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We the Imagined

February 17, 2013
By Stella_Val_Illicia GOLD, Salt Lake City, Utah
More by this author
Stella_Val_Illicia GOLD, Salt Lake City, Utah
13 articles 0 photos 247 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people angry and been widely regarded as a bad idea.&quot;<br /> --Douglas Adams

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Ask us, friend. Just who are we to whisper in your ears and cast ideas like lifelines into your head? Who are we to clamp our teeth onto the tip of your pencil and force its gleaming graphite to stir on the page? Well, we are your characters. We were born from your thoughts and raised like your children as we froliced and danced on your paper. Your words are our embodiment, breathing life into our chests and instructing us on our every step.

You listen, entranced, to our soothing voices as they caress your ears. You are so easily manipulated by our words that they flow through your rose pink lips into your world and scatter on your paper. But still each sound from our clever mouths does not escape your scrutiny.

You slap labels on our chests that we cannot remove. We are heroes, or we are villains, in your untrained eyes. We are knights in shining armor or tyrants wrapped like snakes in a cloak as black as the death that hangs over us in the end. You strip us of our complications and replace them with the simplicity of good and evil.
See us, friend. See us for who we are: warriors, rulers, hidden rebels, even gods, and do not let our leading characterisitcs govern us. Ambition is not necessarily a fault, and a humble servant may prove more difficult to defeat than the greatest of sorcerers, if you look closely at us. We are unique, but if you want us to cooperate as we trek our journeys and fight our battles on your paper, you must understand us for the intricate thoughts that we have become.
It was your imagination that created us from dust and ink. What will you do with us now?

© Cassie H., Carmi, IL

The author's comments:
I notice that many people only see fantasy characters as good and evil, and I want people to see characters as if they are real people with complicated personalities.
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JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 12 comments.

holly1999 GOLD said...
on Oct. 12 2013 at 11:58 am
holly1999 GOLD, Middlesbrough, Other
12 articles 8 photos 114 comments

Favorite Quote:
&#039;There was no need to clarify my finger snap, the implication was clear in the snap itself&#039; - Magnus Bane

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Wow! I really liked the perspective of this story and the message it sends to writers. The description you used was amazing; I loved the first paragraph. The idea was so creative and unique, and I agree with you that characters shouldn't be defined by their lables. I loved this, short and sweet but very meaningful. One of the best articles on Teen Ink, in my opinion. 5 stars!
LaChouette GOLD said...
on Sep. 5 2013 at 6:51 pm
LaChouette GOLD, Mount Vernon, New York
12 articles 0 photos 146 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;And then there are the times when the wolves are silent and the moon is howling.&rdquo;<br /> - George Carlin

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Wow, this piece really makes you think. I'll have to remind myself of this piece the next time I write something. It's a great idea. Awesome Job!
Stella_Val_Illicia GOLD said...
on Sep. 5 2013 at 9:19 am
Stella_Val_Illicia GOLD, Salt Lake City, Utah
13 articles 0 photos 247 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people angry and been widely regarded as a bad idea.&quot;<br /> --Douglas Adams

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Thanks so much!
TanazMasaba GOLD said...
on Sep. 5 2013 at 2:07 am
TanazMasaba GOLD, Dhaka, Other
16 articles 10 photos 214 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;You&#039;ve gotta dance like there&#039;s nobody watching,<br /> Love like you&#039;ll never be hurt,<br /> Sing like there&#039;s nobody listening,<br /> And live like it&#039;s Heaven on Earth.&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> ---William W. Purkey

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The subject of this article is not only incredibly unique but its also extremely true and meaningful. I am afrain I won't be able to say anything that others haven't already said, except for wow and omg this is a VERY beautifully and elegant piece of writing. The flow of the words and even the emotion displayed by "characters" as they talk about themselves were both subtle and yet made an impact on the reader's mind. Kudos for being original and five stars for the amazing work!!!
Amaranthinium GOLD said...
on Mar. 27 2013 at 3:36 pm
Amaranthinium GOLD, Dade City, Florida
10 articles 0 photos 49 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Do not let numbers tell you what to do. You are blood and earth, not theory and chalk.&quot; -Welcome to Night Vale

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This is really good! Short and simple, but still meaningful. I like the subject too, because even in, like, pubished novels, you see this really shallow demarcation of "good" and "evil," so it's nice to see someone who knows better. The only real critique I have is that I think "froliced" should be spelled "frolicked." Awesome job!
Stella_Val_Illicia GOLD said...
on Mar. 21 2013 at 7:31 pm
Stella_Val_Illicia GOLD, Salt Lake City, Utah
13 articles 0 photos 247 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people angry and been widely regarded as a bad idea.&quot;<br /> --Douglas Adams

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Thank you! I am currently trying to add flaws to every one of my novel character.
GuardianoftheStars GOLD said...
on Mar. 21 2013 at 11:56 am
GuardianoftheStars GOLD, Shongaloo, Louisiana
17 articles 0 photos 495 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Let&#039;s tell young people the best books are yet to be written; the best painting, the best government, the best of everything is yet to be done by them.&quot;<br /> -John Erslcine

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THis is one of my favorites of your works!  I love the...beauty of the way the words flow.  The idea was super creative too! 5 stars!! :D
E.J.Mathews GOLD said...
on Mar. 20 2013 at 9:28 am
E.J.Mathews GOLD, International Falls, Minnesota
19 articles 2 photos 145 comments
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I really loved the perspective in this story, and the message that it sent to writers as a whole. It also had intense imagery that was fantastic. It reminded me a little of a story that I wrote were the protagonist slowly becomes evil, but isn't entirely defined by his labels.
Stella_Val_Illicia GOLD said...
on Mar. 20 2013 at 8:26 am
Stella_Val_Illicia GOLD, Salt Lake City, Utah
13 articles 0 photos 247 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people angry and been widely regarded as a bad idea.&quot;<br /> --Douglas Adams

View profile
Thank you!
lucybrown SILVER said...
on Mar. 19 2013 at 4:37 pm
lucybrown SILVER, Blacksburg, Virginia
7 articles 0 photos 112 comments

Favorite Quote:
The wastebasket is a writer&#039;s best friend. ~Isaac Bashevis Singer <br /> <br /> First things first, but not necessarily in that order. ~ From Doctor Who

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Wow, I really like this.  I love the imagery and word choice and the beginning immediately drew me in.  I can really relate to this as well.  Great work!
holly1999 GOLD said...
on Mar. 19 2013 at 4:05 pm
holly1999 GOLD, Middlesbrough, Other
12 articles 8 photos 114 comments

Favorite Quote:
&#039;There was no need to clarify my finger snap, the implication was clear in the snap itself&#039; - Magnus Bane

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Love it! Great word choice and really well written. Amazing!
TheRealMVDarko BRONZE said...
on Mar. 5 2013 at 11:18 am
TheRealMVDarko BRONZE, Maseru, Other
3 articles 0 photos 10 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Creativty is allowing yourself to make mistakes, art is knowing which ones to keep&#039;

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Loved this piece! It sounded like a song in my head. Job well-done!