Great post at The Happiness Project on writing tips: http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2012/01/having-trouble-getting-yourself-to-write-xx-tips.html Talk about excitement - I've been writing again, working on Mickey Spencer. When I last left her, she had been given a reprimand by one of her bosses, but not fired. I discovered this week that writer's block isn't about not having ideas, it's about hitting a wall. I was like the fly against the window - there was no way out, but he was going to keep flying against the glass until he ended up another carcass on the sill. I brought out the notebook (I keep a notebook for every novel idea) and did some 'What ifs'. I came to the realization that Mickey needed to be fired if she (and I) was going to continue on her quest. So I fired her! Gotta love having that kind of power over your characters - mwhahahaha!
Speaking of flies and windows - Character Quirks...
It's Thursday, People of Blogland, anything to share? How's the writing coming along - have you fired any of your characters lately? What, if anything, do you find yourself doing that reminds you of a fly trying to escape?
Oh, the things we do to our poor characters. I haven't fired anyone lately, but I realized yesterday that I have to do something dirty to my heroine. I don't want to. She's going to hate me for it. But I can't see any other way to finish this book without having the whole end be milquetoast.
ReplyDeleteQuerying reminds me of a fly trying to escape. He flies toward what he thinks is open space and then BASH. and bash. and bash. and bash. If he's smart, eventually he flits off in search of another way out. If he's not, I smack him with a flyswatter because he's annoying.
OK, here we go - I think I've got it to work, now! Love technology - am thinking of moving to a cabin in the woods...off grid. I see that lasting for about a week ;)
DeleteAnd your character, B.E. - she'll get over it (at least that's what I'm hoping for Mickey). You're right - we don't want wimpy characters, wimpy endings OR wimpy plots! Be brutal.
Yikes, don't remind me of querying :(
Oooh, a threaded comment. Woo Hoo!!!!
DeleteWoohoo! Yeah, I could only be off the grid for a limited time before I went nuts.
DeleteNo wimpy plots. Just wimpy author. LOL But I figured out how I can be mean to her now and make it up to her in book 3. If there is a book 3, that is.
Oh, yes, there will be a Book 3 - and you've just lined 'er up with that nasty bit of business you're going to write at the end!!!
DeleteAnd the threaded comment thing seems to be working fine now - yay!!!
I loved #7 - Down with Boredom!
ReplyDeleteIt's so much fun traumatizing characters. Can't wait to hear how Mickey's deals with getting fired.
OK, Mr. Blogger - I don't want to have to comment below before being allowed to comment above. Get over your glitchiness for heaven's sake!
DeleteHey, Karyn :) #7 was a good one - I liked #4, but for the reason other than writing, the wearing of pjs all day. I love my pjs! I think #1 is my biggest "Must Follow" rule - writing daily keeps my imagination fueled and the story fresh in my mind!
K - so excited about the threaded comments and when I click "Reply" under your comment, B.E., nothing happens. Such a techno-not!
ReplyDeleteAnd it didn't work - *sigh*
ReplyDeleteNot working again - grrrr!
ReplyDeleteI got some good initial feedback from Ms. Editor 1.0. I'm sort of taking a week off from writing while I'm down here if Florida hiding from the sun. I'm rereading SEASON OF THE WITCH--for a couple of reasons. One, to get my WIP Notebook set up with character names, descriptions, family ties and trees, etc. in preparation for starting Caleb's book, and two, to see if WITCH is as good as I remember. But now I'm picking it apart and tweaking a few things as I go. LOL This is what happens when you don't read a WIP for a year.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed the nested comments magically work again.
I forgot to mention that I think it's outstanding that Mickey got fired! I think that will be a very profitable direction for both of you to take! ;-)
DeleteWow - she was fast, you just hit 'send' on Monday!! Speaks volumes about your writing, Silver :)
DeleteAnd I'm so glad you're re-reading and then re-visiting SOTW - it's too good to leave languish on your hard drive...which is now on your new-to-you-computer. Nothing like having a block of time to re-visit. Don't get too crazy with the editing, get through the reading first!
And, yes, Mickey needed to be fired - it was the only way to go.
Have fun for the rest of the week in The Sunshine State!
Hey, I'm down in the CSS Code trenches right along side of you. Threaded comments is huge! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteI really can't believe how exciting this is, Alice! We've lived for so long without them, envious of our friends on wordpress who have had them for years - yeah, I know, the small things :) I'm also excited because we're having bbq'd hamburgers for supper tonight!
DeleteGotta love days like this! Thanks for stopping by - and, again, fabulous 13 over on your blog today!
Geez you guys are wusses.
ReplyDeleteI killed my heroine.
You win :)
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