One very good opening sent in by a new CW course member.

I have noticed that when someone asks for you on the telephone and, finding you out, leaves a message begging you to call him up the moment you come in, and it’s important, the matter is more often important to him than to you.

Cakes and Ale, W Somerset Maugham

And an irresistible one from me, remembered for some reason in the bath tonight. I looked it up to check that I remembered right but I did because once read hard to forget, it`s so intriguing.

'Some years ago there was in the City of York a society of magicians.' Perhaps it might be the opening of a children`s book.

But it isn`t.

CHARACTERS.

Or in other words, people. I wonder how you are coming on with the job of tracing a character from his/her beginning to see EXACTLY how it has been done.  No rush but when you are ready and if you want to, please let me know what novel you chose and what character from it. I dislike the word character... probably because my mother always told me unpleasant experiences would be character forming and I took up the baton so now my daughters hate it too. But one can`t keep on saying 'imaginary people.'  Is there no other word ? I don`t know one.