Who’s Up For A Road Trip? I know I am. But at a much more leisurely pace than the A to Z Challenge. Yep, it’s that time for the 5th Annual Post-Challenge Road. Just find a happy speed and hit cruise control, lower the windows, and play your favorite music. This trip, however, is a meandering journey through the list of participants, at your own pace, with your own rules, and very few expectations.
I know I missed a TON of amazing blogs during this year's Challenge. We had almost 2,000 participants sign up and over 1,500 finish. Like most of you I missed visiting most. But now is an opportunity to hit the road and discover all the blogs still out there, waiting to be found.
Simply hop over to the A to Z Main Website for more info by Clicking Here.
A to Z T-Shirts: Don’t be the last on your block to get one. You can order your T-Shirt by Clicking Here. Will there be A to Z Commemorative Plates? Time will tell.
Character Log: I mentioned Character Logs on a recent post and some of you asked if I could post one. Here is my Character Log for Debbie Stevens, the wife of Bob Stevens and protagonists of Salem’s Daughters.
Full Name: Debbie Elaine Stevens
Nickname (if any): Husband Bob has various pet names for her.
Gender: Female
Age: 26
Height: 5”6”
Weight: 125
Body Type: Athletic and shapely
Race: Causasian
Skin Tone: Fair
Eyes: Hazel
Hair: Blonde
Voice type: Soprano
Distinguishing Features: Blonde hair shoulder length. Athletic body. A few freckles she’s not ashamed of. Doesn’t need to wear a lot of makeup. Not snobby and doesn’t feel like she needs to wear expensive clothes or put up a front. Funny with a sense of humor, sometimes over the top. Outgoing extrovert, but has wisdom and thinks before she speaks. Usually. Naturally bounding with energy. Very confident in herself. She’s sexy and she knows it, but doesn’t flaunt it. Other people like her right away.
Occupation: Leaves day job at American Credit Services (Customer Service Supervisor) to start up Old Country Tuscany Olive Oil with three female friends. That venture falls through and she and Bob start up a bed and breakfast called Murcat Manor.
Sexual Persuasion: Heterosexual
Favorite Words, Phrases, Expletives: Leave it to me. Don’t Worry. I’ll take care of it. Trust me, I’ve got this.
Role/Relation To Other Main and Minor Characters: Robert (Bob) Jeremy Steven’s wife. Granddaughter of Ross and Erma Dempsey who co-sign and finance the three and a half million dollar loan to build Murcat Manor.
Hobbies and Interests: True visionary and entrepreneur. Loves interior decorating and cooking large meals for lots of people. Artsy. Always wanted to start a business venture. So starting Old Country Tuscany Olive Oil, then Murcat Manor from the ground, up, is no problem at all.
Spiritual, Religion, Faith, Beliefs, Other (or not): Protestant Baptist, but not too conservative. Will hold up a hand or two during worship. Drinks wine and occasional Scotch.
Origin of Birth and Present Location: Born and raised on the west side of Lansing. Bachelors degree Michigan State University in interior design. Lived in Caledonia (outside Grand Rapids), Michigan when she married Bob. Now lives in countryside between Battle Creek and Marshall where Murcat Manor was built.
Background – Family (including parents, siblings) Education, Notable Life Experiences: Third youngest of four kids. Two older siblings have children and pains Debbie that she does not have any, especially during Christmas family gathering. Younger brother Brendan Collins and his wife Christie have speaking roles in Chapter Twelve: Christmas Eve at Erma’s.
Parents and grandparents in furniture business. Design and manufacture domestic sofas, chairs, and tables.
Additional Notes (to begin with and to expand upon as story develops):
Debbie does what she usually would do when overwhelmed by stress. Fold her arms on the table and buries her head in them. Or when driving looks out passenger window and remains unusually silent.
Drives Ford Explorer.
Who Could Play Character in a Movie: Scarlett Johannson.
Great post Stephen. awaiting my T-Shirt to come.
ReplyDeleteYvonne,
This is a great way to help develop your characters. Thanks for sharing it with us all.
ReplyDeleteI have one that covers many of those things.
ReplyDeleteGot my t-shirt! Need to take a picture of Mini-Alex with it.
And all set for the road trip.
Your character profile is more detailed than I usually make mine. You gave me some ideas.
ReplyDeleteI just signed up for the Road Trip and I got my T-shirt in the mail a couple of days ago. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's an awesome character log, Stephen. It really helped me to get to know Debbie. I've done character profiles, but nothing that detailed.
Chrys, its also great to help keep characters distinct and help from giving them similar characteristics. And wear that T-shirt proudly!
DeleteI use character sheets too. I add to them as I go as well to help me kept track of things.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this, Stephen. I had NO IDEA by what you meant when you said "character logs." Now, I get it. This is a great idea!
ReplyDeleteThanks Stephen for posting this. It will be very helpful. I need to print out a copy and follow it. Also, thanks Robin for directing me here.
ReplyDeleteI'm wearing my Tshirt now. It's comfy. Still trying to decide if I want to do the road trip.
ReplyDeletePatricia, give it a try. I plan on visiting five or ten people, five days a wee. One here, a couple there. A real nice slow pace.
DeleteHi Stephen! I am driving through on the A to Z Road Trip. Hope to find some new friends and new, interesting topics to read! Thanks for all the visits you paid my blog during the challenge. It was nice to have some of the minions in view this time around
ReplyDeleteI love favorite words or phrases. That will be added to my next character bio. I also have fears/hates and allergies on my list. Being this detailed really makes my characters real to me and makes it easier to give them their own voice and style in the book.
ReplyDeleteExcited about the Road Trip!
ReplyDeleteSee, this is why writers talk about their characters as if they are real people :)
ReplyDeletedolorah, they really are real. I have life sized cardboard cutouts to prove it. They talk to me.
DeleteNicely done bio. I should add favorite phrases to mine too. That says a lot about the character.
ReplyDeleteKeeping the momentum of a-z alive with the road trip, Sandy at Bridge and Beyond
ReplyDeleteI'm always worried when I hear things like trust me, got it covered...lol
Sandy, you and me both.
DeleteThat's a great character profile. She seems well developed. I might have to do a log for my characters sometime.
ReplyDeleteThat DOES sound better than A-Z craziness - and even better than the IWSG pace last week! :) I agree with Loni; she's very human!
ReplyDeleteWow, very detailed. My bios are much briefer. My characters live in my head so clearly while I'm writing them, but after time away form the project I have to re-associate with them before moving forward. This would be such a huge help. X
ReplyDeleteshahwharton.com
Oh my! What a great character sheet! I should do one for my supporting characters - even my main characters - but I'm far too lazy. Best I do is write the darn supporting people's names in my notes. Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteLexa, feel free to use this format. It really does work.
DeleteGreat character sheet. I enjoyed reading about her. Made me want to read the story.
ReplyDeleteWearing my A-Z Survivor shirt right now!
Michele at Angels Bark
Hello Stephen! Just blitzing through on the Road Show to visit blogs I couldn't during the challenge. I am really enjoying all that I see here on yours. I love the character sheet! My A-to-Z Challenge occurred on my blog, Promptly Written: https://promptlywritten.wordpress.com/category/a-to-z-challenge/ -- I wrote a while sci-fi story during the challenge (still a first draft) and I really had a great time. Looking forward to next year! See you then!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and good luck with your draft!
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