Robert C. Day's Blog, page 59

By The Harbour

“Look – she’s there again!” Ruth nodded her head towards the woman sitting on an upturned bucket by the harbour.

“Where?”

Although they had seen her that morning, Ken did not spot her at first, blended as she was into her surroundings. Her dress was the colour of concrete, shoes as browned as brick. The mustard shawl she wore over her rounded shoulders and head blended perfectly with the rusty yellow bollard beside her. The stone blocked, twice repaired, thrice repointed bridge rising imposin...

how to learn from stories

How to Learn From Stories

How long is the short story or novel? Are there chapters? Sections? Parts? If it’s a short story, how is it structured? When and where is it set, do/how do these things appear to matter, and how are they conveyed? From whose point of view is the story being told? Is it the story of one, or more than one of the characters? Is there dialogue? If so, what does it contribute to the story? What does it tell you of the characters? Is the language modern, plain, elaborate,...

editing your story

Electrifying England (second draft)

I hurtled through the skyat rather too many miles per hour, decidedly closer to the stars than I wanted to be, and to add to that – I was freezing!

It was a night flight and after the obligatory – almost tasty, almost identifiable meal, the cabin was darkened and blankets deployed. Solitary pools of light stood starkly against the dimness as readers made their sleeplessness known. I tried to drop off too, but even with my sweater, socks and an extra blanket...

starting to write your story

Character Profile

Physical/biological:
age – 38
height –5ft6in
assets –largechest
flaws –skinny legs
sexuality – hetero male
gait –stride
voice –deep.

Psychological:
intelligence –slightly above average
temperament –skittish
happiness/unhappiness –pre to mood swings
attitudes –knows it all but doesn’t
self-knowledge –flashes of insight occasionally
unconscious aspects –deep reservoir of peace with huge continents of war.

Interpersonal/cultural:
marital status – single
profession – lawyer
fami...

ideas and techniques for working on your story

Nice little checklist for writing stories:

Use your notebook to build ideas for your character. Build a profile or outline for your main character using some of the suggested headings. Consider all the influences that go into the making of your character: age, gender, race, nationality, marital status, religion, profession. Get to know about your character’s inner life: what they want, think, remember, resent, fear, dream, deny. Get to know about your character’s behaviour, what they wear, b...

getting to know your characters – the hybrid duck

Me? I don’t got no feelings. After all – I’m just a duck. I waddle and quack, pretty much the same as any duck does.

But if I did have feelings they would go from stupid funks to impotent rages. I’m a duck. What else can I do? Yeah, yeah- waddle and quack – I know.

If a stupid funk came over me I would just sit and brood – probably over my brood. I lays lots of eggs. They’re magic eggs though – they disappear at dawn – poof – magic!IfI was lessof aduck I’d call that sarcasm.If I was less of a...

building a new character – a hybrid duck

A Hybrid Duck

Physical/biological:
age – 38
height – 3ft 6in
assets – 36DD
flaws – superiority complex
sexuality – oh yes – very much yes
gait – a waddle
voice – quackish.

Psychological:
intelligence – stoopid
temperament – kind
happiness/unhappiness – happy
attitudes – impatient
self-knowledge – little
unconscious aspects – reincarnated priest.

Interpersonal/cultural:
family – large brood
friends – foxes
colleagues – no work
birthplace – farmyard
education – school of life
hobbies – quacking...

talking about characters – the sketch and the story

Character Sketch

name: Jack
nationality: Catalonian
predisposition: Dark and Moody
physicals: Stocky and tall with a massive moustache and hairy feet
eating habits: Loves bananas with a salsa dipand eats 5 per meal, four times a day
characteristics: Interrupts people when they are speaking and doing, wants to be more caring, drinks more than he should, can’t stand hanging around waiting for someone to sketch him – wants to jump straight in the story!

Character Story

“Dagnamit – enough of the...

character sketch – dark howl

He was a dark howlfrom the shadows withseething face and piercing eyes. Herevelledas women shrank from his stare and scornedthe eyes thatreturned to his – fearful yet fervourous.

Ten pm at the market – scanning shelves for fresh meat. Tanned andtoned in tight, white shirt, he panthered towards her through serengeti streets.

Doe eyed andgazelled, inshort skirt and tight top atop balcony bra – she was food, drink and pure prey to his predator mind.A word, a headlight smile and she was under th...

considering characters (the discussion)

Q. What sorts of stereotypes did you use?
A. Two wooden penguins, a spider plant, a crumpled up tissue 20% full of snot and a coaster made of bamboo. Oh, wait a minute – I misunderstood – the stereotype you refer to is a chocolate bar. Specifically M&S Swiss Chocolate (Extra Fine Milk).

Q. What sorts of methods did you and other writers use to make the character go against expectations?
A. Well here’s the thing – most chocolate bars are just there for the eating or, if you’re feeling that way...