#PennedPossibilities 182 — Do you use a thesaurus? Why or why not? If so, which one(s)? (2/2)
Credit: @NaraMoore
As for which ones I use, there are so many to choose from. When I'm lazy or in a hurry, though, I'll just use Google. But I highly recommend using One Look Thesaurus if you're ever in need. It's so amazing, and it's such a helpful site!
Here it is: https://onelook.com/thesaurus/
"Enter a word, phrase, description, or pattern to find synonyms, related words, and more."
#PennedPossibilities 183 — Is your MC one to be loyal in relationships, or are they likely to quickly move from one bond to another?
Randall has only ever TRULY been with two women. Lix was the first, and Claire was the second. Now it's Lix once again. He's a loyal man, and he'll stay forever.
Lix is the same way. She can have as many one-night stands as she wants, and often has throughout the years, but she's loved so few in her lifetime. Randall is the love of her life.
#PennedPossibilities 184 — Do any of your characters believe in soulmates?
Randall does. Maybe. He'll admit to nothing. Lix is his soulmate. As for Lix, well... She must, right? She keeps going back to Randall.
Freddie's just happy he found his other half. Bel, on the other hand, is a romantic at heart. She loves the idea of calling dear Freddie her soulmate.
Marnie and Hector are happy parents. They survived the turmoil. They're passionate again.
#PennedPossibilities 185 — Emotionally speaking, who would your MC consider the strongest person they know?
Randall is the strongest person that Lix has ever met. He has the same resolve and strength as any of the iron beams holding up the Eiffel Tower, and he's as tall as that very same masterpiece when he wants to be. He's larger than life. He deals with mental health issues, PTSD, intrusive thoughts, tics, and OCD on a daily basis, and yet it doesn't stop him.
#PennedPossibilities 186 — Does your MC believe in magical or cosmic forces, or are they more likely to think that their life is ultimately a matter of their own control?
In #ThePastIsAWound, Randall is the logical type. He doesn't believe in magic at all. He never has. He's the master of his own fate.
In another story of mine, #TheFinalRite, Father Kenneth does believe in otherworldly forces. He's seen the darkness in life. He believes in all of it. He is an expert in the supernatural.
#PennedPossibilities 187 — Describe your MC or SC's relationship with nature and the natural world.
Randall adores nature. It's peace and harmony. It's everything he needs to quiet his mind. He can breathe easily. He can get lost going for hikes as well. Lix is the same way. She loves it.
Freddie would rather be in the city. Bel is a mixture of both. For as much as she loves beautiful landscape, rolling hills, and flowers, the city is where the stories are. It calls to her.
#PennedPossibilities 188 — Is your SC one to be loyal in relationships, or are they likely to quickly move from one bond to another?
Bel once had feelings for Hector. She had fallen head over heels. After things were over, they became close friends. She even became friends with his wife as well, Marnie. Those two fixed things. Throughout it all, she had always loved Freddie. Now they're finally together and married. Bel is loyal and steadfast in both friendships and love.
#PennedPossibilities 189 — Would the core group of your WIP turn to each other if they ever needed help? MC's, SC's, friends, etc. Are they all close?
Any information and a full story wouldn't even need to be prised out of any of them. They work together at The Hour, a television news program (and the first of its kind), and they've gone through hardship before with one another. They're so close. They almost lost Freddie a year ago, so they learned the hard way.
#PennedPossibilities 190 — Write about something your SC frequently forgets. (1/2)
Self-care? That counts, right? Yes, it does, but... Bel forgets where she puts her lipsticks or eyeshadow palettes. She'll put things down and never remember where they are. At home, she loses everything. Thankfully, now she has Freddie (her husband) to let her know where she places it all. He never forgets a single thing. They mesh so well. They perfectly complement each ~ (cont.)
#PennedPossibilities 190 — Write about something your SC frequently forgets. (2/2)
~ other. She never loses important things, only things like notebooks, makeup, cups of water she poured for herself, etc.
But really, though... She does need to learn how to take better care of herself. She isn't very good at that.
#PennedPossibilities 191 — Describe a "happy life" according to your MC?
For Randall, it would be one where he suffers no more. There would be no mental health issues, PTSD, intrusive thoughts, tics, or OCD.
For Lix, it would simply be retirement and a peaceful life. If there was nothing for her to write about, no stories to tell, then the world would be at peace and so would she. A world without war would be a very happy life, indeed. She would write novels, instead.
#PennedPossibilities 192 — List a few themes within novels that will always pull you in whether you're reading or writing them.
• Forbidden love is when two people are in love, but shouldn’t be.
• Redemption is a hopeful theme that shows how, even when our MC's behave poorly, there is always a chance of hope and redemption.
• Identity. At some point in their life, the protagonist asks the question: who am I? We love learning about a MC, especially if we're writing them. We learn as we go.
#PennedPossibilities 193 — How easy is it to gain your MC or SC's trust? Once their trust is broken, how might one go about mending it?
Lix and Randall are leery of trusting others. It's a wonder that they ever fell in love in the middle of the Spanish Civil War. Once that trust is broken, it's so difficult to mend. Actions speak louder than words. They would rather be shown (and not told) just how badly they want it all to be fixed.
(This is such a huge part of the story.)
#PennedPossibilities 194 — How does your SC soothe themselves when they're upset?
Hector will spend time with his family. He needs a reason to smile, and they're just that for him. Marnie and their daughter will soothe away any worries that he ever has. His life is changed now. He no longer turns to alcohol. For Marnie, she will turn to cooking, baking, and spending time with her family as well. They need it. That closeness, or even intimacy with her husband always helps.
#PennedPossibilities 195 — How does your MC view people in general?
As equals. That answer goes for both Lix and Randall. They fight for social justice. They care about the voiceless, the ones who need to be helped and heard the most, the disabled, those who love the same sex, those with a different skin color or religion than others have, etc. They all matter. Everyone matters.
Equal rights are what they want.
People, in general, need to stop being at war with one another.
#PennedPossibilities 196 — What's the nationality of your MC? (Describe your world a bit if it's in an original universe.)
Nationality wise, both Lix and Randall are British. Talking about ethnicity, however, will be fun. Randall is Scottish through and through. He came from Glasgow. His accent's thick. Lix is English. Posh English, no less. She likes to hide that fact. She doesn't want anyone knowing that about her. She worked her way up in a male dominated field: the news.
#PennedPossibilities 197 — Do any of your characters have their very own "kryptonite" of sorts?
Randall's kryptonite is Lix Storm. Anything and everything to do with her. She has haunted all of his days since they parted ways twenty years prior. Now that they're back in each other's lives again, the reality of it all is rather overwhelming.
Aside from that, Randall also has OCD. He deals with everything that entails on a daily basis.
#PennedPossibilities 198 — If your MC had a spirit animal, what would it be? (1/2)
Lix's spirit animal would be a leopard, for sure. She protects her family, meaning their group of coworkers and friends at The Hour.
"Leopards are one of the animals that are most protective of their young. They have been known to fight off predators and even other leopards to protect their cubs. Leopards are also very territorial and will fiercely defend their territory against intruders."
#PennedPossibilities 198 — If your MC had a spirit animal, what would it be? (2/2)
Randall's spirit animal would be a wolf. There's no contest. Not only are they an endangered species, a bit like him, but they're so family oriented. He cares deeply for his group of friends and those he works with.
"Wolves are known for being very protective of their pack and territory. They will fiercely defend their family and home against any threat, whether it be another animal or human."
#PennedPossibilities 199 — Has anyone ever saved your MC’s life?
Someone has, in fact. Lix was saved by Randall during the Spanish Civil War. They barely knew one another. He was fresh out of Glasgow, having had some experience in the world of news in London as well.
As ever, she was trying to get the /perfect/ shot. Her camera was raised, eye squinted. There was a rioter ready to fire, a gun in hand. He pulled the trigger. Randall dove to save Lix and somehow succeeded.
#PennedPossibilities 200 — How does your MC handle grief?
Not very well. Randall bottles it all up inside, as does Lix, and they never heal from any of it. At this point in my story, though, they're beginning to learn that they can heal together. They've seen what shoving it all deep down can do. They've lived through that. They can face it, accept it, heal, and move on together. Grief isn't something you should push aside. It's something that you have to bravely face.
#PennedPossibilities 201 — Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym or pen name? Why or why not? (1/2)
I already do. Not only am I Panda Bear, but everyone on writing sites (and Tumblr) knows me as agoodtuckering. I happen to write a lot of stories about Malcolm Tucker, a scary foul-mothed Scottish Spin Doctor for the Labour Party from The Thick of It. It's become my pen name of sorts. It's funny how that can happen, sometimes. But yes, I'm also known as THE Panda Bear.
#PennedPossibilities 201 — Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym or pen name? Why or why not? (2/2)
Some people prefer the anonymity of a pen name or pseudonym. There's nothing wrong with that, either.
On writing sites, I am either Panda Bear, or just Panda, and agoodtuckering. When I publish more stuff, mainly original novels, I'll be using my actual name. I've already done it with professionally published #DoctorWho stories. They're under my name.
#PennedPossibilities 202 — What is something or someone that your MC takes pride in? How do they express that pride? (1/2)
Randall is the type to feel pride for coworkers over their accomplishments. He's a journalist, a former war photographer, and will always work in news. He's older now and runs The Hour, a television news program. Whenever his team do something remarkable and have a story breakthrough, he'll have THAT small smile. ~ (cont.)
#PennedPossibilities 202 — What is something or someone that your MC takes pride in? How do they express that pride? (2/2)
~ It says it all. It'll show how impressed he is. He isn't the type to make grand gestures or to say very much. Everyone already knows this about him.
He takes pride in the work, in the skilled journalists that he has on The Hour's team. They know how much he appreciates them. He always shows it. Actions speak louder than words, and he'd rather show them.
#PennedPossibilities 203 — How does your MC view the world: as a cruel and unforgiving place, a land full of wonders, or something in-between? Where does that worldview come from? (Reference their experiences, life lessons, etc.) (1/2)
Randall sees the world as something in-between. He's a journalist. He sees all that happens in the world, all of the good and the bad. Lix feels the same way. They capture it all. It can be so nasty, cruel and terrible, but there's ~ (cont.)
#PennedPossibilities 203 — How does your MC view the world: as a cruel and unforgiving place, a land full of wonders, or something in-between? Where does that worldview come from? (Reference their experiences, life lessons, etc.) (2/2)
~ good things to be found as well. It gives them hope. They've gone through hell, been through far too many battles as war photographers and journalists scribbling down heartfelt articles. They've LIVED it. But there ARE good-hearted people.
#PennedPossibilities 204 — If you could spend a day with a popular author, whom would you choose? But more importantly, why would you choose them? (1/2)
I can’t choose just one. It has to be two of my favorite authors. It would either be @strangeseawolf (AKA my soul sister, one of my absolute besties) or Tolkien. Come to think of it, Michael Moorcock would be on the list as well.
#PennedPossibilities 204 — If you could spend a day with a popular author, whom would you choose? But more importantly, why would you choose them? (2/2)
Moorcock was incredible. He's so close to my heart. I adore that man and his mind. I love sword and sorcery stories so much. Tolkien is near and dear to my heart. I would thank him. My dad and I could wax poetic about his universe for hours. I miss my daddoo to bits. But @strangeseawolf? Wolfie is just my other half in a best friend package.
#PennedPossibilities 205 — Do any of your characters have an accent? (This all depends on where they're from and where they currently are, of course.) (1/3)
Credit: @HeliaXyana
All of my characters do. I tend to write Scots. It's my forte. I do love writing MC's with #PeterCapaldi as the face-claim.
In #ThePastIsAWound, in London, we have The Hour. It's a television news program. Lix may be English, but Randall is from Glasgow. He's such a typical Scot as well. Take from that what you will.
#PennedPossibilities 205 — Do any of your characters have an accent? (This all depends on where they're from and where they currently are, of course.) (2/3)
Credit: @HeliaXyana
In #EmailsICantSend, a co-written story with @botanica, Malcolm Tucker is such a scary, sweary f*cker. He's an angry Scot living in London as a powerful man in the Labour Party. I love #TheThickOfIt.
Take #TheCityOfOpulence for example as well. Alexios is also a Scot and far from home.
It's just my niche, I suppose.
#PennedPossibilities 205 — Do any of your characters have an accent? (This all depends on where they're from and where they currently are, of course.) (3/3)
Credit: @HeliaXyana
If it isn't already obvious, I have a nice mix of fanfiction and original novels. I talk about (and share) both on this site.
Just throwing that out there. ❤️
#PennedPossibilities 206 — Does your MC often reflect on their own actions? Do they ever think about the past, and what they could have done differently?
Randall spends far too much time reflecting and regretting. He can very easily get stuck in the past with that mind of his. He wishes things could have been different. Lix is the opposite of him. She runs from the past. She moves forward, never back. She pushes it away and never acknowledges any of it. It's not healthy.
#PennedPossibilities 206 — Does your MC often reflect on their own actions? Do they ever think about the past, and what they could have done differently?
Malcolm doesn't like to reflect on his past. He's gone through too much sh*t in his life. Labour this, Labour that, Labour everything. They've sucked the very soul right out of him. Seeing Kelsey overdose knocked some sense into him. Even after going to prison, returning to the Party, yes, it took THAT. He decided to leave.
#PennedPossibilities 207 — Does your SC's reputation matter to them?
Bel's reputation matters quite a bit to her. She wants to know how people feel about her, even though she shouldn't ask. She wants it to be known that she's a woman who's worked her arse off to be in the position that she is. She's a producer. A bloody producer! She's incredible, and hard work has gotten her there. That matters to her. So, yes, her reputation is important to her. She cares what others think.
#PennedPossibilities 208 — Does your villain actively seek romantic companionship, or cherish the liberties of being single?
In #ThePastIsAWound, our villain (Mateo González) is a single man. A widower, to be exact. He doesn't care about anyone anymore, only himself.
In #TheCityOfOpulence, our villain (Dr. Death AKA The Angel of Death) is exactly what I would call a f*ck boy. He just sleeps around for the fun of it. He has no real feelings for anyone. He loves himself enough for everyone, too.
#PennedPossibilities 209 — Does your MC have any "unusual" habits, interests, and / or talents? Do they hide it, or are they proud of it? (1/3)
Well, Randall (and Lix as well) are or were bowlers. Randall has bowled over the course of his entire life. Lix learned to bowl as a child and still occasionally enjoys it. Randall doesn't usually tell people but he's fantastic at it. He's also incredibly skilled at doing crosswords and other puzzles. He's such an ~ (cont.)
#PennedPossibilities 209 — Does your MC have any "unusual" habits, interests, and / or talents? Do they hide it, or are they proud of it? (2/3)
~ intelligent man. He needs to do word or number games in the morning with a cup of coffee just to calm himself. It helps ease his mind. It isn't really something he tells people, of course. He's quiet about it. Lix knows, though. She loves that about him. He's also excellent with poetry. He writes and reads it on a regular ~ (cont.)
#PennedPossibilities 209 — Does your MC have any "unusual" habits, interests, and / or talents? Do they hide it, or are they proud of it? (3/3)
~ basis.
Learning or knowing any of these things would be unusual in reference to Randall. You would never know that he was bowler. You would never know that he enjoyed puzzles. You would never, ever know that he was a writer and enjoyed penning poetry as well. People ALREADY find him odd. He's quirky. He has OCD. He's different.
#PennedPossibilities 210 — How is your MC typically seen by others? Does it ring true to who they really are?
Similar to my answer last night, Randall is typically seen as the odd boss. Before then, he was the quirky war photographer and journalist out of the bunch. He's different. He suffers from OCD. People tend to stay away from him. Those who get to know him enjoy his company. You just have to befriend him first. He is so much more than his OCD. He's an incredible man.
#PennedPossibilities 211 — Where does your MC draw inspiration in life? What motivates them?
From the strongest people, that's who. Randall looks to those who are survivors, those who are warriors in their own way. All minorities, people who are different, those who are surviving in war-torn countries, anyone living with a mental illness, everyone dealing with bigotry or racism, etc. Those are the individuals that he looks to for inspiration in life. It keeps him motivated.
#PennedPossibilities 212 — Has your MC or SC ever had any prejudices that they later came to regret?
I loved this question. It's such a deep one.
Lix, as a young woman, was brought up in a posh family and raised to hate those were deemed "poor" in her mother and father's eyes. She ran from them the moment she was of age. She left, never looking back, and became a war photographer and journalist. Look at how far she's come... Lix cares for people of all walks of life.
#PennedPossibilities 213 — How meticulously do your characters look after their physical appearance? Do they spend a lot of time on their hair, makeup, grooming, and clothing? Is there a particular reason why they do or don’t?
Of course. We have to remember that the year is 1958. Everyone cared a great deal about their appearances. In the workplace (and out of it), everyone was judged based off of their clothing, grooming, hair, makeup, etc. Books were judged by their covers.
#PennedPossibilities 214 — Does your villain have any birthmarks or tattoos? (1/2)
Mateo González is more of what he considers a purest. Pure body, pure soul, pure hatred. He doesn't have any tattoos. He didn't get any while he was in prison, either. He's completely against them. He does, however, have a few birthmarks on his arms and neck.
#PennedPossibilities 214 — Does your villain have any birthmarks or tattoos? (2/2)
Dr. Death (AKA The Angel of Death) does have a few tattoos. They're random, from his days before he joined up with The Syndicate and began working for them as Head Medical Scientist and a mad bastard. They're symbols of his truest self: combinations of chaos and order, of self-love (LOL because he's so conceited), and Japanese writing. As to birthmarks, he doesn't really have any on his body.
#PennedPossibilities 215 — Is your MC inclined to help others, or will they only do it when it benefits them, if at all? What makes them this way? Has it ever gotten them into trouble, or inconvenienced them? (1/2)
Randall will help anyone if they truly needed it. He often does things for others, even if it means he MIGHT possibly get into some trouble for it, and he has. Lix is the same way. She plays tough but she'll always help anyone. They're GOOD people. They ~ (cont.)
#PennedPossibilities 215 — Is your MC inclined to help others, or will they only do it when it benefits them, if at all? What makes them this way? Has it ever gotten them into trouble, or inconvenienced them? (2/2)
~ want to help, if they can. They're selfless individuals. Their upbringings, although different, shaped them to be this way. It made them charitable, warm, and compassionate. Their childhoods weren't easy. They remained thoughtful and empathetic despite it all.
#PennedPossibilities 216 — Does your MC have any birthmarks or tattoos?
Randall has birthmarks, and so does Lix. She she stretch marks from her pregnancy, scars, and birthmarks all over. Randall has quite a few scars as well. Their jobs have always meant that they're constantly in danger. While Randall doesn't have any tattoos, who knows about Lix. She might have a few... *River Song voice* Shhh. Spoilers.
#PennedPossibilities 217 — How intelligent is your MC overall? Are they smarter than the average person, or less than? Are they primarily self-taught, or did they acquire most of their knowledge in school? Are they more street smart or book smart? (1/3)
Randall is a combination of street and book smart. He was a war photographer, same as Lix. They are amazing journalists. They're the same here in that respect, acquiring knowledge in and out of school, self-taught and ~ (cont.)
#PennedPossibilities 217 — How intelligent is your MC overall? Are they smarter than the average person, or less than? Are they primarily self-taught, or did they acquire most of their knowledge in school? Are they more street smart or book smart? (2/3)
~ learning as they go. War teaches you in the moment. You learn everything as you experience the horrors of what it entails. It sharpens you. It gives you PTSD. The trauma will stick with you. They were taught as they ~ (cont.)
#PennedPossibilities 217 — How intelligent is your MC overall? Are they smarter than the average person, or less than? Are they primarily self-taught, or did they acquire most of their knowledge in school? Are they more street smart or book smart? (3/3)
~ did their jobs, right there on the spot. Somehow, they survived. Now, years later, they have created the first television news program. Randall runs it.
They are brilliant. They're smarter than the average person for sure.
#PennedPossibilities 218 — If you had to pick one song as a theme song for your WIP, which song would that be?
Credit: @HeliaXyana
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes from The Platters would be the main theme of this entire story. There's no doubt about it. This song perfectly fits Lix and Randall and what they're going through and already have endured, both together and apart. They're a pair of romantics at heart.
#PennedPossibilities 219 — Is your SC inclined to help others, or will they only do it when it benefits them, if at all? What makes them this way? Has it ever gotten them into trouble, or inconvenienced them? (1/2)
Freddie landed himself in a heap of trouble when he helped Ruth Elms (a childhood friend) back at the beginning, as The Hour was being created in the first place. He helped her because he loved her like a sister. He wasn't looking for anything in return. ~ (cont.)
#PennedPossibilities 219 — Is your SC inclined to help others, or will they only do it when it benefits them, if at all? What makes them this way? Has it ever gotten them into trouble, or inconvenienced them? (2/2)
~ He cared for her. Unfortunately, later in the story, she died in his arms. He had to unravel the whole mystery.
Despite what others might say or think, he isn't a selfish man. He wants to help the world. Occasionally, though, he does do things for personal gain.
#PennedPossibilities 220 — Is your MC merciful? Why or why not? (1/2)
Randall is. He is a kind, understanding, and compassionate man. He's empathetic. He knows when the right time to show mercy is. He also knows when to be hard, brutal, or tough.
He had a chance once to blackmail someone (Angus McCain) over a photo of him with a male lover. Angus is only interested in men. It's the late 1950's, and therefore it's a punishable offense. He was in government. Imagine ~ (cont.)
#PennedPossibilities 220 — Is your MC merciful? Why or why not? (2/2)
~ what would have happened him. It's a scandal. There would have been quite a fall from grace. What's more, he would have gone to prison. Instead, Randall chose mercy. He knew how to effectively put the fear of God into Angus without ever needing to use said photograph for leverage. He even said as much. He's better than that.
Randall will always choose mercy if the chance presents itself. He is a good man.
#PennedPossibilities 221 — Which of the four seasons suits your MC best, and why?
Randall would ASSUME that he would be a wintery man. Inside, he feels decayed, empty, and hollow. He thinks cold weather, the snow and the bitterness of it all, would suit him. Instead, he's more of a spring man. In front of him, he has a new beginning waiting. It's all there if he can take a chance and let Lix into his heart again. Springtime means new beginnings, life, and warmth approach.
#PennedPossibilities 222 — Does your SC actively seek romantic companionship, or cherish the liberties of being single?
Bel sought companionship. Before she and Freddie ever admitted how they felt to one another, she went from relationship to relationship, if they could even be called that. Let's just say that she went from man to man. Things with Hector were WRONG but still happened, Bill wasn't right for her, but she finally found her way to Freddie in the end.
#PennedPossibilities 223 — What brings your MC joy in life? (1/2)
Randall is simple: strong coffee, a delicious meal, a clean home, time with friends, reading, how exemplary The Hour is and will remain, etc. He isn't a man of many needs. Relaxing at home with Lix brings him joy. Doing ANYTHING with her has always given him joy. It's the simple things for him. Allowing her into his heart again would give him joy as well. If only he could just let it happen. Perhaps one day.
#PennedPossibilities 223 — What brings your MC joy in life? (2/2)
Lix is more complicated than Randall. She enjoys peace and quiet. Instead of being bothered at work, she appreciates time to herself. She's Head of the Foreign Desk. Basically, she IS the Foreign Desk for The Hour. She writes the news on politics and war. She needs the time to properly get her best work done. Being with Randall always makes her happy as well. He makes everything better. If only he could see it.
#PennedPossibilities 224 — Recently there have been a lot of conversations about music for writers. Do you have a specific playlist or mix for your current WIP?
I do! I have a mix that I made specifically for #ThePastIsAWound, and I love it to bits. I listen to it while I'm writing. I've always listened to 50's-60's music as well, so making this particular mix for Lix and Randall was rather easy for me.
Here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5v3xQlVEzzUp3FnlbbeWQq?si=53933aa121dc409e
Spooky Panda 🏳️🌈
Daniel Johnson
skribe 🇺🇦 
I’m a frayed knot. ⛑️