#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
#PennedPossibilities 225 — Does your MC or SC know how to swim?
Freddie actually can't swim. He never learned how to. Bel teases him about it, but she'll probably teach him one day soon. Marnie can't, but Hector can. I'm not sure about Sey and Sissy. Interesting thought. Let me think on that one. Both Randall and Lix can swim as well. This might come up in the story one day, but you'll never hear any spoilers from me. That's all that I'll say on the matter.
#PennedPossibilities 226 — How seriously does your MC take themselves? Do they prefer a solemn and intellectual atmosphere or do they delight in jokes and banter? (1/2)
Randall is a combination of the two. The latter is something he only indulges in with friends. Outwardly, he's rather serious, thoughtful, and awkward. He's always pensive, questioning everything, etc. He enjoys a good joke and lighthearted banter with close friends, though. He can be rather teasing as well.
#PennedPossibilities 226 — How seriously does your MC take themselves? Do they prefer a solemn and intellectual atmosphere or do they delight in jokes and banter? (2/2)
For all that Lix is, she's a serious woman as well. She hides behind an air of mystique, with her teasing comments and meaningless flirtation, but she's a serious journalist. She cares about the state of the world as it crumbles, same as Randall, and she wants to rage at the wars and lives lost. It's difficult.
#PennedPossibilities 227 — Is your SC receptive to warnings and advice given by others?
While Freddie sometimes HEARS it, the advice and warnings might just go in through one ear and out of the other. He almost died once due to a terrible beating that left him with scars, minor cognitive issues, a limp with a need for a cane, and sight issues that occasionally act up for him. It was all because he took a chance for The Hour. He needs to learn how to actually LISTEN to others.
#PennedPossibilities 228 — What is the most mundane action described in your WIP? (1/2)
Credit: @HeliaXyana
I love this.
Randall fussing and fidgeting are probably the most mundane actions, all of which I write an abundance of. He suffers from OCD. He's always moving things around, placing them where he sees fit. He has vocal and motor tics. Back in the 50's, OCD hadn't officially been "discovered" yet. People call Randall an odd and compulsive (but not impulsive) man.
#PennedPossibilities 228 — What is the most mundane action described in your WIP? (2/2)
Credit: @HeliaXyana
Also, addendum to my post:
I'm making an addition to my response here. The answer could also be smoking. Everyone smoked back in the day, and my story in particular takes place in the late 1950's.
Everyone. Bloody. Smoked.
This is no exaggeration. They drank in the workplace too, of course, so there's also that. My MC was once an alcoholic, so he quit years ago.
#PennedPossibilities 229 — How comfortable is your MC in their body? How do they feel about their height, weight, strength, and body type? How important is being attractive to them? (1/3)
Randall has issues with his body. He's older now, almost in his fifties, and he's grown far more comfortable with himself over the years. Still, his OCD brought with it anxiety, depression, and a deep hatred of himself. He's never satisfied and can be quite a self-loathing man at times.
#PennedPossibilities 229 — How comfortable is your MC in their body? How do they feel about their height, weight, strength, and body type? How important is being attractive to them? (2/3)
While Lix knows that she isn't quite the bombshell she was in her twenties, even if she's just as feisty, she knows she's a beautiful woman. Men still pursue her. It's all bravado and courage from her. She doesn't always like her body. She has wrinkles now and stretch marks from Sophia.
#PennedPossibilities 229 — How comfortable is your MC in their body? How do they feel about their height, weight, strength, and body type? How important is being attractive to them? (3/3)
While Lix and Randall know that beauty isn't success, they have mixed feelings on the subject. They know that for a woman, because it's the 50's, it's everything. It's the difference between having a job or not. They find one another incredibly attractive. Then again, everyone wants Lix.
#PennedPossibilities 230 — What characters in your WIP or your latest work are most similar to you or to people you know?
For me, it's Randall. He has OCD, as do I. My case is much "milder" than his. It's an isolating thing to suffer from. When it comes to verbal or motor tics, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and depression, only those who also deal with everything on a daily basis will ever be able to understand. No one can usually understand him. Lix is the only one.
#PennedPossibilities 231 — Has your MC or SC retained any friendships from their childhood or young adulthood?
Credit: @aperfectsong
(PS, that's my girlfriend, so please go follow her!)
Randall and Lix have. The pair both kept in contact with a lot of their friends (all of whom were fellow journalists and war photographers) from the Spanish Civil War.
Bel has a few a few friends from young adulthood but not many. She has new friends these days. Freddie, though? Not anymore.
#PennedPossibilities 232 — Does your MC’s reputation matter to them? (1/2)
Randall's reputation matters to him. To a point, really. He's a professional. He’s a journalist. He wants to be seen as the man that he is, the man whose hard work has gotten him this far. His "reputation" can also be something else as well. He's also known as a quirky, compulsive (but not professionally impulsive), obsessive man. He's quiet, thoughtful, and has OCD.
(This was before anyone ~ (cont.)
#PennedPossibilities 232 — Does your MC’s reputation matter to them? (2/2)
~ even really knew what OCD was or what it entailed. For context, it's the late 1950's.)
He suffers in silence. People know that he has a form of OCD, only they don't use (or know) that term. They call him quirky, odd, etc. Anything and everything you can imagine. He hates it. It DOES bother him. So, it goes both ways. The latter part of this is something that he doesn't want to be known for. At all.
#PennedPossibilities 233 — Does your MC or SC view themselves as virtuous and moral? What do these words mean to them?
Randall would never say it. He just isn't that sort of man. He wouldn't need to say it, but he's both of those things. Lix is as well. To them, it simply means: virtuous, good, upstanding, doing the right thing whenever, wherever, and however possible. They wouldn't be involved in the news if they weren't genuinely goodhearted people who care for others.
#PennedPossibilities 234 — What is your "kryptonite" as a writer?
My MS getting in the way of things would have to be a kryptonite of sorts for me. MS brain fog, neuropathy and nerve pain in my hands and feet (or anywhere else, really), my eye issues acting up, flare-ups (whether they're minor or major), etc. There are other things, though. Two examples: writer's block, or simply not having the time. Being a writer is difficult.
This article is really helpful: https://becomeawritertoday.com/writing-challenges/
#PennedPossibilities 235 — MC or SC POV: Did you have a childhood nickname?
Lix: I did, and it stuck all throughout childhood. Stormy was my nickname. My surname is Storm. I loved it, though. I found it was rather sweet. In reality, I can admit that I /am/ a bit of a storm, so the moniker suited me. My childhood friends understood that about me. I'm not to be trifled with. The neighborhood boys soon understood that as well. After only a few incidents, they left me alone.
#PennedPossibilities 236 — Does your SC have any allergies?
It's funny this should come up because Bel is allergic to peanuts. Freddie doesn't eat them anymore, just to be safe. You never can be too careful. He would rather not take the chance around her.
#PennedPossibilities 237 — How would you describe your WIP’s ideal reader?
My new WIP, an original novel named #TheCityOfOpulence, will be a fun one. It's a #SFF / #cyberpunk story. My intended audience would be science fiction and cyberpunk lovers, of course. Those who enjoy #LGBTQ+ stories are on the list as well because the MC turns out to be pansexual within the story. Anyone with an open mind will enjoy this wild tale. Any #CyberpunkRED and #Cyberpunk2020 players too, of course.
#PennedPossibilities 238 — How strong is your MC’s sense of intuition? Are they aware of it? Do they ever fear that it’s only paranoia?
Randall can read people's motivations so well. His sense of intuition, something of a sixth sense, is absolutely unparalleled. It all comes from experience. He wasn't always so excellent at his various news jobs. Whether he was a war photographer, a column writer, or a journalist — his life has led him to this point. He isn't paranoid at all.
#PennedPossibilities 239 — How does your MC feel about babies, children, and teenagers?
Lix and Randall like the purity of children, and will always feel protective over them, but it aches. They could have had a proper family twenty years ago... If only. Instead, they broke up. Afterward, Lix gave birth to their little girl and handed her over to a family that could care for her better than she could have as a single, unwed mother. The family later died. It's too painful.
#PennedPossibilities 240 — What inspired the idea for your latest WIP? (1/2)
My latest WIP? Let's choose my ovel, #TheCityOfOpulence. It was inspired by this phrase right here, which encapsulates the #cyberpunk genre perfectly: low life, high-tech. The allure of futuristic technological and scientific achievements, such as artificial intelligence and cyberware, juxtaposed with societal collapse and dystopia will always be too much for me. I always bring compassionate humanity to the genre.
#PennedPossibilities 240 — What inspired the idea for your latest WIP? (2/2)
The idea came to me because of the MC, Alexios Jace, who is a character that I've written into many a #TTRPG, #CyberpunkRED, and #Cyberpunk2020 game. I also love zombies... They feature in the story later. I loved it and ran with it, creating my own entire universe for the character. It's completely my own and original. I'm a Game Master, so worldbuilding has always come easily for me. I'm so happy with the product.
#PennedPossibilities 241 — MC POV: If you could relive one day of your life without changing anything that happened, which day would you choose?
Randall: The day Lix chose me, twenty years ago. That would be the day I'd relive. We were at our usual pub and she coxed me out onto the dance floor and wouldn't take no for an answer. I had no choice but drop the act, to stop ignoring her and dance with her. One thing led to another and we went home together. It was a special night.
#PennedPossibilities 242 — MC POV: If you could relive one day of your life and CHANGE its course of events, which day would you choose?
Randall: There's a few. I wouldn't have left Lix twenty years ago. Instead of following my orders, I would have begged to stay. Maybe we would have fixed things. Another day comes to mind... I was shot while in Spain. I never should have left the café where the journalists were all hiding. If I hadn't, I would have been fine. War is hell.
#PennedPossibilities 243 — Imagine, if you will, an alternate universe… Which of your characters is most likely to attempt karaoke?
This was inspired by a friend of mine on here! We could all use a silly question every so often.
For #ThePastIsAWound, my answer would most definitely have to be Lix. She would, with enough alcohol in her system, happily make a fool of herself in front of her friends and colleagues if they all needed a laugh!
Spooky Panda 🏳️🌈
Rachel Beth Ahrens