Incursions into the Imagination

* WinterMist Manach

Incursions into the Imagination

Writing tools, character development & creative writing exercises.

January 24 , 2008

I don't know why I remember...

Posted at 11:00 EST

(Exercise from the The Writers' Bothy)

I don't know why I remember seeing a winged colt when I was very young. We, me and an older cousin, I could not have been more than 3 years of age, because my little brother wasn't around then. We had spent most of the morning downstairs playing. Sometimes going into the basement of the basement (the celler) to see if Speedy, a yellow & black salamander, wanted to come out and say hi.

Sometime that afternoon Grandma asked if we wanted to go a ride. Of course the resounding answer was yes.It was a nice day, the sky was clear with a rich sky blue. Fields were being cut, so that sweet green smell was all in the air. I don't remember the car ride or getting out the car, but we wound up in a cow field. Deep tracks in the soft earth, but no cows in sight as we came to a earthen mound, hallowed out like a shallow cave. A brown mare standing over to the side and a fuzzy white colt, with his wings folded on his back. It was surreal. But in my mind's eye I can still see it in the dimness, but my head tells me now it must have been a waking dream.

October 24 , 2007

SOR: Idle Hands

Posted at 12:00 EST

We nap in a Blackthorn ticket with moss for a bed. The weakening afternoon sun is dappling through the branches. Sean’s hand rests lightly on my belly. It was a good time for a nap, warm autumn day with no wind and a clear sky. Yawning I wipe the sleep from my eyes and try not to disturb my husband. I need to relieve myself. Grinning mischievously I slip Toad under Sean’s hand, because I know he’ll wake soon with me gone from his side.
I’m not sure how I feel about that. Sean didn’t exactly seem to like finding me alone with Keu that day we all scattered. The fight betwixt the two had been brutal. I even had a silver torque that I though he’d like from those bones. Keu kept most it because I have no use for those trinkets. It had a beautiful running wolf façade on it and emeralds, maybe jade for eyes. He told me to keep it instead. But he wouldn’t tell me why. Nor do I know which he is really watching. Me or Keu? Surely he does think I would wander? Baine or Nion seem to be trusted enough by Sean that I can be alone with them, but not the others. Labraid still a strange enigma to us all.
I amble away thinking about the past few weeks and how I’ve gotten to know his kin a little better, well, as much as observation can give. Most of the men still refuse to speak to me really. Sean is always around and rarely lets me finish what I’m doing, it being sharpening my daggers or checking my horses over for new bite marks and briars. I wonder if he is hoping I will become more domestic. Not a great chance of that happening… I’ve done just as much as the others, showing very little inclination to be domestic. My snares seem to have the most luck for dinner.
Besides the man seems a bit funny about bedding me. Every time I have reached for his breeches’ laces. He has pinned me down and paid immense concentration to my ears, which leaves me quivering in a haze of pleasure paralysis and my mission thwarted. Sometime I’ll have to tell him about the other way to drive an elf senseless.

Chuckling I stalk the last remaining spot full of sun under an old oak. Sitting at its base I close my eyes and soak up the sun still thinking about Sean’s ministrations. I shudder involuntary and feel a warmth creep my legs. How was I going to reciprocate the gesture? Maybe I’d have to tie him up…

This post has no home, but here.

October 22 , 2007

Getting to known the SORian WM

Posted at 17:00 EST

(From "Getting to Know Your Character")

1. Eggs & Sweets; Eggs tend to be hard to come by as she hasn't settled down in one spot long enough to get her own birds and they are so seasonal otherwise. As for the sweets, she’s a sucker for anything done with honey.

2. Right now her most prized possession is a toad her Teltown husband gave her. She also keeps a gryphon amulet on her person, that she never lets anyone see.

3. She's afraid of falling in love with her Teltown husband and giving her heart to him. Because she doesn't know how long she's been granted time here or when she'll be called away. And being accetped in this land makes her hesitant about telling him her secrets.

4. She has an affinity for caves, other than that barns are also a favorite. When those places aren't comforting, on the back of a horse, running, rein free with the wind in her face and loose hair. It's also as good as flying.

5. She's nonchalant about money. She's better at bartering for goods for work/service. Sometimes she filches things though. Why? She's happy with the simple things, laughter, fun, a warm fire on a cool night, a light summer rain, docile bees to charm for fresh comb & honey.

6. When she's bored with a conversation or if she's thinking. She tends to play with the silver hoop in her right cartilage. It just became a random habit after she got it.

7. Quiet, but not timid.

8. Her favorite article of clothing is her cloak (of the many she owns). She likes the versatilities of them and that she can "hide" in them.

9. (n/a)

September 20 , 2007

Creative Writing Assignment #2

Posted at 11:00 EST

You are to go out into public (yes, I know this is scary away from the screen *w*) and eavesdrop on conversations.

The single phrase or line that most sticks in your mind will be the very first line of this creative writing exercise. 1 page in length, double spaced.

September 14 , 2007

Getting to know the Myraisan, WinterMist

Posted at 17:00 EST

(From the writing exercise below)

1. Sweets; She's a sucker for sweets especially any sweets that are done up with honey.

2. Her Companion Abyss; They are soulbonded. He is her best friend and most of the time the only one in and out of warfare.

3. Other "people"; She is quite a loner due to her heritage being a bastard offspring of a raiding dark elf party. She has most of her father's colorings. Most of the time she's treated less than a person, even less than a half demon. So aside from avoiding other people, she engulfs herself in her work.

4. Her room in a rocky lair outside of the city of
Shadedstone. It's her getaway from the people. It's a bit inaccessible, for the common person, unless you're another Gryffin Rider or like to climb. She has a gorgeous view of the thick forest.

5. She really doesn't have much use for money. She's
military and most things she needs are taken care of for her and Abyss. Extra money maybe spent on sweets, leathers and silver jewelry, but she rarely wears it anyway. She has a small horde of gems.

6. When she's bored with a conversation or if she's
thinking. She tends to play with the silver hoop in her
right cartilage. It just became a random habit after she got it.

7. WM is thought of being very cold, distant and aloof.
Generally speaking she does this on purpose only because of the way she is treated by the general public. If they heard only her voice, they would think she was very small. She usually has a rather quiet voice, melodic.

8. Her favorite article of clothing is her cloak (of the many she owns). She likes the versatilities of them and that she can "hide" in them.

9. Instant wealth would not sit well with her, because
although she is a loner by force and not choice, this would get her nothing she craves.

Instant poverty now, wouldn't really devastate her much as she came from rather poor upbringing. She'd end up working as something somewhere.

September 7 , 2007

How well do you know your character?

Posted at 12:00 EST

This was a character development exercise in a fiction class I took and thought to share it. The idea is to know your character better. The next questions are to be answered not with a few words, but the item or idea and why.

1. What is your character's favorite food? Why?

2. What is your character's most prized possession? Why?

3. What is your character most afraid of? Why?

4. What is your character's favorite room/place? Why?

5. What is your character's attitude towards money/riches/wealth? Why?

6. Does your character have any eccentricities? Did they pick them for a reason?

7. What impression does your character give when speaking to someone else? of if the person only hears their voice.

8. What is your character's favorite article of clothing? Why?

9. How does your character react to instant wealth? poverty? And what they do with their situation.