Being largely in research mode into the sort of bureaucracy that would be involved in the areas of conflict I am looking at for book 3, I’m the one doing the searching and asking the questions – which is fine in that area, but presented a tripping stone in another, an area where I am sorting out Va’el exploits – I found myself automatically taking on the same responsibility and going about it the same way (meaning I was the one doing the asking) which proved to be a mistake.
Rather than work out what Va’el and his group would be getting up to, I’m far better off asking Va’el what he and his group would be getting up to. A subtle difference, but a difference nevertheless. It’s much harder to make the decisions for him from outside the group, and far better to look through his eyes and mind and approach it from a personal perspective. That personal perspective must be taken from each of the others also.
*
I have why Va’el has gone to Zumaridi and what he gains from being there, but there is a process involved and steps in the journey, plus little things – attitudes, fears, uncertainty, day-to-day needs to be met. There’s more to do than just having him meet his objective. I want him to have adventure in and around finding his objective which has to be more than just eating, sleeping and traveling.
Anyway, that’s where I am at the moment. With an elderly butler (plus one or two other staff members – I’ve not decided who or why yet), ten year-old Va’el and his best friend, a fifteen year-old budding soldier known as Slab.
That’s it for today.
Cheers everyone!
😀
Allyson
Bloodstone Sci Fi 
Never underestimate elderly butlers, they always know where the bodies are buried.
That’s so true… 😀
Love this eight different ways. It’s so completely true that the characters will have a different perspective and sometimes it’s best to ask them what they would do. Just the other day I read where author Judy Greber said that once she’d written her heroine, Amanda, into a terrible mess and couldn’t figure out how to save her. So she just said to Amanda, “Solve it or die.” Amanda took over and came up with a solution. I’m going to do this with more often 😀 .
LOVE that! I have found the same. Trying to work out a massive How in the first story, I was totally with Raoul. It was impossible. Then Jackie, ex-soldier, made a comment (prompted by Raoul) that she had it all figured and was just waiting to see how long they’d take before coming up with something. At that point, I could see how she would have a plan, but I totally had no clue as to what that would be. I typed in, from Raoul’s mouth, “Go on then, tell us what it is.” (Words to that effect) And she did! Then and there, no delays – and I’d been working on this for a month with still no clue – not only was it logical, it was workable and I did it exactly as she said.
I really get a shock when that happens. In a good way, of course. I think if you’ve got your character really sorted out and know them, they can be relied upon to help you out of a jam.
Greg teases me that I have all of them living in my head and must be schizophrenic, and he’s a bit worried about Sevi. 😀
LOL!!! I did it with Cartog when he had to defeat a Sith. “I’m completely outclassed. If the squad helps me, they’re dead. I need to get him isolated — wait a second…” I may do it in the near term as the group tries to figure out how they’ll overthrow the king.
That’s when you look at Greg and say, “Yes, and you want to stay on her good side 🙂 .”
I do! 😀