I don't really want to put aside the ongoing story I've been working on (and its characters) to do Nanowrimo, but somehow another couple of characters have slipped in a side door and are goading me on.

"C'mon, ditch these losers you've been hanging with all year and go with me for a while," says the newcomer.

"Hey!" objects the He-character I've been writing. "I'm not a loser, I'm -- look, what am I supposed to do with material like 'No, I do not have a tomato'? It's not fair."

I try to placate my protagonist. "Look, that tomato thing was ana's fault. And/or blixco's. And yours, a little. Would it kill you to get some groceries once in a while? And you," I turn to the interloper. "You don't even have anything to do. You're just a free-floating concept in my head. And your sidekick? Is just a name. Where's your story going to go?"

"That's your problem, isn't it? And she's not my sidekick." He's right. She's just this shadowy presence lurking in the doorway. Great, another character to flesh out: motives, relationships, place in the universe. Oh, and appearance. "All I can say is, I'd be a more exciting POV character than her," he says, pointing at my She-narrator.

"I have depth," she protests. "I'm just ... not very assertive. I'm working on that."

"Anyway, where'd you get your last story from? Five words: different, body, driving, entertained, hallway. Is it so hard? And I come with my own opening scene, clues and everything, if you want 'em."

"But, but ... it's not a useful scene, for me. I can't figure out your deal from there. Your clues are stupid clues. Whereas that scene on the beach, with the flashback and everything, that gave me a lot to work with."

"Take that, Mr. I'm-such-a-great-POV-character." She's actually sticking out her tongue. I look at her in shock.

"I can flashback, if that's what you want. And knowing you, I will," he smirks. "Really, what you need is an exercise in getting to the point. Are you just going to let these guys dance around each other indefinitely, or is something going to happen, like, ever?"

"Those are fine words and all, but are you saying you're going to lead me to a point? Because these two, I know them well. They're friends of mine. I can see roughly where they're going, I just need to work out some stuff first, maybe flesh out some secondary characters more ... but you? From where I'm standing I can't even wave at your point from here. You sure you've even got one?"

"I just want to say that I find your loyalty to us very gratifying," my She-character interjects. From the corner, her cohort nods his head distractedly.

The new guy is undeterred. "You've got three weeks. Find me a point."

"Oh, why don't you just shut up."