If anyone's feeling inclined, I'd really appreciate you just firing some questions at my MC so I can get to grips with her a bit more. My betas are coming back that she's a bit flat and, the more I think about it, she's the only one of mine who never developed that almost autonomic sense of determination. The only thing I can think of is to dig a bit deeper in new areas and try and round her out a bit before I go back to editing. You probably do need to know she's 11! So... Hi, I'm Kate.
Hello Kate, I have some questions for you: Are you a cat or dog person? Would you describe yourself as a girly girl, tomboy or something else? Who is your favorite parent? Please be unfair and try to pick just one. What gender is the majority of your friends? Boy or Girls? Or balanced? Are you social person or more introverted? What is your favorite academic subject? Do you like academics or are you more of a pop culture type of person? I'll probably come up with more soon.
Oh lord, everything! I'm so hungry all the time. But my favourite is probably the little fish dumplings Ki sells at the market. One day I'll have enough money to eat them every day.
Er, cats. No, dogs. Cats keep to themselves and don't try and take my food, but dogs are more fun, and warmer to cuddle up to. I think I'd have to say dogs, but I like them both. Not a girly girl, but definitely a girl. I like nice clothes and beautiful things. Mama. She did the best she could. Papa just left. I don't have many friends. When I do, they tend to be girls: boys can be a bit too stupid sometimes. I like them, but they always want to be your boyfriend, never just friends, and it's irritating. I don't like to be with too many people. I don't know what to say to them and I can't concentrate on what's going on. Maths. I always liked maths. I had to do a lot for Mama when we were still together, and I can still practise now. Everything can be counted, or divided or... well, that's as much as I know. I like what I see in the windows: all the things that make the wealthy people happy. I want to know that I belong and hold an umbrella, a handbag or even a newspaper that says I do.
Cool answer Kate, you are sounding interesting and human. Who do you want to be when you grow up? It can be one thing or many things Do you like nature or are you more of an inside type? What color would you paint you bedroom? What is your favorite color? What is your favorite season? Favorite time of day? If you could describe your natural demeanor with one word, what would it be? Serious, silly, smiley or maybe even pensive?
I do. I looked after Mama for a long time too. It's easier now it's just me, but I don't have a house, or any money really. I can work though, sometimes, and I will be rich someday, I know it.
What sort of work do you do? If you don't have a house, where do you live? Would you like to meet your father again?
One of the rich ladies in the big hotels in town. I don't know what they do, but they always looks so happy. I like being indoors when it's wet or cold and windy, but in summer I like to be down by the river more than anything. I am the best swimmer. My own bedroom? Blue with stars and yellow curtains. I never thought! I like red, and blue a lot. So maybe purple? Summer, when I can be outside and not worry so much about the dark or the cold. Morning. Each time I wake up I think it must be today that it changes; today that my luck comes in. Clever. I am definitely clever: everyone says so. And I know all the rules and exactly how everything is always supposed to be, and I never get caught.
I run messages, I gut fish, and I trade things I find. Oh, and I help Ki with her numbers sometimes. I'd help more people with that, if I could, but they don't always trust me, 'cause I look so dirty. That's 'cause of where I live. Most of the time I sleep under the docks with some of the other children, but it's not always safe. When the police come along to kick us, or the traders come to try and take us, I go to the back of the church, or the shops. I can't stay there very long, because other people sleep there and they don't like sharing, but if I have to I can hide there for a little bit, or find someone who'll protect me for some money or food. I'd love to see Papa again. I only remember him a little bit -- from when he was here during the wars -- but he seemed kind, and happy. I don't know why he left.
I'll post some more questions. But, your character doesn't sound one-dimensional at all. To me (lack of expertise alert) she sounds a very real character, with depth. Who are the other children who sleep under the docks? Do you have any friends among them? Any enemies?
Mostly they were born here and their parents went to jail or got sick. Some were just left. Sam's mama made him do work he didn't like so he ran away. She comes looking for him sometimes, still, but I won't give him away. I don't get on very well with most of them because they think I'm snooty and too clever. Well, I am, so what? I can't help it any more than they can help that they're stupid! But we have to help each other even if we don't get on: there's no one else. I shan't care once I'm gone though. Once I'm rich I'll be gone and they'll wish they were nicer to me. ***I'm glad you think so DM. Her responses here are who she is at the beginning, and a lot of it is back-story. Some of this and something of her clearly isn't coming through in how she acts and speaks at times (I think), so hopefully by digging her out again I can refocus her attitude into her responses and development more throughout the MS. And you do yourself an injustice with your disclaimers (wherever they are); you are being very helpful!***
I agree with DefinitelyMaybe, your character is very interesting. Very real. 1. Why do you want your room blue with stars and yellow curtains? Do those things hold meaning for you? Or do they re-create a favorite memory of yours. 2. What do you think is most important in life? What do you do to have this or get this? 3. If you are confronted with a threatening situation, what do you do? Do you wish you could react in a different way? What would you like to be able to do. *I hope these questions make sense. I like your idea of having people ask your character questions. I might use this strategy. Actually, I will. I hope you don't mind It's gives the writer a chance to really be their character, and helps them to write in their character's perspective. Now, I'll just have to choose which character I would like to be first.
The stars and the sun are the same to everyone: constant. I love summers of golden sun, and deep, blue nights. Being happy. Being safe. I know how it works, I've seen it. If I have money I can do what I want, be where I want, eat what I want, then I'll be happy. Sometimes hide, sometimes scream. I don't like bullies and I won't ever be bullied again. When I am rich I will end all bullying and no one will ever be scared again. Sometimes I wish I was older too, but that will come. ***Go for it! I wish I could claim it was mine though; there are a couple of similar threads on here, and character questionnaires are a popular device for solving this type of problem. I think it works better like this though: you never quite know what someone else will ask!***
Ha! What's cheese hobbling?! That sound gross! Oh, but it would have to be monkey tennis anyway. I heard they have a monkey who's a porter at one of the big hotels nearby. I've never seen him, but Sam swears he has. I bet he could play tennis... the monkey that is, not Sam. Sam'd probably be useless. Do you think I could play tennis with the monkey? I've never played tennis. Oh that sounds like fun...!
Sounds like kinda interesting character to me. The Ha! seemed a little like authorial intrusion, together with the "That sounds gross!" Would it to an eleven year old? Maybe? But I like that the response is related back to that small sphere of influence you have as a child.
***She would definitely have laughed at that question... wasn't sure how to write it I baulked at gross a little when I wrote it, but because that word's too contemporary for her. It's really hard not to see my niece's face when I write her as well, and she's only seven. Big difference at that age. Perhaps it would be more the weird or strange that she's laughing at? This is all really helpful!***
I'll explain my reasoning: "Ha" is more an exclamation than organic laughter, it strikes me as more adult. Again, " That sounds gross!" comes across as an adult response to a phrase containing the word cheese, which carries a certain stigma, rather than a childish lack of understanding, which I would expect to be expressed more as a hesitating "what is Cheese Hobbling?" or a more cocksure and assertive "I hate cheese hobbling" (even in ignorance of the meaning).
When your father left, how old were you? How did you feel when he left? Where is your Mama now? How do you feel now that she's not with you? Do you miss her? What are you willing to do to get rich? Do you have a plan for how you'll make yourself rich? What plan is that?
Mama says I was three, but I don't remember. I know he was kind to us and he made Mama smile, and I know he likes cherries. Mama says I cried and cried when he left, but I don't know if that's true. I don't cry, Mama does. I needed him when Mama got ill, and when she gave everything we had away. I still don't understand that. Or why she went with the men who took her away and left me. They said I could go too, but I didn't want to so I ran. I do miss her sometimes, but it's easier being by myself. If I'm by myself I don't have to give anything away. I can do what I want, when I want and when someone tries to trick me I will stop them, and they will listen because I'm older now. By being clever like this, I think I will someday be rich, but maybe before then. Maybe someone will help me, maybe I can find papa, maybe he's already rich. Mama always said we were rich when he was here.
I don't know. Is it dangerous? I've seen the bulls on market day, and they're huge! I don't think I'd like to do anything with them, but if I had to...? It would depend on whether it mattered. I'm quite strong, and VERY quick if I need to be.
What your opinion on beards, Kate? If you could bring one person with you on a desert island, who would it be?
