As I gear up for continuing "Unexpected Inspiration" and the world building of my series for April's Camp NaNoWriMo, it's time to do another "Dear Characters" post since my last was several chapters and months ago.

Dear Drake (the Spellbinder/fire-dancer),
I should have known you would turn me into a liar. I was so proud of myself for not having any nonhumans in this novel/series, and now I see you over there starting to piece something together. I don't know what's worse- that I have yet another facet of your personality to unravel or the fact that you won't discover what you are until the next book, so I can only drop hints here and there. I always knew you were a cross between a tease and my resident pain in the butt, but at least I can always count on you to spawn some plot. ...Except for now when I need it and you're flat out refusing to get yourself trapped, thus stalling the whole story. If you don't do it the way I've planned, the others will just tie you up and leave you on Talan's doorstep so they can move ahead. Either way you're going with the baddie. What's it going to be?

Dear Etri (the Shadowwalker/fire-eater),
You were finally starting to make some progress with your social phobia and now you've picked up that blasted fear of the dark. Sigh. Keep working with Blythe and maybe she can figure out how to cancel only one fear instead of all your fears and inhibitions. Seeing you talkative and flirty is weird for all of us (and possibly even weirder for you once you realize how you'd been acting), but it's better than you cowering when I need you to be the night prowler you usually are. Either I have to find a way to fix this or in the next draft you're getting a side effect besides nyctophobia. It seemed like a good idea at the time...

Dear Sol (the Lightbringer/fire-breather),
Sorry, dude. I know I'm putting you in an uncomfortable place between your brother and your boyfriend. I honestly had no idea that the antisocial and rather meek Etri could ever hate someone that much! (Oh! That's one of those hints I mentioned a second ago!) I'm really not sure how the next few scenes are going to play out, but if it turns out that Drake does or says something arsy to you, please try not to take it personally. It's probably just another of his misguided attempts to keep you safe- which I know you don't want to hear. Geez, between him and Etri both being obnoxiously protective it's a wonder you haven't snapped at either of them yet. You really are sunny, aren't you?

Dear Blythe (the Bladeshielder/blade-dancer),
I don't understand how I keep losing you in the pile of characters. You're the most outspoken and blunt of the bunch, you have the most interesting backstory, and you're the connecting point between most of the other characters, but somehow I never seem to know what to do with you. Maybe I should go back and write some of the scenes I skipped over from your POV so I can get inside your head. Goodness knows Drake has the story stalled where it currently is.

Dear Adair (the Forcepainter/illustrator),
I'm not sold on the way you're trying to get the group to work together as a team. You got them to listen this time mostly because they were still in shock at Etri's personality change, but your puppy eyes and "please?"'s aren't going to keep working. I know you've gotten this far in life by being amiable, soft-spoken, and mellow, but you're a leader now. The only way you're all going to get through this is if you put your foot down and make them listen. They won't hate you for it, I promise. And for pete's sake, please don't start asking them "Are you okay?" or "Is that all right?" afterward. They are and it is, even if they end up slightly peeved for a short time. Your decisions are sound. Stick by them.

Dear Chantrell (the Songshifter/melodist),
Okay, kiddo, you're going to be pulled away from the group for a bit. I have faith in you. You're young, but you're spunky. While you're there, see if you can learn anything to help them. Talan has a bad habit of underestimating you guys and he's certainly going to underestimate a twelve year old. Use that to your advantage. And see if you can get some dirt on him because my antagonists are giving me even more writer's block than Blythe.

Dear Grandeau (the Shadowshaper/mime),
Welcome aboard and umm... sorry I already got you beat up? Your first task is research duty. Your magic should be coming back soon and I'm still unsure what those shadows you summoned actually are or what to do about them, especially with Etri out of commission. And while you're giving me info, can you let me know what exactly your backstory is? You're fourteen and wandering around on your own without any hint of a family. Yet you know how to write and seem to be a gifted performer. Someone taught you these things. Who was it? I don't speak charades, but you have that slate to write on now. (Blythe will tie it to your wrist like a pair of mittens if you keep losing it. I don't think she's very good at charades, either.)


~Meri, your author who is wondering how to pawn some of you off because this huge cast of characters is getting ridiculous, particularly when you're all in one place. We'll be fine once some of you go off on other story arcs, so I'm about to take a cue from Drake and cause an unwelcome party split of my own.