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 

My Container Of 'Good Things'

       I got the idea for a 'Jar of Good Things' from this blog: Thoughts of a Shieldmaiden. ^_^

 

     The long and the short of the idea is this - Get a jar (or a jar equivalent -  Mine is made from a coffee can with cloth glued on the outside. )  and anytime a 'good thing' happens that you want to remember, you write it down and put it inside.

    When 2014 gets here I'll be able to open it up read all the little things I wanted to remember. To keep myself from even the temptation of opening it and reading the things inside before 2014, I glued the container shut.  *Grins* I hope I don't have too much trouble getting it back open...

    So far I've filled out several note cards and dropped them into my coffee can. The idea of only putting 'good' things in there didn't really appeal to me - I've written about things that have happened, both good and bad, so that I can look back on this year and remember lots of different happenings.

    I've written about my eighteenth birthday party, and the crazy fun we had... About the four days I had the flu and slept most of the day... About long talks with friends... About a few of the rough days I've had... Life, I've written about life. Parts of it may not be glamorous or exciting, but there it is - bits of it scribbled down on note cards.

   It's not the beginning of the year anymore, but perhaps you'd like to make a 'Good Things Jar' too. I mean, come on, doesn't this sound like a fun idea? ;)

~Ophelia - Marie

Why I Like Free Writing

Picture From Flickr

  

     I think every writer should have a notebook, or a document on their computer that is for the sole purpose of free writing.

   'What is free writing', you ask? Free writing is writing down anything that pops into your head. ;)

   A random scene that doesn't fit anywhere in your current story? Put it there.

   A sentence that keeps tumbling about in your head? Put it there.

   A few half-baked ideas you don't know what to do with? Put them there.

   One of the rules that I've made for myself when I free write is that I don't erase anything there. It doesn't matter how stupid or half thought out the idea may seem - it doesn't need to be good, or be seen by anyone but me. It's there for me to write just for the enjoyment of getting stuff out and organizing my thoughts. Nothing gets deleted - it doesn't need to. It's for me.

   I've found through practicing free writing that it helps keep me from the thoughts of, 'I'm wasting my time.' or, 'What could I even use this nonsense for?'. It gets my creative thought-process going as I often jump from idea to idea in one chaotic stream of thought. Multiple poems, my first short story, and even some letters have ended up being written in my free writing doc.

   Random free writing sample - (and an example of something I don't have a place for):

In the midst of it all, I wonder, is it worth it? Where am I going? Why does it all fall down into swirls or friendly colors that then catch in tangling webs?

Golden sunsets, the bright and beautiful before the inky night drags it away.

 

   What are your thoughts on free writing? Have you ever tried it before?

   *Grins* I challenge you to go write for ten minutes on an empty sheet of paper or blank word document and let me know how it goes.

~Ophelia - Marie