Meddling
Eileen defines this as a necessity!  Where there’s evil about, someone needs to meddle and sort it out.  This is her role. 

Power Lust
A cross dimension/universe phenomenon, Eileen loathes it with every fibre of her being.  Eileen sees her own power as to be used for the greater good but is very aware that this can be misused.  Eileen criticizes her own actions to make sure she is on the straight and narrow.  Her own massive pride would not allow her to become evil.  She likes to be “better than that”.  But the lack of humility drives her daughter nuts at times…

Soap
Something Eileen feels most of the magical species could do with using more often.  The Queen is fond of bathing in milk (which Eileen considers a waste of gold top, naturally the monarch wouldn’t have anything else), the sprites don’t bother with soap at all and Eileen, while not sure what arrangements the dwarves and trolls have in this department, is certain it isn’t nearly adequate enough!

Jennifer’s choice in men
Abysmal!  Eileen can think of at least a thousand others she’d have chosenfor her daughter before even considering Paul as a possibility.  Does Jennifer care?  No!  And that galls her mother the most, along with knowing Jennifer gets a great deal of pleasure from knowing this.

Work
Something you just get on and do.  Eileen can’t imagine a life without work.  Even in the Fairy Kingdom, you are defined by what you do. 

Realism
Eileen is all for practicality, sensible thinking and logic but is also aware that for things like the arts and faith an alternative way of thinking is more appropriate.  You can’t just appreciate a picture just by looking at what colours were used for example.  Generally then Eileen treats realism like fire - it’s a great servant but a rotten master.  This attitude brought Eileen into early conflict with Brankaresh but the fact he couldn’t argue against realism and rationality being everything annoyed him much to her great delight.  As she said, sometimes you do need more than “reality”, you need more than what you can actually see with the naked eye. _

Reading
One of life’s great pleasures and one which generally bypasses Eileen.  While she does read a book now and again, Jenny is by far the greatest reader.   Eileen tends to distrust fiction and the writers who can make things up.  She wonders if this trait spills over into their “real lives”.

Wildlife
Eileen sympathizes with Fresdian/Rose’s attitude to the natural world and did what she could to show the magical world Fresdian was not a “nutter”.  Indeed Eileen backed Fresdian up with evidence showing caring for the wildlife and environment tended to produce positive results for the realm as a whole.  After all those that care for one kind of life usually tend to care for all forms of life.

Medicine
Eileen sees this as welcome proof humans can actually care for one another.  To develop something to cure, as opposed to killing, is for her proof humans don’t have to be destructive, polluting, war mongering.  Naturally this view is not popular in the Fairy Kingdom.  It’s much easier to just to be prejudiced though Eileen has told the Queen that surely the realm would not have been given a divine commission to watch Earth unless that planet and its inhabitants had at least some promise.

Trouble
What Eileen deals out to those deserving it.  She sees trouble as her speciality - causing it and dealing with it. _

Prejudice
According to Eileen, this is irrational disagreement with Eileen’s opinions!  Eileen sees herself as upright and honest, which she is, but doesn’t see where she is prejudiced.  Her criticisms of the Queen have sometimes been too harsh.  The Queen has had to think of the safety of the realm.  The Witch did little to help Eileen, when Eileen went out on a limb to support her.  It wasn’t unreasonable of the Queen to want the Witch to stop all violence.  Eileen, in the Queen’s view, did not speak out enough here, blinded by her own “prejudice” that the Witch must have been wronged in all things, rather than being right in some and totally in error in others. 

Memory
A pain in the brain, Eileen feels, believing many things are best forgotten.  The Queen has a phenomenal memory for all the things the Witch did wrong.  Naturally the Queen feels Eileen needs her memory examining.  Eileen feels humans have the unfortunate tendency to remember all the wrong things too (though she thinks Remembrance Day is one of the few honourable exceptions).

Harmony
Something Eileen truly doesn’t understand because she’s never known any!  Nor has she been the cause of harmony.  Eileen suspects it of being something soppy and that definitely isn’t for her.

Jealousy
Something Eileen sees as a complete waste of time.  Mind, if another woman took an interest in Derek, she would change her mind.

Patience
This is something Eileen aspires to!  She also feels that the Queen doesn’t have any either though the monarch takes the opposite view.  Roxannadrell feels she’s shown loads of patience to her rebellious cousin, indeed far more than any of her ancestors would’ve shown. _

Music
For Eileen this is classical music and some light pop music.  For Jenny it also encompasses most forms of rock (which Eileen defines as mere noise).  Eileen considers music one of the most beneficial forces in all known universes and is pleased it made it to Earth.  Jenny considers that attitude patronizing in the extreme. 

Holidays
Eileen isn’t that keen on leaving home, partly due to having done all the travelling she ever wanted to do back in the Fairy Kingdom, and partly due to worrying she’d return to find the marital home destroyed by a vengeful Fairy Queen.  Eileen has had holidays with Derek (he insisted), which have mainly consisted of trips to stately homes and gardens.  Eileen has enjoyed these but one of her prepacking jobs to do is to protect the marital home with every force field and protection spell she can think of, not the usual wifely thing to do.  Jenny and Paul, before having Edward, head up to Scotland.

Peace
For Eileen this is when she is left well alone to live her life with Derek without interruption.  For quite a while after her defection and marriage, Eileen and Derek were left alone but sadly this is no longer true. And Eileen is irritated by this.  The Kingdom should be able to manage without her especially now the Chief Witch and Brankaresh are gone.  Eileen knows the Queen is looking for any excuse to drag her back…

Dieting
Something neither Eileen nor Jenny has to bother with, both being naturally slim.  This is one area where Jenny would be tempted to use magic to help her and yes Eileen would condemn it as hypocrisy.  Jenny would then condemn her mother for the same thing given Eileen has always used magic to help herself as the need arises!

Procrastination
Something everyone else does.  Eileen takes her time making up her mind over important decisions. It’s for her to say how long that time should be.  Everyone else dilly-dallies though.

Hypocrisy
Again something everyone else does.  Eileen considers herself to be “flexible”, able to change her position as quickly as the circumstances demand.  Naturally for her everyone else doesn’t have the guts to stick to their original positions.  Equally naturally Eileen doesn’t see the hypocrisy in that attitude!  Her daughter does though.

Magic (as performed on Earth)
Eileen loathes conjurers.  There is no sleight of hand with her.  She either curses or she doesn’t!  Also she gives warning she’s about to issue a spell.  She does not see misdirection, especially designed magical equipment anywhere near the level of her magic.  If she had her way she’d transform all “magicians” into something nasty but so they knew then what real magic was!

Civilization
A society where nothing stops Eileen having sex with Derek, lots of cups of tea, lots of books to read and where chocolate is recognized as being good for one’s health.  It also involves decent plumbing.  Eileen adores hot showers…  and they’re even hotter when she decides to share with Derek!

Nature
Those things that are not human but which make noises, most of which sound peculiar, squelch, fight and mate and make a great big fuss about either or both, and where mess is compulsory.  Eileen, while wanting to take care of the environment and those dependent on it as this is generally A Good Thing, is not one for rambling on nature walks and so on.  Other people can get wet, muddy and/or cold and in Britain these things are guaranteed! _

Rioting
What humans term rioting, Eileen sees as slightly excitable demonstrations, having seen in the magical world what a real riot is.  It’s not a case of escaping with your life here, more a question of are you going home in the shape and form you went to the riot in?!  Not a problem that affects humans generally.

Partying
See rioting comments above!

Acting
Eileen admires human acting.  She loves dramas and comedies and admires the way a good performance can inspire others, can take people out of themselves and sees it as humans doing something useful as opposed to fighting.  She also believes the Fairy Queen acts all the time in pretending to be nice when the monarch is trying to force her will through on Eileen and Jennifer.

Etiquette
The snob’s version of good manners.  Eileen has no time for it.  She would rather just be polite and have done with it.

Trouble
As far as Eileen’s concerned, she’s it.  It’s something she’s very proud of but Jenny does not share the enthusiasm.  Eileen’s trouble has a nasty habit of rebounding on her.

Rambling
The posh person’s version of a nature walk.  Again Eileen would just rather have a nature walk and have done with it.  She also loathes Kendle mint cake, mainly on the grounds it is bound to give far too much work to the Tooth Fairy.

Letter writing
One of the true art forms.  Eileen loves writing and receiving letters (though not from her cousin any more!).  One thing she has done on Earth is to join a pen pal network.  She sees this as part of her assimilation into human life.  _

Eileen’s view on Earth life is necessarily prejudiced thanks to what she picked up from the Kingdom but also due to direct experience.

Central Heating
Eileen defines this as being weak-willed unless you’re over 80.  She knows cold when she comes across it!

Photography
A gross invasion of the soul according to Eileen.  She’s not been keen to be snapped when she returns to the Palace after yet another dangerous mission.  Indeed last time out she threatened to ram the offending camera somewhere its owner would find it difficult to retrieve from.  The owner backed off quickly.

Journalism
The perfect job for any nosey parker who wants that attribute to be official.

Government
What the inevitably bossy seek to get into so they can be bossy officially over everyone else.  To be treated warily at all times.

Leisurewear
In Eileen’s view, nothing but polyester tat.  While she likes separates, she always goes for quality.  She likes natural fabrics - silk, cotton etc - and won’t wear manmade fibres.  They’re simply not as good as nature fibres.

Talent Shows
Regrettably Eileen’s views are unprintable.

Politicans
Those folk who lie for a living and get away with it.

Political Interviewers
Those folk who know their subjects are corrupt but can’t prove it.  Much crawling is involved though to his credit Roherum doesn’t do that.  He asks direct questions, naïve questions, anything he thinks might be interesting or useful.  In fairness, he usually gets it right.  He’d never rival Paxman or Humphries but can do a passable interview.

Gardeners
While politicians come up with total manure in answering questions, gardeners get on with the business of putting real manure around the roses and so on.  Eileen knows what is the more honest profession.

The Queen and her Council insist that all their operatives suppress their “natural magical superiority” and treat other species they come across with caution and in a way that won’t trigger unnecessary aggression.  The Kingdom considers any aggression launched against it as unnecessary.  It itself, however, somehow has to carry out unfortunate but necessary acts of aggression to defend itself or protect its interests.  Hypocrisy isn't a crime in the magical world, which is just as well.

The Kingdom as a whole considers non-magical species inferior but, unlike other magical beings, feels it’s their role to use their powers for good and to help others (if only to stay well away from the magical realm so it is not polluted).  Naturally the Kingdom gets to define what good is.

The rules for coming across other species that turn out to be magical after all is different – be cautious and have your wand ready to fire (though the more flirtatious sprites have had a lot of fun coming up with some dodgy jokes based on this rule). 

If there are any signs of intelligence in the species you study, then treat (a) carefully in case that intelligence backfires on you and (b) gently.  Intelligence in lesser life forms is a rarity and the Kingdom has no wish to crush it (though we will continue to lead all known universes when it comes to being patronizing.  Someone has to do it). 

You will only engage in conversation with alien species with full clearance obtained well in advance from the Queen and her Council and you will disguise yourself well enough to cover up any hint you’re the one from an alien world.  You will also note the species’ emotions (what they’re allowed to show - this should become apparent in their behaviour towards you), how they dress and so on.  Also whether there is a purpose in the way in which they do things. 

Ideally the more experienced agents will spend some time living with these aliens as one of them as that would give the realm the information it needs so it can defend itself against this new species if necessary and if not still know what it needs to know.

If you’re unlucky enough to be seconded to a world which seems to be more magically powerful than we are, find out as many details as possible without endangering yourself and then get the hell out of there.  The Queen and her Council will decide on the appropriate course of action after that.  You are not under any circumstances to try to set up a trade deal.  That is strictly for the fairy government to do.  We want to make sure we get the right price for one thing. 

If your cover is blown, get out of the world in question immediately.  The Queen and her Council will investigate that world further - if necessary from a great distance.

Nobody is to report anything they see on other worlds to FNN without prior clearance from the Queen and her Council.  Roherum gossips enough as it is...
                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Every so often you will come across a species worthy of further study.  Do not advertise your presence.  Do not advertise the magical world's existence.  And if you absolutely must abduct the individual target you have selected, be discreet.  Always return any abductees as quickly as possible.  Make sure they cannot remember their odd experience.  They need to resume their lives as quickly as possible.

Rather than go for abduction (that kind of thing gives researchers a bad name) blend in with the world and species selected for study.  If necessary forge identities, live amongst these beings for a while and always give a thorough report so the Kingdom can know whether this new species can be friendly with us or whether they are better kept at arms length.

Full notes must be taken and copied to the Queen and her Council as to new species discovered, their lifestyles, their worlds, magical capabilities (if any) and histories.  Photographs and detailed diagrams are looked on with favour though strictly correct anatomical diagrams are not necessarily needed.  Quite frankly the Queen and her Council are sick of looking at different species’ various genitals. 

A rough idea of how these species are made (including mating rituals - again the authorities are sick of reading graphic descriptions here) will be sufficient.  Basically if your mother wouldn’t want to read it, the Queen and her Council probably wouldn’t either.  See Eileen’s published papers as a good example of the kind of information the Queen and her Council do seek. 

On the other hand do not do what she did and defect to marry one of these wretched inferior species.  This kind of mishap should happen only the once.
 l notes must be taken and copied to the Queen and her Council as to new species discovered, their lifestyles, their worlds, magical capabilities (if any) and histories.  Photographs and detailed diagrams are looked on with favour though strictly correct anatomical diagrams are not necessarily needed.  Quite frankly the Queen and her Council are sick of looking at different species’ various genitals.  A rough idea of how these species are made (including mating rituals - again the authorities are sick of reading graphic descriptions here) will be sufficient.  Basically if your mother wouldn’t want to read it, the Queen and her Council probably wouldn’t either.  See Eileen’s published papers as a good example of the kind of information the Queen and her Council do seek.  On the other hand do not do what she did and defect to marry one of these wretched inferior species.  This kind of mishap should happen only the once.

The guiding rule is:-

With caution!

It is expected that as much research is done on the potential new species to visit long before contact is actually made.

Every fairy or other magical being legally entitled to make contact with other species must make sure they have had all their vaccinations brought up to date.   Best to play safe here, people.  (And do you know just how many diseases humans can get?  Fancy getting some?  We rather thought not.  Get to your local clinic for that jab(s) NOW!).

Always send scouting parties.  These parties are to be made up of at least three individuals, all proven to be trustworthy, calm and well trained in the magical arts.  This means that no sprites can ever form part of a scouting party.

Don’t approach the species concerned at all unless you have no other choice.  You must find out their language and culture first to know how best to approach them.  We don’t want the Kingdom unwittingly starting wars - again - do we?  Ideally we want to find out about the species’ world and habitat and study them from a suitable distance.

If it is necessary to talk to the species to find out information, be polite.  Remember they cannot help their inferiority to you, especially in the case of non-magical beings.  Be compassionate.  If the species show any signs of intelligence, do what you can to encourage it.  Oh and don’t be patronizing.  We understand other species do not like this. _

Editing
Always take out what you can from your stories without losing the sense of them.  It’ll make your writing tighter, quicken the pace and if you can do without those words, do so.  They’re not contributing anything are they? Less is always more.

Reading/Writing Minds
Get into your characters’ heads as quickly as you can.  Can you sum up their main characteristic in one or two words?  Can you sum up your story in a line or two?  Are your characters different so you can tell them apart? Do their voices sound different so nobody is confused as to who speaks?

Defining Moments
Moments of weakness in a character can be used to strengthen their portrayal.  We all have moments like this - fictional characters should reflect that.  It is then what real and fictional people do after having such moments that can add or make a story.

Write, then Edit
Get your story down on paper first before you even think about editing.  Some authors do edit as they go but the disadvantage to that is it can take a lot longer (will you ever find the perfect sentence?) but if you get your story down, you know you have something to work with. Do put your story or novel aside for a while after writing.  It’s normal to think you’ve written total rubbish just after finishing your tale!  Give it some time and you can read it with a “clear” mind and sort out what really is rubbish and what isn’t.  I can never judge my work objectively directly after writing it.  That applies to this too!

Balancing Your Characters
Make sure you’ve got the right balance of characters in your work.  Too many humorous characters or whatever tip your work.  Humour always works best when shown up against something else in any case.  Wodehouse’s Wooster wouldn’t be funny if he hadn’t various odious aunts to outwit.  Also Wooster, whilst rightly acknowledging Jeeves as a genius, is not totally dimwitted.  Ensure your characters aren’t either. Each of your creations must have something positive going for them or you won’t get reader sympathy.

Your Characters and Their Minds/Lives
Do your characters change their minds?  Do they hesitate?  Do they find their original purpose isn’t what they thought and they need to adjust it or need to adjust what they do?  Give your characters hell!  It’s fun!  And makes for better writing!  What’s there not to like about that?  Your characters should have friends and enemies.  Relationships complicate plot which is all to the good as far as you’re concerned.  You want your characters not to have an easy time of it!

Making Something Look Easy
Good writing is an effortless read. I realized a long time ago if anyone makes something look easy that someone has worked bloody hard to achieve that. Prepare yourself for the long haul -  your work will be better for a damned good edit.

Character Range
Can you see your characters acting out what they’re going through?  Do your characters learn from what they go through?  Do you have a nice range of characters?  In any society, you get all ages, all backgrounds. Give them emotional depth - and remember experiences can make folk bitter as well as courageous.  Jenny, for example, as I write at the moment is at loggerheads with her mother and is likely to remain that way for some time until Eileen shows some contrition or Jenny decides to let her grudge go at Eileen for dropping her right in it.

Character and Plot
Character versus plot?  Plot versus character?  It’s like trying to decide whether you need oxygen or not.  You need both.  Both need to be well thought out.  Eileen’s awkwardness helps drive her plot as she makes life damned difficult for herself but she also needs a story to set up those difficulties for her to try and resolve.

Motivations
Look at motives.  Not only can story ideas come from these, they can add emotional depth.  Eileen’s chief motive is to stay on earth with her family and never to resume her old life.  It colours  her attitude, fuels her behaviour and sets up clashes with the Fairy Queen.  Are the motives for your characters strong enough? Overwhelm your characters with problems - you get your story from how they cope.

Ask questions about your tales like:-
How are your characters’ basic needs met? 

What is the hierarchy (and there has to be at least one, someone has to be top dog)?

How is your world governed?

Are there rules nobody can break?  What are the reasons?

In dealing with magic, can everybody produce the same amount?  Or do certain groups have more magic than others?  Can those lower down the scale “earn” or “learn” more magic to bring them closer to their superiors?

What happens if someone defies the basic rules or some lowly herbert betters themselves magically so they become superior?  What would the fall out be?

What happens if someone from the superior class magically speaking rebels against that or the structures of your society?

There are loads of stories to be found in answering these!!!

Ask yourself some questions and generate ideas
Proverbs are a good source of basic plot ideas which can be expanded out.  Add in the What If principle to develop that basic idea.

Gain or Loss?
Look at what your characters have to gain or lose.  Is that motivation strong enough for the plot you’ve got in mind?

Enough Tension?
Raise your characters’ problems, ambitions, ensure there is enough tension in your story.  You do want to make a drama out of a crisis!  (Without overdoing it of course!)

Politics
Consider politics!  Whatever your fictional world, it will come into play.  How does it affect the ruling classes?  The peasants?  How did the politics come about?  Is there gender equality? Freedom of belief and/or speech?  Are broadcasters, journalists or their equivalent free to report as they like or are they subject to controls and who operates those?