EXERCISE: Mirror, Mirror, On the wall...

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

original posting: Fri, 25 Aug 2000 00:55:04 -0400

(I'm not sure where this started, but we don't need the introspection, let's get right to the reflection...:-)

Okay!  Let's assume that your character (pick a character, pick a scenario, you know what I mean) has acquired (bought, fished out of the trash, had delivered, or some other interesting method of arrival) a mirror.

So what, you say?

All right, pick a number from one to six.  Got it?

Their mirror:

1.  Let's them see far-off places (zounds!  A crystal ball in a frame?)
2.  Let's them see possible futures (true or not?  you decide)
3.  Let's them get the answer to one question a day (who's the freakiest one of all?)
4.  Let's them step into strange and wonderful places (but how do they get back?)
5.  Let's them see the past (how far back?  you decide...)
6.  Let's them see the real person (oho!  and how does it picture that reality, as opposed to the mere superficiality)

In any case, you get the drift.  This is not just a mirror, but a rather fantastic mirror!

Okay?

So give us a scene where they find out what the mirror does.  Then perhaps a bit of conflict, and they think about using the mirror to help resolve things.  And maybe it does, maybe it doesn't, maybe they aren't quite aware of the price they are paying for using this magic?  Go on, add another scene or three, build up to the grand climax (which is?  Do they smash the mirror? Cover it up, and swear never to use it unless...  Maybe they merely get back home, and relax?  Or?)

Go ahead, tell us about the mirror on the wall...

and what reflections it provides.