The following anecdote was told to me by my friend Kevin.  Friends Michael Jordan and Will Smith entered the elevator in a grand hotel.

Inside was a white lady clutching a handful of chips she just won at the casino.  She was noticeably nervous when the two black gentleman

got into the lift.  In their typical afro-american slang Will told Michael to hit the floor, meaning to push the button to their hotel room floor.

When the lady heard the words "Hit the floor!" she flung herself to the ground, chips scattering all over the place.  She pleaded with them 

not to hurt her, they could have all the chips.

The two had the laugh of their life, helped the lady up and gathered the chips for her.  Feeling sorry for the trauma they caused her, they

later had a bouquet of red roses delivered to her bedroom.  Attached were two 100 dollar bills!

Creative writing tips

Creating a relatable protagonist.

The one thing that keeps readers engaged in a novel is the main character, called the protagonist. The most important characteristic of a good protagonist is being relatable - somebody the readers can understand, relate to and care about. Here are four tips for creating memorable protagonists: 

1. FAMILIAR, BUT UNIQUE:  A protagonist needs to have a feature that is unusual, strange or noteworthy - something that makes them unique. 

2. FLAWED:  Flaws make people interesting, drive stories and create conflict. 

3. MOTIVATED:  This should be a common desire that readers can relate to - protecting one's family, meeting the right partner, making money. 

4. CONSISTENT:  Any character, and especially the protagonist, must always act logically and consistently based on the traits defined above.