Character Role Playing for Authors

Authors by Design has recently added role playing to the activities you can participate in on our forum. Long time role player JadedSidhe aka Lynn explains how role playing works, the Griffin Inn, and why this can be helpful to authors.

I've been writing for fun since high school, but I've never tried to publish anything. I'm currently writing a science fiction story that I plan to try to get published. I don't have a lot of hobbies, role playing, reading, writing, playing Sims and Create A World. I have been known to dabble with graphics and making websites.

-Lynn 

What is Character Role Playing?

Character role playing is taking on the persona of your character and interacting with others who are doing the same. The point is to stay true to your character. Act, react and interact as your character would.

The How and Why Character Role Play Helps Authors

Character role play helps in more ways than just character development. It helps with world building and it can even help break through writer's block.

From the character development angle, it helps you make more well-rounded and three dimensional characters. It’s particularly useful for characters that you haven't quite figured out. The rest of the characters are controlled by other players their actions and reactions will be unfamiliar or even surprising to you. Your characters will be asked questions. Some of these questions are the standard fare: What's your name, your occupation, where do you come from, etc. But there will be other questions that you may not have ever considered. This can make you rethink or think about how your character would react, therefore digging deeper into whom your character really is and the world and society he or she comes from.

An example of how character role play can help with world building. One of my characters was asked about the political situation on her world and was there any dissent among the populace. It was something I hadn't even considered. After I'd given it some thought and added a few notes to my character's society, I realized that it, the dissent, added to my antagonist's motives.

In the case of writer's block, character role play is an exercise in creativity. If you bring in even a basic character into a role play game and start interacting with other characters, your character will develop and so will his or her world, that can lead to other characters and their motivations and even a storyline.

In all, character role play is a multi-faceted tool that is a fun way to learn about your characters and the world they come from.

Are There Rules for Character Role Play?

It really depends on the group and how the role play is set up. The rules for the role play here are fairly simple. Because we can have characters from any time or place, things that are unfamiliar still seem to make sense to the various characters. Wariness is fine, hysteria is not. Someone from a prehistoric time won't need to be asking what a table is. Language is magically translated. Everyone speaks their own language, but everyone else hears their native language. The same goes for books and reading.

When Characters Take Action Against Other Characters

All characters may not get along. There may be disagreements, arguments and even fighting.
The rules of thumb are: Remember Fair Play and Use Common Sense.

If characters have magic or psychic abilities, that's all fine and good, but common sense needs to be used. No warping the inn and turning your role play partners into frogs. If it limits your role play partners' abilities to interact and communicate, that defeats the purpose of the role play.

The players have to keep 'fair play' in mind when something like this happens. Storm and Zephyr for example. They could easily use their abilities to call a bolt of lightning against an antagonist. The thing is, they aren't naturally inclined to do something like that unless it’s a life and death situation. From a role play stance, it would certainly be an unfair advantage to do so against someone who doesn't have that sort of power. That doesn't mean they're not above zapping someone with a little shock (think the level of static shock).

There is nothing wrong with acting as your character would act/react to a situation, but, there comes a point when actions/arguments/fights defeat the purpose of the role play. That is the point you as the player have the responsibility to decide how to work things out while still being as true to your character as possible.
Don't kill each other's characters. It defeats the purpose. If they want a good-natured fight, or to settle an insult sure, do it outside the inn (Otherwise, they'll find themselves plunged into the nearby ocean courtesy of Jake the Innkeeper). If a fight does happen, the players will have to decide among themselves who wins and how.

Cursing and Sexual Situations

Cursing follows the Forum rules and overt sexual situations are no-nos. It’s not that *ahem* mutual attraction is banned, it just it isn't necessary to play that out. A simple 'they retire to a room upstairs' and is left at that.

How Do Non-Player Characters (NPCs) Work?

NPC's work differently in different games. Sometimes they are solely used by the person running the role play, sometimes they aren't. It’s best to check with the person or people running the game if you're not sure.

Jake Griffin is an example of an NPC. Not that any of the characters knows this, but, he is a very powerful mage. He created The Griffin Inn in what could be called a 'pocket world'. Jake appears to greet people and serve food, clean up, do a little interacting and keep the role play going.

I normally play him, but that doesn't need to stop someone from using him if he's needed. Anyone is welcome to use (not abuse) Jake. If he's needed to bring food or tea or even turn on music, sure, go ahead, use him. He can even be commandeered to greet someone, but, it wouldn't be proper etiquette to use Jake to tell new arrivals that he's a mage showing off his magical abilities without checking with me first, as Jake doesn't flaunt his mage abilities and he's not prone to announcing things like that.

Tips and Tricks

If you are running more than one character or there is action going on in two different places, you denote this by first stating where the action is happening. If your character(s) are just speaking and not performing some action, use their name and a single bracket.

Examples:
Inside: 
Zephyr refills Storm's tea cup
Storm> Thank you

Outside:
Jake> Welcome to the Inn

There are things we call OOC (Out of Character) comments, information and knowledge. We use brackets, ( < >, << >>, (( )) ), to notate OOC usage. You, as a player, can ask a question or ask for or make clarifications or statements. Using the brackets lets others know it isn't a part of the role play.

It should be noted that your characters don't know what is happening in other parts of the inn. Characters upstairs won't know what's going on downstairs (unless shouting is involved). Using information you don't know is a no-no.

An example of an OOC clarification is the earlier use of the twins' elemental power. 

If they zapped someone I could say something like:
Storm glares at Ariel. He calls his element. There is a small bright flash and a pop. ((She'd feel a small shock like you'd get after dragging your feet over the carpet and touching a doorknob))

Another example is when Isobael introduced Amari. 

I didn't know if she was reading Jake's aura or using some other ability on him:

Isobael:

Outside:
Amari frowns as she glances around. She then looks back at Jake, studying him. "Who else is inside?"

As her eyes focus on him, her pupils dilate, the black overcoming, engulfing the silver until only a grey ring borders the black.

Blinking once, her eyes return to normal and she tilts her head to the side a bit.

JadedSidhe:

Outside:

Jake> Only the boy and the twins are inside.

An example of clarifying a character's action. 

Zephyr would have reacted differently if Arel looked younger than 15 than she would if he looked 15 or older. I didn't know how old Arel looked. You'll also notice I used two different types of brackets. The type of bracket used doesn't matter, it’s still OOC information.
Zephyr puts her gloved left hand on her sword (she wears the sword on the left so it is a non-threatening manner) as she stands to her 6'0 height and turns to the newcomer.

Zephyr looks Amari from head to foot and back up to her face, assessing her for a potential threat. "Good evening."


Proper Grammar and Prose

Role play doesn't require you to use perfect sentence structure and the like. We kick back and have fun while we learn about our characters.

However, text abbreviations such as: 4ever, R U going, etc is frowned upon.

The most important rule of Character Role Play is to relax and have fun while you learn your characters and help others learn theirs.

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Interesting Facts About Famous Authors

Roald Dahl author of James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The Witches, Fantastic Mr Fox, The Twits, George's Marvellous Medicine and The BFG.

Roald Dahl would retreat to a small shed in his garden to write. It was the only place he could concentrate away from any interruptions or loud noises.

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New posts and contests coming soon!

Also, Authors by Design has added a few new sections to its forum. Character Role Playing is one of them! 

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Something for the Muse #2

Our monthly Fun Facts and Inspirations by Hathor (aka Kellee Kranendonk).

Ride the wind, never coming back until I touched the midnight sun - Ride the Wind - Poison
If you were free to go wherever you wanted, where would you go? What about your characters? Where do they want to go? Where can they go?

Fun Fact: Did you know? Brett Michaels of Poison wrote the song Unskinny Bop after finding CC DeVille in the closet with some girl.

Poison was fromed in Los Angeles in the early 1980s. Originally they were known as Paris. After changing their name and recording some demos, they were signed to Capitol Records. After the release of this big hair band's first album, people thought they were an all-girl group. Sales soared. When the truth became known, sales dropped, but the band was still successful. If you've ever seen the cover of that first album, you'll understand the mix-up. Whether on purpose or not, these guys made a name for themselves.

As a writer, what are you willing to do to make yourself known? Writing isn't all just having fun making up stories. First of all, things have to make sense. Even in a fantasy or sci-fi. Things need to happen logically. Are you willing to follow the rules? Listen to an editor? If so, and a publisher snaps up your book, then what about promotions? We no longer live in a world where someone promotes you. You'll have to do that yourself, at least partially. There are many ways of doing so, and you won't need to dress like an 80s hair band to do it.

Monthly quote: Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.
- Oscar Wilde


Hathor (aka Kellee Kranendonk among other things) is a columnist for Silver Blade Magazine. [http://www.silverblade.net/] She takes care of her home and family in New Brunswick, Canada as well as various pets and farm animals. In her "spare" time she likes to read and write fantasy. Kellee also writes children's stories and articles. Some of her writing appears online:

* The Troll - children's poem
* The Test - Adutl story
* The Cat's Out of the Bag - children's article
* Everybody Wants Something - Critique article

Her personal website, with a list of her accomplishments and links to other author pages, can be found at: KELLEE KRANENDONK - CANADIAN WRITER

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Author Lance Lee Noel interview

Lance Lee Noel attended the University of Missouri, where he excelled both in the classroom and on the field as a member of the Tiger football team. He later went on to achieve a Masters Degree from the University of Missouri in St. Louis.

A Missouri native, he draws on his lifelong passion for history to make the details of Civil War era come alive. After touring American battle sites for more than fifteen years, he traveled to Lone Jack in 2006. When he heard the story of the battle, he knew this tale had the power to inspire a new generation of young adults.


Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. What inspired you to incorporate the Battle of Lone Jack in to a fiction novel rather than nonfiction?

Thank you for your interest in the book. I really appreciate it! Growing up in Missouri I was a little surprised and disappointed that The Battle of Lone Jack was an event I wasn’t familiar with as a kid. As a result, I hoped to get young people more interested in the battle because it is an amazing story once you get all the details. I’m a huge fan of nonfiction, but felt that nonfiction wouldn’t work for teen readers. To me presenting the battle in a fictional story would keep young readers’ attention.

Of all the places you visited what made Long Jack Special and why do you think it has the power to inspire younger audiences?

It was a combination of things. First off, the battle was gruesome and bloody. The two sides fought across a street about as wide as your living room. Once the battle was over members of both sides (Confederates and Union prisoners) buried the dead together in long trenches. Lastly, the individual stories of the participants really brought the whole event home for me. These were people like you and I who simply thought they were doing what was right and many of them lost their lives. The Battle of Lone Jack is just one chapter in the American Civil War and so many battles present the same elements and bring out the same emotions. I also ultimately wanted to bring attention to the Lone Jack Civil War Cemetery, Battlefield & Museum. Proceeds from the book go to preserving this historical site.

Do you think it would also appeal to Non-American youths? If yes or no, why?

I’ve actually had a few readers from other countries reach out to tell me how much they enjoyed the book. I think it appealed to them, and would appeal to non-American readers in general, because the story is really something anyone can relate to…heroes you cheer on, villains/antagonists you hope lose out in the end, and an interesting climax that ties the whole thing together and leaves the reader with a sense of completeness and satisfaction. Also the aspects of the battle presented in the book cross over cultures and countries. There is a lot to learn from and relate to in wars no matter where or when they take place in history.

Have you always had a desire to write?

Yes I have. I attended the University of Missouri and my freshman year I had this crazy freak of a writing professor. He ended up being one of the best teachers I had and he really helped deepen my passion for writing.

What is the best thing about being a history enthusaist? The worst?

That’s a great question! The best thing is there is always more to uncover and see. A person could spend every day of their life in the US alone visiting a place of historical interest or significance and learn and see something new every day. And that’s just US history. Imagine if you went overseas.

The worst thing is sometimes events like The Battle of Lone Jack get forgotten over time, or places aren’t considered important enough to some and they are torn down or bulldozed over.

What kind of research did you do for The Ghosts of Lone Jack?

I did a lot of reading on the battle. I found several great articles about the battle that were very helpful. I also visited the site numerous times and questioned several experts on the battle.

Why did you choose to write for a young adult audience versus adult?

I really wanted to help get young people interested in reading and interested in history. Also the main characters are kids and nobody can relate to kids like other kids.

What was the hardest scene for you to write? Why?

The hardest scenes for me were actually the action sequences when the characters run into the ghosts. You have to keep track of everything each character is doing. You have to be able to present their actions and, more importantly, their emotions in a believable way and not lose pace or intensity. And it can’t come off as too tedious either.

How long did it take you to finish The Ghosts of Lone Jack?

I wrote the book in three months, but the editing and re-writing takes a long time. So in all it took about 8 months from start to the finished product.

How did you develop the idea for debut novel?

The idea came to me when my brother, who is also into history, and I visited The Lone Jack Battlefield and Cemetery. My brother lives about twelve miles from Lone Jack. We were both really captivated by the story and the ‘vibe’ of the place. I actually thought of the story on the trip back from Lone Jack that day.

In The Ghosts of Lone Jack, the ghosts take on a grotesque fleshy appearance. What made you decide to give them zombie-like qualities?

Having the ghosts transform was a way for the main characters to interact with them on a more physical level. I wanted the characters to be able to fight back and making the ghosts beings the main characters could touch and see gave them a fighter’s chance of winning.

Why did you choose Lucinda Cave as the first ghost to make an appearance to Jared?

Lucinda was a mother and the only woman who died in the battle. Jared had lost his mother and in a warped sort of way she symbolizes the loss he has had in his life. I felt that was significant and made her the perfect choice as the first ghost to appear in the book.

You have ghosts of Union and Rebel soldiers, Indians, townspeople and horses mixed with town bullies and average kid pressures. Why toss escape convicts in to the equation?

Also a great question…for a couple of reasons actually. To me the convicts remind the reader that there is evil in our side of the world too; and I wanted to have characters that confronted the ghosts that actually made you want to cheer for the ghosts.

Your fictional paranormal "experts" weren't more knowledgeable about ghosts as some of the other characters. Why choose inexperienced ghost hunters to come save the day?

Again for a couple of reasons. One was simply a humorous factor. I thought it would be funny to have experts who actually didn’t have much of a clue as to what they were doing. Secondly, I personally like heroes and characters that are flawed or kind of screw-ups but ultimately help save the day in the end. The ghost hunters are actually my favorite characters because they aren’t very successful in their pursuits but in the end they win.

How much of the book is based on real life?

I tried to present important aspects of the battle as they actually happened without making it too much detail. As far as the main characters are concerned they were all based off of people I know or grew up with. I also grew up in a small country Missouri town and I wanted to capture that culture and social interaction in how I presented Lone Jack.

Was the publication of your debut novel anything you hoped it to be?

It has been just an awesome experience. People have been so receptive and supporting. I’ve really appreciated all of it!!

What can readers look forward to in Book Two?

The characters develop and grow, but as you could probably predict they continue to get themselves unwillingly into scrapes with supernatural places and spirits. They head to Phoenix for a summer baseball tournament but end up getting side-tracked. They head out on a mission to find The Treasure of the Lost Dutchman, which is a treasure that some actually believe exists in the mountains around Apache Junction, AZ.

How many novels do you plan to write in this series?

I ideally would like to write four or five. Allow the characters to grow and mature, and allow them to face the real-world problems young people face, but also continue to face down creatures from beyond the grave.

What advice do you have for other writers?

It’s as important to be a good story teller as it is to be a good writer. Both are equally important.

Interview by Andrea Allison. She has been published at Runesmag.com, Stories of Strength Anthology, Long Story Short and NVH Magazine. You can view her website at http://www.freewebs.com/andreaallison.

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Coming up: Interview with Lance Lee Noel

Don't miss this Friday, January 15th the interview with Mr. Lance Lee Noel, author of The Ghosts of Lone Jack

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Something for the Muse #1

Our monthly Fun Facts and Inspirations by Hathor (aka Kellee Kranendonk).
This will be our first post of “Fun Facts and Inspirations” offered by our very own member at AbD, Hathor. We hope these monthly posts will inspire, spark a story idea, article or just give you something fun and interesting to read. Happy writing!


If I could stand beside myself would I see me or maybe someone else?) - I'm Okay – Styx
If your character could stand beside him or herself what would happen?

Fun Fact: Did you know? Igor Shamraychuk is the only team member to be on every single episode of Restaurant Makeover.

Restaurant Makeover star, Igor Shamraychuk came to Canada in 1999. Born in the Ukraine, he eventually became a microchip engineer and got a university degree. Wanting to make life better for himself and his family, he immigrated. Difficulties with the English language caused problems, so Igor struggled to find a job in his field. He got a construction job and, after working on a project for a magazine, was discovered by the Restaurant Makeover team. Knowledge, experience and dedication got him promoted to construction crew foreman.

Igor Shamraychuk worked hard to provide a good life for his family. How does he compare to the characters in your story? Would your character leave his homeland? Would she work in a job not her field? If yes, how far are they willing to go? If not, why not? These are just a few things that make your character who he/she is. Answering these questions will help you develop your character.

Monthly quote:
Communism doesn't work because people like to own stuff.
Frank Zappa (1940 - 1993)


Hathor (aka Kellee Kranendonk among other things) is a columnist for Silver Blade Magazine. [http://www.silverblade.net/] She takes care of her home and family in New Brunswick, Canada as well as various pets and farm animals. In her "spare" time she likes to read and write fantasy. Kellee also writes children's stories and articles. Some of her writing appears online:

• The Troll - children's poem
• The Test - Adutl story
• The Cat's Out of the Bag - children's article
• Everybody Wants Something - Critique article

Her personal website, with a list of her accomplishments and links to other author pages, can be found at: KELLEE KRANENDONK - CANADIAN WRITER

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