Tell Me A Story Of Loyalty

I've always loved stories of deep loyalty. Tonight I'm pondering a lot of threads and seeing how they cross each other.

As a child as young as six, I told stories to myself to help me fall asleep... The one I remember and have written in an old journal was about the adventures of Ophelia the cat. She led a group of orphan children who lived in the woods, fishing and having adventures... Even then it seems I had a fascination with the idea of leadership and family.

My most frequent type of dream involves running and leading. I'm usually unafraid as I lead groups of people through forests, down metal tunnels, across rooftops... Sometimes I am afraid. Sometimes I turn and fight.... They're exhausting dreams, but interesting none the less. They remind me every time that somewhere in my brain, I'm still wanting to protect people, even while I sleep.

The only story I've ever truly worked on is all built around this feeling of protecting those you love. Rider of Pure Motion is a present day story about a girl who finds dragon eggs and ends up leading a group of dragons and their riders. She doesn't want to. She's afraid to trust, but they stay by her. They fight and tease and grow into a loyal family... I don't know how to make the story all it is in my head, but the emotions that wrote it means I'll never be able to shake those characters from being dear to me. Most people who know me know I like the Ninja Turtles. I love how they are family. They bicker and tease - they protect each other and work as a team. Leo interests me in his desire to lead, but his deep fear that he's going to let them down. It's a kid show, granted - but there are still those themes that drew me in as a child and keep me still. The themes that runs through my dreams, and resurface in books I love the best, and in my own writing. Leadership. Protecting the weak. Friendship. And yes - Loyalty. As I'm considering stories tonight, I'm sorting out what draws me to certain ones so deeply. I'm wondering at my own dreams and writing....

Ender's Game

Red Rising

Sparrows in the Scullery

The Unwind series

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Agents of SHIELD (Especially the earlier seasons.)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

What do these books and shows have in common besides being stories I love? I will protect you. Even at cost to me - I will protect you, become your family, give what I have, and stand by you. They don't circle around romantic attraction - though some of them have that in the story - it's about friendship.

What makes friendships turn into family-like bonds? What makes leaders worth following? What moments break or make loyalty? What are they willing to do to protect each other, even at risk to themselves? Even if your story drags in parts or has some confusing plot holes - if you can make me love the characters for their loyalty for one another, I will probably love your story... Because that? That is real.

There is so much more I could say, but for now I will stop because it's almost 2AM. Some blog posts are meant to be an outpouring of thoughts, not well-thought-out pieces. That's why I have this blog. ;)
I suppose I'll end up writing on this topic more in the future - there's so much to ponder.

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What are your thoughts on loyalty and how it makes good stories?

And all that to say... Do you have any book recommendations?

~Ophelia - Marie

**Photo 1 - Pinterest Link

Photo 2 - Pinterest Link

Of Paper Crowns and Character Development

 Today I'm excited to be welcoming the author, Mirriam Neal, to my blog for a guest post. ^_^

 I've admired Mirriam's writing for years; her sense of humor, character interactions, and overall good storytelling make me want to read every story she shares snippets from. So needless to say, I am overjoyed that her book, Paper Crowns has been published so I can finally read the entire thing!

Paper Crowns synopsis:

Ginger has lived in seclusion, with only her aunt Malgarel and her blue cat, Halcyon, to keep her company. Her sheltered, idyllic life is turned upside-down when her home is attacked by messengers from the world of fae. Accompanied by Halcyon (who may or may not be more than just a cat), an irascible wysling named Azrael, and a loyal fire elemental named Salazar, Ginger ventures into the world of fae to bring a ruthless Queen to justice.

        Today, Mirriam is here to share her thoughts on character development:

  //Cutting Through the Static

Static: lacking in movement, action, or change, especially in a way viewed as undesirable or uninteresting:

I'm going to start by referring to the Campbellian idea of a hero's path to personal transformation. Usually called the Hero's Journey or the Mythic Journey, it puts for the idea of a three-step journey all heroes take. Each step in the journey has minor sub-steps (or baby steps, if you will), but in the end the three main points are Separation, Initiation, and Return. A perfect classic example of this is The Lord of the Rings, in which Frodo undergoes Separation (leaving Hobbiton on a quest), Initiation (a series of tests he must endure), and Return (he arrives back at Hobbiton with new insight). According to Joseph Campbell, who named this process in his dissertation, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, this idea is a monomyth - an Ouroborean cycle of mythology, continually on repeat.

There's a reason we're drawn to stories of heroes and quests. Not only is it a grand adventure where the stakes are high (if it's a good tale), but we get to travel with the hero as he or she embarks on their journey. We fall when they fall, we rise when they rise, and we come out the other side all the better for the undertaking (hopefully).

Or rather, that's the ideal. Unfortunately, much of modern fiction has taken a turn from the idea of character growth and has instead handed us more static characters than we know what to do with. A static character, as you might now imagine, is someone who never changes. They don't grow, they don't even backslide - they are exactly the same at the beginning as they are at the end.

This is a personal peeve of mine, and it's all-too prevalent - especially in young adult fiction. I don't think it's usually on purpose - I think it's a reflection of our culture. As life demands less and less of us, we demand less and less of other things, including stories. We settle for mediocre, and soon even mediocre becomes better-than-average.

Suffice it to say, character development is, to me, the most important element in writing, and I'm thrilled to be able to talk about it today.

Nobody wants a static character. Now, when I say static, I'm not talking about characters like John Watson who remain solidly heroic and undergo no striking changes in personality. I'm talking about characters like James Bond, who undergo various and sundry adventures that would change the ordinary person, but leave 007 surprisingly unscathed - both physically and mentally. The actor may change, but the character does not - at least, not in any major way.

Personally, I think James could do with a little character development now and then, but that's just me. But character development isn't necessarily easy. It takes less work to keep a character the same as you write them, because you don't need to think as much. You know exactly who they are and how they will react at any given time - which in my opinion is a terrible thing, both for the writer and the reader. Character development is what helps us grow as people. Nobody wants to travel on a journey alongside a fictional character and come out the other side exactly as you went in. How boring would that be? (Answer: Very. I've been on several such journeys. Sigh.)

But I did just say writing character development can be hard, so over the years I've cultivated a few tips that ensure the personal plot carrying on inside my characters is always moving.

• Throw a situation at them and see how they react. This situation doesn't have to make the final cut, or even enter the novel at all - it's an exercise to see how well you understand your character. Place them in a difficult position. Give them a dilemma to solve. Give them a devastating heartache. Give them an incredibly happy moment. What do they do? Their reaction will help you get a grip on their personality.

• Step back whenever you come to a major plot point. How will this affect your character? Don't just keep writing on autopilot - take the time to really think about it. What is the outcome of this? Does this challenge your character in any way? Will this break them, or will they rise to the occasion?

• Keep asking those questions. Never fall into the trap of thinking you know everything about your character. Question everything they do before they do it. Ask 'what if?' and go with an option that surprises you. Keep things rolling. Keep things interesting.

• Don’t forget that your character is not isolated. (Or at least probably not.) Most characters are constantly surrounded by other characters. No man is an island, so don't forget that your character needs to be very real, which means what other characters say and do will have an impact on him or her. This may not seem like it has anything to do with character development, but it has much to do with understanding your character - and understanding your character paves the way for development.

• Not all development is forward in motion. Sometimes a character who began as the good guy becomes the bad one. Sometimes a character makes a stupid choice. Sometimes a character breaks your trust. These are always fascinating situations to explore the character's psyche and throw a twist into the plot - both of which are opportunities you should never pass up.

• Compare. Look at your favorite fictional characters (the ones you didn't write). Why do you love them so much? What trials do they undergo? What changes them? Look at your own character and see if they measure up, if they're the kind of character you would root for. If not - you should probably fix that.

• Your character should learn from his or her mistakes. One dumb decision is fine - good, even. Two is acceptable. But three, and you've developed a bad habit. Your character isn't learning. They're running into the same wall over and over. That's the opposite of character development, and it's an issue I see most often in young adult fiction. I can't count the times I've wanted to strangle a YA character because they kept making the same mistakes, caught in an endless cycle of poor choices.

• Make a list of major plot points. You'll have to work for the filler that comes in between, but you'll have something to keep you moving forward. I usually like to have at least three major plot points figured out before I start writing. These plot points usually deal with the main character, but don't forget that they should have an impact on the minor characters, too.

• Write down all those cool ideas. I pretty much always have a notebook with me when watching a movie or a drama or a TV show for those 'Oooh. That'd be cool,' moments. I don't end up using all of them, but I never regret writing them down. Seriously. Losing a good idea is one of the worst feelings ever. Not that I'd know anything about it. Ahem.

• Ask someone! This final step is particularly hard for those of us who are private, or sensitive to criticism. I used to be so terrified of anyone reading my work that I didn't let anyone see it. Take it from me - you can do it. Pick someone you trust and have them give you their opinion. You don't develop a thick skin by keeping yourself locked away in a safety cocoon.

This learning process is different for everyone, and as far as I know, it doesn't ever stop. It's a constant thing that practice refines and refines some more. I stated earlier that it was hard, but I don't want to daunt you. It's hard. Writing is hard. Most things worth doing are hard! (Particularly writing. But I'm also biased.) I'm not an expert, although I've just written an entire blog post on the subject - but I've been writing for a good long while, and these tips have proved consistently helpful. I hope they're as helpful to you!

~Mirriam Neal  

Author Bio:

Mirriam Neal is a twenty-two-year-old Northwestern hipster living in Atlanta. She writes hard-to-describe books in hard-to-describe genres, and illustrates things whenever she finds the time. She aspires to live as faithfully and creatively as she can and she hopes you do, too.

Links:

Blog: https://mirriamneal.com/

Email: the-shieldmaiden@hotmail.com

Goodreads: Link!!

Publisher's page: http://pagesofwonder.com/neal.html

Amazon:Link!!

Barnes & Noble:Link!

Blog Tour: Meet My Main Character

          I've been tagged by Theodora Ashcraft to participate in this blog tour to share about a current Main Character. Theodora has published a book of short stories and poems entitled, Of Whispers and Wanderings, and has been published in the anthology, Heralds of Courage. Go check out those links!

         Now to answer questions about my main character... 

1) What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person? 

My main character is named Elmirzah Tay. She is a fictional character, for the most part.

2) When and where is the story set? 

Hmm, that is a hard question, haha... The story is set in a fictional world that is mostly like modern America, but has a sense of Fantasy to it. 

3) What should we know about him/her?

Elmirzah is a empath. When she is barefoot, she can feel others emotions if she touches them and they in turn can feel hers. Not many people know about her ability, since she has been taught to be very careful with it. Throughout the story, she tries to both keep the ability under check, so others emotions don't overwhelm her, and to use it to help those who are hurting. As she meets others who are like her, it becomes difficult to always distinguish what emotions are hers and which emotions belong to those around her. 

   She is afraid. She is afraid, once she has made deep connections with people, that they will leave. She is willing to do almost whatever it takes to keep those she loves around her. She is afraid that her caring help of others is never good enough, and struggles with doubting herself. She is loyal to a fault, even when that means she gets hurt.

She talks to herself. A lot. Jesseren is almost like an imaginary friend to her - someone who can argue her out of bad moods, and who can give practical sense advice when Elmirzah knows she is being unreasonable/frustrated. While she is careful not to talk to Jesseren out loud when people are around, Jesseren still sometimes "shows up" uninvited and argues with Elmirzah mentally... Jesseren can have as much of a 'mood' as Elmirzah but for the most part she is the calmer reflection of Elmirzah.

She is a writer - a lot of her story centers around that fact.

4) What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life?

 Well... that's kinda complicated. (Haha.) I suppose I'd have to say that this story is one about journeys in friendship, and the lessons she learns about herself and others. How to deal with others pain, how to open up to others, how to deal with loss when friendships end. There isn't one 'main' conflict - it's more a stream of her learning to live with who she is, and accept that the world's weight isn't meant to rest on her shoulders.

5) What is the personal goal of the character?

To be a good friend. To make a difference in others lives. 

6) Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?

Of Darker Dreams is the current title. The story that started this idea is: Dark Mirror Souls.

I have several story blips written on my Pinterest board :

           She brushes a hand against my arm, but pulls it away as I jerk back. "I... have a sense something isn't right." 

"I'm fine," I whisper, wrapping my arms around my chest. 

She reaches for me again and pulls me close. "No... you're not."

7) When can we expect the book to be published? 

Umm, never? ;) Sorry. I may share parts of it on my blog, but other than that, this is a story mostly for my own private enjoyment, and need to write it. If I finish it, I might make a few proof copies for a few select people,  but as I'm only two chapters in, that's a long way off. 

Now to tag some people... 

I'd like to tag Jacob Zozzaro. Jake writes music and fantasy and shares it over on this blog:

Fantasy Stories and Music by JAZ

One of my favorite songs he's written is entitled, Harmony's Fading Winter. 

The second person I'd like to tag is Trista Vaporblade. Trista has self published her first book, Quest for the Swords of Healing, and is hoping to publish her book, Ranger, within the next couple months.

You can find her blogging here: http://tristavaporblade.blogspot.com/ or follow her FB page :

https://www.facebook.com/TristaVaporblade

That's all for now. :)

~Ophelia - Marie 

Dark Mirror Souls - Short Story

Pinterest link

Dark Mirror Souls 

6/18/14

Pinterest link

You find me crouched beneath the Willow tree with my knees pulled tight to my chest. Without a word you lower yourself to the ground a few feet away, your eyes never meeting mine as you search the horizon. Calm – you always seem so calm... almost happy even. Heh, but I know that's a lie.

I clench the side of my tongue with my teeth, letting the pain press back the need to cry. It's not hard enough to draw blood, just hard enough to distract myself a little... It's not nearly enough...My sides still sting from where I raked my fingernails down them in a vicious attempt to dull the weight building in my gut. The marks are there – pronounced and red against my pale skin, but safely hidden beneath my shirt. I deserve them.

       “I promised I'd never forget.” The words come out with a strangled choking sound. I hunch my shoulders inward as another wave of grief and bitterness hits me. The memories slash through my mind with images – both good and bad. The good ones are almost the worst, 'cause I know they'll never be that happy again. No, never that happy, and yet, the thought of forgetting seems more painful – terrifying - than remembering.

        Your fingers clench and relax, clench and relax. You don't meet my eyes as you sigh, your voice resignedly weary. “Yes, but that doesn't mean you have to relive your memories over and over until they slowly kill you.”

    “Yeah, and what would you have me do?” I let out a pained laugh, willing you to look up and face me. “What? Be like you and simply pretend it never happened? Act like things are fine and stuff all the emotions away?”

Pinterest Link

It's a unfair blow. You snap straight, but don't look over. “Would you rather I be like you? Sobbing about what you can't change?” A deathly calm tone steals over your words. “It was nice while it lasted – a real blessing – but I can't get it back. Never. Memories are knifes – either you hold them by the handle, or you hold them by the blade. The handle serves its purpose – it'll keep my hands from getting bloody.” Your body begins to tremble slightly as you whisper, “I can't fix what happened; shutting down is the only way I know how to survive any more.”

          Survive? There used to be a time when we thrived. A time where we laughed and dreamed and told stories. But that was then – now is just raw regret. Regret that slides through my mind and mocks me with all I should have done. Too late now.

Pinterest link

       My screams are sharp and wild as another wave of emotional pain tears at my insides. Your placid gaze remains trained on the distance, but the trembling is getting worse. I double over with the colored memories driving behind my eyes, blurring my vision. You sway back and forth, hissing under your breath, “It's okay. It doesn't matter any more. It's for the best. I don't mind. It'll get better. I just don't want to talk about it. It's okay. Okay. Okay.”

      Memories implode. Oh, the times I was told it'd all be okay. Lies. I lunge at you, shrieking, “It's not okay!”

 

Pinterest link

     You grab me by the wrists and finally meet my eyes. Blue eyes, perfect duplicates , filled with unshed tears – filled with the terror of loss. Our reflections blink at each other, before dissolving together.

      For a moment, I stop breathing... for a moment, I pant as my heart pounds against my ribs...

      In the silence, I know....I've been talking to both sides of myself. The side that relives the pain over and over, and the side that acts like everything's okay... Both are poisoned and dying... I don't know what part of me will make it past this... or if anything will.

I sob.

Owl City - 'Wolf Bite'

~Ophelia - Marie

Dreamer - Short Story

Original Picture from Flickr, Gary Simmons

Dreamer

4/26/12

    Sarlun woke up to the sound of her screaming. Before his half-awake mind could register what was happening, he flung himself out of bed, fists raised. Her high, terrified screams easily pierced through the thin walls that separated their rooms. An eerie pause of silence filled air for a few seconds, then the sound of sobs came from the other room.

     Moonlight shown dimly in from his small window, enough for him to take in everything at a glance. Sarlun's shoulders slumped as he came fully awake. He sat down hard on the edge of the bed as she screamed again. 

    It'd been two weeks since last time... he had hoped – No. He had known... Perhaps it was selfish that he had tried to make himself believe she had been fine this past week since she hadn't woken him...but when you can't do anything, sometimes your mind tries to tell you things are getting better.

     Another sob came, then faded into low whimpers that could barely be heard. Sarlun sighed. He should try to go back to sleep; tomorrow was going to long enough without him staying up half the night.

      He cared too much to do that.

      He stood and crossed the room. Quietly opening his door, he walked into the dark hallway. Her door was cracked, just barely, and he pushed it open.

     His chest clenched at the sight of her.

     Oh Kalla.

     The small girl lay on her bed, curled in a fetal position. The patchwork blanket was twisted around her body and her pale hair was wet with sweat. She whimpered again and the sound rose into a wail before abruptly cutting off. Tears tracked down her face and her hands grasped fistfuls of the blanket.

      Sarlun crept silently into the room and took the three legged stool from the far corner. Placing it in the center of the room, he sat on it and took a shaky breath. She cried out again, this time quieter, and he clenched the tip of his tongue between his teeth. A familiar ache welled up in his stomach as he watched her... He was helpless....

     "My dear little sister..." The whispered words hung in the air, and he took in another shuddering breath.  It hurt to watch her.

   She had been eight years old when he found her almost a year and a half ago - a thin, dirty, wide eyed orphan who had tried to steal his allowance from his pocket. He had been thirteen – a sidetracked boy in the market, trying to find his mother the perfect gift for her birthday. That day he brought his mother home a daughter, and gained himself a little sister.

     At first his parents had tried to convince Kalla to sleep in one of the nicer rooms in the large new addition, but when Kalla found out Sarlun's room was in the attic she wanted to sleep there. They set her up in the little room next to his, though they made it clear that if she wanted to be downstairs in the room next to theirs they would be glad to have her.

     That first night had been much like this one. Sarlun had woke up to the sound of her screaming, only that time he had run straight into her room and tried to shake her awake.

      She had sat up and looked at him with clear, tear filled eyes and smacked him hard across the face. As he gaped at her in stunned silence, she had hissed in a trembling voice, “Never wake me from my dreams.” Then she had started crying again, clinging to him and whispering, “I hate to sleep, but I must dream. I must! I must! I must!” He had awkwardly wrapped his arms around her as she sobbed into his shoulder. “They need me. I have to dream!”

       A Dreamer... not many would trust another with that kind of secret. Maybe it was because she was young, maybe it was because she was a girl, but for whatever reason Sarlun was not afraid.

    “I'll never tell,” he had whispered into her hair.

    Then, because he hadn't known what else to do, he sang to her the song his mother used to when he was small.

“Rest, little one,

Quiet your cries.

Listen to the sound

Of gentle lullabies.

Tomorrow is coming

So lay down your fears.

May the light of the dawning,

Dry all of your tears.”

    They never talked about that first night, and he never woke her again... Yet on the nights she woke him, he came into her room and sang until her cries softened.

     Even one as powerful and distrusted as a Dreamer deserved someone to comfort them.

~Ophelia - Marie

 (If you'd like to read the rest of the song, you can see it here: Lullaby Rest)

  

Copyright © 2013 Ophelia M. Flowers

Krioson And Saphieka - Dragons

 

 

 Rin, known as Lady Kitra Mimetes on Holy Worlds made these crocheted dragons for me!

(If you'd like to see the pattern, it is here: The Leaky Cauldron)

 

The tan one is named Krioson. (His name is pronounced: Kuh -rhye - Oh -Son).

The blue one is named Saphieka (Her name is pronounced: Saff - I - Kah).

 

They are from my work in progress, 'Rider Of Pure Motion'.

 

 

 

 

 

How did I choose their coloring? Hehe, it wasn't a complicated process. ;)

After I read Eragon when I was about 13, I went dragon crazy and started drawing dragons.

 *Points to first drawing* (Yeaaah... I've never been good at drawing. *Grins*)

I thought Kri was the cutest out of the dragons I had drawn, so he became my favorite. Later, when I actually  began trying to write a story, I went back and chose from the nineteen dragons I had drawn to be in my book. Eventually I ended up with five dragons that stayed in my story.



I made changes later on to how they looked. (Spines, horns, etc.)

These drawings were drawn a few months after the first set.

Saphieka's name used to be Safire, until I decided she needed a more original sounding name.

          I'm not totally satisfied with this back cover text (or whatever you'd call it) but here you go anyways:

        Anza, a girl with unusual powers, tries to hide from the world in the shadows of the North Carolina Mountains - hurt, angry, and intent on forgetting. After narrowly escaping the police, she is suddenly responsible for a run-away orphan who is in possession of five large gem stones, and left wondering what to do next. When two of the stones hatch as dragons a few days later, she has to face the reality that more people are coming to claim the remaining eggs and her quiet, hidden existence has ended. Now with three others to look after, and more on the way, how long before her secrets will come out?

       As people she thought she'd never see again arrive and the past resurfaces, she struggles to maintain control of something much bigger than her. By the time she lets go of her hate and mistrust will it be too late to find a new future?

And here's the (current) prologue (I've completely changed it several times) :

 

Prologue

I don't know when I decided to stop caring.

Maybe it was when my only friend began to use me.

Or maybe it was when she turned on me.

It could have been the night when Jared came to taunt me.

I just decided it wasn't worth it to care anymore. . .

But I think the real question is,

When did I start hating?

I think it was the night my parents died.

Or the day Denise screamed at me.

Even the night I slammed Jared against the wall; it's his fault she hates me now.

Hating is even easier than pretending not to care.

When I'm filled with anger I don't have to think about how empty I feel.

 

 

      And thus ends this random mishmash of: the wonderful dragons Rin made, an explanation of why they are those colors, pictures showing my complete lack of drawing skills, and a teeny bit about my book that I may never actually finish writing. ;)

 

 

 

 ~Ophelia - Marie

 

 

 

crocheted dragon pattern