2026: Writing Blog Challenge - A blank screen and four characters

 

Last week, I started the story that I mention in the previous post. I was hoping to develop a story based upon some sort of possessed CPAP machine. 

Well, I got about 1,400 words, and I still haven’t introduced the CPAP. LOL. 

When I write, I almost always dig into characters before I worry too much about plot. I always feel like if I find the right characters that conflict and story will follow. Does it always work? No, but that’s the way I do it. 

My first character had to be the CPAP user. My initial thought was to make this a first-person retelling of whatever mischief or mysterious path this CPAP puts him on. Yes, I figured the main character was a male. 

Sadly, the first-person idea left the screen blank for some period. So, lets switch to third-person limited omniscient. 

Thus, was born Peter Modjeski, a published writer who is struggling to write his second novel. Easy enough idea, and almost immediately, I was reminded of “The Shining.” Will this story mimic that, or pay homage? 

I concluded his opening scene – easy enough – here’s a guy in front of a blank screen. I know that feeling. 

Second scene, should I stick with Peter? 

No, who does Peter have around him? 

Well, he mentions a wife named Lana. Let’s go to her. While Peter ponders away in his writing cave, she has two children to wrangle. One’s mad at her for receiving some discipline for school issues, while the younger one screams her head off whenever the conversation of going to bed begins. 

Let’s keep Peter separated. Who else we got? 

Cal, the ten-year-old son, who resents his punishment for bad grades in math and science, is discovering his own place in the world and the powers of his own imagination. 

Finally, I rounded out my opening four parts by briefly getting in the head of four-year old Missy. 

It was her scene that changes the tone, paints it bit darker. That’s the part I will share below: 

Missy

Something lived in the dark. It didn’t like Mommy. It didn’t like Daddy. It didn’t like Cal. It didn’t like her. 

She thought Cal knew about it, or used to know about it, but he couldn’t remember anymore. 

It whispered, and only she could hear it. It stayed in the walls, or something, and it wanted out. 

It just didn’t have a way. Missy was sure of that.

It was trying to find a way. 

Before she fell asleep, she thought she heard it say, “I’ll find a way.”