Get the Fake outta Character
Fake characters. Superficial plots. Contrived endings. I hate 'em Well hate might be a strong word--likely too strong--but I'm not past complaining about something akin to hatred. I'll complain the characters aren't fulfilling, right, or even satisfying. But then again you are talking to a woman who dyes her hair and spent an hour over the Mother's Day holiday primping nice looking, but slightly aggravation acrylic nails that are a little bit challenging to type in. So who am I to judge?
I want to love characters (or hate 'em). Scream aloud about their actions. Screech in triumph with their successes. But overall, just care about them. I went on and on in a previous post about this whole obsession--no need to rehash it here (but did you see The Office season finale? Holy shit. I say no more, except I heart Jim. In a big way). Television aside, it is super critical that I care about characters. Hell, as a writer, I MUST obsess about my characters.
This is where I begin my writing. With that one character that not only peaks my interest (and is interesting) but one that has a story to tell that will make me want nothing better than to write about them for the next 6+ months. Dream about them, become part of their inner circle of friends. BECOME them.
So when I started my next book. Which in actuality was months ago. Even last year at this time, I only had a shell of my main character. She was witty. Fun. Even a little egotistical. And she had a fabulous life of glamour. One that I dreamed of when I was single, detached, and young. But that is all I knew about her. Through 4 drafts of the beginning 20,000 words I couldn't snag her. And she didn't want to be snagged. So much so-- I keep pushing onward to 40,000 words and again rewrote. Was I happy yet?
No. Not until last night. Lying in bed--ready to renew my interest in this next book (after the 6 week rewrite of book one)--I finally found the missing link. The beginning hook of the book. The part that ties the ENTIRE book together. There at close to 2am, I had to jump out of bed and make this character come to life. If only for a few paragraphs to solidify this part of her story. Her life. The part that will DRIVE this book to its ending. A satisfying, fulfilling, TRUE-TO-LIFE ending. One--that when I finally hit it--will have me mourning for at least a blog post. And then a lifetime.
I want to love characters (or hate 'em). Scream aloud about their actions. Screech in triumph with their successes. But overall, just care about them. I went on and on in a previous post about this whole obsession--no need to rehash it here (but did you see The Office season finale? Holy shit. I say no more, except I heart Jim. In a big way). Television aside, it is super critical that I care about characters. Hell, as a writer, I MUST obsess about my characters.
This is where I begin my writing. With that one character that not only peaks my interest (and is interesting) but one that has a story to tell that will make me want nothing better than to write about them for the next 6+ months. Dream about them, become part of their inner circle of friends. BECOME them.
So when I started my next book. Which in actuality was months ago. Even last year at this time, I only had a shell of my main character. She was witty. Fun. Even a little egotistical. And she had a fabulous life of glamour. One that I dreamed of when I was single, detached, and young. But that is all I knew about her. Through 4 drafts of the beginning 20,000 words I couldn't snag her. And she didn't want to be snagged. So much so-- I keep pushing onward to 40,000 words and again rewrote. Was I happy yet?
No. Not until last night. Lying in bed--ready to renew my interest in this next book (after the 6 week rewrite of book one)--I finally found the missing link. The beginning hook of the book. The part that ties the ENTIRE book together. There at close to 2am, I had to jump out of bed and make this character come to life. If only for a few paragraphs to solidify this part of her story. Her life. The part that will DRIVE this book to its ending. A satisfying, fulfilling, TRUE-TO-LIFE ending. One--that when I finally hit it--will have me mourning for at least a blog post. And then a lifetime.
