A Never-Ending Story

Something fun I started several years ago with a friend, was writing a blog of which she and I were both the authors. We had begun a story of sorts, from childhood, playing the roles of characters who had grand adventures. What started out as play times in our backyards developed into letters as we grew older and moved apart. Then, as we both spent more time on the computer, the letters became emails and the emails finally became our blog. Even now, as adults, we take turns, each writing the next segment(s) of our story, and each having our own set of characters to control. The grand adventure continues, and even though sometimes reality might be slightly stretched, the characters themselves are as real as they come... for they all reflect part of who she and I are.

As a writer, keeping up with that blog has been a wonderful exercise. Good character development is a must, if said character is going to continue through the story. Plot development is a must, if only to keep both my friend and I on the same page (no pun intended) as to what's happening with the story. The blog is a perfect place to practice different ways to bring in suspense, seeing if either she or I can follow the clues well enough to know what the other is planning, or if we end up completely surprised by the other's choice in turn of events. All of these things help sharpen my skills as a writer, and... I have an awful lot of fun, too.

Another thing that's great about the blog is that I never have to say goodbye to my characters. Because the story goes on, "The End" simply never happens. When I write a book, I fall in love with the characters. They take on lives of their own, and control the pages - sometimes I feel as though I'm just along for the ride. I love watching them grow, struggle, triumph and interact with each other. But in all my books, the final page always comes, and my beloved characters end up on the shelf - to be loved by others, for sure, but the end is always bittersweet for the writer.

In my friend's and my story blog, the characters live on. Oh, once in a while a character must be laid to rest, but never until we're good and ready to let go. As I write my books and see characters come and go, I always have that blog to fall back on and interact with others I love as well. At the risk of sounding corny, it's almost like a little haven where my writing imagination can not only soar to new heights, but it is a safe place where I can experiment and improve my skills without fear of public criticism.

If you're a writer who needs a creative boost, characters that never leave or new ways to experiment, try a story that never ends, whether by yourself or with a fellow writer. Don't let it be the only thing you write, but let it be that one safe place you can fall back on. It's fun, it keeps the creative juices flowing, and it can be as public or private as you want.