Character Sketch – Say Hi To Shirley & Daniel

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Shirley is a single mum who has brought up her son Daniel with no support from her family. Her ex, Daniels father, is in prison for murder. When their relationship broke down because he was violent towards her, he stalked her for 3 years before finally stabbing to death Shirley’s next door neighbour Tom. He thought the guy was her new boyfriend.

All that happened 10 years ago now and Shirley is scared about his release. Daniel is now 15 and remembers little of the events. He is a quiet boy, caring and sensitive, not at all like his father. Shirley is very proud of him. He’s doing well at school and wants to be a policeman.

Shirley works part time as a receptionist at a local vets, within walking distance of her home. She enjoys it, as she loves the animals, but they’re not allowed any in their rented flat. As Daniel is still at school she claims benefits, so although they can’t afford luxuries, they manage. Daniel has been looking for a Saturday job to help out but can’t find one.

Shirley sometimes gets lonely, the other receptionists at work have set her up on several blind dates, but she finds it hard to trust anyone now, seeing all men as bullies and possible psychopaths. Daniel hasn’t had a girlfriend yet and Shirley is petrified of losing her little boy.

At 5 foot 6 she is painfully thin (but not through choice) and often looks pale and drawn. Her hair is a natural golden colour. Daniel looks like her and is also painfully thin, but has his fathers dark hair and eyes.

Shirley loves to do cross stitch and has started making them into cards, which she gives to the local Cats Protection League shop in town. She volunteers there every Saturday morning after walking to the library with Daniel where he uses the Internet, as they can’t afford access at home. Shirley feels guilty that she can’t give Daniel the things he wants.

Daniel is a loner, he doesn’t have any close friends that he sees outside school. He enjoys reading and playing on his games console (one of the other receptionists at Shirley’s work gave it to her when her son got the newer model). He loves his mum to bits but there’s a little piece of him that hopes he’ll see his dad again when he is released…..

Awwwww, poor Shirley & Daniel, I so want them to be happy 🙂 But, in the life of a fictional character, things are never easy. Will the ex track them down? I have a sneaky suspicion he will 😉

A-Z Reflections

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Yay, I’m an A-Z Survivor lol 😉

The guys over at the A-Z Challenge would like all the participants to do a reflection post. Well, Ive kinda done that already, when I did my Cast List post a couple of days after finishing.

But, what I didn’t talk about was:

What were the highlights of my April Challenge?
Ooooo, there were loads, every single day! It was a great experience, hard work, but fun! 🙂

What i learned?
I learned to plan, schedule, and make sure I was ahead of myself for at least a couple of days. I started out writing the characters daily, but that was madness. I did however do the last one, Zac the dog, “live” as it just felt right to 🙂

What changes i might make next time?
Hmmmm, that’s a hard one lol, to what I did, nothing, but to the A-Z Challenge? I tried my best to visit as many participants as possible, but I think I only managed about 700 in total. Next time it would be great if the organisers had the blogs separated into different categories, so that I could support my fellow writers 🙂

What surprised me most?
That I stuck it out! Lol, no, seriously, probably how much people enjoyed reading my character sketches 🙂

Special bloggers i met in my A to Z journey or a post/posts that especially moved or impressed me?
I met some lovely bloggers through the challenge, picked up some great new followers, and added to my own following list…..but, the blog I enjoyed reading the most throughout the month was Tale Spinning by Stuart Nager. I can’t wait to see Stuarts work on the Swan Rise Apartments in book form. If you get the chance, go and have a read before he removes all the stories at the end of this month. You won’t be disappointed 🙂

So that’s definitely it til next year now…..how sad 😦 I hope I’m still around next year to participate 😉

Did you take part in the A-Z Challenge? and if you didn’t, will I see you there next year? 😉

The Cast List…..Reviewed

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Well, that’s it, I did it…..I achieved a whole month of characters for the A-Z Challenge! Pleased is an understatement lol 😉

It’s funny, so many people asked me if these characters were real. It didn’t even enter my head to base them on real people, consciously, and anyway, I don’t know 26 people lol. But reading them back, I can see little parts if myself in some of them, and a couple are probably too close for comfort for a couple of friends. I think the one who is most like me is Scarlet so she’s the one I have a soft spot for. She has my personality, and most of my physical attributes. I didn’t mean her to be me it was an accident lol

My favourite? Ooooo, I think it would have to be Queenie and the one I’d most like as a friend is Gloria as I’m sure she would be fun to be around.

If I was single (and if he was real of course), I would definitely go on a date with Harry as in my head I think he looks like a younger Hugh Grant *swoon* lol.

So now what? What to do with all these people crying out for my attention? Begging me to write their stories 🙂

I have a plan……I had already decided what I was going to do for Nano 2012, but now, I’m thinking that can wait until 2013, this project will be my novel this year 🙂 I am excited, but apprehensive, as I know how much work will be involved.

I’m going to try to connect all the characters stories into one story, a daisy chain so to speak 🙂 So in theory, 26 short stories of about 4,000 words each, which means I’ll have to do one a day *gulp* I’ve done 65,000 words in a month, so I know what a struggle this will be. I guess I’ll have to start thinking about my ending (remember Adele Parks? Lol) and how they can all be pulled together 😉

So thank you readers, for taking an interest, your comments have been brilliant, and definitely stirred up some ideas I can use….if it ever gets published you will all get a thank you in the back of the book, I promise 🙂

I can see some natural connections already….. Like Queenie & Fred or perhaps Harry & Scarlet (ah, see, I will get Hugh Grant! Lol)…..is Gloria the single mum who lives next door to Ella? And I think Ivy definitely gets her hair cut by Benjamin. Could they all be linked together via Zac in some way, or is that too naff? Or how about they all live in the same street? Turn it into a soap opera? Lol

So my question today dear reader, is, should I actually bother? lol 🙂

And if my husbands reading this, I’ll apologise in advance…..November 2012 will be a stressful month, I hope you have lots of chess matches booked *snigger* 🙂

Z is for…..

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Zac, who has been removed because I want to use him for my Nano 2012 novel.

Sorry you missed it 😦

A-Z Challenge

Well, that’s Zac, and yep, he’s a dog 🙂 I never said all my characters would be people did I 😉 The obvious thing that springs to mind is that Zac gets lost, or stolen, but don’t worry, he will be reunited with his family, I’m sure of it 🙂

So that’s it, 26 days of characters! Wow, it’s been hard work, but I’ve enjoyed it 🙂 the question is, did you? 🙂

Y is for…..

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Yasmin, who has been removed because I want to use her for my Nano 2012 novel.

Sorry you missed it 😦

A-Z Challenge

Ok, so that’s Yasmin……I’m thinking that something could definitely happen with the boyfriend, or, she gets so addicted to the money she’s making at the club that she decides to give up on uni? Choices choices lol

Yesterday’s prompt, about daddy’s pride didn’t really inspire anything so I’ll have a go at it tomorrow, when I do saying goodbye 🙂

X is for…..

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Xavier, who has been removed because I want to use him for my Nano 2012 novel.

Sorry you missed it 😦

A-Z Challenge

So that’s Xav 😉 I like him (not too sure about the political views, so we’ll gloss over that aspect), he seems like a fairly nice bloke. So how can we introduce a bit of conflict? perhaps he finds himself arrested, because one of the girls he turns down decides to get revenge and tells the police he assaulted her? Or is that too cruel? Lol….. Or perhaps his perfect little family world is about to come crashing down round his ear ‘oles because his wife leaves him?

Yesterday’s prompt was “the idea inside the morning” which I found quite difficult 😦 I ended up writing about a guy who’s eyebrows had all be shaved off…..don’t ask lol. Today’s prompt is your daddy’s pride which should be pretty easy 😉

W is for…..

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Wendy, who has been removed because I want to use her for my Nano 2012 novel.

Sorry you missed it 😦

A-Z Challenge

So Wendy seems happy enough, but is she? Really? I’m thinking that she could start her own business, selling her berets? Orrrr….. She starts seeing her boss again and Clare finds out and turns psycho? Or perhaps she does enter one of those talent shows and completely changes her life? So many options with this one 🙂

I spent most of yesterday getting up to date with my prompts. The one I liked the most was That Sunday afternoon which ended up being about a guy who bumped into a girl in a coffee shop. She then gets her boyfriend to beat him up 😦 I know, I know, but that’s how easily it can happen. You only need to be in the wrong place at the wrong time *shivers*

V is for…..

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Vincent, who has been removed because I want to use him for my Nano 2012 novel.

Sorry you missed it 😦

A-Z Challenge

Hmmmmm…..I can only begin to imagine the pain of losing a child in those circumstances 😦 and the need for revenge would be overwhelming…. But how do you deal with that when you have a strong faith? Perhaps he takes it upon himself to find the killer? Perhaps he finds out that the lad at the cemetery is his daughters killer?

Bit behind with my prompts, it’s been a busy few days lol

U is for…..

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Before I tell you about today’s character I want to give a shout out to Melena at PrefacMe who has nominated me for The Versatile Blogger Award. Thank you so much honey, I’m honoured 🙂 That’s now 2 awards I’ve got to catch up with once the A-Z Challenge is complete 🙂

Una, who has been removed because I want to use her for my Nano 2012 novel.

Sorry you missed it 😦

A-Z Challenge

Poor Una 😦 What a nightmare! Ok, perhaps she could plot to kill her husband? Or, less drastic, just walk out? Something, or someone needs to give her hubby a kick up the arse don’t you think?

No prompt news today as I’m away, so this post has been scheduled 😉 Normal service is resumed tomorrow 🙂

T is for…..

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Vikki Thompson

Timothy, who has been removed because I want to use him for my Nano 2012 novel.

Sorry you missed it 😦

A-Z Challenge

Hmmmmm, so does Tim find out that Cameron is having an affair? Or, is Cameron up to something else? 😉

I haven’t talked much about my prompts have I? Lol….I’m still keeping up with them, just. Yesterday’s one was write about what happens and today’s is That Sunday afternoon….. Both will get done today, but I’m in Birmingham for the next 24 hours and it’s World Book Night lol. Busy, busy, busy…..