Revealing Sorena Daniels

I've been sick- sorry I haven't gotten to everyone's comments or posts- I'll catch up when I feel better- but I have this post ready.

Well I can't say Sorena is always a pleasure, I can tell you about our interactions, and she is true to her own heart, most of the time. We actually had a little arguement on Saturday over the way I want the story to go- but She will see things my way in the end.

Our conversation was pretty mild for the most part, She of course liked the name Sorena Daniels, we shifted a little on age, she wanted 22 but I explained 25 was better grounded for her personality. I've decided her cat, Olive, is  a sweet little calico. He purrs every time I want to pet him.

Sorena read a bit of my poetry as I wrote down a few notes on her black hair and her job at the Come "N" Go as a cashier. 
 We decided she has some anxiety with males- possibly commitment issues, but Sorena has neither confirmed or denied it. Go figure. We discussed a basic outline over her favorite food radishes dipped in salted butter and she gave me a short little inroduction to relate to all of you guys for her. So without further contemplation, I give you Sorena's letter:

 Dear Bloggettes andBloggents,


             I would have you know this woman is completely disrespecting my mothers grave! People can't go around digging up the dead! I don't want to see that! But Summer insists it must be in the story. I'm not even sure I want to know the man capable of this crime. She wouldn't tell me his name unfortunately. I guess I'll be over cautious then. I'm hoping if I can have her writing buddies on my side, then maybe she will see things my way, So will you please talk some sense into her for me? She doesn't seem to listen well, and Since I lost my temper Summer has decided we wont discuss it any more until I calm down. So it would be a great gift if you would tell her not to include grave robbing in this piece.

           Now that I have that off my chest I'll tell you what I would really love to do. I want her to make me a millionaire by drawing Fabulous book covers. Of course these wouldn't be any kind of book covers, I want my name to be the one everyone wants to do a book cover specially for. I want it whispered in societies ear, dropped into palms through notes at Presidential dinner parties, what ever it takes to make this dream come true. At the moment, I have a couple hand drawings that would work great for a number of books I've recently read. I've thought about even mailing the authors and asking if they would like to see a sample of my work.

       Anyway, sorry I get involved in my art, at the moment I work as a cashier, but with hope that will change. I don't have any men around though, I prefer to stay away from them. Whenever I get into a relationship I feel closed in and I hate being closed in, that whole fear of small places, well I not only get that in an elevator, but also inside a relationship. So I avoid them.  My best friend is my Dad, specially since my mother died three years ago in a car accident. I have nightmares every year on the day of her death. Though I can't really remember much about them. They do keep me awake all night.

Well I'll sign off now, as Summer is threatening to take her feather pen away from me if I don't. Pleased to meet you all and looking forward to making more letters for you in the next few weeks or days- Summer and I haven't actually agreed on which.
Have a good day,
S.D.
P.S. Don't forget about the grave robbing...

2 Blogfest entries!

I think I'm getting good at two blogfest entries at once!
 First up Elana Johnson has the Compelling characters experiment
and Second is Southern Cities Mystery Birthday blogfest

I don't think these are too long, so hopefully you can manage through both- Let me know how it turns out! 

The topic I am to discuss is: Writing Compelling Characters

First lets look at the details,

Voice Means everything not only to the writer, but also to the reader, and importantly to the character. If the said MC does not have a believable voice, then we wont rely on that Character for trust. And thus stop reading or give  a bad review.
 Do you trust your character?

Next how does the character react? If the MC does the exact opposite of what a reader "thinks" the MC should, then its less interesting. ****Unless there is  a specific reason the reader can relate to on why the MC is doing things this way.

Which leads me into...

 Does the MC relate to the reader on a personal level? If the MC can relate on a personal level to the readers, then we as readers are more compelled to "feel" for the character- either disgust or rooting for, or humiliation, comedy, any number of things as long as it reaches that readers emotional level.

Basically what it boils down to, is your character reacting in a human way? If not does the MC at least touch an emotion a reader can relate to?

Throw everything at your character until you can get the desired response and you will find what compels that character will be what compels the reader to read about the MC.

Now take what I have just said and apply it to my Birthday blogfest entry. We learn not only by seeing our own mistakes, but viewing it in others as well- so what are my character mistakes?

Birthday blogfest entry-

Elisa watched in amusement as bright green flip-flops flung a crossed the crowded room. Another feisty night at the bar was all it took to bring her stress level under control and let loose some of the irritation from the previous week. She thought of Randal’s fat face as the flying flops hit their mark in the white and brown banister across the table. At least twelve people had come to join in the Birthday  festivities of the night. Among them was Sara, the owner of the green winged flops.

“I can’t believe you hit it!” Chris exclaimed over the loud drumming music.

“Ha! Two shots down buddy!” Sara replied with a smile that lit her entire face and brought a spark to her blue eyes. Elisa watched Chris down two of the thirteen shots of Vodka sitting a crossed from them. His shaven face scrunched up as if he found a sour lemon and his adams-apple dropped the liquid down his throat. A familiar song hit the speakers and Elisa rose to the beat.

“Come on girls, its time to get our heels moving!” Elisa called out as she drug Sara and two others from the square tables shoved together. Her black leather boots slicked through the rugged carpet as drinks sloshed over rims in the mass of people charging to the dance floor.

Elisa swayed her hips and stomped her feet to the drums. She released her pent up frustration into the rhythm of the music. Each sway knocked out one sentence in Randal’s arsenal of vocabulary. Shots passed through the crowd, she downed a Jack Daniels then they all headed back to their corner tables.

“Elisa, watch out!” Elisa turned and slammed right into a tall burly man and drinks spilt down the front of her black blouse.

“Shit!” Elisa retorted to the spills as she looked down at her shirt reeking of beer. It never failed, beer always managed to be spilt at some point, this time it just happened to land on her.

“I’m sorry; you’re so short I didn’t see you coming through.” A gruff voice said to her right. Elisa looked up and hid her anger from his sight. Just her luck he would have to be cute, or maybe that was the alcohol talking? Either way, it’s only a bit of spilt beer she convinced herself.

“No worries man.” Elisa replied, blew him a kiss, and swayed the few steps back to the tables.

“He’s still staring…” Sara whispered in Elisa’s ear.

“Let him stare, if he wants me he knows where to find me, then I’ll give him what he deserves.” Elisa replied giving her friend a sweet smile that left complete doubt to the sweet part on any observing bystander.

Tuesdays "In their own words" Salina Fayn

My name is Salina Fayn. These nightmares Andy speaks of have been in my family for at least two generations. My mother, Alice, used to go on and on about them and the soul city. I stopped paying attention when I was 16. I met Andy's father Richard Fayn then and he helped me through my own nightmares and he helped me get into the doctor for sleeping pills.

 I knew I wanted a family when I fell for him, a home, and security. Everything my mother never had. My mother and I argued a lot about my role in this family. She wanted me to search out the city, but I wanted more. You know she actually called me selfish! Hell, selfish would be my mothers middle name. All she ever did was research for that damn city, for a nightmare. She should have been more of a mother. She should have been there for me like Richard was.

I used to believe my mom was crazy until Andy hit 15 and started having the same damn nightmares.I got her into my Doctor, I gave her sleeping pills to help her past them even, until one night she refused them. We haven't really communicated much since then.

Once she bought her own car, she was gone, off to different libraries doing research, just like my mom. I hated that we didn't talk, but I refuse to help her in this. I want better for her you know? Andy is so intelligent and could make a real good life for herself if she put half as much effort into it that she puts into this research. I keep hoping she'll meet some nice boy and come home, but my Andy has a mind of her own you know?
Don't get me wrong, I admire her determination, but I don't want to see her alone and crazy.

"In their own Words" Andaya Fayn

First Let me say "In their own words" was not an original idea from me, but it is a fun thing to do with characters. I give credit to piedmontwriter for this brilliant idea! and since I will be attending the Guess That Character Blogfest from Jen at unedited I thought I'd post some of my own characters to lead up to the blogfest (Which Jen has done also) I know, I know its not original, but it is amazingly fun and really brings you up close and persoanl with your characters. Thanks for the idea Ladies! Enjoy!

 My name is Andaya Fayn. Currently I reside in a mythical spirit city called Black Diamond City. My mother, bless her heart, advised me to leave the souls alone, but that's a huge stretch when they wont leave me alone. These nightmares were really getting to me until I came here.

I can't say I'm impressed with my current decisions lately, being chased by black monsters that slobber this rank smelling ooze and soul eating spiders isn't exactly fun times at the coffee house, but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do. Atleast I have friends in the graveyard and some really great claws. Did you know Black panthers are really private noble creatures? I have to ask their permission to use any of the abilities they gave me, but its pretty sweet when their claws fly out of my soul to attack!

I'm not sure of everything I'm doing, what I do know is there's a poem that's been stuck in my head for four years. It is evidently the key for me to save the souls trapped here. The nightmares, screams, and pain I feel with these spirits wont ever go away until I've completed the task. But it doesn't stop there, see if I don't succeed then the souls will follow down my bloodline until there is a female that will.