World building- Teachers Write

Today's Monday Morning Warm-up at Teachers Write: http://jbknowles.livejournal.com/489392.html

I have a story that has been going around and around in my head since 2011. Bits and pieces- characters, places, thoughts. But I struggle with the antagonist. I struggle with the motives of this character. I keep changing his appearance- or her appearance...depending on the day. I don't know if this is about my own self-doubt or more about my inability to connect with this character.

So this prompt might be just what I need. I am thinking that I need to build my world in more depth. If I do that- then the motivations of the characters may become more apparent.

My reader needs to know:
1. The physics of my story do not match the physics of the real world- not exactly. Water, light, and spacial concepts work differently. Dimensions may work differently too- or at least travel.

2. There is magic- I am not sure yet how the magical abilities are perceived yet among the character in this story. The magic comes from nature and the relationships with those natural elements. Not everyone has the same magic potential. Nor does everyone want it. Of course some want it all.

3. The main character does not know his power- yet. He will not have the strongest power- but he may have the greatest growth,

- I intend this to be a middle level novel- what do I do with the parents? I really do not want to go with the 2 standards: 1- kill them off and create an orphan, or 2- indifferent uninvolved/self involved grown ups.

Wondering- Teachers Write

Here is today's Teachers Write mini-lesson prompt. To see the original prompt go here - http://www.katemessner.com/blog/

1. I wonder if one can really predict the weather according to their aches and pains. My neighbor always used to say that it was going to rain because his right knee was aching.
2. I wonder how fortune cookies were invented/created.
3. I wonder what it would be like to be a Viking.
4. I wonder what my mom thought when she picked up my dinner plate to clear the table and saw my carrots, peas, and bread crusts (when I was a child of course...very sneaky of me). She never said a thing.
5. I wonder what my parents life or my life (if I would have one) would be like if my dad was not drafted into the Vietnam War.
6. I wonder how it felt to be him. He tells me bits and pieces. He was young- 20 I think.
7. I wonder how far a fuzzy dandelion seed can travel.
8. I wonder what my grandmother was like growing up. I picture her in the movie Meet Me in St. Louis riding on the trolley with Judy Garland.
9. I wonder what it would be like to live in the upper most regions of the Northern Hemisphere. What would it be like to live in so much daylight in the summer, the darkness in the winter.

Summer Reading

I am a little behind on my summer reading. I think I needed a little break at the beginning of June. That and I am all caught up on Parks and Rec- caught up and finished. I am really going to miss Ron!

Since capturing this photo I finished A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab. I give it 5 stars. I loved the way it was organized. Schwab's characters immediately drew me in. But mostly I loved the different variances of London. The uniqueness and similarities between them. I felt like I was traveling both horizontally and vertically in time. Cannot wait to see what Schwab does in the sequel.

Not in in this photo is my digital reads. I am participating in the Awakened and Unshakable Book Clubs/Studies through Angela Watson's website The Cornerstone for Teachers. More about that later.