Characters | Teen Ink

Characters

July 14, 2011
By CarrieAnn13 GOLD, Goodsoil, Other
CarrieAnn13 GOLD, Goodsoil, Other
12 articles 10 photos 1646 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." --Douglas Adams

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." --Marcus Aurelius


Have you ever wondered why your perfect plans are shattered? Why a seemingly perfect romance ended? Why good luck strikes at strange times? Why life seems like a bunch of meaningless chaos?

There is a very simple answer to all of these questions. We were created by an ancient race of aliens and are nothing but characters in their stories, created to alleviate their boredom.

As soon as they are old enough to write, they are given a computer software program and a manual with only the most basic rules of their writing universe. In order to create a new character, they must collaborate with other aliens to make sure two human parents give birth to a child. This child will be under their control from the moment it is born until the moment it dies.

You are always subject to the whims of your creator. Everything you say, everything you do is controlled by them. Usually, the aliens have jotted down things they want to happen during your lifetime. But some aliens detest this and make random decisions as to where your life will go. This is where chaos comes from.

Our planet is relatively new, but the aliens have become bored with it. The best writers among them have declared that the Earth is a cliché, boring universe. They have decided they want to write in a new, more exciting world, so they have taken a special vote. It was this vote that decided how our world will end.

“Why don’t we let a black hole swallow their planet?”

“Nah, we’ve done that already.”

“What if the Earth spontaneously combusts?”

“That’s way too cliché!”

“Okay, why don’t we knock their planet out of orbit and send it crashing into the sun?”


“That’s a stupid idea.”


“Fine. How about we give all their world leaders bad cases of paranoia and see what happens?”

“Sure. Why not?”

And so, our world will not end with a bang, but with slow decay. Our increasingly paranoid world leaders will declare war on each other and humanity will slowly die out. But, since the aliens lost all interest in us, we have gained something we never had before: free will. It is now up to us to decide our fates—and the fate of our planet.


The author's comments:
This was just a random idea that sprang into my head a few days ago. Feedback is greatly appreciated!

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This article has 330 comments.


Como5 said...
on Apr. 21 2014 at 12:38 pm
Como5, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay,it's not the end.

I like the idea. It's very interesting and it makes you think.

AriBow GOLD said...
on Mar. 25 2014 at 9:57 am
AriBow GOLD, Edina, Missouri
13 articles 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
"find a place and call it home"

This was a good idea lol enjoyed it

on Mar. 23 2014 at 4:32 pm
L.N.1996 BRONZE, Bellevue, Washington
3 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
My brain is a wild jungle full of scary gibberish. I'm writing a letter, I can't write a letter, why can't I write a letter? I'm wearing a green dress, I wish I was wearing my blue dress, my blue dress is at the cleaners. The Germans wore gray, you wore blue, 'Casablanca' is such a good movie. Casablanca, the White House, Bush. Why don't I drive a hybrid car? I should really drive a hybrid car. I should really take my bicycle to work. Bicycle, unicycle, unitard. Hockey puck, rattlesnake, monkey, monkey, underpants!

This is so great! When I was little I use to think that we were dolls in some persons doll house and they controlled us. Great Story! 

on Feb. 10 2014 at 11:46 am
andilightning BRONZE, Gurnee, Illinois
3 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Oh, what fresh hell is this?"-Anonymous

Love it. Could have had more about the aliens, but I love the concept. Could you make a book out of this?

Funne GOLD said...
on Jan. 30 2014 at 6:39 pm
Funne GOLD, Cleveland, Ohio
19 articles 0 photos 48 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I never ask a man what his business is, for it never interests me. What I ask him about are his thoughts and dreams."

-H.P Lovecraft

Does this take place in the present, or the future.

ilovekellie said...
on Jan. 13 2014 at 8:58 am
I thought the very similar idea these days so i just feel excited to read! The dialogue of aliens are very cute and funny. The last part "And so," to the end is more and more thoughtful part i think. You are so tallented!!

on Jan. 5 2014 at 8:37 pm
Caesar123 DIAMOND, Union Grove, Wisconsin
50 articles 7 photos 103 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Madness in great ones must not unwatched go" --Claudius in William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Quite an interesting idea, though not entirely new when you consider that the ancient Greeks and other civilizations would blame far off gods and spirits for their problems, as well as their successes. Still, a very interesting piece. Keep up the good work!

on Dec. 1 2013 at 2:26 am
CarrieAnn13 GOLD, Goodsoil, Other
12 articles 10 photos 1646 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." --Douglas Adams

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." --Marcus Aurelius

Thanks!  I appreciate it. :)

on Dec. 1 2013 at 2:26 am
CarrieAnn13 GOLD, Goodsoil, Other
12 articles 10 photos 1646 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." --Douglas Adams

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." --Marcus Aurelius

And thanks for commenting! :)

on Nov. 27 2013 at 5:17 pm
MistyVenture GOLD, Newman Lake, Washington
17 articles 0 photos 17 comments

Favorite Quote:
“If you’re going to be a writer, the first essential is just to write. Do not wait for an idea. Start writing something and the ideas will come. You have to turn the faucet on before the water starts to flow.” —Louis L’Amour

The end is really funny to me, because thats about the truth to the story. Not just leaders but the whole world. Interesting idea, I bet you could probably make a good story out of it and draw it further. Maybe a sci fi book or something?

Red546 GOLD said...
on Oct. 30 2013 at 3:55 pm
Red546 GOLD, Warrenton, Georgia
13 articles 0 photos 32 comments
Genius! Now I know who to blame. :) I will certainly be telling people about this one.

JulieBakur said...
on Oct. 28 2013 at 12:55 pm
This is a really cool idea. Kind of makes you think. Thanks for sharing! 

on May. 9 2013 at 1:31 am
CarrieAnn13 GOLD, Goodsoil, Other
12 articles 10 photos 1646 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." --Douglas Adams

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." --Marcus Aurelius

Thanks for such a thoughtful comment! :)  Yes, if only we could just blame the aliens.  Life would be much simpler then.

on May. 4 2013 at 5:02 pm
missm1126 BRONZE, Beverly Hills, California
2 articles 0 photos 5 comments
Great piece. I wish in reality it was that easy; that we could just blame aliens for our society's downfall. I wrote a piece similar to this not too long ago I really liked your voice, it seemed to follow a natural speech pattern instead of  the forced, overworked and choppy style that I've seen far too much of. Very thoughful, if I were to change anything (and really this is just a matter of personal preference) I would alter the introduction to statements instead of questions. Nice work! keep writing! :D

on Apr. 2 2013 at 3:02 am
CarrieAnn13 GOLD, Goodsoil, Other
12 articles 10 photos 1646 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." --Douglas Adams

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." --Marcus Aurelius

Thank you for the thoughtful comment. :)  Unfortunately, I would like to decline reading your work as I am not active on Teen Ink.  I only respond to comments on my articles now that I have moved on to other things.

Izanami BRONZE said...
on Mar. 31 2013 at 9:53 am
Izanami BRONZE, Reston, Virginia
3 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
I'll be a story in your head. But that's okay - we're all stories in the end. Just make it a good one, eh? 'Cause it was, you know. It was the best.

-- Eleventh Doctor, Doctor Who

This wasa really good article. I liked how you formed this off of the concept that we don't have free will, only an illusion that becomes reality later on. But I felt that your dialogue was somewhat abrupt, but otherwise perfect. I liked how you made the aliens seem all the more human by making their dialogue seem like a normal conversation. And could you please read my article? It's my first ever on Teen Ink, and I'd like to have someone with more experience than me look over it.

on Mar. 12 2013 at 3:46 pm
Miniterror GOLD, Yuma, Arizona
10 articles 1 photo 54 comments

Favorite Quote:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

It's not very detailed. It's almost like their are only two or three of them discussing a very important topic. It needs a setting for them to be in that creates a more commanding feel. And they should be a bit more formal, it's not like all of them command a kid right?

on Mar. 10 2013 at 7:45 pm
CarrieAnn13 GOLD, Goodsoil, Other
12 articles 10 photos 1646 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." --Douglas Adams

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." --Marcus Aurelius

Thank you for your feedback James.  This article is meant to be a story read aloud like David Eagleman's Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives.  It's supposed to tell you what's going on.  As for your criticism about the alien dialogue, see my comment to Miniterror below.

on Mar. 10 2013 at 7:44 pm
CarrieAnn13 GOLD, Goodsoil, Other
12 articles 10 photos 1646 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." --Douglas Adams

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." --Marcus Aurelius

How do you think the alien dialogue could be improved?  I meant for it to be casual and very human because they control humans.  Therefore humans speak like aliens and not the other way around. :)  Thanks for commenting!

on Mar. 10 2013 at 7:43 pm
CarrieAnn13 GOLD, Goodsoil, Other
12 articles 10 photos 1646 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." --Douglas Adams

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." --Marcus Aurelius

My advice?  Just develop your own style.  Write, write and write some more.  And don't force ideas; they'll come to you.