  Action/Adventure
This week: It's a Zoo! Edited by: Legerdemain  
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It's a Zoo!
A lot of people own cats or dogs, or have other animals like horses or chickens. Does your character have a pet? Interaction with animals could be a way to show another side of your character without telling your reader about that personality trait. A Western adventurer could be ruthless with renegade robbers but have a softer side caring for his horse or mule. If your writing includes Fantasy, your character's creatures could clue your reader to the type of elements and surroundings your character is operating in.
Using an animal as an extra character could work too. Perhaps your character is nice to most people but is cruel to their dog at home. This would show a hidden personality flaw that could be brought out later in the story. What would Alice in Wonderland be without the March Hare, the Cheshire Cat and the Caterpillar? (As an interesting side note, the animals in Alice were parodies of his daughters and people Charles Dodgson knew in real life.)
There's also the rescue factor, the big saint bernard that saves the skier stuck in the snow. The dog that finds the lost child. The cat that wake the owner in a burning house. What else could an animal do for your storyline? If you've written yourself in to a corner, this could be a way out. Perhaps you'll create a fine animal character, worthy of a young adult series like Lassie. Write on!
This month's question: Do you like using animals in your stories?
Send in your reply below!  Editors love feedback!
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Excerpt: It was the first morning when I did the dishes and didn't have to hear that damned dog barking. I probably should have used more Lemon Joy, but I didn't want to get suds all over the plastic bottle's neck. I wondered if the neighbors had finally put a muzzle on their neglected mutt.
| |  | Gutliem (13+)
Gutliem is a well-adjusting man in the ever-expanding world or Roses and Thorns.
#947485 by Jhonz  |
Excerpt: My birth occurred more years ago than I was ever told; not many noticed as the conceiving was only witnessed by the coldness of a gold mine and the staring immorality of a few critics from the lower lines of diggers. My father named me Gutliem after the strongest of his forebears, neglecting, as I have been told, to bless me with a family surname.
| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1908437 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: He examined the stallion and found his ribs and hip bones to be protruding as sharply as the mare. How his father could have let the mare foal under the conditions he'd seen her in was beyond him. His father had not always been so neglectful. There had been a time, when Jack was younger, that his father and mother had kept ten horses at a time. They were fine sleek beauties, the envy of Taler County. Now, the old man was suffering and so were his animals.
Excerpt: Stepping quietly I slipped around the fireplace to the hutch and peeked beyond the wall. A pair of orange and white striped tails switched in unison behind two round kitty backsides. Two sent of noses and whiskers were wriggling with interest and curiosity. They were standing guard in fornt of my seven foot tall dresser and mirror unit, their interest was fixed on a mere inch and a half of twitching pink nose that protruded from under the dresser skirting. At first I gasped thinking they were facing off with an over-sized rat. Then I looked closer.
My “boys” were nose to nose with a baby possum!
Excerpt: While growing up as a child, my father used the outdoors as a chalkboard for learning lessons on life and death. And nature in its most intimate moments of expression, became treasured possessions of “my life experience chest.” Dad used these teaching opportunities as sacred escapes, when I needed help to negotiate the typical authority conflict, a son can experience in his relationship with mom.
Excerpt: The list came about for my use, and if it can help another writer, I'll be very happy.
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This month's question: Do you like using animals in your stories?
Last month's question: Where do you get your best character ideas?
dejavu_BIG computerprobs responded: My best character ideas seem to come from 'odd' people I see at bus stops or in stores. Example; an old lady with pure white hair, long, down to her waist, dressed all in white. saddest gray eyes. Such an interesting, strong face and straight posture. She made me so curious as to where she fit in life. Family? Friends? Why was she so sad?
BIG BAD WOLF is hopping  answered: Hear something on the radio, TV, movie, something you read, most any place.
D. Thorsson replied: Many are pulled from my Call of Cthulhu role-playing games. Characters in this game are just normal people with normal lives thrust into circumstances beyond their control. I find my players generate alter-egos based on either how they see themselves or how they want to be seen by others.
Other characters come from my people-watching. I tend to be sarcastic and cynical, assuming every action I see a person doing there is an ulterior motive.
Christmas time is fantastic for this when I see a man grimace behind his wife's back, but give his best cheery "Whatever you want, Dear" smile to her face.
Shanachie  wrote: I get character ideas from my friends and family. Both by using their traits in my characters and by fleshing out my characters by discussing them with my writing friends. (No I don't actually copy people into my characters, but take a trait here and a trait there and use it as a part of a character. It helps and works well.)
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Action/Adventure: January 08, 2013 Issue [#5456]
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