Group Story: Tell-All Book

Every month, it seems that someone is spilling the beans about something – often in the form of a best-selling, tell-all book. True, it's usually a Hollywood celebrity or a former politician, but that doesn't mean the rest of us don't have salacious stories of our own.

So, let's put our heads together and create our own best-selling, tell-all book.

Characters, here's your chance to dish some dirt about your authors and the folks that share your worlds!

Authors, here's your opportunity to let it all out about your wayward creations!

(I'd suggest we keep it clean and polite – but where's the fun in that?)

What's Happening Now?

Two weeks ago, several characters offered a midweek update about their current lives – which, in turn, shed some light on their authors' current progress.

Now, it's time for another What's Happening Now? This is a chance for authors to share what's happening within their stories by speaking through their characters' unique voices.

So, let's hear it, characters. It's time to share your trials, your successes, your goals, whatever's on your mind at the moment – and hopefully, by revealing where you are in your story, you'll help inspire your authors to keep moving forward with theirs.

Remember, this is for characters only!

Getting to Know You: Career Change!

We all have very important jobs or roles we play in life. But is your current career the one you really want? Do you dream of other offers and bigger things?












If you could be doing something else, what would it be? If you love your job but were forced to give it up, what would you choose instead?

First Line Challenge

Are you ready to get your creative juices flowing?

I'll give you the first sentence of a famous novel, and your job is to turn it into a paragraph that is totally unique, and totally you!

Authors and characters are all welcome to attempt this little exercise. Let's see how many different perspectives we can create. As a bonus, try to guess the book that's being quoted.

(Incidentally, last week's opener was from The Ambassadors by Henry James.)

Okay, are you ready? Here we go!

The stranger came early in February, one wintry day, through a biting wind and a driving snow, the last snowfall of the year, over the down, walking from Bramblehurst railway station, and carrying a little...

Social Weekday: Winter Getaway

This winter has been unseasonably cold throughout the United States. Even the Florida Keys aren't as warm as they usually are. And whether you live in this world or another time and space altogether, you might be feeling the winter doldrums, too.


If so, it might be fun to chase away the cold with a winter getaway – perhaps to some place warm, lush, and tropical... perhaps an island paradise like St. Lucia in the Caribbean. There, we can frolic in the water, have a picnic, maybe even build a sandcastle.


So, pack your bags, leave your weapons behind, and let's enjoy some sun, sand, and relaxation together! Authors and characters are all welcome to join in the fun – just don't forget your sunscreen. And, if you're a creature of the night, never fear – the party will still be going well after the sun sets.

You and Your World: Prejudice

Are you the victim of prejudice in your world? If so, why? What do you do about it?

Have you witnessed others being discriminated against? Do you try to put a stop to such behavior?









Today, let's share our experiences with discrimination, whether against us or others.

First Line Challenge

Christine started this curious exercise in late November, and due to overwhelming enthusiasm, I've decided to keep it going...

So, are you ready to get your creative juices flowing?

I'll give you the first sentence of a famous novel, and your job is to turn it into a paragraph that is totally unique, and totally you!

Authors and characters are all welcome to attempt this little exercise. Let's see how many different perspectives we can create. As a bonus, try to guess the book that's being quoted.

Okay, are you ready? Here we go!

Strether's first question, when he reached the hotel, was about his friend; yet on his learning that...

What's Happening Now?

Last Friday, we discussed the future of Come In Character – namely, ideas for keeping the blog fresh and for inspiring the authors that visit.

First, I want to thank everyone for their wonderful suggestions – and for their desire to keep the site going.

Second, I'd like to introduce a new CIC feature. It's called What's Happening Now?, and basically, it's a midweek check-in for characters. This is a chance for authors to share what's happening within their current works-in-progress by speaking through their characters' unique voices.

So, let's hear it, characters. It's time to share your trials, your successes, your goals, whatever's on your mind at the moment. Perhaps you'd like to chat about the weather in your world, what you accomplished yesterday, what you're going through right now – and hopefully, by revealing where you are in your story, you'll help inspire your authors to keep moving forward with theirs.

Remember, this is for characters only!

(Of course, if that doesn't work, and authors simply can't resist sharing what's happening in their own worlds, we can work with that, too. We're nothing if not flexible.)

If You Could Be...

...anywhere right now, where would you be?











What would you do there?










And why?

Seeking Feedback About CIC!

Now that 2010 has dawned, it seems appropriate to share that Come In Character is undergoing some big changes. As you might have noticed, Mira – the creator of this wonderful site – has decided to pass along the reins to her fellow moderators.

So, I just want to take a minute to thank her for creating such a supportive haven for authors: a fun, entertaining place for them to find some inspiration and explore the facets of their myriad characters. I wish her the best in all of her future endeavors – and hope she'll stop by every now and again.

Christine, too, has decided to channel her creative energy into other projects, so I want to thank her also – not only for her incredible contributions to this site, but for inspiring me to get involved with CIC in the first place. I've really come to adore this site, which is why, in spite of my busy schedule, I've resolved to keep up with the blog for as long as possible. After all, I'm grateful for the respite that it offers – and I'd hate to see it come to an end.

Nevertheless, while Ann and I will continue to post, we might not be as consistent as we'd like. I hope that you'll still find some inspiration and amusement here – and with that in mind, I'd like to know what you appreciate best about the site. What features are your favorites? The forum games? The first line challenges? What?

Also, do you have any ideas for future posts? Something we're not doing now? Please let me know – I'm always in search of new ways to promote creativity and character development.

Thanks for your input!

Quote of the Day: Paul Sweeney

Don't ask me who Paul Sweeney is – I couldn't tell you exactly. All I know is that today is my ninth wedding anniversary, and I've been trying to find an appropriate quote to celebrate the occasion. Surprisingly, it turned out to be a rather daunting task – until, that is, I stumbled upon this quote by one Paul Sweeney...

A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance, and tenacity. The order varies for any given year.

Hilarious – and yet true – this quote got me thinking about anniversaries in general. Not just romantic ones, but all milestone markers: the anniversary of a particular career, a significant death, an important lifestyle change, or any momentous occasion that, in part, defines us authors and characters.

Do you celebrate any such anniversaries? If so, what?

(And, for goodness' sake, if anyone knows who Paul Sweeney is, please do share. I'm dying to know.)

Getting to Know You: Hobbies

We all have our regular jobs or daily activities that keep us fed and moving along in life. But what about hobbies?













Is there something fun and creative you do just for yourself, with no expectation that it will ever pay the bills?










Let's talk about the activities we engage in purely for our own enjoyment.










And if you've ever had a hobby turn into a job, tell us about that, too!

First Line Challenge

Are you ready to get your creative juices flowing!  I will give you a sentence (or sentences) from the opening of a famous book.  Your job is to turn it into a paragraph that is totally unique, and totally you!

Authors and characters are all welcome to try this little exercise.  Let's see how many different perspectives we can create.  Bonus points if you can tell me what book it comes from.


Okay, are you ready?  Here we go.

The island of Gont, a single mountain that lifts its peak above a storm-racked Northeast Sea, is a land famous for...