Protector, Lover, Wizard
September 22, 2011 7:17 PM Subscribe
Help me with my short story
I am writing a short story, and I'm about halfway through (for what I had envisioned) and I've run out of gas. I have 3 characters. Each character has his (consider this a genderless pronoun) own dominant characteristic:
One is the protector.
One is the lover.
One is the wizard.
Each is going around doing his thing, but I've run out of things that a protector, a lover, a wizard would do. So mive hind, please tell me what someone you know (Homo sapiens or otherwise) who is a protector might do, and similarly for a lover, a wizard. Take as much liberty with the meaning of those 3 words as you wish.
Thanks.
I am writing a short story, and I'm about halfway through (for what I had envisioned) and I've run out of gas. I have 3 characters. Each character has his (consider this a genderless pronoun) own dominant characteristic:
One is the protector.
One is the lover.
One is the wizard.
Each is going around doing his thing, but I've run out of things that a protector, a lover, a wizard would do. So mive hind, please tell me what someone you know (Homo sapiens or otherwise) who is a protector might do, and similarly for a lover, a wizard. Take as much liberty with the meaning of those 3 words as you wish.
Thanks.
Well... how do they relate to each other? Who does the lover love, who does the protector protect? What have they done so far?
At this level of detail, they might as well be three guys walking into a bar, and I'm not sure how answerable this question is.
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:30 PM on September 22, 2011 [2 favorites]
At this level of detail, they might as well be three guys walking into a bar, and I'm not sure how answerable this question is.
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:30 PM on September 22, 2011 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: They actually don't interact with each other. I have my own experiences with those who have these qualities. I'm asking for other's experiences.
posted by allelopath at 7:36 PM on September 22, 2011
posted by allelopath at 7:36 PM on September 22, 2011
"Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger."
posted by Jahaza at 7:38 PM on September 22, 2011
posted by Jahaza at 7:38 PM on September 22, 2011
A protector can solve crimes, put out fires, be a crossing guard, a
a lover can be a healer, a shrink, an animal trainer, a cook, an artist or...a protector of that which they love.
A wizard can be a lover and protector, a scientist, a detective , a chef, a maker of things, a pregnant lady or a murdering psycho.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:40 PM on September 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
a lover can be a healer, a shrink, an animal trainer, a cook, an artist or...a protector of that which they love.
A wizard can be a lover and protector, a scientist, a detective , a chef, a maker of things, a pregnant lady or a murdering psycho.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:40 PM on September 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
For the lover, the table of contents alone in A Lover's Discourse might be inspirational. For the wizard, maybe consider Seventh Sanctum's random generators related to magic. For the protector, I dunno.
posted by Monsieur Caution at 8:14 PM on September 22, 2011
posted by Monsieur Caution at 8:14 PM on September 22, 2011
A protector manipulates people, sets traps, plans for the worst and usually gets it.
A wizard wedges into the tightest possible space just to show off. Spectacularly.
A lover transgresses.
posted by carsonb at 8:34 PM on September 22, 2011
A wizard wedges into the tightest possible space just to show off. Spectacularly.
A lover transgresses.
posted by carsonb at 8:34 PM on September 22, 2011
Can they end up being the same person at the end of the day?
posted by blue_wardrobe at 8:40 PM on September 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by blue_wardrobe at 8:40 PM on September 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
A bit off your exact question... but I just read "On Writing" by Stephen King and he gives some great advice about writer's block: take a walk. Or a few days of walks. At some point it will come to you (or you will throw the story away because it isn't working). Remember, this is your story. It will work out best if it remains your own creation.
That being said:
protector: bearlike. Roams the world freely and runs into circumstances that enable him to save others. I think of Wolverine.
lover: devoted. Dedicated oneself to the survival and happiness of others with no regard for one's own well-being.
wizard: unpredictable. The wizard is the one who secretly knows what is going on in others' lives or is secretly controlling them.
posted by DoubleLune at 8:56 PM on September 22, 2011
That being said:
protector: bearlike. Roams the world freely and runs into circumstances that enable him to save others. I think of Wolverine.
lover: devoted. Dedicated oneself to the survival and happiness of others with no regard for one's own well-being.
wizard: unpredictable. The wizard is the one who secretly knows what is going on in others' lives or is secretly controlling them.
posted by DoubleLune at 8:56 PM on September 22, 2011
Response by poster: DoubleLune:
I understand what you are saying. I intend to keep it my creation, to write only what I know about. The best I am hoping here is for someone to say "A lover does" and that would remind me of something in my own experience. Btw, I walk or run 5-12 miles a day, 5 or 6 days a week. :)
posted by allelopath at 9:08 PM on September 22, 2011
I understand what you are saying. I intend to keep it my creation, to write only what I know about. The best I am hoping here is for someone to say "A lover does
posted by allelopath at 9:08 PM on September 22, 2011
They all yearn to be able to fully do what they're called to do, even if they also struggle against it.
posted by Occula at 9:24 PM on September 22, 2011
posted by Occula at 9:24 PM on September 22, 2011
They meet and hook up with local supergroup Seeker Lover Keeper
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 9:26 PM on September 22, 2011
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 9:26 PM on September 22, 2011
A wizard collects or distributes power, whether that be new incantations, or powerful objects, or powerful people, or powerful ideas. They're interested in the mechanics, the inner workings of life; wizards are to magical makeup as scientists are to cellular structure. They produce theories, and test and experiment until they find an answer. Sometimes, like bad scientists, the sleazier ones fiddle with the experiment to get what they want in order to achieve more power, whether that be more -magical- power or something akin to tenure from their fellow wizards. Wizards are most inclined toward rational thought, to discussion, and to holding boards on tricky topics.
Lovers are social hackers. They read people's body language in order to give the object of their affection what they desire. Lovers understand a sigh, a flick of the eyes, a gesture. Lovers have to be comfortable with themselves before they make their love completely relaxed. They're often great listeners, though sometimes escaping out the window in the morning is their exit strategy. There are differences between physical, emotional, and even mental lovers. A person can draw your mind out into the open, gently and insistently, in order to caress your thought.
Protectors give an aura of being dependable. They will defend and be there in your time of trouble, whether that be when facing lizard kings or mental breakdown. Protectors are sometimes immovable, sometimes fluid to adapt to situations. They can be cold and distant as bodyguards or as warm and enveloping as the lovers previously. Protectors are pillars to cling to, unhurried in how they deal with the world because they know they -can- deal with it; a constant in all weather.
posted by DisreputableDog at 5:25 AM on September 23, 2011
Lovers are social hackers. They read people's body language in order to give the object of their affection what they desire. Lovers understand a sigh, a flick of the eyes, a gesture. Lovers have to be comfortable with themselves before they make their love completely relaxed. They're often great listeners, though sometimes escaping out the window in the morning is their exit strategy. There are differences between physical, emotional, and even mental lovers. A person can draw your mind out into the open, gently and insistently, in order to caress your thought.
Protectors give an aura of being dependable. They will defend and be there in your time of trouble, whether that be when facing lizard kings or mental breakdown. Protectors are sometimes immovable, sometimes fluid to adapt to situations. They can be cold and distant as bodyguards or as warm and enveloping as the lovers previously. Protectors are pillars to cling to, unhurried in how they deal with the world because they know they -can- deal with it; a constant in all weather.
posted by DisreputableDog at 5:25 AM on September 23, 2011
Each of your characters needs a desire. That desire will dictate what they do.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 5:30 AM on September 23, 2011
posted by Kitty Stardust at 5:30 AM on September 23, 2011
Make them all do something they wouldn't normally do...
The protector chooses *not* to protect someone (and why)
The wizard tries to do something in a mundane way (why?)
The lover rejects someone (why?)
The story, as they say, is in the conflict.
posted by patheral at 10:06 AM on September 23, 2011
The protector chooses *not* to protect someone (and why)
The wizard tries to do something in a mundane way (why?)
The lover rejects someone (why?)
The story, as they say, is in the conflict.
posted by patheral at 10:06 AM on September 23, 2011
Response by poster: >>Can they end up being the same person at the end of the day?
Doesn't fit with what I have so far, so not likely.
>>Each of your characters needs a desire.
Yes! I think this is there now, but could be brought out more.
>>The story, as they say, is in the conflict.
Indeed, thanks for the reminder.
>>Seeker Lover Keeper
Thanks, never heard of them, I like.
Thanks for all the comments, I appreciate all of them.
posted by allelopath at 7:06 PM on September 23, 2011
Doesn't fit with what I have so far, so not likely.
>>Each of your characters needs a desire.
Yes! I think this is there now, but could be brought out more.
>>The story, as they say, is in the conflict.
Indeed, thanks for the reminder.
>>Seeker Lover Keeper
Thanks, never heard of them, I like.
Thanks for all the comments, I appreciate all of them.
posted by allelopath at 7:06 PM on September 23, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 7:26 PM on September 22, 2011