THAT 10 WEIRD THINGS

While having coffee with a friend yesterday, we came across the subject of creating and developing characters for fictional stories. We all know that creating or developing characters is arguably the single-most important part in writing stories because they are the heart and soul through which the story is told. Well, of course, elements like plot, setting and theme, may play important role but these factors are secondary to the characters that your audience or reader can connect with on an intellectual or emotional level. 

My very good friend Miguel, who is a professor and a writer, gave interesting insights on how to develop characters in the story and how they could come alive for your reader or audience. He said that great characters are built layer by layer through actions and discovery. It is not just about describing their reactions on certain scenarios or their feelings on certain things, but it should expound and rationalize the choices they make based on the cumulative actions and interactions that are of course created by the overriding effect of core desire, ambition, goal or driving need. These overriding elements could be the sum of scars and memories and ruined dreams that have left characters with resentments, fears, habit, weaknesses and inclinations that would perhaps explain their personhood. For instance, you character may want to finish studies despite his disabilities or his being economically disadvantage. The core desire, ambition, goal or driving need will somehow give structure and elicit layers of emotions while justifying their thoughts and every word of dialogue spoken.

He also added that what makes character in the story believable, captivating and unique is their vulnerability, contradicting traits, their secret as well as list of their personality quirks. These elements will keep readers enthralled and contribute to the character’s layers of personality as the story progresses.

Miguel’s trivia on developing and carefully crafting fictional characters was very informative. But what really caught my attention was how secrets as well as the list of the character’s personality quirks make each character real. I believe we would all agree that those dark and deeply hidden secrets make characters compelling. Character’s secrets could also be the main drive as it becomes part of the puzzle of a story that must be unraveled. The same is true with the character’s personality quirks; in my point of view the most compelling characters are those who appear to be internally consistent and yet are capable of surprise. Why it works? Our senses and mind by nature are tuned to focus on irregularities. Things that don’t quite fit or are constantly changing, happen to pique our curiosity.

While the element of surprise or personality quirk is the simplest to write, it is the hardest to develop because we don’t know what makes unique trait any different from the rest. So as an attempt to develop a list of personality quirks or traits that I might find useful in developing my story character, Miguel decided to do a simple exercise by running down 10 things that he find weird in me. These traits according to Miguel make me unique. It also set me apart from the rest of the pack. So here goes my top ten personality quirks based on Miguel’s observation. 

1. My favorite color is BLACK and because I am so loyal to my color of choice I can’t write in blue ball pen.  
2. Comfortable being alone but could not sleep alone in a room.
3. Loves splurging on things but instead of using it I just sort of hang them in my closet or display them in my room like the artifacts you see inside a museum.
4. Certified dessert girl who could go on a full week eating desserts and sweet treats only.
5. Have a massive ticket collection of trains, planes and bus from my various travels as well as restaurant receipts from various coffee shops.
6. When I love a book, I would read it over and over again until I could recite the character’s lines and identify the page that the character’s line may come from.
7. Could be mistaken as the cold one because I love cold weather and rainy season. This also explains why I hate summer and beaches.
8. An ardent feminist and debater who believes in advancing the rights of all women.
9. Changes mind in a blink of an eye, makes multiple plans or takes off suddenly without a moment notice.
10. One thing that makes me really happy is coffee. 

Flabbergasted, Miguel’s list of unique traits came as a huge surprise to me because I didn’t know any of these strange facts did occur in my life but I have to agree that the list defined me as a person. It helped in digging deep and learning who I am.

Because creating characters that leap off the pages, lives and breathes are always the goal of every story writers, this exercise is a fun and creative way of fleshing out people’s personality. It also adds depth and dimension to any characters that you are developing or writing.

So whenever you are developing a character for your story it is best to insert personality quirk because it helps in creating resonance and deeper appreciation of what makes that person who they are.

Also, don’t forget to celebrate your so called weirdness because it makes you a LIMITED EDITION. 

Her Words

Love a girl who writes,

and live her many lives;
you have yet to find her,
beneath her words of guise.

Kiss her blue inked fingers, 

forgive the pens they marked.
The stain of your lips upon her -
the one she can't discard

Forget her tattered memories, 

or the pages others took;
you are her ever after-
the hero of her book.

- Lang Leav -  

IF BEING IN LOVE WITH JOE IS WRONG, I DON’T WANT TO BE RIGHT

I’ll tell you a little secret. I am in a committed relationship with Joe. A lot of people would not understand or agree with the choice I made. But I am head over heels in love with him. I don’t know when and how it started but all I could remember is the indecent proposal that when he kissed my sleepy lips, it awaken every cold and bitter morning I have had. 10 years and still counting our love affair gets better every year. 

Why have I fallen for Joe is still a question that lingers in my mind. Perhaps it was the way he romantically wooed me with strategic spontaneity or how he engaged me into deep conversation and thinking. It could be his taste, his aroma and the sense of excitement and exhilaration each time we meet up. What I am certain is that this love will last. It makes me feel all warm on the inside. It increases my heart rate, filling me with gladness and joy. Let me define to you my love for Joe. 

1.      Joe orchestrate my mornings

Mornings are not just the same without Joe because I am not a morning person. Getting up early is such an ordeal but waking up with Joe and his rich aroma makes me want to watch the sunrise and the softness of the morning. The scent of a freshly brewed Joe is invigorating that in between sips the world stand still. I notice the rising sunlight filtering through the tree branches and how the blades of grass sparkle with the suns’ beam. I hear the birds chirping beautiful melodies as they usher in a new day. Mornings do not seem bad at all. Waking up with Joe is the best part of the morning. 

2.      Undeniable connection

My relationship with Joe is characterized by our deep connection that I don’t need to utter a word for him to understand what I am feeling at the moment. He doesn’t ask silly questions, he understands.  He exactly knows when to be hot and when to be cold; when I wanted deep conversations and when I wanted silence. He knows the perfect blend that will quiet my busy mind, giving me a moment of time and space to recharge while pondering the thoughts I have in mind. 

3.      We are together

Together we conquered tests, thesis defense, awkward dates, early morning dilemma, and afternoon pick-me-ups. We go together like peanut butter and jelly, shove and pail, nuts and bolts as well as cup and saucer. I also realize that being together makes me a better and more pleasant person. 

4.      He allows me to be me

It doesn’t bother him when I am all grumpy and grouchy because he is fully aware when I haven’t had it yet. 

5.      His place

His abode’s signature quiet ambience, smooth jazz music and cozy couches is definitely the place I love to hang out, see friends, find conversation, get some work done or simply watch the world go by. His place is also conducive for writing and squeezing out the creative juices in me. 

As I continue my attempt to understand my feelings for Joe. I have concluded that he is the basic, fundamental requirement of my existence.  No wonder, I love coffee every day, and twice as much on weekdays. Yup, I have heard of the bad sides of drinking too much caffeine. Yet for some reasons coffee has made itself indispensible in my daily routine. I am utterly and completely in love with coffee and if being in love with Joe is wrong, I don’t want to be right. 

Well, writing this post over the last hour has made me crave for another cup of coffee today. I cannot wait to enjoy another cup of Joe in caramel macchiato. 

Joe is definitely the love of my life. 

TOP 10 TECH RELATED CHORES THAT WE ARE TOO LAZY TO DO

TOP 10 TECH RELATED CHORES THAT WE ARE TOO LAZY TO DO

1. Organizing photos 
2. Uploading photos from our smart phones 
3. Deleting photos 
4. Saving files with proper file names 
5. Checking our e-mails and inboxes 
6. Backing up files 
7. Scanning for virus 
8. Upgrading of OS 
9. Defragmentation 
10. Installing of APS

PLUVIOPHILIA

My love for rainy days stems from the fact that I never had birthdays without rain. On every eve of my birthday, my parents and sisters would usually be busy preparing for my big day and I would sit at the windowsill near the front door staring up at the dark grey sky and tracing lightning bolts as rain starts to pour in. My birthdays are always characterized with thunderstorms, scattered rain showers and lightning bolts. It comes so strong that a lot of times it doused my guests and damped their spirits to revel my big day. 

While a lot of my guests loathe rain, I never felt happy when it pours down. There is this unspeakable phenomenon happening in me that when it drizzles down I feel empowered and very much alive. I find comfort and peace at the kind of music raindrops make. I love the smell of the petrichor; of how withered from the last summer stirred in a wet air like a scented aromatic perfume.  I get excited wearing sweater and sipping a hot chocolate or freshly brewed coffee while watching the rain pour down. Likewise, it keeps my mood buoyant as the coldness of shower mist spread through my room beckoning me to return to my bed, rolled myself in a warm blanket and read. 

Growing up, it dawned on me that rain will always be a part of me. It has actually been a part of my every first and life milestones; I got first job as a writer after braving the storm and being drench in the rain. My first romantic date was when a guy I liked asked me to go out with him while thunderstorms and lightning roared behind my ears. My first international travel was during an extremely inclement weather that I have to wait at least 8 hours in Detroit, Chicago for my connecting flight to Dulles International Airport in Washington.

Perhaps a coincidence, but rain occupies a very special place in my heart. I always thought of it as a blessing, a metaphor and a versatile symbol that teaches me of the truths of life.  The literal and figurative implications and meanings of rain convey realities that are very applicable in our everyday life. I have discovered three and here are they. 

1.      An opportunity to appreciate beauty in the ugliest days- Many of us looked at rainy days as “less than days”. I would not contend on that because a rainy day has its own inconvenience. Traffic is worse. Just getting in and out of the car is a major challenge. Having an umbrella would not guarantee you dryness. To top it off, everything is grey and flat-out depressing. But looking at the bright side, rain is beautiful in its own way. You encounter small act of kindness as stranger share an umbrella with you. It gives you a sense of relief from the heat of the sun. More importantly, it reminds us that after the rain there is always a rainbow that prompts us of God’s promises. 

2.      Force us to go out of our comfort zone- Rain forces us to go out of our comfort zone and to do the unimaginable. I mentioned earlier that I got my first job as a writer after braving the storm and literally being drench in the rain for a final interview with the Director of the Company. I learned a great deal from this experience. It always reminds me  to go out of my comfort zone.  If I followed my natural instinct to stay at home, do what will make me comfortable and wait for the rain to stop, I would not land on my first job that opened doors of opportunities and connections. 

3.      Quiets restless soul - When it rains, the wind is also making its presence known in subtle, gentle ways. If we just clear our minds we could see how tree limbs sway back and forth; each dancing its own distinctive dance and how it brings harmony and peace. This scenario reminds me of that still small voice. Though it is subtle, it is powerful enough to heal, to mend, to love and to guide us in the way it should be. Apart from the wind, the rhythmic sound of the rain reminds me of rest. The music sound of the rain appeals so much in my brain that it quiets by busy mind and a lot of times it helps me to fall asleep easily. 

Rain is a lot like love. It resonates that it opens and enlivens our heart making it feel like being home. 

I am a lover of rain. A pluviophilia.