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This week: Observations While Out and About Edited by: fyn  
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There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. ~~Edith Wharton
Who sees the human face correctly: the photographer, the mirror, or the painter?~~ Pablo Picasso
...You may fool the whole world down the pathway of life
And get pats on your back as you pass,
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you've cheated the face in the glass.
~~ Dale Wimbrow ~
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As writers, so too are we observers. We observe the worlds around us, the human condition inhabiting them and see how the conditions change whether we are a part of or apart from each individual world. When we write, much of our characters can be pulled bit by bit from those around us, conversations overheard and interactions with folks on a daily basis.
There is truth, after all, in that joke we see on Facebook about what you say around a writer may well make it into someone's book! Funny day to day things, outrageous things, people you see in the local discount store or just strolling down the street. That person who was kind or the one who ticked you off all can find their way into our writing. One of my favorite things to use are those situations where you can do nothing in real life; ah, but in my novel? There, they can be bitten by a spider, stabbed in the back, taken out by a rogue broken high heel or flattened by a run away three year old on a quad runner!
Then too, a nice way to give unofficial kudos to someone is to work some quirk of their into your book in the nicest of ways! It's fun to base a character loosely on someone you know. They will get a kick out of it. And if it is someone you don't care for, ah, tis just a coincidence. (Just don't have it match them too closely.) Either way, when it is based on someone or several ones combined, you know them, how they act, react, what their peeves and prejudices are and how they are likely to respond in a given scenario. Good way to have your characters ring true, be consistent, and feel 'real.'
Based upon real folks or not, when you encounter a character over a series worth of books, you know them, almost as well as the writer. You have an understanding of how they are likely to react in a particular situation. You also are taken aback when said character acts (hah!) out of character. It stops you and you have to wonder why; if it is intentional? Or did the author mess up?
Then too, one must consider when spending much time around other 'writer-type' folk that we ourselves are squished under that magnifying glass. How would we be 'characterized?' And would we be happy, confused or dismayed? Food for thought, eh? Would we 'see' ourselves or slide on by and never notice? Would that face in the mirror be grinning, tickled pink or aghast?
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The following short stories were all nominated in the short story category in the 2015 Quills!
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Mia - craving colour  writes: Hi Fyn. What a great article on the merry month of May. It sounds like you've got a lot of wonderful memories connected to this month. The lilacs and Mother's Day aspects brought back memories for me. And I could appreciate your description of dancing around the May Pole because, for the first time in my life, I got to participate this year. 
Monty  says:Surely a fine way to connect the calendar and the clock on the mantle.
Lyn's a sly fox   comments: Thank you for including my book of contests I enter, I feel honored to be in such great company. I also want to thank you for sharing your May day memories with us, I had forgotten about the baskets we made as a child celebrating May day. I remember one May day pole we made, there was still snow on the ground and all the crepe streamers dying the snow in rainbow colors after a light rain. The snow looked so pretty. Very enjoyable read!
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For Authors: June 01, 2016 Issue [#7669]
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