7 posts tagged “uppity characters”

While Friday and Saturday were all about throwing all kinds of crap onto the screen and making it stick (for now), last night and today have been all about getting back to that weird writing place that I love. Telling stories in a rambly style that is the way people talk and think (in my world). It's GREAT fun.

Had lunch with a friend who threw some ideas my way, but mostly we talked about stuff for which we already have a shorthand and foreknowledge... so it was like just coming into the middle of the decades long conversation.

Had a drink later with a newer friend who is sharp, witty, hawt, funny and full of his own kind of stories. He pitched me a character, and by the time I sat down at the keyboard later that night, I had her voice and her story. And I found a way to put her in Tucson. It was such fun. This morning, the main MC spoke to me from inside his heart and soul. That was an honor.

And I have 45K now. I'll "win" NaNo but I have about half a novel. There is still much to be done with these people... I'm thinking 80 or 100K. Still, I'm not.there.yet, so I press on for four and a half more days, and then party like it's 1999, and get the house ready for the holidays.

Ok, Paul, I'm sorry, I had to do it. I couldn't write you as Paul. I was having trouble liking you as Paul. The first name also did not work with the last name. So I changed that, and then I thought well, what a stupid first name with that last name.

I like John, my brother is one and I dated one (he was hawt). John is also a Beatle (not so secret subtext in a book about a BAND. Duh.).

So John you are. Meet yourself, John. I've already searched and replaced. "Paul" can be just our little secret, mkay?

So with that, I hope to break through 29K words today *IF* I don't get all nutty in the kitchen or with the shiraz.

I have been pretty sad all afternoon and evening. As I was writing a scene where nearly all of the five main characters are gathered, and projecting the journey ahead of them, I realized that one of them will die this day.

and I'm filled with such sadness. It's the last day of his life (yes, it's a he), and I want it to be the best one ever. And there will be a song about a best day ever... possibly a Green Day cover by the band, maybe just an a capella something on the bus.

And so now, I have to make his character really loveable. Because my readers MUST feel as sad as I am right now. Sorry. That's fiction.

;-)

Ok, for those of you wagering, you may still be placing bets that I will/won't finish by 11/30. At this point, I'm a little detached from THAT goal, and have a new one in mind. So they might be sucker bets, which means you might make even more money... or lose more.

This book keeps reinventing itself, or I should say, revealing itself. I keep finding little connections and plans that seem to make sense, maybe in that dream logic where we are flying and then land in high school chemistry class and then have lunchroom hijinx with the Queen. But it seems like it might be good. I dunno.

Last night, instead of amping the word count, which seems to be the ENTIRE thrust of NaNo, I planned and mapped some more, using an exercise from The Plot Thickens. And it really helps make sense of what is going on. There IS A STRUCTURE, and a PLOT. My book isn't really plot-driven (big mistake? the plot is in the blurb basically) but I did discover that it has movement and an "arc" as they say in film. So. Ha.

I also mapped out the conflicts between characters and the affiliations. And I got the Greek chorus of minor characters somewhat in line (in a circle actually). So. Ha ha!

If I don't make the infamous 50K words, whatever. I think I have a pretty good idea here. And will continue working on it in November and beyond. Till it's done. The first is the worst, right?

I am behind, but only by about a day. It's doable if I make time Sat. (maybe at the write-in?) and Sunday, both of which are very very doable right now.

But tonight, I just need some downtime to wash away the worries of the week, and get into MC Paul's head. Or maybe completely shift the POV to Joe for a while.

Paul is dour - a Scot/Norwegian by ethnicity. He feels trapped in Tucson. He's ambitious.

Joe is happy - a native Arizonan by about three generations and a half. He's scrappy, he's resourceful, he's not very ambitious.

Conrad is successful, cagey and very cerebral.

The POV has to be Paul for the "conflict" (one of the four or five C's from high school English, right?)

Meh. Maybe. We'll see.

But it is time to wrap myself in plot advancement AND the MCs' voice. Enough with the mise en scene, the minor characters and the structure. Onward!
 

I am at 13,342 words, and I finally got the two best friends out of bed and together, talking. The explosive conversation between Kimaya and Paul is coming up. Woo.

I have a lot of child-free time this weekend, and if I can keep myself home and in the writing chair, I'll break 20K, maybe even 25K.

I'm doing a lot of glossing, and placeholding where I would like to be writing artful, juicy prose. but I'm tired and this is a sprint.

Ok, Kimaya, you are now a main character. I don't know if you are Yoko yet, or just what. But your clear sense of purpose in life, your strong background and work ethic have infused me with the drive and determination to see the next 10K words. You got me from a limp, flaccid 5,000 to a robust optimistic 9,121 as of this minute.

I'm sorry I doubted that you could be a main character. There was no room for girls in this band... but you showed me that girls can do anything, including be in my novel.