A.J. Lauer's Blog, page 21
April 24, 2013
Underling
They clipped my wings, and forever sealed my fate as an Underling. I was a servant to my Lord, most devoted. But some thought I was trying to rise too far. My beautiful wings, they said, might make people think I was above my Lord... so they destroyed them. They cut me and made my wings non-functional, and trimmed the beautiful ends off my feathers. It will take years to regrow them. My Lord does not seek me out as he once did; my lack of beauty offends him. Even my song does not sound so melodious, as my gestures do not flow with the music, and my body tells no story.
This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!
This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!
April 23, 2013
Time
Time had always kind-of resented her parents for giving her that particular name. Not only because kids at school had an easy time picking on her - "Hey look, it's potty-Time!" and "Can I be a Time Traveler? It won't hurt, I promise!" - but also because it gave her teachers ample fuel for calling on her - "Given your name, you must have thought about the impact on Time and xyz." Umm no, she hadn't actually. She tried not to think about it whenever possible.
In college Time started introducing herself as Ty. It saved her the pain of having to explain her name, and the inevitable "clever" jokes afterward. Under that guise she was finally able to really think about her name and its influence upon the world, and even herself. She began to wonder if her parents hadn't been on to something as she learned the true value of Carpe Diem and understood why people might want to travel back in Time to change things. Time slowly changed, and began to see herself differently. The more she reflected on her name, the more she cherished her parents, as she knew that her time with them may be limited.
She asked her father why they named her what they did and he said, "We were young, but just realizing our mortality. We hoped that you would learn to value every day and live your life to its fullest. Your name was also a reminder to us to value every moment we had with you as a child. It worked, and we hope that someday it will remind you of the same." Time determined that she would do her best to live up to her parents' hope, and once again began introducing herself with her full name. For those who would listen, she would tell her father's story. For those who made jokes, she took a moment to cherish their joy, for that was a happy moment in their time on Earth.
This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!
In college Time started introducing herself as Ty. It saved her the pain of having to explain her name, and the inevitable "clever" jokes afterward. Under that guise she was finally able to really think about her name and its influence upon the world, and even herself. She began to wonder if her parents hadn't been on to something as she learned the true value of Carpe Diem and understood why people might want to travel back in Time to change things. Time slowly changed, and began to see herself differently. The more she reflected on her name, the more she cherished her parents, as she knew that her time with them may be limited.
She asked her father why they named her what they did and he said, "We were young, but just realizing our mortality. We hoped that you would learn to value every day and live your life to its fullest. Your name was also a reminder to us to value every moment we had with you as a child. It worked, and we hope that someday it will remind you of the same." Time determined that she would do her best to live up to her parents' hope, and once again began introducing herself with her full name. For those who would listen, she would tell her father's story. For those who made jokes, she took a moment to cherish their joy, for that was a happy moment in their time on Earth.
This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!
April 22, 2013
Sam
Sam has these bright blue eyes that you'd swear never stopped sparkling. His dark curly hair, endless energy, and love of food makes a Hobbit costume strangely believable. Not that he's fat. He just likes to eat :) Also I don't think his feet are hairy. When he juggles a lot he could be Popeye - forearms grow larger with the exertion. Though juggling is not generally a useful skill for rescuing damsels in distress, his introducing me to it gave me a good extracurricular focus during school. Maybe not a full-on rescue, but certainly a flotation device. He taught me how to cook stir-fry and enchiladas. I fed the roommates chocolate chip cookies. It was a good arrangement. This week Sam is getting married to a lovely, fiery lawyer. She certainly doesn't need any rescuing. They compliment one another beautifully and I am so excited to get to go see them wed. Cheers and love to you, my friend!
(Ok this one isn't fiction. But I am feeling nostalgic, so there you go :) )
This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!
(Ok this one isn't fiction. But I am feeling nostalgic, so there you go :) )
This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!
April 20, 2013
Ringer
The man behind the counter stirred. (There are your six words! And how about some more?)
He’d been sitting perfectly still for over half an hour, the kneading of his powerful jaw the only sign of inner turmoil. The man stretched and looked around his shop. Nothing had changed. No one came to eclectic Baraway Lane when the weather was bad, and oh.. it was bad. It had been sleeting cats and dogs for three days keeping the buskers, and the onlookers, at bay. It was bad for business, but great for thinking.
It was three weeks since the girl had gone missing from Ringer’s shop. Vanished, into thin air. Leaving nothing but a smell of perfume and a phone receiver, swinging from its cord. That rhythmic swing haunted Ringer, taunting him in his dreams. Every lead he’d followed led to a dead end and even three days of thinking hadn’t left him with anything new to follow up on...
This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy! Ringer is a character I created last spring who is part of a work in progress.
This post also brought to you by..
April 19, 2013
Quentin
Querulous Quentin whines at the questions of Quinn. "Why must you be so quarrelsome? It's bad for my qi!"
A short entry, on account of the length of yesterday's P post. Go check it out! :)
This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!
A short entry, on account of the length of yesterday's P post. Go check it out! :)
This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!
April 18, 2013
Percy's Pick Your Plot Prequel
My co-author Daniel Keidl is joining me today to introduce you to Percy, who is a character from our book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot. Here we’ll follow him on some (obviously somewhat abbreviated) earlier adventures. This blog post works much like a Pick Your Plot adventure; click the link to follow the path you want Percy to take!
-o0o-
You, Percy Lewis (Parzival, for those in the know), are a dashing specimen of a high school boy. A bit taller than most of the other lads, with hazel eyes and an inquisitive mind that doesn’t miss much, you are aware of your impact on others. However few of the girls in the school hold your interest as none of them seem to appreciate the full weight of your hefty, Arthurian name. While many of your classmates seem to spend their time searching for one *ahem* Holy Grail or another, you are much more interested in your studies and preparing for a life of adventure.
Today is a heady spring day in your Junior year of school. The halls are abuzz with rumours and excitement surrounding the upcoming Prom festivities. You’ve heard your name whispered in a couple corners, but have thus far avoided paying too much attention, and certainly have not made any commitments. You weave your way through the hall between bells, debating how to spend the lunch hour.
Where do you head?
Feeling a bit more introverted...? To go to the Library to do some more research about your namesake, click here.
To make use of open campus and pop over to the Diner down the street, click here.
It’s giant cookie day! To head to the Cafeteria, click here.
This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!
April 17, 2013
Opie
Opie dances. Skirt swirls green around rhythmic ankles, making their own beat there.. where our paths cross. Hands and eyelids flutter, flirting with someone only she can see. Her brown skin shines with the inescapable joy of one who knows she is beautiful. She loves and is loved; by the earth, the wind and her invisible dance partner.. Swaying there on the corner, making love and sharing it with all who pass.
This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!
This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!
April 16, 2013
Nathan
I have short brown hair. My eyes are hazel and I guess you could say my nose is somewhat hawk'ish. I've always been thin. Never did beef up like I should have. My beard, when I grow it, is patchy. Got about four hairs on the left side that turned white in my twenties. A girl I dated in college said it was my wisdom poking out. Nowadays I stay shaved; never know how someone might react to seeing your wisdom out in the open like that.
This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!
This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!
April 15, 2013
MacMillan
MacMillan is a character in my book, Armageddon: Pick Your Plot. He doesn't get much facetime there, so I thought I'd give him a bit more description for y'all..
I spend a lot of time with dead people. In fact, I spend more time with dead folk than with the living. A lot of people find that creepy, but for me there’s something reassuring about being with someone who can’t talk back. It’s.. predictable. Mind you - the dead tell stories. Yes they do! Their bodies tell me all sorts of things - what they liked to do, what they didn’t like, in some cases where they’ve traveled or what kind of people they spent time with. But even the teenagers don’t talk back. That’s what’s nice, see. They tell their stories, but it’s at my own pace, bit by bit as I want to hear it.
Well that was always true, until the day.. the day that Mr. Kramer sat up on the table and came at me. He brought his story right over and chomped it into my arm. There was nothing I could do! It stung like hell, and then burned, and it spread through my body until I couldn’t see right. Now I’m one of them. My leg doesn’t work right anymore, neither does my head. All I can think about is going to find something to eat. Something human, something that moves.. We’re all stuck in the hospital basement, but I know that at some point that door is going to open and we’ll have access to an all you can eat buffet. Just gotta get past the others, just gotta keep pushing, just gotta find that warm, delicious flesh...
This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!
I spend a lot of time with dead people. In fact, I spend more time with dead folk than with the living. A lot of people find that creepy, but for me there’s something reassuring about being with someone who can’t talk back. It’s.. predictable. Mind you - the dead tell stories. Yes they do! Their bodies tell me all sorts of things - what they liked to do, what they didn’t like, in some cases where they’ve traveled or what kind of people they spent time with. But even the teenagers don’t talk back. That’s what’s nice, see. They tell their stories, but it’s at my own pace, bit by bit as I want to hear it.
Well that was always true, until the day.. the day that Mr. Kramer sat up on the table and came at me. He brought his story right over and chomped it into my arm. There was nothing I could do! It stung like hell, and then burned, and it spread through my body until I couldn’t see right. Now I’m one of them. My leg doesn’t work right anymore, neither does my head. All I can think about is going to find something to eat. Something human, something that moves.. We’re all stuck in the hospital basement, but I know that at some point that door is going to open and we’ll have access to an all you can eat buffet. Just gotta get past the others, just gotta keep pushing, just gotta find that warm, delicious flesh...
This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!
April 13, 2013
Liza
Liza turns, deeply wounded, envy green.
This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!
This post also brought to you by..
This month I am participating in the April A-Z Challenge! My theme for the month is ‘character development.’ Some days will be exercises from John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction, others will be profiles of characters from my book Armageddon: Pick Your Plot, and some will just be random characters I make up. I hope you enjoy!
This post also brought to you by..
