Our next Exercise - Character

[Hastur]

You have all read about various characters that you loved. Heck, you've all hated some of the characters you read about, but couldn't imagine a story without them. It's time for you to try your hand at some Characters.

I want you to write a character driven piece. A really obvious example is <a href="http://www.chudstories.com/stories/curtains.php3" target="_blank">Curtains</a>. Another good example of character driven stories is anything from the Anita Blake series by Lauren Hamilton.

Character is what drives believable fiction. One of the reasons that The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was so popular was because of the amazingly believable character of Arthur Dent. Then too, how good would Farscape be without a good set of characters, even if we are sometimes showing our love of one by yelling "Space him!" at the screen. Would the Hellblazer series be anywhere near as enjoyable if Constantine wasn't such a bastard?

Characters make a story. So, I want to see some characters. "Da Rul'z":

1) This is a character piece. Although all the other parts will be important, they should develop the character. So, violence, conflict, sex, dialogue, etc. should not be just for self gratification. Give your reader a character they will care about.
2) If you want to set your tale in Lumiere, please feel free. However, if your story is not in Lumiere, don't let that stop you. You should go with what works for you.
3) I should be able to read the story in one sitting, the first time. This isn't so much a word limit as a length limit. No novels.
4) I will edit these with the same attitude as before - nothing will be done without your permission. It's your work. I'm just here to try and help, if I can, and if you let me.
5) Character submissions will be accepted through September 14th. This should give you enough time to bring out some of your best work. However, final stories will be posted periodically, so that you can enjoy what others are doing.

And you thought the first exercise was hard. I'm even going to submit one of mine - which you guys will probably rip to shreds, but what they heck. At least I'm writing, right?

[Richard Dickson]

This fits in perfectly with the idea I had for resurrecting my pulp hero story for Lumiere.

[Unbreathless]

Question:
Will other stories be accepted that do not have to do with this exercise. I say this not because I won't be participating, but because of already written stories.

I actually think it would be fun to fit this into my story-arch.

[Unbreathless]

Question 2: (sorry i forgot to include this)

Was my first story at all Character based?
Just asking cuz I wanna know if the level of development in this was quota with what you're looking for in this exercise. Obviously given more words there would have been more development, but im simply asking about the ratio.

It's a bit hard to figure out what is a CHARACTER driven piece in my mind. Odd that you mention Hitch-Hikers guide... cuz its what im reading right now.

[voltes5]

2) If you want to set your tale in Lumiere, please feel free. However, if your story is not in Lumiere, don't let that stop you. You should go with what works for you.

Can we submit more than one story? (Don't worry, I don't intend to submit 9,998 stories like last time.) wink

Also, so our projects actually go beyond the Lumiere universe? I was under the impression that our group effort is always focused on Lumiere. Still, this is more of a question, not a concern.

And, oh yeah, I can't wait to rip on your tenses Hastur! (Hastur gave me one heck of an English tutorial with my stories' grammar errors. Thank you, Hastur!) :)

[Coyote]

You're not alone, Voltes...in a recent workshop I attended at Akon, the editor giving the workshop harped on tenses. It's evidently a very common thing for new writers to mix tenses.
On a side note, the story of mine submitted for the workshop is actually posted on CHUDStories, The Winds of Limbo Roar. She used this story in the class to show use of character voice, which may be relevent to folks trying to do a character piece. The story is narrated by two different people, and evidently I did a much better job than I thought I did writing in two different voices. But it's also important in dialogue.

[Dan Whitehead]

Voltes & The Loco Imbocano:
Can we submit more than one story? (Don't worry, I don't intend to submit 9,998 stories like last time.) wink I eagerly await the inevitable launch of <a href="http://www.voltesstories.com" target="_blank">www.voltesstories.com</a> :D

Tagline: One website alone could not contain him!

[Unbreathless]

"So, violence, conflict, sex, dialogue, etc. should not be just for self gratification."

is that the character's self gratification, or ours?

no seriously!

[Dan Whitehead]

My first character-based entry is on it's way to you now - an everyday tale of one man's obsessive battle against poo. eek!

[Coyote]

<img src="http://www.engrish.com/images/PumpkinPoo.jpg" alt="" />

[Dan Whitehead]

Great. Spoil the ending why don't ya? frown

[Hastur]

Johnny: Will other stories be accepted that do not have to do with this exercise. I say this not because I won't be participating, but because of already written stories.

You betcha, although there may be delays as they are categorized. So far, there aren't many sections in the story site, which is good. It makes for very easy navigation. However, this may change later, and if it does, we will need to categorize. I'll do my best to keep you informed.

Johnny: Was my first story at all Character based?

Well, yeah. Without the character, it wouldn't have made sense. But, it also could fall into other categories (such as horror, or "What was he thinking?" for the weak of stomach/heart :D ). If the word limit hadn't been there, I know that it would have been more character driven. So, definitely, it's a direction for a character driven piece.

My apologies for not using it as one of the examples, but I was thinking of it in the fast-paced crazy person horror genre.

Voltes: Can we submit more than one story? (Don't worry, I don't intend to submit 9,998 stories like last time.)

Yes you can. I will not limit anyone's creativity if I can help it. On the other hand, if you submit more than 12, you and I are going to have to have a talk about your prolifferation and how to turn it to my final goal of taking over the world.

Voltes:

Also, so our projects actually go beyond the Lumiere universe?

As long as Nick lets me, I want to concentrate on doing what we can all do to become better writers. This means letting loose a little now and again. Lumiere is a wonderous project, and I'm ecstatic to be working on it, but there is a big universe out there, and for this exercise, it would be good to go outside of it. Sometimes, environment makes our characters (anything by Stephen King will prove this), so I want you all to be able to make characters, and not be limited in their making. The next exercise will be focused on Lumiere again.

I'm going to try to alternate between a Lumiere focus and going outside of a Lumiere focus periodically, so that we get a maximum amount of solid, good fiction.

Johnny: is that the character's self gratification, or ours?

Uhhh...yours. Actions, dialogue, environment, everything, should be growing the characters. If you look at it in your minds eye and go "Well, her tits are nice, but what does it have to do with him - aside from the obvious?" then you don't need that scene. If, on the other hand, he's going "Her tits are nice. I wonder what they would look like mounted to the stairwell," then it's probably going to show us what kind of character he is.

Ok. I hope this answers your questions. Other than the poo, that is. Far be it for me to pooh pooh the poo poo.

Hmm....now I want chinese. Later.

[WrappedinPlastic loves life]

Ok, question...are these characters we make up or characters from other movies. I think it's the latter, but I could be wrong. Hmm...now if it is a movie character, I am going to have to find one!

[Hastur]

Characters that you make up is preferable. I'm trying to stretch your writing skills a bit.

Although, as an exercise, stories about existing characters might be a good idea in future. For this round, though, new characters will be good.

[WrappedinPlastic loves life]

Ok, cool! I'll use a character I started in my first Lumiere I just sent in.

[voltes5]

Hastur:
Voltes: Can we submit more than one story? (Don't worry, I don't intend to submit 9,998 stories like last time.)

Yes you can. I will not limit anyone's creativity if I can help it. On the other hand, if you submit more than 12, you and I are going to have to have a talk about your prolifferation and how to turn it to my final goal of taking over the world.Done. Expect 12 stories coming my way soon! Just kidding. That's a pretty generous story limit! I think I'll just be sending in one which will be totally unrelated to Lumiere.

Dan gave me this idea:

The Brotherhood of Evil Whiteheads:
My first character-based entry is on it's way to you now - an everyday tale of one man's obsessive battle against poo. eek! My story will revolve around a small group of internet message board posters who emote shock (via graphical emoticons) at their very own comments! The psychology surrounding this odd internet occurrence is closely explored through the in-depth characterization of Pimp L. Blackhead. eek! &lt;-- see!?

[Dan Whitehead]

Voltes & The Loco Imbocano:
The psychology surrounding this odd internet occurrence is closely explored through the in-depth characterization of Pimp L. Blackhead.<img src="http://www.mingers.com/photos/classic/minger025.jpg" alt="" />

"Shee-it, dawg! What be happenin' with all these smilies blowin' up like a motherfucker? I be gettin' to the bottom of this, an' shit..."

[Capt. Eucalyptus]

Would anyone like to take a crack at my submission for this? I need a couple of good peer editors so I know that this is up to snuff.

[Dan Whitehead]

capteucalyptus (Scott Roche):
Would anyone like to take a crack at my submission for this? I need a couple of good peer editors so I know that this is up to snuff.Feel free to send it to me Scott, but as you know I'm not in a position to guarantee anything at the moment!

[Capt. Eucalyptus]

The Brotherhood of Evil Whiteheads:
capteucalyptus (Scott Roche):
Would anyone like to take a crack at my submission for this? I need a couple of good peer editors so I know that this is up to snuff.Feel free to send it to me Scott, but as you know I'm not in a position to guarantee anything at the moment!As I too well know and will know even better in EEEEEEEK 18 days!!!

[Hastur]

I'll actually give an opinion, as well as the usual suggestion blast, if you want me to. If not, that's cool too.

[Capt. Eucalyptus]

Hastur:
I'll actually give an opinion, as well as the usual suggestion blast, if you want me to. If not, that's cool too.Consider it sent. And suggest away!!!

[Coyote]

Another example of characterization: Pulp Fiction.
From SJR's review of the DVD:
"Pulp Fiction is a movie with a huge, interwoven, epic story that brings together pulp fiction-style plots (hitmen who find God, washed up boxers with too much pride to take a fall, the gun moll who gets a tough in trouble with her wild ways, the sex freaks, the most honorable of men turning out to be borderline sociopaths...), but couples them with the most unexpected of film structure's – the character study. In fact, one of the greatest character movies of all time. Whereas most character movies obsess over dialogue and go with the slow-build, Tarantino is such a master of dialogue that he found ways to make every single last word count in this movie and that's its genius. There is not a single bit of throwaway dialogue in this entire film – hence, one of the most quotable movies this side of Jaws and Blazing Saddles.

Though we're first introduced to petty armed robbers Pumpkin (Tim Roth) and Honey Bunny (Amanda Plummer), after the credits we hook up with the real main characters – Vincent Vega (John Travolta – in the performance of his career) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel Jackson – another absolutely stunning perf). These two hitmen have a job to do, blow up a group of guys who ripped off their boss, Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames). In any other crime film, that would be what these opening scenes would be about. However, instead we're given character bits. Vincent has just returned from Amsterdam and is right back into the swing of things with Jules. The point of the sequence isn't to show what tough hitmen they are – we get that from the swagger – but to introduce one of the major conflicts – Vincent has to take the boss's wife, Mia, out on the town when Marsellus is away. Seems Marsellus has a short fuse, so Vincent needs to make sure his zipper stays zipped."

(rest of the review: <a href="http://www.chud.com/chudvd/reviews/pulp.php3)" target="_blank">http://www.chud.com/chudvd/reviews/pulp.php3)</a>

Just another example. Of course, this hits home because I'm a fan of dialgue (having been converted a few years back because I used to be horrible at it), but he's right...we get character studies where you would normally get a quick setup of them being tough guys. And since one of the golden rules of writing is "Show, Don't Tell," dialogue is often one of the best ways to DO a character study.

[Coyote]

dialgue: (noun) The substance that forms on telephone headsets after being used quite often. The primary reason why you never want to use anyone else's headset.

[voltes5]

The Stainless Steel Coyote:
dialgue: (noun) The substance that forms on telephone headsets after being used quite often. The primary reason why you never want to use anyone else's headset.That's a story waiting to happen. Imagine living dialgues entering your ear canal then controlling over your mind! You end up saying "Fuck Yous" and "Go plug in your dildo on the wall socket, you stupid computer moron!" But then again, you probably just needed some coffee.

[Unbreathless]

so it was the dialogue's that made me say it?

man.. i can get my job back now, under the medical limitations on job dismissal!

*runs off to find his lawyer, then realizes that its 3 in the morning and he isn't wearing pants*

i don't even have a lawyer

[Richard Dickson]

Hastur, could you please clarify "in one sitting" a little more? I've got something cooking and it needs some space to do its thing.

[Hastur]

You bet Poxy:

In one sitting means that I should be able to read it from one end to the other in one go. I'm a very fast reader, so this isn't much of a limit (I read Lamb in two nights). But I should be able to come home from work, read a story, maybe interact with my roomies a little, and still go to bed at a reasonable hour after reading your story.

This applies only to the first time I read it. I approach my editing by reading the story one time, without any note for grammar, punctuation, spelling, anything. The first time is simply to understand what you, the writer, are trying to say. After that, the second and third times are to make any suggestions I may have.

I guess that I'm just trying to keep from reading everyone's first novel.

Did that help, at all?

[Jeremiah Shakespeare]

"In one sitting" is, despite the fact that various people have differenting degrees of attention deficiency and reading speeds, is an actual segment of time used by most editors.
To add to the confusion, "in one sitting" is flexible depending on the piece they're reading...if it's riveting, they'll lose sleep and ignore their spouses' desperate please for attention. If it's babbling claptrap, they'll be easily distracted by the facinating plight of a dustbunny.

[Hastur]

And I know that none of you will let the dust bunny win.

[Richard Dickson]

Creamy character goodness on its way to you, Hastur.

[Coyote]

Good thing Hastur's using protection.

[voltes5]

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Stories are DUE on:

SEPTEMBER 14

[Unbreathless]

I hears ye.
hhmmm I think I'll finish off my [I]Johnny's origin[I] piece tonight. Don't know if it's character or not. That depends on what Claudia thinks.

[voltes5]

4 hours and 10 minutes more before the deadline!

*gulp*

[voltes5]

See, I told you guys that I suck at math.

4 hours and 48 minutes more minutes before the deadline!

*gulps again*

[Dan Whitehead]

Voltes LaMarca's Chevy Nova:
See, I told you guys that I suck at math.

4 hours and 48 minutes more minutes before the deadline!

*gulps again*Which, by my reckoning, is only just enough time for you to submit a mere 37 stories... wink

[voltes5]

I actually have 2 stories to submit, but I've decided to chuck the other one because the idea was so close to your <a href="http://www.chud.com/chudstories/stories/quiet.php3" target="_blank">"The Quiet Life"</a> story. Actually, I am thinking of composing a quickie short-short one before the deadline. :p

[Dan Whitehead]

You thought of a story about shit as well? Great mimes think alike...

[voltes5]

<img src="http://freespace.virgin.net/j.maverick/Workshops/mime.gif" alt="" />

*Mime re-enacts Voltes' "No Shit!" comment*

[Coyote]

That's actually a still from John Leguizamo's "Super DUPER Mario Bros"

[Unbreathless]

I would have submitted my story... but i got trapped in a backwater town 9 hours from home with no car.... Bastards

[Dan Whitehead]

Johnny plays with knives:
I would have submitted my story... but i got trapped in a backwater town 9 hours from home with no car.... BastardsThat sounds like it is the story! Was there a rabid St Bernard as well?

[WickerMan]

The Abominable Doctor Whitehead:
[QUOTE]Was there a rabid St Bernard as well?No mate Rosie O'Donnell was in therapy that day.

[Coyote]

You can probably still sneak it in...Hastur's been sick with the crap I had 2 weeks ago, and can't focus to edit.

[WickerMan]

Don't feed Coyote after Midnight.:
You can probably still sneak it in...Hastur's been sick with the crap I had 2 weeks ago, and can't focus to edit.Ooh the poor thing, i hope she hasnt got a bout of the Eartha Kitts, not very pleasant. :D

[Unbreathless]

I think I'll just send it in later on.

Maybe I should write the story of my weekend....
Although it would probably just annoy everyone, like it annoyed me as it happened.

GOOD!

[Richard Dickson]

Don't feed Coyote after Midnight.:
You can probably still sneak it in...Hastur's been sick with the crap I had 2 weeks ago, and can't focus to edit.You know, I'm sure there are a couple of people here (myself included) who'd be glad to help with editing, especially now that there seems to be a veritable flood of submissions.

Not trying to step on anyone's toes, just a sincere offer of help.

[voltes5]

That's a good idea, Mr. Sinister. I'd like to offer my assistance as well if it's okay.

[Unbreathless]

free time is my new friend, but I've never edited other people's work. I'd like to help in any way I can though.