Hello, writers. As it happens, I find myself with no internet connection. So I'm posting this elsewhere, and unfortunately probably won't be able to participate in any discussion tonight. But I should be able to respond to any comments and brilliant interpretations of Tonight's Challenge tomorrow. Sorry about that.
Losing one's internet connection, by the way, is a wonderful thing. I'm amazed at how much I've been able to focus these last couple days. I've even finally managed to get my characters to the point of their Terrible Choice, although unfortunately they seem to be making it on page 137. I'd hoped they'd make it by page 100. But that's what revisions are for.
And focusing makes me more able to deal with pop-up characters.
Pop-up characters are characters you didn't know you were going to write. So whatever it is that you normally do to plan characters-- answer 50 questions about their pasts, make bubble-charts of their relationships with other characters, draw pictures of them, look for their doppelgangers in the subway-- you didn't do it for these guys. It's just that suddenly there they are, selling your protagonist a newspaper, standing in her way when she's trying to chase the villain, pulling her out of quicksand, driving the taxi, feeding the dragon.
And it turns out they have opinions of their own. They might help your protagonist find the Jewel of Togwogmagog, or they might let loose a rant on the evils of narrative cliches. Sometimes they can be some of your best characters, because you're free to make them fairly outrageous, since the outrageousness won't have to be sustained for any length of time or followed through to its logical consequences.
Tonight's challenge is in honor of pop-up characters.
A callow youth and his/her stout companion, weary from slogging through the Endless Swamp, have arrived at the Startled Duck, where they hope to get a room for the night. They stumble in the door and come face to face with a pop-up character.
S/he could be:
the innkeeper
the chambermaid
a ghost
the stout companion's mother
a dog
any combination of the above
Write the dialogue that ensues.
Write On! will be a regular weekly diary (Thurs 8 pm ET) until it isn't.
Before signing a contract with any agent or publisher, please be sure to check them out on Preditors and Editors, Absolute Write and/or Writer Beware.