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Grandparents: On mom’s side: both dead On Dad’s side: Grandmother Susan and Grandfather Michael Cousins (a scale of 1-10 for how well they get along with Bailey): Boys: Michael Simcos (3) Aaron Rostle (6) Caleb Rostle (9)
Sarah and David Rostle (parents of Aaron and Caleb Rostle) Laura and Dylan Simcos (parents of Michael and Jessica Simcos) Lily and Sean Rostle (expecting Jennifer Rostle - eight months pregnant)
Home: Boston Massachusetts
About the character (paragraph answers will help determine what needs work)
Appearance: Bailey is a small girl who is extremely thin, but eats well all the same. She has bark brown hair and large brown eyes. Her head is a little bit big for her body, but she is adorable to most adults.
Quirks: Bailey loves to play around in the dirt. Often she is sent home from her friend’s house with twigs and mud stuck in her hair. She suffers greatly when she is deprived of being outside while in hospital care.
Special Skills: Bailey is a child prodigy. She can write the most amazing stories even at the age of nine. She has already written a few short ones, but has never had anything published. She is like a child Mozart, who has stories instead of music just flow out of her.
Anti-Skills: The little girl used to do well in sports, but has decreased her activity greatly since an accident. During gym class one time she fell and broke her wrist while playing kickball. She has never warmed up to sports again and does bad in them purposely.
Romantic Interests: Tyler Phillips (a cancer patient) is Bailey’s little girl crush. She even ends up kissing him on the lips in the children’s ward while playing checkers.
Personality: Bailey is a girl who knows what she wants even at the age of nine. She can easily con people into doing things by making bets that seem easy to win to her victims. But when she is not in that mood, Simcos is a very nice girl. She can get along with a lot of people when she’s not busy trying to pursue them to do something she wants done.
Enemies/rivals: Carrie Plin, another girl in the hospital who thinks of herself as Queen Carrie.
Friends: Jillian (Jill) Gemma, who is right beside Bailey when playing outside, but not so much when confined in a hospital room.
Hobbies: Writing and reading is what Bailey likes to do the most.
Understanding the character
What is his/her goal in life? She doesn’t really have a goal. Nine year olds usually don’t, but when she gets older, it will be to live life to the fullest while she can because being in a hospital while losing almost everything you have to communicate with others can really make you think and be thankful for things.
Would the character change for someone they liked? No, Bailey is a very stick-to-it person.
What do they appreciate most in life? She appreciates pen and paper the most. It is the only way she can get all the stories she has out.
What would the character say about himself/herself? Bailey would say this. “Sure, I may be smart, but when has that ever stopped me from jumping into the mud and getting dirty?”
What is the purpose of your OC (why are they in the story?)? She is the main character.
An actual quote from the story which sums up the character (optional): Sitting in our family car, I could instantly think of a hundred reasons why I, for one, shouldn’t actually be sitting in the family car. First off, the place where we were going didn’t even have a total of ten other kids my age going, and I knew they weren’t going to be any fun anyway. I was stuck in an uncomfortable dress when I would much rather be outside playing with my best friend Jill, which we would be doing if this stupid Spelling Bee wasn’t happening.
Sometimes I hated being so smart. Sure, it secured a spot in some college one day like everybody constantly reminded me of, but it didn’t help at all when you were a nine-year-old that just wanted to play with your friends all day long. I had tried to get out of it, but my teacher, Mrs. Bellinger, had just ignored me and blamed it on nerves when my parents confronted her.
A brief history of the character leading up to the start of the story (optional): Bailey had lead as normal a life as you can get when you’re a child prodigy who seems to have plot bunnies just flow out of her all the time. She has normal friends and goes to a normal school. She gets top grades in all of her classes and has passed all grades leading up to fourth with flying colors.
Group: Gryffindor
Posts: 265
Member No.: 214
Joined: 31-December 06
First off, I'd really like to compliment you on the plot. It reminds me of "Flowers for Algernon" a bit, but the youth perspective puts new eyes on it and I would totally read it. I really, really like it.
I like Bailey too, and the writing thing is very appealing. However, I feel like there are a few more ways you could flesh her out. She's not a Mary Sue, by any means, but I still feel as if you could do more to her, besides the endearing loved child. Nine-years-old are tricky to write, but if you think back to yourself at nine, I'm sure you'll remember your insecurities, too. ^_^
But I really love this story, and I would love to help you flesh out Bailey further (if you'd like) but right now I have to go to dinner. Huggles and good luck! :huggle: :)
Group: Ravenclaw
Posts: 330
Member No.: 246
Joined: 26-February 07
I completely agree with Mara..well..nearly. I loved the whole idea, and the youthfulness the girl is sure to have will really help Bailey's story. And yes, I would also totally read it. But I found somethings confusing.
So is Bailey at a hospital for cancer, because that's what I got, sort of.? Or is it just that she knows people there?
Again,don't forget that nine year olds are complex to write simply because they are at that age (I have a nine year old sister) where they can range from over-dramatic whiners to lovable sweeites quite quickly. I know my sister can, anyways. But I wouldn't worry to much, you seem to have a good hold on who you'd like Bailey to be.
Group: Head of House
Posts: 1,270
Member No.: 4
Joined: 25-May 06
QUOTE
First off, I'd really like to compliment you on the plot. It reminds me of "Flowers for Algernon" a bit, but the youth perspective puts new eyes on it and I would totally read it. I really, really like it.
I like Bailey too, and the writing thing is very appealing. However, I feel like there are a few more ways you could flesh her out. She's not a Mary Sue, by any means, but I still feel as if you could do more to her, besides the endearing loved child. Nine-years-old are tricky to write, but if you think back to yourself at nine, I'm sure you'll remember your insecurities, too.
But I really love this story, and I would love to help you flesh out Bailey further (if you'd like) but right now I have to go to dinner. Huggles and good luck
Thank you so much, Mara! I never read "Flowers of Algernon" before...I think I may have to next year for English class though. At least I think I saw it on the list of required reading. :)
About Bailey...I really have no clue on how to flesh her out anymore. I love the plot and want to go far with it...but I don't think I can with her so - full I guess is the best words for it. I want to give her many more flaws that I can't think of. I know you've gone through the same thing with your novel as I read your other thread. (sorry, haven't actually answered to it) See, Bailey is kind of like me...she's smart (but so much more smarter) and she loves to write. From fourth grade I remember playing Math 24 (a math game with cards where you have to make the number 24 with the four numbers on it - actually very fun) with all my friends and always winning. We tried to make a band called Friends Forever (which didn't last because none of us could sing and we didn't actually have any real musical talent). And I also remember having little "wormy" pets made out of the chains that lucky rabbits feet are attached to. The only type of feeling I remember from fourth grade was a little bit of jealousy that my best friend was in another class with a girl who she seemed to always want to be around. I also remember going to Family Living classes. (the class that teaches you about puberty) And I also remember lying to my teacher that I was allergic to oranges so I wouldn't have to eat the stupid marmalade she tried to give us. :P Okay, I'm done rambling...if you really wouldn't mind helping me (I know your busy working on your novel and I don't want to confuse you or anything), you could shoot me a PM?
QUOTE
I completely agree with Mara..well..nearly. I loved the whole idea, and the youthfulness the girl is sure to have will really help Bailey's story. And yes, I would also totally read it. But I found somethings confusing.
So is Bailey at a hospital for cancer, because that's what I got, sort of.? Or is it just that she knows people there?
Again,don't forget that nine year olds are complex to write simply because they are at that age (I have a nine year old sister) where they can range from over-dramatic whiners to lovable sweeites quite quickly. I know my sister can, anyways. But I wouldn't worry to much, you seem to have a good hold on who you'd like Bailey to be.
Thanks, Anji! (I hope I spelled that right)
Bailey is at the hospital with an unknown disease that takes away her senses one by one (hearing, smell, taste, touch, seeing). She meets a boy her age with cancer there (I think that's where you got confused?)
I am going to try my hardest with this girl! I never had any younger siblings, but I might just hang around a daycare this summer so I'll be alert of the confusing age.
Thanks so much, both of you and sorry it took so long to reply! :huggle: :huggle: :huggle: :huggle: :huggle:
Group: Ravenclaw
Posts: 330
Member No.: 246
Joined: 26-February 07
Two I's, but that's ok :).
Yeah, I think that's where you'll have to make it clear (which, I'm sure it will be a lot more clear when you've written an entire chapter on it--or however you plan that out.) So, Bailey has an unknown disease, but meets a boy who has cancer?
I think it will make a good story, definitely wish you good look with that!
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Bailey Simcos
