Author-Character Chat: Secrets

Secrets.

We all have them. We even have them from each other.

And ourselves.

So, what are your secrets?

Authors: What would your characters be surprised to know about you?

Characters: What is it that even your author doesn't know.....or won't admit they know?

Let's tell.

Let's get it all out in the open.

The truth shall set us free, right?

So, let us know. We all want to know. What are your....

SECRETS?

Author-Character Chat: Zombie Writers

Today we are going to discuss a common malady called "writing zombie-ism." The Zombie Writer is recognizable by a number of clear symptoms:

1. Walking stiffly, as a result of spinal compression due to sitting most of the time

2. Clenched hands, which have become gnarled from using a pen or keyboard for countless hours

3. A perpetually glazed expression, and the tendency to speak in monosyllables, if at all, in response to well-meaning attempts at conversation. This is due to the fact that the zombie is not actually present with the speaker, but is living inside his or her imaginary world

4. The tendency to mumble to himself or herself while performing mundane tasks. See above.

5. An unkempt appearance, including rumpled clothes and wild hair, as a result of rushing to his or her desk immediately after waking, and then subsequently losing all track of time.

6. The tendency to eat nothing for long periods of time, and then suddenly be overcome with the urge to eat, at which time s(he) either empties out the refrigerator, or orders and consumes an entire large, deluxe pizza

7. The tendency to prowl around at night, unable to sleep but also too exhausted to write, resulting in daytime sleepiness, paleness and optical sensitivity.

8. Lack of communication with family and friends, until said family and friends show up on the doorstep wanting to know if the zombie writer has fallen and can't get up.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Are you a zombie writer?  If so, how is that working out for you?  Are you making progress on your manuscript, or do you feel as if you are stuck in the Land of the Undead?

If you are a character, is your author a zombie writer?   Is he or she wasting away in pursuit of your future publication?


Or, is he or she not working hard enough?  Are you, perhaps, feeling as if you are stuck in a state of partial death, trapped in the same scene for eternity while your author pursues his or her own selfish interests?


Authors and characters.... Let's talk!

Author/Character Chat: One thing you would change?

Okay, we know writers and characters love each other. BFFs to the end, right? Pinky swear and cross our hearts. And a few weeks ago, we let it all out, and talked about what we liked about each other.

Maybe today we can take a different direction - very carefully - and tread into more tricky waters. A healthy relationship means honest communication, so let's start with just one thing: If you could change one thing about the other, what would it be?


Authors, if your Character would just do what you told them to do, what would that be?

Characters, if your Author would just do it right, what would that look like?

Let's just pick one thing. No need to burst the floodgates open. We all want to still be friends at the end of the day.

But let's get real here. If you could pick just one thing to change about the other, what would it be?

Author/Character Chat: What do you like about each other?

Let's try something new. After all, how often do authors and characters get to talk about each other? Well, here at CIC, we like to bring everything out in the open. So, let's chat!

Let's start with the positive: What do you like?

Authors: You spend alot of time with your characters. What about them warms your heart?

Characters: What do you think of the person who writes about you all the time? What about them do you appreciate?

We'd like to know. What is it about each other that makes you smile?