Category Archives: Uncategorized

Writing Life: Characters in Fiction

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Raymond Alexander Kukkee
© by Raymond Alexander Kukkee     [caption id="attachment_1624" align="aligncenter" width="584"]Characters drive both shadows and light... Characters drive fiction in  shadows and light...[/caption]

Characters in Fiction are Essential

"In writing fiction, characters drive everything  --plot, action, direction, reflections, flashbacks, natural selection --and in some cases  doing so, eliminate, break or stretch rules, inhibitions, morals and logic. The author is merely the messenger. "

Characters in fiction are the backbone

With careful analysis, it is easy to see that characters are the backbone of any novel or short story. The writer merely has to ensure a few ribs, arms, hands and legs --and a brain--become attached for display purposes to bring them to life.  Characters drive both shadows and light in any story,-- in fact characters  drive other characters, and  passion in all of it's forms. Unusual characters add incredible value to perhaps otherwise mundane content. Carry on, write as your characters in fiction direct.  To not tell the story your characters wish told  may be hypocrisy,  less than honest, or perhaps, in the extreme,  even unethical.  Be brave.  Your readers will not kill the messenger, although a work of fiction may not seem agreeable,  with a premise disliked or misunderstood completely, some individuals may be outraged, indignant, and unforgiving. "Some" being the key. Others will passionately enjoy your story line, your premise, and  your characters, either loving or hating them--but at the very least, understanding them.  The point is, they touch the mind of the reader --which is the name of the game.   Bottom line, as an author, be fearless; be unrepentant; be true to your characters--and most importantly,  be true to yourself as a writer. #   Is that Incoming I hear? Photo by author #
Posted in Crafts and skills, Ethics, Publishing, Reflections, Uncategorized, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Think Squirrels and Nuts

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Raymond Alexander Kukkee
© by Raymond Alexander Kukkee [caption id="attachment_1466" align="aligncenter" width="584"]Squirrels stick out their tongues at Bad Weather Even Squirrels stick out their tongues at Unnecessarily Bad  Weather[/caption] Today, May 6th --it is finally warming up. Sun's out!  Imagine that! It's been a long, cold spring here in Northwestern Ontario. A major snowstorm on April 12th, and more snow, repeatedly, after that. Unusual to say the least.  Enough already?    Even the wildlife has been complaining about it, only showing their bird-seedy-sunflower-loving beaks and tender noses on even  the best of the worst days. Cabin fever.  A distraction may help. Think squirrels and nuts. Squirrels and nuts. Chant now, 'ohmmmmmmm....ohmmmmm' , got it? Wildlife is smarter than we are; they bunk in for the duration, while we humans look about with wary eye, frowning and thinking and finally admitting this weather is just plain miserable, unusual, bitter, unnecessarily cold, crappy and un-Canadian.  Bite 'yer lip and get used to it, Jack,  think squirrels and nuts instead. Hm..thinking about it,  according to the photo, even squirrels stick out their tongues at unnecessarily bad weather. [caption id="attachment_1467" align="aligncenter" width="584"]Winter Hood Ornament Hood Ornament Waiting for Spring[/caption]     Do squirrels, chipmunks and birds know something about weather we don't? They are incredibly clever, after all. For example in early autumn they snitch all of the nuts from the trees very neatly--and usually just a day or two before we decide the nuts are ripe enough, full kernel,  delicious and well worth  picking.  We rarely stand a chance. That would be with both wild hazelnuts and acorns.  We make excuses.  Squirrels and nuts go together, after all, should we complain about that? Maybe we should just pay more attention to their skill sets,  think squirrels and nuts.   "We are immensely clever, after all..." [caption id="attachment_1470" align="aligncenter" width="584"]We are immensely clever, after all... We are immensely clever, after all...[/caption]   "And we know how to help ourselves.  We even climb down wires into the bird feeder.  How about that? We like the chopped apples and bread bits and oh, don't forget those delicious sunflower seeds too....hm....." [caption id="attachment_1471" align="aligncenter" width="584"]Down the wires and into the Bird Feeder is easy... Down the wires and into the Bird Feeder is easy...[/caption]   "And we're just waiting for  maple sap to start running in this young sugar maple tree, kids, over here, over here!...." (Check this out.....maybe there's something to this after all,  the squirrels are way ahead of us...again... think squirrels and nuts, and maple syrup....) [caption id="attachment_1472" align="alignleft" width="584"]Inspecting the young sugar maple trees for sweet sap Red Squirrels inspecting young sugar maple trees for sweet sap[/caption]     "Are we smart or not?" Hmffjmm..hm.. it seems so.  Maybe there's a genuine lesson here for all of us human types...think squirrels and nuts...squirrels and nuts.. think about it...and the sun is shining too.... ommmm....ommmmm....ommmmmm... Coffee, that ought to do it...   #   Is that Incoming I hear?   Photo credits: All photos  ©2013  wlk photography    
Posted in Home & Hearth, Life, Nature, Reflections, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments