Today, Charlene shares a unique way for developing characters.
Thank you for having me at your blog today, Joselyn. You have a lovely place here!
Creativity is something a writer thrives on, but sometimes I just can’t seem to make it click where it needs to. I’m very lucky to have a couple amazing critique partners, and when these slumps in inspiration happen, we work together to spark it to life again.
One such time – actually we’ve done this several times – we decided to call on our characters to help out. Anastasia V. Pergakis, J.D. Brown, and I got together on Skype and had a character party. The conversation never lagged (though it’s quite lengthy) and it’s all impromptu. In parts, we couldn’t hold back and had to laugh out loud or add our own comments. Sometimes I wonder if we’re all schizophrenic the way we split and keep the characters in with the right personality. Lol. Whatever the reason, it never fails to get us back into the swing of things and back to writing.
I’d like to share just little bit of the very long (several hours long!) skit that came out of this session. We fondly call it the “Daisy Through the Window” sketch.
Here’s a little guide of the characters…
Charlene Wilson authors Cole, Vincent, James, (Sentinels known as wizards from Cornerstone Deep).
J.D. Brown authors Jalmari, Jesu, and Ema (vampires from Dark Heirloom).
Anastasia Pergakis authors Derac, Kie, Tyn, and Jardel (elite military elves from Cleanse Fire).
Derac: You are all invited to Kinir if you like.
Charlene Wilson: Ok, so Kinir. Who’s invited?
J.D. Brown: My usual trio is here.
Derac: All right then. The common room at headquarters.
*A dark mass snakes under the front door and billows, taking the form of three men*
Cole: *looks around*
Derac: Hello, Shilos. Please, have a seat.
James: *smiles, his dimples deepening* Thank you. It’s nice to finally get to meet you, Derac.
Jalmari: *looks at Cole*
Derac: Make yourselves comfortable.
Ema: *plops down on a chair* *Jesu joins her*
Tyn: *enters the room and almost drops his sword* Whoa. We having a party in here?
Vincent: That’s the plan, I guess.
Derac: It is a pleasure to meet you as well, James. And yes, Tyn, a little gathering. Join us?
Tyn: *shrugs* Why not?
Ema: *hugs her knees to her chest*
Cole *holds up a bottle of liqueur* Am I the only one who brought something?
Derac: *laughs* Well we don’t keep alcohol at headquarters. But there is a tavern in town a few miles away if you’d like to go there instead.
Jesu: You would not want a drink from us *chuckles*
Cole: Ah. Jesu? I’ve heard about you.
Jesu: Yes. And I you, Cole is it?
Cole: That’s right. No, I don’t imagine we will be sharing drinks.
Vincent: *grabs bottle* Well, Tyn and I don’t mind sharing one right, Tyn?
Tyn: I would love to, Vincent.
Cole: Uh, Kid, watch it. *turns to the others* Never could hold his liqueur.
Derac: We do have water and a special fruit drink, similar to what humans call Gatorade or PowerAde.
Jalmari: *whispers in a nearly silent vampire voice to Jesu* Is it curious that they can phase?
Jesu: *equally quiet* They’re wizards.
Jalmari: Mmm
Ema: *to herself* It’s a sausage fest in here.
Anastasia Pergakis: BAHAHAHHA!
Charlene Wilson: A what fest?
Ema: *snickers**small voice*: Sausage?
James: *chuckles*
Ema: Not that I’m not enjoying the uh… view.
James: Apologies, Ema, we didn’t bring along the ladies.
Ema: *shrugs* I’m starting to get used to it.
Cole: And yes, Jalmari, we’re wizards and can basically phase. But from what I understand, yours is a finer talent.
Jalmari: Interesting.
Vincent: I’d like to see some of that sword play I heard of.
Ema: O.O
Vincent: I tinkered with it at one time.
James: Ema, you alright?
Ema: Fine, just…swords? Really? Am I the only one here who considers a cell phone a weapon?
Jesu: You are adorable.
Ema: Erm… thank you?
Vincent: The elves are very skilled.
Derac: Anything is a weapon if used in the correct fashion.
Vincent: *swigs another drink*
James: Perhaps I’ll go gather the others. It might make Ema feel more at ease.
Ema: Thanks, James
James: *lifts a hand and turns into the smoke of night. The door swings open and he darts out. It closes behind him*
Kie: *steps out of the shadow in the corner* I’m here.
Ema: Hello, Kie
Kie: Hello.
Jesu: *nods in greeting*
Vincent: *stumbles over to Ema and Kie* So, you ladies come here much?
Cole: *rolls his eyes*
Kie: *laughs* Had a few drinks have we?
Cole: *takes bottle from Vince* Told you he couldn’t hold his liqueur.
Ema: *giggles*
Vince: I’m doing just fine. I was just being socialable-ish. So… Do you like older men?
Kie: *laughs again*
Ema: *laughs* Not like I have a choice, you have centuries on me.
Jesu: *pulls Ema closer to him*
Vincent: Well, hello, Jesu. Um… *leans to him* Can I ask you a little question?
Jesu: raises an eyebrow*
Kie: This should be good.
Vincent: *points to his hand* Is that the latest fad here on Cornerstone Summit?
Jesu; *glances at his hand*
Vincent: I mean, I see the others from Kinir like the pointed ears thing. Do they dye skin here now?
Derac: *chokes on his water* We are BORN with our ears this way. It’s not a fad.
Cole: *crosses his arms and laughs*
Kie: *laughs* I knew it would be good.
Tyn: *leans in to Cole* He knows he’s not in Cornerstone Summit right now, correct?
Jesu: Why don’t you ask a human from Africa if his skin is a fad?
Anastasia Pergakis: NICE ONE, Jesu!
J.D. Brown: (chuckle)
Vincent: *swaggers to face Tyn* I know we’re in Kinriri. But Jesu is from Cornerstone Summit.
Derac, Kie, Tyn, and Jardel: *laugh*
Vincent: And I’ve seen many colors of skin. Just not blue. *puts his hand to his chest and bows a little* My apologies, sir, if I have offended you.
Jesu: We have races and different levels of pigment like anyone else.
Vincent: Ah. A vampire thing? Then, most, most apologies extended.
Ema: Don’t worry, Vince, I asked the same question.
Derac: *leans in to Cole* He’s not going to blow up the headquarters in his drunkenness is he?
*Vincent grabs the bottle from Cole but Cole raises his hand and it shoots back into his palm*
Cole: Not a chance, Kid. *to Derac* Just keep him amused until James gets back he’ll fix anything Vince destroys.
Ema: Surprised no one asked about my eyes…
Tyn: I’m sorry, Ema. Are your eyes rare where you come from? We see all sorts of colors here.
Ema: Oh.
Vincent: Oh! Is that how I should have asked you that, Jesu?
Jesu: It would have been more polite.
Ema: They would be weird if you were a human.
Tyn: Ahh, I see. Well, humans here I guess don’t have eyes like that, but I knew you were not a human so didn’t pay them much attention. Figured it was normal. I apologize.
Ema: It’s fine, I was being sarcastic 🙂
Tyn: *smiles*
Vincent: *leans to Tyn* Good one, bud.
Derac: *leans to Vincent* He has a skill with ladies unmatched by anyone I ever knew.
Vincent: *straightens* You haven’t seem me at work yet, sir Derelec.
J.D. Brown: Derelec?? lol
Kie: Derelec!??! *laughs so hard she bends slightly with her arms around her stomach*
Charlene Wilson: lol
Vincent: *saunters over to Ema*
Derac: Males should never saunter.
Vincent: *lifts a hand and a daisy flies through the window into his palm*
Jesu: *wraps an arm around Ema’s waist causing her to blush*
Cole: *leans to Derac* Um, James will fix that window when he gets back.
J.D. Brown: ROFL
Derac: Oh, good.
Vincent: Sweet Hjeribute. Please accept my token.
Cole: *grimaces*
Derac: *chokes on his water again and laughs*
Kie: Well, this has been entertaining but I think I’m going to head to the archery range. Ema would you like to join me? I can teach you.
Ema: O.O Me? *looks at Vincent then Kie then Jesu then back at Kie then at Jesu then Vincent* Uh…
Charlene Wilson: lol
Vincent: *shines his smile*
Jesu: *whispers* Go with Kie if you want.
Vincent: Oh, archery. I love archery.
Kie: Sorry, Vincent. Ladies only.
Ema: Yeah… *she maneuvers around Vincent without touching him*
Vincent: It’s like sworder play.
Derac: Sworder?
Jesu: *narrows his eyes at Vince*
Kie: *leads Ema out of the room* Let’s go have some fun by ourselves. Derac and Tyn will handle things here.
Ema: Sure.
Cole: Kid, why don’t you go get Elaina.
Derac: You mean go TO Elaina?
J.D. Brown: lol
Vincent: *tucks the daisy in his cape*
Cole: Good idea, Derac. Go find Elaina. I know she’d love to keep you company.
Vincent: *smiles and lifts a hand, dispersing into the smoke of night*
Jesu: Would he be well, traveling in his state?
Vincent: *heads for the door and his elements spatter against the barrier…*
J.D.: BAHAHAHA
Anastasia Pergakis: (I could totally see whips of drunk smoke running into a wall!!)
Anastasia Pergakis: BHAHAHAh I knew it.
*…then sluggishly squirms under the door and across the lawn*
Derac: *laughs and watches the smoke from the window*
Jalmari: *laughs out loud*
Cole: *shakes head* My apologies. Still a kid whether he likes it or not.
~ * ~
You can find more about Cole, James, and Vincent in the Cornerstone Deep books, The Transformation of Anna and Echoes. And for a limited time, the box set is for a special holiday price at CharleneAWilson.com!
The Transformation of Anna
Blurb
For centuries, Cole Shilo has harvested the homeless, wiped their memories, and delivered them as servants to the nobles of Cornerstone Deep. When Cole is sent to harvest a second-class woman who has broken curfew, he expects no different. But Anna Sinclair’s soul calls out to him. Soul mates aren’t possible on Cornerstone Deep…
Are they?
“My life is a mirage of endless time. But you engulf me, rivet my mind, encompass my soul.”
Buy links:
Amazon: http://bit.ly/ToAe-pb
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/charlene-a.-wilson
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/362646
Author site: http://charleneawilson.com/books/order/
Echoes
Cornerstone Deep book two
Nothing is sacred to Cole when it comes to keeping his love – not even covenants made with gods, and when Lord Dressen’s obsession to have Anna soars, Cole pulls out all the stops. But, through all his efforts, lofty or damned, the truth remains.
Will echoes of another life cause him to fail?
“Every breath you take is a song to my soul.”
Book Trailer
http://youtu.be/fgYyEddNpYA
Buy links:
Amazon: http://bit.ly/EchoesK
Barnes & Noble : http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/charlene-a.-wilson
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/376671
Author site: http://CharleneAWilson.com/order/
About the Author
Charlene A. Wilson is an author of tales that take you to other dimensions. She weaves magic, lasting love, and intrigue to immerse you into the lives of her characters.
She began writing in her early teens when her vivid dreams stayed with her long after she had them. The characters and worlds were so amazing; she brought them to life through her books.
Charlene resides in a small community in Arkansas, USA, with her two beautiful daughters, husband, and a very chatty cockatiel named Todder.
Connect with Charlene around the web:
Author site: http://CharleneAWilson.com
Blog: http://bit.ly/CharBlogs
Facebook: http://bit.ly/CharleneAWilsonFan
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AuthorCAWilson
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/CharleneAWilsonGR
LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/CharleneAWilsonLI
For media interviews, contact Carla Gallway, Charlene’s assistant.
Joselyn Vaughn 
Thank you for letting me share our silly creativity tool today, Joselyn. It was fun! 🙂
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