I think taking last weekend off from blogging helped me slide back into “eh” mode.
I knew I had to blog yesterday and with the app I have no excuse. I simply chose to let it slide.
That’s all well and good, I mean its not like anyone besides myself gave me this challenge. However, if I am to fulfill my dream of being published, I need to write write write…. right?
Years ago, before the ebook thing really took off, and self-publishing was “frowned upon” (I know it still is in some circles) I scoured the interwebs looking for avenues to either get an agent, editor, publisher or all of the above.
I practiced my query letter, prepped my few pages, and chapters and started the tedious task of trying to get someone to take a gander at my book. I don’t remember now how many I sent out, but I do remember there were many that were simply never answered, and two rejections. Two people actually took the time to reject me. Sounds funny, but it’s not. Believe it or not, I “almost” had one willing to give me a chance.
She didn’t like my dialogue.
I remember thinking, “OH! wow, I can change that!!!” I went back and in that single chapter, realized that I couldn’t change how the characters spoke, interacted with each other. Their vernacular, tone, sarcasm, whatever it was I had down on paper at that time made those characters who they were. Their authentic self.
Each character develops their own way, and even though I tried- I did attempt to rewrite, but it was clear to me that I would lose “something” if I changed it.
Now that’s all well and good, but it still hasn’t been published and would need a rewrite (not the dialogue) due to some things that were new or not even around in 2008 being out of touch with what really is in the here and now.
In my latest world (Otherworld) some characters have a formality, some casual, some always serious, and some have yet to be determined.
How do you learn what your characters need to say and how do they say it?
m
No, not the movie. I am HOME ALONE!!! YES (Insert virtual fist bump here)
I have traveled back from seeing the children and bonus children (spouses). I got in about noon, and am wrapping up the work day. Getting ready to tackle that freaking scene that I’ve been angst’ng over for the past two dang weeks.
I’m gonna do it. Seriously. I am. I need to get moving on this book because Dani (second book) has informed me that she is tired of sitting and waiting on me. She wants to start investigating. Sitting idle is not her forte.
So when you’re writing, do your characters come to life? Do they have their own direction? Vernacular?
Oh oh OH! Vernacular!!!! OMG (Yes I know I’m not 18, but seriously omg!) I read this FANTASTIC paranormal series with wolf shifters and fairies, and pixies, and witches…. it was omg fantastic. I think there’s another book coming out and that makes me almost as happy as chomping on a bowl of my mac salad.
Anyway- – The one miss I think she had in the entire series was how the YA character spoke, how her friends spoke. That is not how the 18-25 year old’s speak. It was as if she fashioned her YA characters after rich, spoiled kids who thought they were talking like adults… Kinda? maybe? eh, I don’t know.
But it was bad. Of course, that’s only my opinion. I think the multiple awards the author has won and the number of books sold might say something different.
Either way, it didn’t stop me from rapidly turning pages and reading the entire series in record time.
It still irks me though. If you’re gonna write with a certain age, timeline, era in mind- get it right!
Well, got some research done in the last twenty-four hours. I decided for this specific scene I will not get too precise with the details. Even though it’s a place I’ve been to, I don’t want to to appear that I’m trying too hard to make it “real”.
It’s a real place and I’m referencing it as a real place, so I think there’s a multitude of ways to approach the environment. I’m finally confident in how I’m going to describe it.
That one scene was my latest block (or excuse). I won’t be able to get to it until I get back home, but I am now looking forward to getting that scene typed out.
Writing can be rote. For me it needs to be. Just slacking on these last two days has made me both jittery because I didn’t write anything and chill because I gave myself an out prior to the weekend.
So what i learned about myself is that if I give myself an out, I will gladly take it. AND if I take a mere glimpse in the way back machine, that is exactly what I did for the last decade. Regardless of the various excuses I came up with, I left the craft.
Now I know two days isn’t a trend, but it takes a conscious effort before something becomes rote.
Now I just need to add some pages to the manuscript.
Cheers!
m
I am feeling exceptionally exhausted as this Friday workday nears its end. I am traveling to see the kids this weekend, or a couple of them anyway.
I know I haven’t been blogging for very long, and am not really entitled to a blog break, but then again, I’m the one in control of such things.
During my travels, I may or may not toss some words down on this piece of virtual paper. I blogged on the app yesterday, and while I am not a fan of typing a lot on a tiny little keyboard, I did okay.
I may continue that trend for the next few days.
Have a wonderful weekend and write!!
m
Yes, that is an intentional single word title.
Do you have a preference as to which “person” you read or write in? For a long time I didn’t care for reading in the first person.
I also think that could be because what I was reading maybe wasn’t let’s say top notch? Which is a pretty crappy thing to say seeing as how they are published and I am not. Besides that huge elephant in the room fact, I can safely say that I have grown on books written in the first person.
Before I get into the why, let me take a moment to discuss the virtue of the third person. At least from my writing point of view, it is soooo much easier to be able to jump around the various characters and give them a voice.
Although, I have read some pretty disjointed third person books too. Jumping around means some type of break or clear indication that the POV has changed.
Anyway, back to the virtues, I lost my train of thought on that. But being able to have access to the minds of the various characters can add additional elements to the story. Sometimes angst, or support or mystery or suspense… you get the idea.
I started writing this book in Jan 2021. I had an extended vacation and anticipated writing more during that time. However, another character bounced in front of me and I inadvertently started book 2. Which in and of itself isn’t totally bad, but I also started in the first person.
Ugh.
I’ll figure it out. I may just let it ride.
m
For the past few days, probably almost up to a week now, I’m angst’ng over whether I’m creating a story that’s real and believable.
I also need to remember that I’m writing Urban Fantasy, where it’s a mix of, well, real and fantasy. So I’m not quite sure why I’m adding this additional pressure on my back. I have enough worries about becoming hunchback in my not so distant golden years, why add to it?
Well, because.
Because you say? Yes, I say. Even with the fantasy part, there’s got to be a sense of real in there as well. Can these series of events truly blend with the every day happenings of a “normal” society. The answer is obviously yes given how huge and successful the genre is.
So I took a step back yesterday and mulled the story thus far. Yep, I think I’m doing okay. Jay has already told me the pieces lock together. It’s the imposter syndrome methinks. I don’t really feel like I earned the right to belong here.
Self… knock that shit off.
Will work on that.
m
This post glides right along side the previous post regarding description, and well my lack thereof.
Upon further reflection of that text, just thoughts, not an actual review of what I wrote- I wonder how much is too much.
Let me elaborate.
I’m good at writing erotica, especially of the BDSM variety. I can get the reader holding their breath waiting for the next action (at least that’s what I’ve been told). I make it “real” even if some of the scenes I’ve written are a bit extreme they are not out of the realm of real. Description in these stories comes easy, down to the nth degree.
So why is it so dang difficult to insert description in this manuscript? I’m contemplating this as I’m actually stumbling over my next scene. It’s a real place one in which many people can visit nearly every day of the year. So how in depth do I get? (rhetorical) Do I dive down into the scenery, describe the hike; or do I skim the scenery and focus on the trek, the emotion, the weather- OR do I do both?
Yes, yes, I do realize this is only my first draft and there will be many revisions. Part of the struggle is how easy it was to write the previous manuscript (the one that’s still unpublished and sitting on my hard drive.
Urban fantasy is a slightly new genre for me to write, not read. I read nearly everything I can get my hands on regardless of how well known the author is.
People get it right, some don’t. I don’t want to be part of the latter.
m
Literally. As I’m writing out my first draft, I am putting placeholders in areas where I know I’m going to get flack from my writing partner in crime. Description is not my forte.
We’ve been at this for more than a decade, and I know damn well where he’s going to say…. what does xxx look like (be it person, place or thing).
I’m bad, very bad when it comes to more than a couple of words of description. For me if the curtains are billowing, they are billowing- – to elaborate on the fabric, the color, the pattern, the ferocity in which they are billowing mostly escapes me.
My main character in this first of the Otherworld series revolves around Bert- a female chief of police. I’m about half way through the book and other than looking over the rim of her reading glasses from time to time, the reader has no freaking clue on what she looks like. Heck, I haven’t even given her a hair color.
I did great with her personal assistant though. Jasper’s physical detail on page one is thorough and precise. The reader can envision the Fae in their minds without issue. His brother? I think the same. I would actually have to go back and see how in depth his description is.
I think I need to go give Bert “a look”.
I tried to give the great hall “a look” but it’s mediocre at best. If I don’t have a comment there, there should be.
See what I mean? Bad, very bad.
What is the fine line between none, sparse, too much, and over the top? I think it depends on the reader. When I’m engrossed in a book, I’m focusing on the plot, the actions (although fight scenes can be way too descriptive as well) where the characters are going and what they need to do.
I will skip over too much description, and thus far it hasn’t hampered how the book flows in my mind.
But I am not my readers (future readers, yes I know). So I must take these things into account, no matter how much angst I get trying to include the imagery.
Marina Skynnar- Author 