The characters and items pictured above have been my writing companions for a few years now. On the left is what may be an Aztec death whistle. It makes a sound like rumbling wind or growling jaguar. There are two stone dice from Texas, some poker chips from a production I was in, one white plastic die, an Eiffel Tower replica (not actual size), and a dragon I found at Walmart. The two flanking denizens not only assure that I focus on my work, like the other items, they also have special functions.
The stone dice are a reminder that the protagonist can't always succeed--even sure things are subject to chance. Even when he does succeed, there must be high probability that he won't. The plastic die suggests that after a failure or a success, there may be more unanticipated possibilities that can change the earlier result. A little luck never hurts. The chips represent the idea that a good story requires rising stakes. Eventually, the protagonist has to go all in.
The Eiffel Tower replica is a reminder to write stories that stand out from the rest of the landscape. The real tower was assembled in two years, two months, and five days. Although that was record time for the age, it's a reminder that a quality project takes time. The Eiffel Tower is made of wrought iron from the Pompey forges in France. The metal was refined through a process known as puddling, which creates almost pure iron. Eiffel claimed it was the best and most robust of materials--another thing it has in common with my stories. It was the first building to reach 1,000 feet in height and remained unchallenged for 40 years. (These facts and more about the tower can be found here). Don't forget, the tower symbolizes Paris, a city of mystery with countless faces. Stories there may rise to the tower's lofty pinnacle or descend to the dark catacombs. Whether in Roman, Viking, medieval, or modern times, Paris makes a fabulous setting. Anything can happen in Paris. A great story has no limits, and the boundaries of every setting and genre can be expanded.
What about the monsters? The Aztec death whistle conjures images of human sacrifice with bloodstained altars, stone knives, and naked hearts offered to the sun. Sometimes a story should tear your heart out--or at least nick it. On the one hand, it's death at the hands of evil or deceived fanatics. With the dragon on the other hand, it's have death by fang, flame, and claw. A good story should have some fire to it, with multiple ways to land the protagonist in jeopardy. The antagonist or difficulties must be formidable; it helps if they seem insurmountable and are complicated by a serious case of awesome.
Finally, note that the death whistle and the dragon bookend the tableau. They remind me to get the protagonist into some peril or adventure early--it helps the reader get interested--and to have a powerful finale. Those monsters on the flanks also symbolize the terrible choices the characters must face. Awful consequences and uncertainty torment the protagonist. The big decisions turn on the small hinges of character and necessity. All the alternatives have their risks and drawbacks. The monsters are Scylla and Charybdis. The true hero sometimes must place his hope in something beyond himself and his own abilities, and trust that he has made the right call--just like the writer does.
Remember, time is running out to get the first three books in the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series for only 99 cents each. The first two books lead to the thrilling finale in the third.
