I’ve learned a lot of wonderful things being with my crit group ‘wink’. One of my earliest lessons but perhaps one that hasn’t resonated with me until recently is to try and ‘walk in my characters’ shoes and not in my own. In my earlier manuscripts my friends have told me that my characters are ‘me’. I didn’t believe them at the time. But in retrospect it’s true. I still think it’s great to ‘write what you know’, but my recent goal is to write a character that (or should that be ‘who’ or ‘whom’ hmmm) is nothing like me. Now that I’ve started, it’s kinda fun and liberating. My characters can do all those things I’ve always wanted to do, but have been out of my comfort zone. My next character is going to be outspoken, not shy in crowds, happy-go-lucky, a flirt and has…blue hair! Wish me luck – my next step is then to give my characters flaws – ouch!
Donna
29 August 2010
22 August 2010
The Question is Why???
As a writer we come up against that question often. So often it's like the proverbial brick wall we keep banging our heads against. That lovely word "Why". Why is your character doing this? Why did you put that in - what purpose does it serve. Why? Why? Why?
Perhaps the biggest one is "Why do I continue to write?" The answer to that is fairly easy - because as writers we can't stop. It's in us and now that we've started we can't stop. It would be like cutting off a hand. It's something that EVERY writer goes though, even multi-published. Not just newbies.
For me I asked that question last Monday "Why am I still doing this? Why don't I just give up?" I was frustrated. I was lost. I was floundering. What am I missing in my work? I'll admit to almost feeling like giving up. But I'm not a quitter! I was determined not to let it beat me. I was going to get through this and I have. Plus having made a promise to enter a contest with some others is reason enough to continue.
So what was missing? What had left me momentarily?
What I was missing was the belief in myself. I was letting opinions and thoughts of others get to me. So much to the point I was questioning everything I was writing.
So I decided to do what I've always done and just sit down and write. I'm sure there will be questions that will need to be answered but as it's in the early stages, there is still plenty of time to answer all the whys. Imagine reading a book if you had all the whys answered in the early chapters - why bother reading on.
My case in point is this, I just finished a book. The heroine agreed to be the hero's fiance in the second chapter. They'd only just met that night. I didn't find out until almost halfway through the book that the reason she said yes was that she wanted to get a bracelet back that her half sister had taken. That half sister was dead and had been married to the hero.
Did it bug that she said yes in the second chapter without any real indication - no. Do you know why? It's because I had faith in the author that she would answer the question and she did. Having said that there was one book I read recently where all my questions weren't answered. Or maybe the questions I thought were important to me, really weren't all that important in the whole scheme of the story.
As a writer we have to have faith in ourselves in the ability to answer all the questions and what we hope is the important people who help us on the journey have that same faith in you. After all the people who share your dream are your main supporters.
Perhaps the biggest one is "Why do I continue to write?" The answer to that is fairly easy - because as writers we can't stop. It's in us and now that we've started we can't stop. It would be like cutting off a hand. It's something that EVERY writer goes though, even multi-published. Not just newbies.
For me I asked that question last Monday "Why am I still doing this? Why don't I just give up?" I was frustrated. I was lost. I was floundering. What am I missing in my work? I'll admit to almost feeling like giving up. But I'm not a quitter! I was determined not to let it beat me. I was going to get through this and I have. Plus having made a promise to enter a contest with some others is reason enough to continue.
So what was missing? What had left me momentarily?
What I was missing was the belief in myself. I was letting opinions and thoughts of others get to me. So much to the point I was questioning everything I was writing.
So I decided to do what I've always done and just sit down and write. I'm sure there will be questions that will need to be answered but as it's in the early stages, there is still plenty of time to answer all the whys. Imagine reading a book if you had all the whys answered in the early chapters - why bother reading on.
My case in point is this, I just finished a book. The heroine agreed to be the hero's fiance in the second chapter. They'd only just met that night. I didn't find out until almost halfway through the book that the reason she said yes was that she wanted to get a bracelet back that her half sister had taken. That half sister was dead and had been married to the hero.
Did it bug that she said yes in the second chapter without any real indication - no. Do you know why? It's because I had faith in the author that she would answer the question and she did. Having said that there was one book I read recently where all my questions weren't answered. Or maybe the questions I thought were important to me, really weren't all that important in the whole scheme of the story.
As a writer we have to have faith in ourselves in the ability to answer all the questions and what we hope is the important people who help us on the journey have that same faith in you. After all the people who share your dream are your main supporters.
07 August 2010
RWA Conference
What would you do to go to the Romance Writer's of Australia National Conference?
I'd love to go but as a struggling student not being able to work because I am on prac, it is impossible. It got me thinking; if someone told me they'd pay my way but I'd have to do something shocking in return (a kind of indecent proposal), what would I be prepared to do?
Demi Moore's choice would be out - regardless of how cute the guy is.
I can't go naked anywhere - I am wanting a job at a Christian school next year.
Giving up technology is not possible - I need to be online for my uni studies.
My options are: walking backwards for a whole day, giving up food for a day or wearing old lady dresses for a week. These may not seem much but currently I am the teacher of a group of nine and ten year olds - you can imagine the grief I'd get.
What would you be prepared to do?
I'd love to go but as a struggling student not being able to work because I am on prac, it is impossible. It got me thinking; if someone told me they'd pay my way but I'd have to do something shocking in return (a kind of indecent proposal), what would I be prepared to do?
Demi Moore's choice would be out - regardless of how cute the guy is.
I can't go naked anywhere - I am wanting a job at a Christian school next year.
Giving up technology is not possible - I need to be online for my uni studies.
My options are: walking backwards for a whole day, giving up food for a day or wearing old lady dresses for a week. These may not seem much but currently I am the teacher of a group of nine and ten year olds - you can imagine the grief I'd get.
What would you be prepared to do?
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