I love my novel Long Road From Canaan, I really do, but there's something fun and satisfying about writing short stories. Just a little something you can write in a couple days or a week or two, go back and edit and tweak, and then finish.
Maybe this is simply because I've never finished a full length novel. But I do like to write short stories, and the character I'm going to introduce today is from one I'm getting ready to publish.
A novelette might actually be a better term for it, because it's about 16,000 words. I'm going to try an e-book format called Snippet, which I learned about from Go Teen Writers. There's just a few more things to do, but hopefully I'll be sending it in for the Snippet review process soon.
What Thou Need'st
Synopsis:
Kendall Thatcher, a dutiful squire, thinks he's seen the worst of his master, the irascible Prince Bartholomew. However, things can indeed get worse; much worse.
When the Prince runs away, a princess from a neighboring kingdom vanishes, a dragon takes up residence in an abandoned castle, and two kingdoms near the brink of war; all this can be resolved only when Kendall and the Prince discover "what thou need'st"
I'm going to do this month's questions about Ruth, who is somewhat of a side character, but a favorite of mine.
Ruth becomes a close friend to one of the main characters, and has been really fun to write.
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1) What’s their favorite food? (Bonus: favorite flavor of chocolate!)
Ruth's favorite food is her aunt's raspberry tarts. She's never had chocolate, as its a rare thing in the medieval world, but she would probably like white chocolate best.
2) What do they absolutely hate?
Secrets. She doesn't like keeping them, and she greatly dislikes when other people keep them from her. Maybe hate is too strong a word, but she isn't really the kind of person to hate anything. This doesn't come out so much in this story, but more so in the sequel. Oh yes, I'm already thinking of a sequel!
3) What do they enjoy learning about?
Anything her father will teach her. Her father is a scribe in their little village, copying manuscripts and writing and reading letters for people. He taught her to read, and now she reads whatever she can get her hands on, which isn't much for a poor peasant girl. She also loves learning about cooking and knitting.
4) Who is the most influential person in their life?
Her father. Ruth's mother died a few years before the story takes place, but Ruth and her father have always been very close.
5) What is their childhood fear?
Ruth had a very pleasant childhood, although her family was poor, so, I honestly can't think of anything for this one!
6) What is something they have always secretly dreamed of doing, but thought impossible?
She has always wanted to live in a castle.
7) What is something they are impractically afraid of?
Frogs. She thinks they are nasty, slimy, despicable creatures.
8) Are they a night owl or morning person?
A morning person.
9) Do they say everything that pops into their head, or leave a lot unsaid?
She is pretty quick to speak, and loves asking questions.
10) What are their nervous habits?
When Ruth is nervous, she tends to babble and stumble over her words.
And that's all! I'll let Ruth sign off with a quote from the story.
"I am sorry, my aunt is calling. I have to go," Ruth said with a smile of farewell, and dashed off.
