Beautiful People | Masara

This week I discovered this fantastic blog link-up called Beautiful People. The host blog, The Notebook Sisters, post new questions for your characters at the beginning of each month and then you get to answers them. After that, you link your blog on their page and other writers or readers can click on it to learn about your characters and you can learn about other people's characters. I'm really excited about this! 

The character that I chose to do for this set of questions is Masara, the main character from my science fiction novel Crec. Let's get right into the questions!

1) What is their full name and is there a story behind why they got it? 

Masara M. Gold. There's not much of a story behind her first name; her parents just really liked the name Masara. The middle initial comes from her mom's maiden name, Morgan. In the future Earth Masara lives on, the classic middle name disintegrated from culture. Everyone uses their mother's maiden name initial as their middle initial.

2) How old are they, and when were they born? 

Masara is fifteen and was born on September 17th.

3) Describe their physical appearance. 

Masara has long, wavy, brown hair and mud brown eyes. She has an oval shaped face and is smaller in build and stature—about five foot three inches in height. 

Bonus questions 1: What is their race/nationality/ethnicity? 

Caucasian.

Bonus questions 2: Do you have a picture of them? If so, include it!

A photo of Georgie Henley that
looks exactly like Masara

4) Describe your character's personality first in one word, and then elaborate with a few sentences. 
Suspicious. Masara is suspicious of both people and events. Her inquisitive mind and over-analytical thought process doesn't allow for much to pass through her filter. While she may not always act on these suspicions, she notices danger in things and people where others don't.

5) What theme song(s) fit their personality and story arc?

Probably "This Is Home" by Switchfoot. I've been looking for better songs for my characters and I know there's probably a more suited one out there than this. But this one, especially the first verse, captures her fairly well.

6) Which one of the seven deadly sins describes your character? 
Envy. Not necessarily of possessions but of courage. She looks at her best friend Piper and sees in her a fearlessness that Masara has lost.

7) If they were an element (fire, water, earth, air), which one would they be? 
Earth. Masara has a set opinion on things, won't be moulded into someone else's plans, is stubborn and unshakeable.

8) What is their favourite word? 
Adrenaline.

9) Who’s one person they really miss? (It could be someone who’s passed away, or someone they’re not close to anymore, or someone who’s moved away.) 
Her dad. Because of his job, Masara hardly ever gets to see him anymore.


10) What sights, sounds, and smells remind them of that person?

Her brother's and her own cutlass sword, and cinnamon or the two big ones. Her dad taught her and her older brother, Trey how to use a sword and gifted them each with their own one Christmas. As far as the cinnamon goes, her dad used to bake cinnamon twists Saturday mornings when she was a kid and so the smell of it reminds her of him. 

And so that wraps up the questions! If you want to read more posts like this or write your own, click here.
If you want to check out the Pinterest board from Masara's world, follow this link. 

If a character I mentioned in Masara's answers interested you (despite the little information XD) or you know of some others that I've mentioned in previous posts, be sure to comment below and I'll keep them in mind for the next set of questions. 

Archetypes: All the World's a Stage Part 1

Read previous entries on archetypes:
Archetypes: A Hero's Journey Part 1
Archetypes: A Hero's Journey Part 2

In school we recently picked up Archetypes and it got me thinking about them all over again. I figured since I haven't written about them since February, it wouldn't be a bad idea to reopen the topic.
When I wrote about them last time, I discussed both the origin of archetypes and the different journeys that characters can go on. Today I'll go through the different recurring situational settings that come up in archetypal stories. Situational settings are basically the premise of stories.

FUN FACT: Carl Jung, the psychiatrist that came up with the idea of archetypes, also came up with the idea of introverts and extroverts along with other personality types.
All of us are living, breathing archetypes! I'm not sure why, but I find this really cool.

1) The Desert

The desert is commonly associated with spiritual sterility and barrenness but shouldn't be confused with the wasteland archetype. 

If you've ever seen the movie Hidalgo, you would know that this archetype fits it perfectly. The main character, Hopkins, has close relations to the Native Americans and their spiritual traditions but refuses to acknowledge this side of him until the climax. 

By the end of a story in the desert, the hero will likely come out of their spiritually stale place after leaving the desert or just before they do. 

The hero may also contrast the others in the desert and become the only one who isn't barren. Throughout the story they may be the only character that's taking their beliefs anywhere and their battle involves changing the minds of others. 

ex. Hidalgo, Quarantine by Jim Crace

2) The Orphaned Ruler 

In this story, our hero grows up ignorant to the power he/she really holds. He could be anything from a prince separated during a war and raised by a young peasant girl to the son of a mafia leader sent away for his own protection.
So how does the hero discover their power? It could happen through a number of ways but according to the archetype it happens after they're rediscovered by their parents.

Rapunzel in Tangled

The most classic and well known example of this is Tangled. Rapunzel is kidnapped by Gothel as a baby and is raised without knowing that she's a princess. After unknowingly visiting her home kingdom (and a few other happenings) she discovers that she's the lost princess. This discovery sets the stage for the events that lead to the climax.
The hero in this story always, always discovers their true identity and this discovery will bring both good and bad to the character.
ex. Tangled, Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz, Jupiter Ascending 

3) The Damsel in Distress

This one is pretty self explanatory but incase you're not familiar with it: a beautiful young woman is rescued from a monster by a handsome young man who later marries her. Tons of fairytales follow this settings.
Shrek is the complete reverse of this archetype. The creators flip everything on it's head. The monster isn't really a monster, neither the hero or the damsel are drop dead gorgeous and while they get married, it's certainly not expected.
The monster in this story doesn't have to be a beast, it can also be a monstrous person like in Cinderella. Simplified, the monster is the villain.
ex. Cinderella, King Kong, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

4) The Long Journey

Hiro (Masi Oka) and Peter
(Milo Ventimiglia) in Heroes

This one is pretty vague but probably my favourite. It could include anything from a difficult quest to a pursuit for revenge. When I first read this archetype I initially though that all stories fit this category but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I was wrong. Most romances don't fit here and neither do most contemporary novels.
The hero could be physically trekking across miles of land (The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien), waging war on an empire (Code Geass) or saving New York from destruction...again (Heroes). 
ex. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, Code Geass, Heroes, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Hades and Percy in the movie
adaptation of The Lightning Thief

5) The Katabasis

Katabasis is a Greek word meaning "going down". In literature and especially greek mythology, it refers to a decent into the underworld. This one can be taken both literally or metaphorically. The hero could literally descend into the underworld or could enter an 'underworld-like' place in hellish conditions such as a dystopian land.
Our hero in this story is brave, very motivated and sacrificial—they have to be, it's the underworld! In these stories, our main characters may spend quite some time in the underworld or they may visit it briefly. An important element to note is that the hero can not die or it would not be true Katabasis. Anabasis (a Greek word meaning "going up") should always follow Katabasis.
ex. Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, Orpheus and Eurydice from Greek mythology, Alice In Wonderland

6) The Garden

The Garden is known in the archetype world as one of the 'Big Four'. It's a symbol for birth, fertility, abundance, growth, peace, tranquility—you get the idea. Characters can find refuge in gardens and while the entire story may not take place in one, it's something that our hero will continuously return to.
Gardens can sometimes be ruined or 'poisoned' which will force the hero to leave, sending them on their journey.
ex. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, An Episode of Sparrows by Rumer Godden

A still from the film adaptation of Beastly

7) The Redemptive Rituals 

At the beginning of these stories, the protagonist screws up. The premise will then surround their redemption.
The ritual could be a set thing that they must do according to society, a contract or a spell, or something they believe they must do in their own heart to make things right.
A famous example is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Our protagonist has a bitter heart and is shown through three spirits that he needs to change.
Redemption must always be found in these stories or the premise is worthless.
ex. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Beastly by Alex Flinn

8) The End of the World

Another self-explanatory archetype: so many popular young adult novels fall under this archetype. Whether it's a dystopian/post-apocalyptic society or the impending doom of a city, danger will always be looming over the heads our our heroes. There might be a time limit like there is in Heroes but that's not always the case. Instead, the danger may be the world they live in or the people that want to destroy the world.
ex. Oblivion, I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore, The Scorch Trials by James Dashner, Enders Game by Orson Scott Card

Which archetypes do your stories fit into? 

Frogs, Solos and Silver Ratings

I've been MIA for awhile now and I apologize for that but a lot has happened in the past month that's kept me occupied and away from blogging. Since a lot of the things are noteworthy, I thought I'd do a post on some of them.

Me (left) and my friend/model/actor
 after the music video was completed.

1) Frogs

After much procrastination, I finally finished the sets and the filming for a music video I'm doing for a Digital Multimedia class in school. After at least 72 hours of hot gluing, cutting cardboard, drawing flowers and frogs on poster board and struggling to make clouds out of cotton, I finished my props and sets...the same day that I started filming. It took seven hours to shoot everything but I'm incredibly pleased with how it turned out.
When I get a finished rendered copy of the film, I'll be sure to post it with a little more detail about the project.

2) Silver Ratings 
My high school choir took a tour to the west coast of Canada to Richmond Vancouver for the national competition. We traveled by bus, 14 hours there and 14 hours back with both the junior high concert band and the high school concert band. We made stops at schools and the provincial competition for the concert bands along the way. I'm so proud of both concert bands for getting Superior (the highest you can get) ratings at the festival! They were great performances to listen to.
Going to Vancouver meant sight seeing. We traveled up to Grouse Mountain, hung out in Stanley Park, and had a day at the beach. The memories I made with some of my best friends will stay in my mind forever.

A photo of Vancouver taken by
a member of the choir and high school 
concert band, Andrew Schroeder.

Near the end of our trip, the choir sang. We had the privilege of concluding the entire festival and it wasn't a disappointing performance! We sang Lux Aurumque (Light and Gold) by Eric Whitacre,  a Venezuelan percussive piece called Salseo by Oscar Galian, and a gospel piece, Shout Glory. For the record, our soloist was better than the one in the recording XD
The performance we gave was so much fun and we sang so well! We got a Silver rating which may not sound incredible but it's a huge accomplishment! Our Director said that he has a friend that's been going to this competition for 17 years and has only gotten Gold once. Not that I like boasting but for a second year choir to get a Silver: that's something to boast about!

3) Solos
Most recently, out Choir preformed at a jazz club. Since only a few of us could go, we were missing one of our soloists and so I was asked to fill in.
I was really excited and not nervous at all—until three bars before I sang my first note. I've never felt nerves like those ones! My entire stomach felt twisted and heavy inside me, my heart was beating and yet I was surprisingly calm. I do wish I could have shown a little more confidence in the way I sang but it certainly wasn't bad for my first solo in eight years.

Hopefully I can get back into a more regular writing schedule now that my crazy month is passed. If there's anything you'd like to have me write about post it in the comments below!

We Are Inspired

Some students in my class as we
arrive at the gallery

Last week my English class took a full day field trip downtown to our province's official art galley. Besides the fantastic architecture, numerous story ideas that flooded my mind (I seriously recommend visiting an art gallery for story inspiration), and the incredible Italian lunch my friend and I ate in the City Centre, I found a comment that a friend made in my tour group most impactful.
The last exhibition was a historical gallery filled with drawings, paintings and photography of insects, plants and gardens. All of the art was inspired by nature and could be traced back to artists living between now and 400 years ago.
At the end of the gallery, our tour guide gathered us all together and had us sit down around him on either the benches or the floor. We discussed using nature as a subject and he got a few of us to talk about our favourite pieces but the bulk of the conversation was around the idea of inspiration.
Our guide asked something along the lines of, "What are your thoughts of using historical art as inspiration?"
The girl sitting next to me answered, explaining that lots of well known painters such as Monet have used other artists to influence how they paint. The tour guide agreed and the discussion continued as he got us to give examples of different things that influence artists.
One of my friends in the group stood at the edge of the semicircle holding his clipboard of notes to his ribcage. He raised his hand and when called on said, "But don't you think that if artists are constantly taking things from other artists, they aren't being truly creative?"
At first this stunned me. I realized I had once thought through this idea myself. But then it angered me. As a writer with a creative mind and as someone who takes ideas from the world just like Monet, I disagree.

The Starry Night by Van Gogh

There's a big difference between copying and using something as inspiration. 
Paul Cezanne, a famous painter, was inspired by Van Gogh but he never copied his ever-famous The Starry Night. What he did was adapt some of his technique.
Like a lot of writers, I use Pinterest as a source of visual inspiration. I save photos of potential characters, settings or things that I just find interesting and go back to them when I need something to kickstart my creative juices. But never ever do I look at a photo and try to re-create the scene in my story.
I follow a blog, Go Teen Writers, which is written by authors who share their techniques with young aspiring writers like me. It's a source of inspiration. I don't copy their examples or try to mimic the novels they already have published.
There are books that have inspired my own current novels but despite this, I try to be as original as I can. If anything reminds too much of something else that I've read or seen on TV, I take it out or twist it until it's my own.
It wouldn't be very satisfying to make money off of work that isn't really yours. I think that true artists realize this and respect the work of others.

It's not easy. I leave the theatre all the time wishing I could create a villain like the one in the film I watched. I close countless books wishing I had thought of the plot twist the author used first. With media becoming such a large part of our culture, unique ideas are quickly being claimed, recycled, and some even reach the point of cliche. People are constantly coming up with new ideas. Being creative is becoming increasingly difficult but that doesn't mean it's impossible.

Even the first artists were inspired. The first painters probably saw a person or a landscape and wanted to capture that moment forever so they did. The first musicians probably heard the wind or birds and sang a tune along. The first writers documented the stories that happened to real people, hoping to share them with the world. Art's legacy would be non-existent without a stimulus right from the start.

So to my friend who believes that nothing can ever be truly creative, let me say this: creativity is dead without inspiration. You can't simply pull an idea from your head without anything to trigger that thought. Different artists use different things to inspire them. One of these things can be the work of other artists. They can create something beautiful with just the thoughts of something someone else created. Without that painting, photograph, novel, song or whatever else it may be, the idea would have never came to be.

What inspires you? 

Interview With Matt (The Dome)

Me: 

Hey guys! This week I'm going to be interviewing Matt using the great questions that you asked him. Thanks for all that you submitted!
I made a typo in last weeks post so depending on which phrase you read, I'm either on time or late on posting this. Sorry about that! 

So without further ado, lets get these questions rolling. *turns in my plush red chair to face Matt in his* Hey Matt. *smiles*

Matt: 

*nods a hello* 

Me: 

I have a lot of questions to ask you so lets get started.

Matt: 

Sure. Sounds good. 

Me: 

The first few questions are from Cassidy. *glances at tablet* She says, "Do you like paintball? It sounds random, I know, but that was the first thing I thought of when I saw your celebrity look alike in the first pic." 

Matt: 

*scrunches up his face slightly* Who's my celebrity look alike? 

Me: 

*brings up the photo on the tablet and shows it to him* 

Matt: 

*leans forward to look at it* Is he holding a gun? 

Me: 

Yes. That's why Cassidy's asking about paintball. 

Matt: 

Which is what? *leans back in the chair* 

Me: 

It's a game they play Up There. *pulls the tablet back onto my lap* I'll explain it to you after. 

Matt: 

*disbelieving* A game with a gun. Guns kill people. 

Me:

No these ones—I'll explain after. Next question from Cassidy says, "I assume you like cars—do you have a favourite model? Or a dream car? 

Matt: 

Probably an Tesla Model S. It has a 4.4 second acceleration, 416 horsepower, reduced torque and increased traction, extrusions, stampings, and castings are expertly joined for rigidity...it's a good car.

Me: 

*laughs a little* You know so much more about cars than I do. I understood like, half of that. 

Matt: 

*smirks* Well I kind of have to with my job and all. 

Me: 

Right. *looks at the tablet* Cassidy also wants to know if you have a favourite colour. 

Matt: 

*considers* I have a lot of grey hoodies and my Imprisonment colour is orange so I guess those ones. *shrugs* 

Me: 

*nods* Last one from Cassidy, "Aside from getting out, do you have any goals or ambitions?" 

Matt: 

I want to graduate high school with good marks. My parents would like that. 

Me:

Is that what you want or what your parents want? 

Matt: 

*frowns* I want to make them proud of me. Getting good marks will do that.

Me: 

Oh, okay, I see. Austin has some questions for you too. *scrolls down on the tablet* He says, "Hey Matt, Have you ever wondered whether a team you lead actually likes you as a leader?" 

Matt: 

For Imprisonment? Well no one complains and I've heard a few compliments so...*nods his head to the side* Have I wondered specifically about that? No, I haven't.

Me: 

Austin also asks, "Are you aware of your own arrogance?" 

Matt:

Am I aware—why would he think I'm arrogant? 

Me: 

Uh...

Matt:

What's in my bio? *cranes his neck to see the tablet* 

Me:

*turns it away* Answer the question and I'll let you read it after. 

Matt:

My mom warns me of it...so does my dad. So I guess you could say I'm aware. 

Me: 

Next one from Austin says, "What if you find out that Up There is a worse place than where you are living in right now?" He also asks what you'd do if it was all in vain.

Matt: 

If it's really that bad, I'll go home and it's not in vain.

Me: 
A few more from Austin: "Is there anyone in the Dome that you want to see eliminated?"

Matt: 
If by eliminated you mean kill, then no. *glances at the tablet* Austin asks a lot of questions.

Me: 
And you're answering all of them. *scrolls down* "How do you determine people you can trust? Can you do it without having to see or know their past actions?"

Matt:
It's better knowing who they are before you trust them. Other times it's just intuition.

Me: 
The last one from Austin says, "What's your love language?"

Matt: 
Love language?

Me: 
Yeah. It's an Up There thing. Like, what makes you feel most loved.

Matt: 
Oh that thing. I'm quality time and acts of service according to a test we took at school.

Me: 

Victoria wants to know if you wish you had any siblings as an only child. *looks up from tablet* 

Matt: 

Sometimes. *purses his lips* It's probably easier to keep secrets without a sibling though. 

Me: 

Interesting. Another question from Victoria, "What do you want to do when you get older? Do you want to still be a mechanic when you're an adult?" 

Matt: 

I'm hoping to have gotten out by then but if it came down to it, I'd probably take over the shop.

Me: 

Kristana says, "Do you have a lot of friends? Do you have any 'special' girl friends?"

Matt: 
Girl friends? I don't have time for a girlfriend right now. As far as other friends go, I hang out with Ryan and a few others but I wouldn't say I have a lot.

Me: 
Her next questions asks, "What intrigues you most about Up There?"

Matt: 
*clasps his hands together and rests his elbows on his knees* I guess I just want to experience life in a place not closed in by a wall.

Me: 
*nods* "What gets on your nerves the most?"

Matt: 
People that don't trust me or don't cooperate.

Me:
The last questions is from Kristana as well. "Who do you share your secrets with?"

Matt: 
No one. If I shared my secrets they wouldn't be secrets anymore.

Me: 
Good point. *sets the tablet down on my lap* Well that's all the questions I've got for you. Thanks for coming.

Matt: 
*sits up and leans back* No problem.

Me: 
Thanks again to all you asked question! Feel free to ask any more in the comments below and thanks for reading.

Questions For Matt

Connor Jessup who looks kind of like Matt

Next Saturday I'm going to be doing a character interview with one of my main characters from The Dome, Matt Layden and I want you guys to be the ones coming up with questions! Here's some information about him to get some ideas going.

Matt Layden is a seventeen year old, telekinetic citizen of the Dome: an underwater city at the heart of the Bermuda Triangle. Just like the other students in the city, Matt has grown up learning how to use his ability in both a general and defensive way. The city-wide mentality that abilities involving the mind are more important and influential than others, has cultivated his arrogant side. A strong competitor and team leader in the high school's semi-annual competition, Imprisonment, Matt possesses leadership qualities, knows how to work with a team and has a strategic mind.

Being an only child, Matt has struggled with the pressure of being the perfect son. Congratulations come from his father when he does well. Criticism comes when he does not. To cope, he hangs out with his best friend Ryan, and tinkers at his after school job at the mechanic's shop. His free time is filled with his secret obsession of discovering more about Up There and ultimately getting out. For years he's crept behind his parent's backs, collecting information about both the Dome and the world beyond his own, hoping to find a way out and experience it for himself. In the back of his mind are the nagging rules and warnings against escape. Getting caught means losing everything. But after a life ruled by others, it's about time he takes the risks and rules it himself.

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below and he'll answer as many as he can this coming weekend! 

Nostalgia Blast!

A few weeks ago, I had a friend come over to go to a movie with me. While I was throwing my hair in a ponytail, she started going through some papers in my closet, writing papers. At first I panicked but then I saw what it was she was reading and I smiled. She had found a hard copy of a mystery screenplay that I wrote and finished when I was about thirteen or fourteen.
That night, I spent some time looking back at my stories I had both planned to write and started writing.

A snippet from the script

Mystery On Sand Dollar Street
This is the one my friend found in my closet. I had full intentions of using my neighborhood friends as actors, filming it and everything.

Plot: When two best friends, Kennedy and Sara, lose the triplets they're babysitting to an unknown kidnapper, Misty, Aubrey, Jessie and Amber join Detective Elsie in the hunt to find them and return them home. Jessie and Amber follow their own hunches and find clues that lead them to believe that Sara is the kidnapper. While Sara vacations in the Bahamas, Kennedy struggles with the idea that a close friend is a criminal.

When I read it over, I both wanted to hit myself in the face with the pages and applaud myself. I was actually humorous as a kid and there were tons of great lines that made both me and my friend laugh out loud. I made an effort to keep the kidnapper's identity hidden for as long as possible and also make all my characters different.
But the detective did nothing. She basically just showed up and told the girls what to do. She also kept ending the search to go to bed. So there's three little girls missing and you're sleeping...tell me again how you landed this job?

Quest Kids 
As a kid I was obsessed with planning series. The never ending kind. The kind that you can keep adding books too whenever you have a new plot. This is one of those.
I don't remember a lot about this one because I was seven when I came up with it and I never actually started writing it down. However, it was the first story that I would fall asleep thinking about.

General Idea: Two orphaned brother/sister duos discover that they're now the 'chosen ones' and must stop a mafia-like group from carrying out their plans. One girl's name was Jane and another girl's name was Megan...I don't really remember the guys names.

FIRE 303 
I have a special attachment to this one. I think I started it when I was eight and kept it in my head until eighth grade. I kind of miss it.
It started off as a game my sister and two neighbourhood friends played as kids. We threw coloured plastic balls at each other, pretending that the colour represented our power. We came up with names for each other and those names became my main protagonist characters.

Plot: A group of six friends discover an underground laboratory while camping and accidentally get themselves mixed up with a government project to create the ultimate defenders of the city. With watches that give them powers, Emily, Hazel, Melissa and James take on new identities as heroes while Star and Dante become villains.

Characters:
Emily Seattle (Firegirl): My main character, a rebel/prankster at school and the leader of the FIRE squad. She has flaming red hair that is literally flaming when she's transformed into a super hero and the ability to control, create and be unaffected by fire.

Hazel (Icey): Emily's best friend, born Canadian North. She keeps Emily grounded is a good student and likes to think before acting. She can control ice in almost every way and when she's in superhero mode, the tips of her short blonde hair turn into icicles

Melissa (Raging Storm/Storm): She doesn't offer her opinion much but will support the group in any way she can. She can make hurricanes, tornadoes and any non-snow storm. She also has long brown wavy hair that flies around her face violently even when she's not making storms.

James (Electric Idiot/Electric Shock...where the first one came from I don't know): The goofball and incredibly clueless, he grew up in the city and brings light to their situations.  He has spiked blonde hair that crackles with static when he uses his electrical powers.

So there you have it. Those are just some of the stories I was working on as a kid.

What were the stories that you wrote or planned when you were younger?