[eccentricman]

I think that smoking still has a place in stories and in life. In a story, I've often used it to add colour and depth to characters who are shy or reticent, using the way they smoke as an indicator of their mood or emotions. This is actually taken off from a famous architect who would never speak when critiquing his students, simply (as legend has it) sitting and smoking a cigar and letting them interpret his moods through the way he smoked it.

Also, with the new laws on smoking in the UK and everything happening with labeling and awareness campaigns, I think that it is worth hearing the other side of the debate: enjoyed maturely, responsibly and in moderation, like any other addictive substance (caffeine, chocolate, etc.) it can be pleasurable and relaxing to smoke. However, I would only smoke the best and would never bother with cigarettes. I don't think many characters I write would either, but hey-ho!

[The Saint]

I use smoking in characters to show a multitude of different things. The shorthand personality indicator is very useful — it marks a character as anything from self-destructive to a free thinker. Yep, that's right, a free thinker. In a society which is rapidly moving away from celebration of individualism (agree, don't agree, I don't care) to a form of collective nanny-ism at best and fanatical biofascism at worst, a character who smokes essentially defies all that, and smoking is an excellent piece of shorthand for showing that rebellious nature.

[AlexG]

I use smoking in characters to show a multitude of different things. The shorthand personality indicator is very useful — it marks a character as anything from self-destructive to a free thinker. Yep, that's right, a free thinker. In a society which is rapidly moving away from celebration of individualism (agree, don't agree, I don't care) to a form of collective nanny-ism at best and fanatical biofascism at worst, a character who smokes essentially defies all that, and smoking is an excellent piece of shorthand for showing that rebellious nature.

Ah, be careful, expressing such opinions can be dangerous.  😮
  Heck you might even be accused of being a reader of
Jonah Goldberg's Liberal Fascism.  😉  8)

“I like a good story well told. That is the reason I am sometimes forced to tell them myself.”
~ Mark Twain / Samuel Clemens (1907)

[10-4]

I mean as in a character that is decidedly a smoker.  As a writer have you ever included one as a part of a story or if you haven't up until now, would you concider including one?

Already done that. It's not FBB but this character smokes like a chimney.

[The Saint]

Ah, be careful, expressing such opinions can be dangerous.  😮
  Heck you might even be accused of being a reader of
Jonah Goldberg's Liberal Fascism.  😉  8)

Haven't read that book, but I doubt there's much in it that would surprise me or that I'd disagree with.

[AlexG]

Something over @ DA that I came across, thought I’d pass it along . . . B)

Link: http://m4gx.deviantart.com/art/Smoking-Hot-462434016

“I like a good story well told. That is the reason I am sometimes forced to tell them myself.”
~ Mark Twain / Samuel Clemens (1907)

[stevexyz]

I wouldn’t include a smoking character in one of my stories, unless she was smoking hot. I’d expound more on the subject but I’ve got to go drink a Mountain Dew now. I’m glad I don’t have any bad habits.

[AlexG]

Came across this entry [Bring Back Smoking] @ the Z-man Blog, thought I’d pass it along . . . B)

Link: http://thezman.com/wordpress/?p=10128

“I like a good story well told. That is the reason I am sometimes forced to tell them myself.”
~ Mark Twain / Samuel Clemens (1907)

[Author]

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