Elizabeth Guizzetti's Blog, page 34

Other Systems: Deleted Scene #1: The Quarrel

So last week I showed the Other Systems FAQ which included the question: why didn’t Harden fight more to get Abby off the ship.

As I said, there was an argument between Harden and Helen, but the scene was deleted from the 2nd draft because neither character was a Point of view character and there is no way for the two POV characters to know about this conversation. More importantly, while it is an interesting scene, it doesn’t explain anything that the reader doesn’t find out in other ways. Still I think people will enjoy it which is why I asked my publisher if I could show some of the deleted scenes from Other Systems. These scenes are actual full scenes, not just sentences or paragraphs which were pulled out of the novel. They have been self edited and looked at by the good folks in my writing group, but have not been edited by my editors at 48Fourteen as they are not part of the novel.

Lathos: a small tidal locked planet circling the red dwarf Kokadelfi. While Lathos has a breathable atmosphere, it does not have the bio-diversity to support long term human colonies.

However even this is a deleted scene and not in the book: it is still part of the Other Systems Universe and is copyrighted along side the book. (If you are wondering why I copyrighteverything: I learned to do that after I wrote Famine Lands the Carp’s Eye and then we released a digital copy with “extras.” Then I realized I had to copyright the short story as well as the extras. I ended up confusing myself and the nice people at Copyright Offices. Now I just do everything at once.)


Parental Warnings: Other Systems is an adult novel. Harden has a potty mouth and the scene discusses the dark side of the Kipos Immigration and Reproduction Laws. 


Spoiler Warning: This scene is about 1/3 the way through the book. So if you haven’t read it and do not want any plot points revealed do not read this scene. For those who have read the novel, you will see the first part of the scene and the medical exam have been rewritten from Abby’s point of view.

So if you still want to read it click on the link below and it will bring up a PDF.

Deleted Scene_Quarrel

I hope you like it!

Memories of Ray Bradbury

Ray Bradbury died on Tuesday. I neither feel sadness nor shock, he was 91 after all. Yet another tiny bit of my childhood has gone. See, when I was young, he was my friend and one of my mentors. Of course, he didn’t know that. We never met.

Imagine if you will, me as a young girl, probably about age 10, though I cannot say for sure, maybe I’m 11. I am about to leave the Children’s fiction area in the Sylvan Public Library and wander into the land of Adult Fiction. My mom is with my sisters looking at kids books and toys, but I am much too old for that now. I don’t remember if my brother is there, but he would have been 14 or 15 at the time, so he didn’t always come anymore.

I had (and still have) brown hair. I am sure  that I am ugly, since I don’t know within a few years, boys will start showing interest. I’m not a unpopular kid who gets picked on too much, but not popular either. My grades are  good, but I’m not spectacularly good in anything. I come from a fairly large extended family, and though I am well-loved, I often consider myself an outsider. I think I want to be a writer, but everyone always makes jokes about it.

The Sylvan Library is one of the bigger libraries in the Kitsap County System. (Though small compared to the massive libraries of Seattle which I am now used to.)  There was still an old-fashions card catalogue, but I tended to use the double row of biege computers and had tiny golf pencils and slips of paper beside them.  Plastic and metal chairs surround tables and the independent reading stations which are made out of mdf covered with an oak veneer. The short rough brown carpeting.

One of the first authors who I discovered was Ray Bradury. I think I recognized the name, maybe my brother mentioned it, I don’t know why out of the many books there, my finger stopped on his.

I do remember while checking out, being asked by the librarian, “Who told you what to look for?”

My response was something to the effect: “Nobody, I just picked these books up. They are cool.”

I think she agreed with me, but maybe she was just happy to see us three girls (and maybe our brother) with a mom who cared enough to bring her kids to the library every few weeks in the summer.

I wish I had the vocabulary back then to explain that I had sat down on the floor and already scanned a few stories. And within a few thousand words, I cared about the characters and their situations which Bradbury portrayed. He wrote things that were terrifying and exciting. Technology was always part of the work, but it was never at the expense of the characters. But ultimately he could burn an image into my mind with prose.

And 25 years later, I can still remember the images.

The first time I read There Will Come Soft Rains. I remember seeing a vision of the outline on the house of the dead family–especially the little boy and girl playing with the ball. I put myself in the place of the little girl and imagined it was my ashes that stained the wall with my brother and sisters. The image remains in my mind to this day. I kept hoping the story wouldn’t end the way it did. That the kids would miraculously reappear, that no one was dead, but they were. In a story published 26 years prior to my birth, I saw death. And the fear of what a nuclear war might really look like. In this way, war became something more than the bunch of dates they kept trying to get us to remember at school.

I remember crying for Margot in All Summer in a Day.  Maybe its growing up in the Pacific Northwest and having days upon days of rain, I wept because I felt like I had locked her up and made her miss the sunshine.

I could go on, but the point is that Ray Bradbury, while truly a master at writing short fiction, was more than that to me. Along with many other writers who did not write for children, he  was a friend of my childhood. He inspired me to stretch my imagination and not fear writing about the dark sides of just about anything and everything. After all, he wrote dystopic science fiction long before it was popular.

 

 

Other Systems FAQ so far!

So these are Frequently Asked Questions by the feedback I have gotten from my novel Other Systems. These questions and  answers are also found at the FAQ on the Other Systems Website.

What inspired you to create Other Systems?

Other Systems was inspired by the Kepler Missions alongside many other factors. First of all, I tend to be interested in groups of people that encourage camaraderie and I like ships (both space and sea-faring) so I knew I wanted to write a book with a ship in it. Secondly, I was stuck with FamineLands 3 and wanted to do something really different. Thirdly, I find the idea of time dilation and how it effects families really fascinating. Finally, I wanted to write a book that my husband would really like and he’s a big science fiction fan.

Who did the artwork? (Cover and Act Breaks)

I did. I started doing some artwork for the website, then the publisher liked it so much, she asked me if we could use it for the book. This was one of the fun things about working with a small press publishing company.

Do you identify with any of the characters?

Unfortunately, yes. I identify with all the characters at one point or another during the writing of a novel. By the second draft, all the primary and secondary characters start speaking to me even if they are not a point of view character.

Why did you choose to tell the story with the two characters Abby and Cole?

Abby was always the main character, but originally Cole’s parts were told by Harden and Helen. However when I looked over their chapters they all were repeats of Abby chapters just from their view points or they were too introspective. Since they did not add forward momentum to the plot ultimately they had to go. I loved the Prologue from Harden’s perspective, but it was so angry and emotional that it was hard to understand what was going on in the plot. The other reason I used Cole as the narrator is he looks at all three of his kids, the fleet and Kipos whereas Harden is focused upon himself and Helen is focused on protecting her brothers, running the ship, and everything else she has to do. Mark was never considered, but there is issues with his age. He starts the book at 6 and ages to 26, but he was certainly too young in the beginning to understand what is going on and during the Cole chapter between the first and second act, he would be focused on his self.

Also while Abby grew up on Earth and ages seventeen through nineteen during the course of the novel, Cole was is an adult. He was raised in the fleet and begins the novel already a father of three. The difference in their perspectives is literally astronomical.

This is how I envisioned Abby. Mixed race adolescent girl: Asian and Caucasian. long black hair, dark eyes.
(Model: Jessica Brown who also stars in the trailer)

Is Abby (or go ahead and insert your favorite character here)

based off you?

No. I will admit at times, however I do give my characters little bits of myself in order to make them feel more real. For example: Abby loves Thai or honey milk bubble tea. I didn’t bother going down to my favorite tea house and checking out the menu to pick something out for her, I just gave her my favorite flavors. (However she likes boba in hers, I do not.)

As I said, Abby begins the book at seventeen, she identifies with her maternal ancestry Chinese side more than her paternal Scottish heritage. I am just an an average thirty something white lady. So nope she is not me.

(SLIGHT SPOILER  IN THE NEXT QUESTION–IF YOU DO NOT WANT ANSWERS TO ANY PLOT POINTS DO NOT READ THE NEXT QUESTION and ANSWER! FORGET THAT YOU KNOW HOW TO READ! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!) I totally understand why Helen took Abby in, but why didn’t Harden fight more to get rid of her?

Now, this is a funny question, because I actually originally wrote this scene. However it was cut very early in the 2nd draft (of 7) since Harden and Helen were no longer point of view characters.

However the other more pressing story-telling problem is that the argument is repetitive of the next chapter when we see Cole and Harden discussing Abby’s employment. Also by this point in the book, the reader already knows Harden loves his family and while Helen is second in command, she runs the ship in regards to personnel. So the argument really didn’t add anything new to the story.

(SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT IS OVER, YOU MAY CONTINUE READING!!!)

Alright so that’s my FAQ so far, f you have any other questions let me know and I will answer them on the website as well as here.

Author’s Life: Where I work

So some people wonder where I work. Unfortunately I have unexcited news for everyone. I do most of my writing work on my living room couch. I have a laptop and I like to sit with my dogs and the same room as my husband.

This is normally my spot to work on the couch, however if I am not there, Tycho believes this is his spot.

While I also attend a writing group on Tuesday, I do not really work there as much as throw out ideas and get feedback.

I work on drawings also on the couch, I finish artwork in my  bedroom closet. I do not have a true office and though at times I would like more storage, being in a public part of my small condo, keeps me with my family.

Flash Fiction: Wiped

Wanting to try something a little different, I would like to share some of my shorter works on the blog

So here goes the first one. I wrote this story after I realized that Dennis had emdued himself into my soul and I will never be rid of him.

Wiped

Written by Elizabeth Guizzetti (aka me!)

 

“I want you to get rid of my fiancé.” I tell the man behind the faux granite counter as I pull out my medical card. “You take insurance?”

The man glances up from his computer. “No ma’am, an extraction is considered elective surgery…”

“Elective? Are you kidding? I got to get him out of my head,” I say.

The man glances nervously at someone behind me. I feel the presence of a security guard edging closer, wondering if I am going to cause a scene. “Ma’am, insurance only pays for it if a licensed psychologist writes you a prescription and only in cases of PTSD.”

I decide not to be surprised by this. My insurance will pay for a psychologist. I thank the man and leave.

*

Within two hours, I sit on a chair with Hugh Daniels MD, PsyD leaning towards me. He smokes by the smell of him. He calls me Samantha and tells me I can call him Hugh if that makes me more comfortable.

“I want a brain wipe.” I say though it’s a betrayal of our past love to lose Jack this way.

He looks at my form. “Samantha, the extraction of memories isn’t a simple process and shouldn’t be approached lightly. Why do you hang on to Jack?”

I say, “I threw all his shit away, but he’s infused into our house. I’m upside down in my mortgage, but I can’t move. I can’t sleep on the bed anymore.”

“Then buy a new bed, it is cheaper than an extraction,” Hugh says.

“I cut myself.” Trying to prove it, I show him where I sliced open my hand with the kitchen knife.

Now I have Hugh’s attention. Though not for the cutting, he knew I was lying. He started with a “Now Samantha,” and spoke gently about my fixation on the brain wipe.

“I need Jack out of my head. I can’t move on.”

“It’s been five years since the car accident. I want to get married and have a family before its too late. I’m thirty-four now. If I wait much longer, I won’t be able to have children.”

“Why can’t you move on, Samantha?”

I decide I hate the way that Hugh says ‘Samantha.’

“I love him…now no one measures up.”

“You still grieve for him,” Hugh says.

Of course I do.

Hugh nods. “How about we set up another appointment?”

I agree to Thursday.

*

Thursday is more of the same. I repeat my story. Some stressed-out commuter side-swiped us. Jack never regained consciousness, but lived on for six agonizing days. Hugh tells me my heart is wounded and unclean wounds fester.

I talked about how his family was supportive at first. Then they lost touch. My family wonders why I still don’t date. Yes, I got rid of Jack’s things.

Hugh suggests I enter group therapy. I have been to a group! It just made me angry. Hugh says to try another one. He gives me the names of some free grief groups in my area. I promise I’ll go.

Every three days, I beg for a brain wipe and recount how Jack haunts my steps.

“How does Jack haunt your steps?” he asks.

“I can’t sleep on his side of the bed or put stuff in his drawers. It feels like a betrayal. It feels like…” I yammer on about my lack of closet space until the day Hugh writes me a prescription.

*

At the faux granite counter, I fill out the proper forms. I sign my privilege to sue away. Yammering about the weather, a woman in purple scrubs escorts me to a sterile room. I lie down upon a narrow examination table. She asks if I would like a blanket as she loads a syringe.

I cringe at the injection. Then drift into slumber.

I wake up. The woman in scrubs hands me a small glass of water. My hand shakes as I take a sip.

“Name?” she asks.

“Samantha Anderson.”

“What do you do for a living?”

“Administrative assistant.”

“How many fingers am I holding up?”

“Two.”

The woman escorts me to the front room. I sign out.

She takes me to the street and hails a taxi. For the first time in five years, I feel lighter though I do not know why. I am Samantha Anderson who is an administrative assistant, but I’m lost. My home is missing from my mind. The woman tells the taxi driver where to take me.

I look on my license. The address concurs with what the woman just said. I remember it normally costs $7 to get up the hill. I pull out a $10.

*

This place makes no sense. Samantha Anderson lives alone and yet everything seems to be ready for another person.

A large bed and a ten drawer dresser. I turn towards the dresser. On the top left drawer are folded panties and socks. These are mine. I recognize them. Then I open the right top drawer. It is empty.

Below on the left is full of t-shirts and jeans, below on the right is empty.

The closet is also odd. The clothes are a size 8, the shoes 7.5. They are mine and yet something is wrong. It is just the strange way the space is set up. The right side is empty.

In the bathroom, the toothbrush is purple. The hairbrush is a woman’s. There is a box of tampons and a bag of pads. Hand cream and night cream. Makeup. However there is an empty shelf in the medicine cabinet. I don’t seem the type to have many houseguests and even if I was that still doesn’t explain the dresser in my bedroom.

Weird. I pick up the tweezers and stick them on the empty shelf half-expecting a vortex to the underworld is going to open up. That doesn’t happen. Nothing happens. I decide to leave them there.

*

Two months later, I receive a letter from my insurance company. My claim has been denied. I have to pay it out of pocket. $55,000. Damn.

As I signup for monthly payments of $100, I wonder what hurt me so bad that I was willing to risk a brainwipe and the accompanying debt, which will take a lifetime to pay.

(Wiped: copyright Elizabeth Guizzetti 2012. First electronic publication, May 28, 2012.  All characters are works of fiction. Any likeness to real people or evidence are coincidence. Be Honest. Please do not take my work as your own.)

May 26th Star Party

So my regular star watching buddy went to her folk’s house this weekend and it was such a nice clear night, I decided to head out to Seattle Astronomer Society’s Star Party at Greenlake. They have a monthly public free event.

I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, but everyone was really welcoming.  I had just started approaching when this guy named Peter said, “Want to look at the Moon?” And let me look through his telescope.

There were three telescopes set up and I saw the craters of the moon with much more detail than I can get with my celestial binoculars. I saw Mars which really wasn’t much to look at which surprised me because it is so close to Earth. In my binoculars it looks like a orange fuzzy dot, and in the telescope, it just looks like a fuzzy orangish ball.

The highlight of the night was Saturn. I could see the rings plus two of his moons: We figured one was Phoebe, weren’t sure about the other one, but hey Saturn has over 50 moons (and counting) and we are a bunch of amateurs.

We were in Seattle so due to light pollution and haze distance objects were not as bright as I have gotten used to looking at them up in North Bend. Aphids and mosquitos were everywhere, but what was awesome about all the bugs were the bats flying overhead.  Dang, those little guys can fly.

Writing a story versus just setting a scene

I got a rejection letter today for one of my short stories. Since I’m feeling rather blue, I’m going to write a blog post about something that really ticks me off. Call me old fashioned, but I like a story in the novels I read as well as movies I watch. A story has a set up, a middle, and an end. It has a main plot and often subplots that give us closure. We should walk away feeling satisfied.

Lately it seems, I have been reading more than a few pieces of fiction that has no plot.(I am concerned with hurting any small time independent authors, so I will talk about someone who won’t be hurt: George R.R. Martin.)  When I read Dance with Dragons, I had no idea why anyone was doing anything, there was a new character I didn’t give a crap about. All it felt like was a place holder for the next book. I read it almost a year ago and it still just pisses me off.

I’ve seen it lately in films too. I just watched We need to talk about Kevin (2011)  Note: apparently the book explains more than the movie does and I am talking about the movie. It seemed like a family character sketch. Dad was such an idiot, he looked the other way as Kevin becomes more and more vicious. We saw Mom take him to the doctor, but this is a middle class family. And I am supposed to just believe that in 15-16 years of his life, she didn’t go to counseling once? That a counselor or whoever would  look the other way. That his teachers, guidance counselors, etc would look the other way? And even if they did. Mom didn’t take her daughter out of that house the moment she found the dead guinea pig or hell even after Kevin poured drain cleaner on his little sister. Are you freaking kidding me?

But beyond the mistakes of the parent’s: why was I ultimately unsatisfied?

BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLOT!!! And what little plot there was got mixed up because the out of sequence storytelling.

We have no idea why Kevin does anything that he does. We don’t know why he is an angry kid. Even at the end, we do not know.

In another family drama, Denise DeSio‘s Rose’s Will (which I reviewed last fall) there was a plot. Mom and daughter don’t get along. Daughter goes off and makes her own life… Younger Son stays home and takes care of mom…. Stuff happens, then we get closure on the plots and subplots. I feel satisfied and write a good review!

I tend to love reading Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Joe Hill, Tanya Huff because they are all masters of the plot.

So to sum up: all stories should have a plot line. If you are writing and lose your plot, then you will lose interest of the readers.  I don’t care no matter how many interesting characters are in the story if they are not doing anything or making such stupid decisions that it becomes unbelievable, the reader will walk away unsatisfied.

Thank you for reading…I am sure my next post will be much more happy.

Seven things you can do to help support any author in your life! Especially me!

Have an author in your life? Here are seven things that anyone can do!

1) Buy and read the book! Trust me, it’s not the money. Every new author wants their family/friends to be excited about the project they worked so hard on. Some people talk about the rejection that authors face from publishers and agents; but the real heart-wrenching stuff came after I was published. It was the rejection from friends and family that shredded my innards into tiny little pieces of invisible pain.

Heck, even if the book isn’t the genre you prefer, give it a go. You might be pleasantly surprised–or you might not be. That’s okay. If an author has gone through professional editing, they probably can take a little constructive criticism–especially if it was something that makes our next books stronger. That doesn’t hurt.

What hurts is to find out someone you consider a dear friend tells you upfront they are not going to buy your book because “they don’t see the point,” especially when not only two weeks earlier, the same person paid $23 to see a play with the remark, “Oh I didn’t really want to see it, but [insert friend's name] was in it.” Don’t they get it’s exactly the same thing? To answer my own question: No, obviously they don’t. Boy, does that feel good to get off my chest.

2) Okay, maybe you don’t want to reject your friend, but just don’t have the money. If you are a member of your local library in good standing, request the book from your local library. Generally all you need Title, Author, ISBN, Publisher

For example: Title: Other Systems

Author: Elizabeth Guizzetti

Publisher: 48Fourteen.

ISBN: 978-1-937546-01-4

So borrow it and read it.

3) As many book websites, Other Systems has a FAQ, Facebook page, etc. This “extra content” is part of the writing gig now a days. So send a question about the book or a character or what ever and generally they will put it up–as for myself–I definitely will.

4) Are you a member of a book club? Suggest your favorite authors’ book possible reading material.

5) Host a reading or other book related event.

Personally, I am so excited about this possibility, not only will I come prepared to read to you from the first act or answer questions, I will bring homemade cupcakes. (Assuming this is an event in the greater Seattle area.)

Or if you can’t host, but find out that they are having a reading, show up, pay attention and if the QA begins to falter, ask a thought provoking or at least intelligent question.

6) Since e-books are becoming more popular, many publishers are publishing e-books first–especially with new authors. If you aren’t into e-books, let the publisher know! Tell them you want to see the book in print, because if there is a demand, it is likely to be printed.

7) If you enjoyed the novel, tell all your friends about it. If you don’t have any friends interested in the genre, write a review. Any fair to good to great review is an important review for a beginning novelist. Post reviews on Amazon, Good Reads, or Barnes&Noble.

So there you have it. Seven things you can do to help support the author in your life.

Character Creation Part 3: Pets (aka Cats in Space!)

Sometimes having a pet either as window dressing or as a character can enliven the person.  How people treat animals does tell you a lot about them as well as their culture. Now when I am referring to pet, I am specifically referring to a non-sentient life form that lives with and cared for by a sentient life form.

So to write a pet character, you need to figure out: Species? Physical description? How are they treated? Do they have a job? Like any character, they need to serve a purpose in the story.

In Other Systems, there are a few pets mentioned. I will go in detail about Rockford.

Species and Physical Description: Rockford (Rocks) is a massive gray and white spotted domestic house cat. While dogs went extinct on Kipos, cats lived on due to their smaller size and independent nature especially aboard the Fleet.

Life Style: The humans on the Revelation consider him Diane’s cat in the sense that Diane wanted a cat, picked one up, now feeds, waters, cleans up his litter box.

However, Rockford considers The Revelation his domain and the crew his servants. He is benevolent. He gives preference to the Human called Diane who feeds, waters, and cleans up after him. He also gives preference to any Young Human as they tend to play with him. During the day, he wanders around the living quarters of the Revelation and pushes his scent glands on whoever is not working. While he does consider Diane’s bed a favorite resting spot, he also has his own cat-sized billet (Humans refer to it as a closet) with his toys and a scratching/climbing area and his litter box where he can retire until his special skill set is needed.

Employment: (No, they do not have a rodent problem.)

First of all, he is an excellent judge of character.

Secondly, when people are having a bad day and don’t want to deal with the hardship and the blackness of space, or just the annoyance of other human beings, Rockford is willing to cuddle while they watch vids. He also likes to play fetch with his stuffed fish and he likes to bat at pieces of fabric. He knows humans find it soothing when kitties purr.

Now you might not think this is an important job, but then you have never dealt with the black emptiness of space or a contained environment where you are stuck with the same people day after day.

Other ship’s cats in science fiction that make a huge difference in people’s lives…

When Ripley is about to blow up the ship on Alien, she hears Jonesy on the com system and rescues him. Why? She is emotionally distraught (as her crew has been killed or impregnated by the Alien) but rescuing the cat and taking care of him, calms her down and allows her to continue doing what she needed to do to escape.

On Star Trek: TNG Data had a cat named Spot. She is a couple different episodes, but she is finicky in food and friends. He creates a poem in her honor and in the Season 7 episode 19  Genesis, she and her kittens saved the crew.

And on the funny side of things: Red Dwarf, Lister smuggles a pregnant cat, Frankenstein, on board and has to go to stasis for 18 months, but after a radioactive disaster, he comes out 3 million years later. Frankenstein safely hidden in the hull has her kittens and the kitten’s progeny evolves into a somewhat-sentient cat race.

So Rockford goes boldly–okay, okay, he goes with hedonistic laziness– where at least three other cats has gone before…

Jax says: “Petting will not mollify me! I could be a space adventurer if you hu-mans would get your act together and build me a ship!”

Character Creation: Part 2

Like many authors, I do keep a character Bible and I fully admit there are lots of ways to write character descriptions, but this is how I do it. First of all a character description should take no more than an afternoon –maybe two. If you are spending months writing backstories, sorry but you’re wasting time you should spend working on your novel.

Step 1: who is this guy/gal? And what purpose do they serve in the story. If you cannot answer this question: this person is not a character to your novel.  If they are just a waiter or the delivery person, you need to decide if they are important enough to even have a character sheet.

So I am going to show you how I built Harden Alekos in Other Systems. (Note: there are no spoilers here, everything that fact that the description says you discover in the prologue!!!)

So I needed a ship’s captain. While I did consider making it a middle aged female, I ultimately chose to make him a middle-aged male due to the fact, I wanted a lot of tension  between this character and the protagonist who is a young female.

Step 1:  Physical Description 

World Facts for Other Systems: Due to gene modification and therapies there is three separate species of human on Kipos. While some people have facial features that might show ancestry, nearly everyone of all three species of human has tan skin, brown or black hair, etc. Eyes in shades of Gold, Hazel, Brown, Black common. Blue eyes extremely rare. Green eyes extinct in Homo kiposi and the Homo garo, recessive gene in Homo khlôrosan.

Now back to Harden who is a Homo khlôrosan.

Species specific description:  Tan skin with embedded microscales. Gold eyes, Nearly no body hair except of heat centers (top of head, genitals, under arms.)

Personal description: Tall, but slender. Wiry. Due to body type and the way he smiles, he reminds people of his mom. Slouches. He has scars. Paternal Ancestry (on Earth): Greece, Maternal: French and English.

(To get an image in ones mind: Adrian Brody in Splice or if you are local to Seattle: Sam at Mr. Gyros.)

Clothing: On ship: coveralls over a t-shirt, on leave: coveralls over a t-shirt. Only times he dresses up is for off-ship dinners. Slacks, and a button down shirt and a jacket. No jewelry or tie. His underwear choices are not applicable for my story, so I don’t worry about it.

Step 2: Naming Once I know what they look like and their ancestry, I begin the naming process which I described last week.

Step 3: Character Description: Introverted. Has trouble relating to new people, doesn’t know how to make small talk. In social situations, he leans heavily on others. Loves puzzles. Social drinker, sometimes likes to have a beer when coming off duty, but never drinks to excess.

Education: Doctorate in Physics and Engineering

Job: Planetary Survey Team. Age when protagonist comes into his life: Early 40′s

Virtues: Loyal, honest. Loves his crew/family.

Vices: nearly constant swearing, can’t quite give up smoking.

Step 4: Relationships: Parents: Cole Alekos and Rosemary Finch. Raised by Mom, but after parents separate, she is a radio transmission. Loving, but slightly cold relationship with Dad

Siblings: Sister, Helen (originally -14 months) also due to the solitary lifestyle of space explorers: she is his closest friend.

Brother Mark (-15 years) He loves his little brother, but they only become close after Mark becomes an adult.

Offspring: Sterilized. Only offspring terminated in the womb.

Romantic Relationships: Primarily Heterosexual (though like most fleet brats he enjoyed bi-sexual experimentation in his late teens and 20′s.)

Okay, now while I think things like favorite music or color is irrelevant (except when it is relevant to the story) there are a few important things you can ask yourself and afterwords you will always know how the character will behave.

Step 5: Important Questions: 

How does he get out of trouble?

Intelligence. never violence.

Relationship Trail with Protagonist:

Since this would give away a subplot for Other Systems, I am not going to answer this, but all writers should think about it. Every single relationship has a trail it follows. Not only will it help with character interactions, it is generally a subplot to the story.

To write a relationship trail consider:

First Reactions to  the Protagonist
Protagonist’s first reaction to character
Major events that turn each character toward or away from each other

An easy romantic example is the “classic boy meets girl”, boy and girl falls in love, boy loses girl, boy gets girl again and they get married and live mostly-happily ever after.

An easy non-romantic example: When I was born, I needed my mother to nourish and protect me. When I became a little girl, my mother still had to nourish and protect me, but now was also the loving authority in my life. She had to teach and make decisions for me too. As I grew older I got more freedom along with more responsibilities. I fought her, but she never stopped being my mom. When I moved out, we became friends. It is possible that someday our roles will revert if I became injured and could no longer take care of my self or reverse as she ages.

So there you have it. An afternoon of work and I have a full fledged character and at least one subplot figured out. Woot!

For the other writers, out there, what other things do you find useful for building your characters?