Muse Food – Judging Intelligence
We often talk about discovering intelligent life.
But what is intelligence?
Is someone who can memorize 1,000 facts more intelligent than someone who can take apart an engine and figure out how it works? Is a species that creates art while destroying their home more intelligent than a species that focuses on obtaining food while remaining in balance with the world around them? Is someone who can do complex math more intelligent than someone who easily learns languages?
What do YOUR characters believe intelligence is? And, by their own definition, are THEY intelligent?
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Muse Food – Clownfish And Fluid Identities
All clownfish are born male. When existing females die, however, they can change gender and become female.
Changing gender is a NATURAL thing. It happens in many species, including human.
And it could happen permanently or temporarily with your main or secondary characters, whether they are human or alien or other.
And if gender doesn’t have to be static, well, just about anything else regarding your characters can be fluid.
As long as it makes sense for their character arc and the story.
We have creative flexibility, my friends. Exercise it if the story needs it.
(smiles)
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Muse Food – Following The Line Of Sight
What is your point of view character looking at right now? What do they see?
Follow their line of sight, what they are focused on.
Are there beings in their view? Are they keeping, for example, their love interest in their line of sight at all times? Is there a color they notice? Does something in their field of vision remind them of something else? Does an object stir up emotion?
This might give you an insight into what they are thinking or feeling. And it might inspire future actions.
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Muse Food – The Presents We Give
Tis the season for giving and receiving presents or gifts.
(smiles)
The presents we give often say more about us than the presents we receive.
The Dear Wonderful Hubby, for example, loves to give food as presents because he loves feeding people. He loves taking care of his loved ones, ensuring they are okay at least food-wise. And he sees meals as a social event.
A protective hero, as another example, might give gifts that allow him to safeguard his loved ones. He’d give the car-free heroine limo vouchers so she never has to walk home in the dark. Or he’d give his warrior heroine a state-of-the-art shield to defend herself. Or he’d give his scientist heroine the best protective eyewear available.
What is your hero or heroine giving their loved ones?
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Muse Food – A Safe Place To Land
During the summer, I’d often find butterflies (like this Monarch) and bees resting on the zinnia flowers. Those flowers are fairly large, they have plenty of smaller petals to burrow into or hold onto, they are in the sun, they have a lot of pollen (i.e. snacks) and they feel…safe.
Does the main character in your story have a safe place? WHY is that their safe place? And what would happen if that safe place was taken away from them?
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Muse Food – Ledaal, Norway And Introducing Characters
Our first sight of Ledaal, a magnificent historical Royal home in Stavanger, Norway took our breaths away.
The long pathway, the framing of the trees, the gates (not shown in the photo), all of it was carefully designed to do exactly that. It wasn’t accidental. It was orchestrated to relay awe and wonder.
We, writers, should be as deliberate and careful when we introduce heroes and heroines and other key characters in our stories. First impressions are lasting impressions. And this is as true on the page as it is in real life.
How do you want your characters to be perceived?
Ensure a reader’s first meeting with them reflects that.
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Muse Food – Feathers, Rocks And Contrast
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I spotted this feather while we were trekking around Iceland.
The contrasts drew our gazes – the white against the dark, the softness of the feather against the hard, hard stone.
We, humans, have evolved to notice contrasts. It is a survival tactic. If something appears out of place, that something could be a threat…or an opportunity.
We notice it in stories also – the tall stern hero with the shorter smiley heroine, the gunfighter in a field of flowers, the kitten on the battlefield, the laugh at a funeral.
Use the power of contrasts to add interest and excitement to your stories.
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Muse Food – Guard Geese And Other Unlikely Protectors
(The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I spotted this guard goose in Iceland.)
When I was a kid, our family lived on what people would today call a homestead. We had geese on this plot of land and we would refer to them as our guard geese. These birds would chase away and peck the living daylights out of anyone foolish enough to come close to our property. They would protect themselves AND us.
Last year, in my current home, we had what we referred to as guard bees. Yellowjackets built a hive in our eavestrough by the front door. They knew the Dear Wonderful Hubby and me and would tolerate our presence. But lord help anyone else who dared to knock on our door.
(grins)
Unlikely protectors can intrigue readers, whether that protector is a guard goose or a dainty-looking, ladylike heroine or an easy-going hero who acts decisively when his loved ones are threatened.
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What Makes Characters Interesting
Writers tend to write about characters we find interesting (because we write for ourselves first).
Today on ARe, the Changelings are talking about what we find interesting about our characters.
http://www.arecafe.com/cafe-news/changeling-press-writers-talk-about-interesting-characters/
I’m talking about Sarge in Speed Demon and why I absolutely HAD to write his story!
By Cynthia Sax
Now Available From Changeling Press
My name is Officer Sargent, Sarge to friends and fellow police
officers. You might have heard some rumors about me, but they’re all
lies. I’m not gay. I’m not. The reason I watch my partner’s back is
because that’s what cops do; we watch out for each other. It has nothing
to do with his broad shoulders or trim hips or shapely butt.
My partner Nero is a demon, and he has a sick sense of humor,
tricking me into thinking things no straight man should ever think. I’m a
genetically enhanced supercop, and I can handle his devilish magic.
That is until the unthinkable happens.
Buy It Now At: http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1937
Buy It Now At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Protect-Serve-Speed-Demon-ebook/dp/B00B763GIE
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