What Day Is This?

Life has been incredibly insane these past three weeks. I haven't even seen nor talked with my best friend. I hate it when life gets so nasty! I'm hoping it is finally on the upswing. What would I do if I didn't have hope???


I've been laughingly posting about characters and how they try to sway me to what they want their story to be. Most times, I hold out, but there are times when I get carried away with their 'vision' and off we all go. *g*


The other side of the coin. When you share your tale and your critiquers want you to go off onto some tangent that you hadn't thought of - nor, in most cases - wanted! I've had that happen lately. But innocuously. They don't mean it, per se. I know they don't. But their little remarks, their hints at something more (or less) and I begin to feel guilt Perhaps I should 'go' the way they want me to. It sounds interesting.


It's the guilt. And perhaps a lack of surety as to where my story is going. But I find that I sometimes acquiesce to these demands. I'm trying not to. Unless the change is incredibly good, or fills a real need for the plot or character or whatever, or address some failing in what I've written, I'm not doing it. I'm putting down my foot. I'm saying, no.


Life is challenging.

Technicalities

I've spent a goodly portion of this day on research. It started out feeling fun. I get mesmerized by stats and geography and timelines and such... But after I'd spent an hour and a half trying to figure out a certain thing, I was ready to pull out my hair! *g*


River flow. If I move my story back about a month, the spring melt will make the river flow faster and then my hero will be able to get where I want him to be at the right time. I can do that.


For folks who write historical novels, it must get downright frustrating, trying to move the story within the context of a 'known' timeline. I don't envy them that. I have enough trouble with a 'fantasy' timeline!


Trying to get other characters where I want them to be at a given time is also insane. They want their own ways. They have their own agendas. It's like juggling. 


But I'll get through this. I am finished with Chapter Six on my friend's birthday story. I have Chapter Seven and the Epilogue to do. I've had to change who I wanted to be there in Chapter Seven. I hope I can make it work and have it be plausible at the same time. *rolls my eyes in frustration*


Life is exacting.

Blasted Rules

Ah - I've been reading some great stories by friends and have come to the conclusion, once again, that sometimes the rules just don't apply.


The 'ly' thing is especially *g* difficult to accept. I just finished a tale where snidely was used and I loved it. Supposedly, these things bring the reader out of the tale, but I knew exactly what the author meant without five words to explain it and I laughed and rolled in the joy of the word. I know we can use ly's occasionally *g* but I have tried to stay away from them. As part of my discipline plan. But I find the good ones delightful.


Another thing I had trouble with was POV. I am learning how to write in only one POV, but I really, really love reading a story with more than one. I'm told readers find it difficult to follow a story that has more than one POV. For me, I love them better. I think it might be because I grew up with TV. And yet, those who 'make' the rules grew up with TV. If I watch any show, it will go from one 'scene' to another, showing me numerous POVs. Does that cause me problems? No. If I read a book with more than one POV, does that cause me problems? No. 


Again, I worry about the dumbing down of readers. I hope that's not what this is, but I do wonder.


Life is puzzling.

Writing Buddy

I get the biggest kick out of my writing buddy. She is so enthusiastic. She picks me up every time we get together. I see again the joy of writing. Besides that, we laugh a lot.


We met last night and went over two of my chapters and one of hers. She gave as good as she got. I was astounded at how fast she learns. Some of the tips I've given her about making the tale tight and good, she hit me with on my own chapters. It was awesome. 


I've often found it quite funny that, whenever I happen to 'offer' a bit of advice, it usually comes back and bites me. This kind of advice, however, is well received.


A couple thoughts. My piece if a period piece and, after hearing her read the chapter out loud, I saw that one place was too modern. Easy to fix though. 


Another was ending a sentence. Now, that seems to be a logical thing to do, but I find I sometimes 'run off at the mouth' and don't end the sentence when I should. I drag it out. Example: Home of pig farmers, one of my characters says. My buddy said to just say, pig farmers. It worked much better. A little thing, you might say, but it really makes a difference.  


Another thing. My editor sent me a little study in saidisms. I try to stay away from them, but do not treat them as a contagious disease. The paper my editor sent me said make sure I never have a character hiss. I did a search and found one particular character did hiss, every time she said a sentence. "You are a stupid, aren't you?" she hissed. Ten times, I found this characters hissing. I took her tongue out and now she says, 'she said.' Most times. 


"Life is," I hissed. *g*