Sunday, October 6, 2013

Origins: Amos Shapiro

A few weeks ago, I stopped writing. But a few weeks ago I also spent the WHOLE DAY writing (in random places at the university, and in-between tutoring people, whilst drinking a large thermos of my favorite kind of tea [Republic of Tea: Ginger Peach.]) I got to 64,000 words that day. 64,000! It's actually a few hundred over that, but I'm too lazy to figure it out and type it here.

I am just one chapter away from finishing Part 2 of the novel. Part 1 & 2 both include some "real leaf" events--i.e., conversations that really happened, personal experiences and situations that I've altered slightly for the purpose of making them more believable, more appropriate for fiction, for the novel, etc. Getting to Part 3 will require much more imagination for me. I won't have conversations that I can essentially copy/paste into the text. But I think if I really invest myself I can finish it within the next year.

Yeah, okay. We'll see about that.

In any case, while I haven't been writing, I did do a few Amos sketches. Here are some of the basics that you need to know for his character. You should know, he is based on a real person, and some his dialogue is indeed taken--in context!--from actual conversations. I mean verbatim, people. Word-for-word. I have written many characters in many short stories and other (secret) novels but Amos is by-far the most genuine, and the most deserving of such dubious speech.



Sketch 1. Rescued books.
I know, I know. His left hand looks weird. I got tired of trying to fix it.

Age: (at the beginning of the book) about 24
Hair: Dark Brown
Eyes: Brown
Original home/ethnicity: New Mexico
Favorite music: The Beatles, 
Favorite book: Crime & Punishment by Theodore Dostoevsky 
Likes: writing letters, the smell of a campfire, sunflowers
Dislikes: helplessness, dishonesty, being "tied down" by unnecessary things
Family: Mother, father, younger sister (all deceased)
Personality: INTJ
Character's importance to the story: Amos plays opposite of Gwen for the first 2/3 of the novel, during which he is the main "love interest." Amos shows up returns to initiate a relationship with Gwen, but after that he is often absent due to his obligations to the Ministry (he is also vaguely resentful of "settling down" in a place like Dexterhimmel.) His absence is detrimental to Gwen's stability and yet their tumultuous relationship drives many other plot points. You might love him, through Gwen, but he has other traits which will seriously cause some loathing and disgust. But you have to give him some credit because ultimately, he is the reason Gwen seeks out SubCity.
How he arrives in Dexterhimmel: After the loss of his family Amos wanders around the country until he sees campfire smoke from a distance. He follows the smoke to Dexterhimmel, and settles there until he meets Gwen. When Gwen gets involved with the Ministry Amos does too. He always has his own "home" in Dexterhimmel, although he is rarely in it.

Sketches 2 & 3 (done during those "in-between tutoring" periods I mentioned.)
On green paper. Don't judge me. I was just being resourceful.



That's all for now. I might try to finish part 2 this week, but we'll see. The pressure of part 3 immediately after is just a little intense and I might be subconsciously avoiding that. But please stay tuned, and tell your friends! :)