character "Meet and Greet."

Bring some of your favorite food to share, check your weapons at the door, come on in and introduce yourself.  There are lots of comfy places to sit, a big fireplace to gather around, and even a piano if anyone feels like playing a song or two. You can be yourself here, everyone is welcome!

Let's start off by sharing your name, where you live and what you spend most of your time doing. Oh, and what did you bring to eat?

Getting to Know You: Religion

Since it came up during our last conversation at CIC, I thought it might be interesting to have a chat about religion.

Whether you're an author or a character, you probably believe in something bigger than yourself – perhaps many gods, just one god, a mystical gaggle of fairies, or simply the random nature of the universe. So, how did you come to believe such a thing? Parental influence, life experience, or something else entirely?

Well, what do you say? Care to share your beliefs with the rest of us?

Story Thread: Aidan and Marenya

From Christine:
Betsy and I are trying an experiment we call "Improvisational Fiction." The interplay between our fantasy worlds and characters has been such a rich mine of material for us the past week, we decided to try pushing it a little farther and see what happens. 

This is spontaneous; we don't know what is going to happen. We welcome other characters to jump in if they wish. We appreciate your forbearance, and your feedback.
 
From Betsy:
We're starting story threads so we don't continue to hijack the regular discussions. In future, we'd love to launch new stories for other characters and authors to play with. You need only email one of us and we'll set up a new thread.

We want to encourage other characters and writers to read and participate. Feel free to jump in at any time as an antagonist, someone needing help, an innocent bystander, or simply an observer with comments. Everyone is welcome.

A brief summary of our story so far:
After months of shameless flirting here at CIC, the demidemon Aidan decided to get a little more serious with Marenya, a respectable hanorja. This prompted Faldur, Marenya's actual love interest, to make his claim on her and approach her uncle about a period of formal courtship. When her uncle refused, Faldur left on a mission, furious. Marenya left, too, seeking some time away from everyone. But Aidan sensed she was in danger and crossed into her world. He saved her life and finally admitted how heartbroken he was over losing her. She agreed to let Aidan speak to her Uncle, who reluctantly approved the match. Unfortunately, when Aidan crossed into her world, he discovered evidence his enemy, the demon Asmodai, has a presence there. He wants to approach the king about making a formal alliance against this shared enemy.

Social Weekday: Happy Mardi Gras!

As I mentioned on Sunday, today is Mardi Gras Day – the pinnacle of the Big Easy's festive, pre-Lent season – a day filled with music, mirth, masquerades, and madness.

I thought it might be fun if we all headed down to New Orleans – for a Mardi Gras celebration of our own. I've brought enough king cake for everyone. So, who's joining me in the French Quarter? I'll be the one wearing the sorceress get-up and shouting, “Happy Mardi Gras!” at the top of my lungs!

Your World: Annual Celebrations

Many authors are greatly influenced by the places in which they were raised. For me, it's my hometown of New Orleans, and oddly enough, several of my characters also hail from that unique American city. Naturally, the city's most notable celebrations often find their way into my stories, too.

This Tuesday, for example, is Mardi Gras Day – a festive holiday known for its crowded parades, colorful costumes, flying beads, marching bands, delicious king cakes, and unabashed debauchery. Of course, given the Big Easy's fun-loving spirit, there isn't just one day devoted to this Catholic-inspired holiday – but a whole, two-week season. In fact, today marks one of this season's biggest days, as both the Krewe of Bacchus and the Krewe of Endymion (which, due to rain, was postponed from yesterday) get ready to roll down the streets of Uptown New Orleans.

So, authors and characters, I ask you:

Do your hometowns or homelands have such festive annual celebrations? If not, why not? And if so, what are they like?

Getting to Know You: Pets

For many humans, there's nothing quite like having a pet around.

Warm, furry felines that sleep across your legs at night. Soft-hearted hunting dogs that plead for extra treats with their big, doleful eyes. Little birds that trill a merry tune whenever you stroll into the room. Wriggling hamsters that look so comical inside their endlessly spinning wheels.

And for some, slithery pythons that would happily swallow such rodents for breakfast.

It's no wonder, then, that pet owners are often less stressed-out than people without such lovable animals in their lives.

So, authors and characters, I ask you:

If you could have a pet, what kind would it be, and why? Of course, if you already do have a pet, please tell us all about him or her!

What If... You Could Change One Thing?

I don't know about you, but I've never met anyone who was perfectly happy with his or her life. There's always at least one thing that he or she would change, if possible – whether it's an unpleasant job, an unsuitable partner, an unhealthy habit, or something else altogether. Perhaps even the simple desire to change one's scenery.

So, characters, I ask you:

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be, and why?

You and Your World: Government

In America, today is Presidents' Day – a holiday that commemorates the country's former and present leaders. So, in honor of this federal holiday, I thought it might be interesting to discuss the concept of government as it relates to your world – wherever that may be.

Is there a government in your homeland or on your home planet? If not, why not? And if so, what's it like? Is it harsh and restrictive – or free and democratic? Do your rulers wear costumes, have lavish balls, and do magic tricks – or are they boring and stuffy? If you could change your current government, what would you do?

Let's explore our varied governments – and, if possible, celebrate our leaders' accomplishments!

And in the meantime, Happy Presidents' Day to my fellow Americans!

What If... You Spotted Someone Drowning?

Last week, we tested out a new exercise at Come In Character – the “What If...?” prompt – a chance for authors to answer a question from their characters' unique perspectives. Considering how well it went, I thought we might try it again.

This time, the scenario is a little more serious. So, characters, I ask you:

What would you do if you spotted someone drowning?

Would you ignore his or her frightened cries, seek some professional help, jump in after the poor victim, or do something else altogether? And remember, my friends, honesty is paramount.

Getting to Know You: A Love To Die For

For many of us, today is Valentine's Day – a holiday that celebrates love, lust, passion, and, in some cases, flowers and chocolate. In honor of this popular holiday, I decided to take Betsy's advice and ask the following question of all authors and characters:

Who is the one person you would die for, and why?

Of course, I realize that not everyone would go that far for someone else, so if that's the case with you, feel free to say so. Just don't be offended if the rest of us mock your lack of ardor!

(P.S. Thanks for the suggestion, Betsy!)

Getting to Know You: Important Possession

Last May, we discussed our most precious things here at Come In Character. Curiously, our answers ranged from weapons to family heirlooms to spiritual totems – and we all had different reasons for treasuring such items.

Given that several months have passed since then, it seems appropriate to rekindle this discussion.

So, authors and characters, what is your most important possession, and why?

Do you keep it locked away or carry it with you at all times? How long have you had it, and what would you do if someone – or something – tried to take it from you?

What If... You Found a Diamond Ring?

I just want to take a minute to thank everyone who recently offered his or her feedback about Come In Character. As I've expressed before, I love the purpose of this site, and I very much want our creative efforts here to continue. So, despite my rather busy schedule, I intend to post here at least twice a week – on varying days, both to keep things fresh and to prevent me from going batty. In light of your suggestions, I'll try hard to focus on character interaction – and, save for the occasional post, leave writing prompts to other sites.

All I ask of my fellow authors is two things: to send me your ideas for future posts and to promote the site when and where you can. In the meantime, I'll consider your suggestions regarding a CIC logo, a Facebook fan page, and other forms of promotion. With a little effort, we might just be able to entice a few more authors (and, hopefully, a bunch more characters) into our midst.

Okay, back to the post at hand. During our recent discussion, several good ideas were put forth about future posts. One, in particular, inspired me to create a whole new category. So, thanks, Jil, for suggesting the “What If...?” prompt – a way for characters to express how they would handle certain scenarios. With any luck, such questions might even spark an entertaining argument or two!

To kick off this new category, I've decided to take Jil's advice and ask our characters one simple question:

What would you do if you found a diamond ring in the street?

Would you try to find its rightful owner, give it to your sweetheart, exchange it for an exotic animal, or something else altogether? And, remember, my friends, honesty is everything.

Seeking More Feedback for CIC!

Well, I must admit, I'm tickled beyond belief that our last group story went as well as it did. But, before I get ahead of myself and start posting on a more regular basis, I figure it might be a good idea to solicit your feedback about the site.

So, my fellow authors – and characters, too – what would you like to see here at CIC? More group stories or first line challenges? A return of “Character of the Week”? Or something else entirely?

Let's discuss the possibilities – and I'll try hard to accommodate your desires!

Group Story: A Winter's Tale

Nearly a month has passed since we shared our New Year's resolutions. Since then, some parts of the world (and perhaps the universe as well) have seen their fair share of cold, ice, and snow. So, before we forget about Come In Character altogether, let's jump-start our creativity with a group story.

For those who haven't yet participated in such a collective tale, group stories can be a real treat. Normally, we focus on one particular genre – such as romance, science fiction, or horror – but this time, it could be fun to mix genres.

So, what do you say, authors and characters, are you up for the challenge?

If so, here are the first few lines of our little winter's tale:

As she sat beside the flickering hearth, warming her damp hands and feet, the petite, middle-aged midwife glanced toward the bay window that, in summer, would overlook the overflowing vegetable garden. Despite the outer darkness, Mathilda could still see the snowflakes falling, as they had for hours, and even with the fire, it seemed that she might never stop shivering. Suddenly, though muffled by the wind, the porch creaked and a knock sounded through the front door.

“Who could be here at such an hour,” she thought, a mite concerned. “And in this weather?”

New Year's Resolutions

It's that time again.  Time for the start of a new year, and the annual effort to make ourselves new, too. Losing weight, being on time, controlling our tempers, spending less money, etc.

So, characters and authors, what would your New Year's resolution be?  I know many people (including myself) have given up trying to defeat old habits, or perhaps just come to terms with our imperfections, and don't make resolutions anymore.

But if you had to make one resolution, what would it be???

Getting to Know You: Winter Holidays

Baby, it's cold outside! And dark. The days are getting shorter and shorter here in the northern hemisphere. In a couple of weeks we will have the shortest day of the year, which we call the Winter Solstice.

Humans have a way of defying the cold and dark with holidays and festivals. We have many of them!

What do you celebrate this time of year? Is it cold where you are now, or is it warm? How do you bring cheer to your year?

(note: This discussion is for characters only, please.)

Gone for the Holidays

As you've no doubt noticed, the Come In Character site has been rather quiet as of late. Well, after much soul-searching, I've decided that we all – authors and characters alike – could use a much-deserved break. Perhaps putting CIC aside for the holidays is just what we need to rejuvenate this once-treasured place.

So, while you can rest assured that the site isn't going anywhere anytime soon, don't expect any new posts until next year.

In the meantime, I hope you all have

a happy Thanksgiving,









a merry Christmas (or other appropriate winter holiday),





and a healthy, prosperous New Year!

The Hard, Cold Truth

Let's face it, folks. Participation in CIC has seriously waned since the spring. Oftentimes, no more than two people comment on a given post, which frankly makes me sad and also begs the question... Why?

Are we as authors simply too busy to comment, or worse, are we feeling less than inspired by the CIC prompts as of late? If it's the latter reason, what can I do about it? Please help me by making suggestions about future posts. Would group stories, for instance, do the trick? Or perhaps we should resurrect “Character of the Week” Fridays...

Of course, if it's the former reason, then perhaps it's time to put Come In Character to rest. While I would hate to see that happen, I'm simply too busy myself to fret over posting here twice a week when it seems that few people are interested anymore.

Thanks, everyone, for your input!