GUEST POST: Characters Just Barge In, by Natacha Guyot

On November 27, 2015November 25, 2015 By Luther M. SilerIn Writing4 Comments

I’m at a convention and likely being run ragged right now, so I’ve scheduled a few guest posts this weekend. This is the first one.

Hello everyone! I realize this is my first time here (thank you for inviting me, Luther) though those of you familiar with Sourcerer and Part Time Monster might know me and remember me writing about Star Wars, gender representations and assorted topics.

My name is Natacha Guyot and I am a French author, scholar and public speaker. I am passionate about Science Fiction, Fantasy, Transmedia, Gender Studies, Children Media and Fan Studies.

After releasing several works of nonfiction, I returned to my fiction love and recently released Clairvoyance Chronicles Volume One, a Fantasy collection of ten (connected) short stories:

Old enemies never truly disappear. When they return, peace becomes fragile and clans are on the brink of destruction.

Were Saber-toothed Cat Neyla relives her real-life nightmares upon Keno’s reappearance. Her longtime nemesis is scheming to overthrow the supernatural society. With Keno’s followers growing each day, Fae, Weres, Shifters and others with special gifts, are at risk.

In these dark times, everyone must join ranks and keep faith in a better tomorrow.

Unfortunately, the price may be high.

This made me reflect on something I had already realized but that hit me quite hard when working on Clairvoyance. As much as a writer can make their story work, if it wishes to comply and behave, they don’t really create their characters. Those little monsters just barge in without a warning. The best part is that it is how you get an organic story. Of course, you wrestle a lot with them and sometimes there is no way to make them go your way, but most of the time, they have better ideas than you (at least the raw version).

While I have loved creating stories and universes since I was a child, including novellas and novels in my late teens and early twenties, my roleplaying experience on a Star Wars board since 2008 has helped me a lot when it comes to just let the characters come to me, steal the show and make me take notes. Sometimes, I wish fewer characters would just appear out of the blue or that they would take turns and be a little more patient with me. Yet, I have come a long way as an author because of all I learned about crafting and storytelling, and having much more exstensive material to work with thanks to the countless characters showing up (and sometimes – often? – switching universes if they realize they’re not a good fit for a given one) had a significant role to play.

When I started working on the Clairvoyance universe, I thought it would be a couple of novels with a specific protagonist. Then, as I developed the history and the different groups, there were tons of voices that wanted to be heard. And they all made sense. I couldn’t just relegate most of them to supporting characters. They had to be heard, whether because they directly served the main arc of the story or because they brought solid insight into the overall experiences of all of these supernatural characters.

This is how the idea of doing several short stories with a different narrator each came to life. While I am hoping to introduce new narrators in future installments, I know some will return. It has given me so much more to work with and listening to all the voices in my head helped me establish the main arc with more justness. While diversity is important to me as a person and a writer, I didn’t sit down to come up with characters from a vast span of backgrounds, species, age, gender, orientation. They happened; and God were they loud.

One of my favorite parts about the loudness of my characters, even when they irk me to no end, is that it often allows them to reveal their annoying side. What does their annoying side bring? It brings flaws, which will give them credibility if you listen to your characters. I’m not interested in writing long-term immature characters, but I am not into perfection either. I want layers; I want contradictions, struggle, laughter, tears. I want life in my characters.

While I draw certain lines about what I will write (like I will not go beyond PG-13 rating as a personal choice), I let the characters rather free, before tidying behind them. Most of the narrators in Clairvoyance’s first volume didn’t even exist in the original story idea, and I couldn’t imagine the universe without them now. Some also emerged in the story as non-narrators and I can’t wait for the next volume(s) so they can tell their own stories as well, especially Roxane and Jo, who appear in several stories.

What about you, readers and/or writers? How important are characters for you? Do you like more story driven or character driven narratives? Do you enjoy watching characters evolve over a long period of time?

LINKS:

Goodreads page, Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Amazon Australia.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Come see me tomorrow at @StarbaseIndy!

On November 26, 2015November 26, 2015 By Luther M. SilerIn Blogwanking, Geek, Uncategorized4 Comments

I should be packing right now; I’m spending the next three days at the Wyndham Indianapolis West in, uh, Indianapolis at the Starbase Indy science fiction/ Star Trek convention. I will, hopefully, both have a really good time and sell an insane number of books.

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It goes without saying that I think if you’re in Indianapolis or within reasonable driving range that you should come see me. At least, it should go without saying, even though technically I just said it twice.

“But, Luther!” you cry. “Who shall post roughly every four to five hours while you are awake? How could we go a weekend without you? Isn’t it true that it’s been a year since you missed a day?”

First of all, no, not quite; the last time I missed a day was December 23, 2014. So it’s been almost a year. Second, as of right now my next six posts are set up, taking care of the blog through Monday morning. You’ve got two from me (well, one’s a Station Identification) and four guest posts coming from four very capable writers, at least one of which genuinely deserves to go even more viral than the Syria post (35,456 hits and counting) did. You’ll know it when you see it. There’s also an announcement coming Monday morning! Your hint is that it’ll be on Cyber Monday. Let your brain run wild.

Anyway. Don’t spend too much money in the big boxes this weekend, kids. The sales aren’t that good anyway. Support local and independent retailers and all that. And come see me!

It is Thanksgiving

On November 26, 2015November 25, 2015 By Luther M. SilerIn Television5 Comments

And therefore, in accordance with my own ancient customs, I present you with this.

Enjoy your day, y ‘all, even if you’re not in the States.

#Fridayfictioneers: Stonesrage Rock

On November 25, 2015 By Luther M. SilerIn Stories9 Comments

“It’s closer,” the old man said. “Every year, an inch or two. The road splits. They fix it. But every year, it comes for us.”

“You’re looney, old man,” I said. “That’s a chunk of rock. It’s pretty, that’s all. It’s not coming.”

He smiled, his one good eye staring balefully at me. “The titans. The ancient ones of the earth, the galevhdür, they wait. And they watch. And when they come, they are inexorable. We anger the earth, child, at our peril. And it comes for us.”

I walked away to his mocking laughter.

“You’ll see, lad. You’ll see.”

Word Count: 100

Friday Fictioneers is a weekly blog hop hosted by Rochelle. She posts a photo prompt then challenges readers to write a 100 word story inspired by the prompt. It’s a fun challenge. Give it a try! Check here for the info then write your story and post it, link up and enjoy the other stories!

In which I have no idea where I am or what’s going on

On November 25, 2015November 25, 2015 By Luther M. SilerIn idiocy, Uncategorized4 Comments

As of a couple of days ago, it’s been a solid two months since I managed anything like the work schedule I’ve grown accustomed to over the last 15 years, and as of right now it’ll be another two before I’m officially supposed to return. Last weekend my brother and his fiancée were in town along with my best friend and we had Thanksgiving with my family a week early. My son is on Thanksgiving break, and he’s home with me right now.

What this means is that I am a complete mess in terms of knowing what day of the week it is or when I’m supposed to be doing what or basically anything else. I wrote the headline to this piece before I actually started it and I swear it was originally a #WeekendCoffeeShare post, meaning I thought it was bloody Saturday.

Thursday/Tomorrow is Real Thanksgiving, which will be celebrated with my wife’s family, and Friday through Sunday I’ll be at Starbase Indy in, well, Indianapolis. I won’t be able to go anywhere or do anything tomorrow, though, so anything I need to buy or print or get done for Friday actually needs to be done today because everything righteous will be closed tomorrow.

That’s not helping.

So, yeah, today’s a weird day, and I have absolutely no idea what’s going on with my life right now. I’m hoping the week after Thanksgiving holds a bunch of good news, but I’m not talking about that until it happens.

In other news, the Syria post had 10,316 views yesterday. Remember when I was kvetching a little bit that it didn’t look like I’d get as many views this year as last year and that I really wanted 100K out of this year? That post has been live for about exactly a week (within half an hour) as I’m typing this and it’s had 29,445 views, so so much for worrying about that. It’s finally starting to show some signs of slowing down, and tomorrow is a major national holiday, so right now I’m guessing yesterday was the peak, but we’ll see what happens.

Much more to do today, so we’ll talk later.

NOT a #Review: THE SORCERER OF THE WILDEEPS, by Kai Ashante Wilson

On November 24, 2015November 24, 2015 By Luther M. SilerIn Reading, Writing2 Comments

So I’m halfway through Kai Ashante Wilson’s novella THE SORCERER OF THE WILDEEPS. I’m enjoying it, but I don’t quite know what the hell to do with it.

The following is a paragraph from this book:

That voice! Captain lacked the power of speech, was capable only of song. he could stand dumb, gesturing, or else make incomparable music. Even in a monosyllable, it was possible to hear him struggling to diminish his pure tones, hoarsen their rich clarity; trying to turn his vox seraphica into a thing befitting the vulgar, violent world of a caravan guardsman. But calliphony was as inseparable from the captain’s voice as blood from a living heart, and he could do nothing, try as he might, to make any utterance of his less than the loveliest you’d heard, or would ever hear, as long as you lived.

The following is also a paragraph from this book:

Xho Xho’s disquisition began to cover local outlets for black market and sin. Here as elsewhere, a silver penny was the going rate; but niggas should not sleep on the fact that, up in the piazza after midnight, there would be mad hoes out, offering deep discounts.

Here is some dialogue:

Teef said, “It’s too hot for all this!” as he always did after drills. “Why the fuck Captain got us out here running around, throwing spears and shit, in the HOT ASS MOTHERFUCKEN HEAT?”

…

It’s different.

Like I said, I don’t know what to do with this book.

In which I guess I’m on a watch list now

On November 23, 2015November 23, 2015 By Luther M. SilerIn idiocy, Uncategorized3 Comments

So that was interesting.

Any of you who have read Searching for Malumba closely have no doubt noted the dedications page. If you haven’t, feel free to click on that link right there and check out the “Look Inside” feature and you can go see it for yourself right now.

Then buy the book.

Ahem. Anyway. SfM is dedicated generally to all the teachers I have known and/or worked with in my life, and specifically to about a dozen or so who have been my teachers, ranging from my second grade teacher to graduate school.

One of those professors is Bill Ayers. Yes, that Bill Ayers. Y’know, the guy who gave DeRay McKesson the idea to wear a vest everywhere he goes.

This week, I got in touch with Bill and another former professor and asked them both if they would be interested in me sending them copies of Malumba, seeing as how they’re mentioned in it and all. Both were incredibly gracious about it and managed to actually seem excited about me sending them some of my nonsense through the mail. Now, Bill still lives in Chicago. The other professor is on sabbatical in Rome right now, but actually works at the Catholic Theological Union, so both packages were going to the same ZIP code.

I have mailed dozens of books from my local post office, and my PO box is there, too. This means that the employees recognize me and that, furthermore, I’m always mailing the same thing— a book or two in the same damn kind of padded envelope I used last time, book rate, and yes I want a tracking number because I send people the tracking numbers.

I have never been hugely fond of the woman who took care of me today. She always seems to be in a bad mood and has the type of pinched. harried look about her that brings to mind the old adage about having the face you’ve earned once you turn fifty.

I hand her my (identical) packages. “Book rate,” I say. The one on top is Bill’s.

She takes a long look at Bill’s, frowns rather conspicuously, and says something that no post office employee has ever said to me when trying to mail a book. And, again, I’ve been in there dozens of times in the last couple of years.

“You understand that any postal employee may open and inspect any book rate package at any time and for any reason, yes?” She stamps the package with something, then looks at the other one, hesitates for several seconds, and stamps it anyway, which seems to indicate that she didn’t have to stamp it.

I keep my face neutral, neither laughing at her nonsense nor arguing with her. Just said yes. You just better package that shit up correctly when you’re done with it.

She takes care of business, carefully putting the book off to the side (note that this isn’t suspicious; she put it where they always put my books when I mail them) and then suddenly remembers that the second package is there too. Stares at that one for a second.

“Are you sure that this address doesn’t need an apartment number?”

What the fuck, lady. Just mail my shit, okay?

“It’s the Catholic Theological Union,” I say. “No.”

I leave out that the professor I’m mailing it to is the CTU’s professor of Islamic Studies. Because I think I’ve had enough shade thrown at me today.

The end.

In which my diamond shoes are too tight

On November 23, 2015November 23, 2015 By Luther M. SilerIn Uncategorized7 Comments

Screen Shot 2015-11-23 at 8.34.25 AM.png

Damn post is wrecking my graphs.

It is Monday, which makes me feel like the traffic on the Syria post has got to slow down today, but the numbers so far show me differently. On Saturday, I had 200 pageviews when I woke up in the morning and 500 by noon; on Sunday, 500 when I woke up and 1000 by just after noon, and today I had a thousand by 8:00 in the morning. It’s 8:44 as I’m typing this. That picture’s less than five minutes old and it’s 50 hits out of date already.

Screen Shot 2015-11-23 at 8.34.00 AM.png

This may end up too small to read, but look at that nonsense. That 468 hourly high is after I went to bed, and I went to bed around 10:30, which means we had like ten straight hours of 350-400 hits per hour yesterday. There should be a lull in the bell curve around midafternoon, and it ain’t there. And that early-morning dip is probably still around 100-15o an hour.

The goddamn thing’s gonna catch and pass the Snowpiercer post today. In six days. Insanity.

I keep waiting for a troll invasion; I’ve stomped on one post where the person referred to “unvetted” refugees, demonstrating clearly that he had no idea how the refugee process actually works at all, and there have been a couple that I’ve laid a stinkeye on but have left alone. I’ve made one alteration to the text where a mistake was pointed out and left another alone although I probably ought to edit it a bit. I’m considering turning off comments today just because I legitimately have a shitton to do (this is my only day without the boy all week) and I don’t know how much time I have to wait for the racist hordes to land on my head.

Another interesting fact: Facebook continues to be just about the sole source for referrers. You’d think that someone in there somewhere would have dumped the thing onto Zite or StumbleUpon or Reddit or something, but so far this is a Facebook party. Which could be why I’m not seeing too many trolls; maybe they’re all staying on FB and yelling at people there. Who knows.

(8:56 AM: 1318 views, meaning the post got 116 views in the less than fifteen minutes it took to write this.)