Thinkin' Thursday - All American

On the way home from taking the kids to school this morning, we listened to 'All American Girl' by Train. I love this song. Last night, I caught 'American Idol'. This is the first season I've actually watched. And, probably only because I had a massive crush on Steven Tyler when I was 15. Kinda weird now that I realize just how old he is. Not to mention, he's pretty darn goofy; which might add to the allure. Not sure.

Back on the reservation - two different reactions emerge. The first has a snazzy beat & makes me move & smile. The second, when someone gets out there & belts out amazing, makes me cry. Hankie in hand, I watch as people ascend the stage. I hope they wow it out of the room. When they don't, I cover my face & ears until it's done.

There are a few reasons for all this admiration, I think. First, I'm completely tone deaf. When I was a kid, in drum corp, I tried playing the trumpet. The music director felt it was safer for me to carry a rifle. In middle school, I tried out for the musical; um, yep, I rode an audience chair. As an adult, I sing in the car, stereo on full tilt, so no one else can hear me.

I love music. I love the poetry of great lyrics. There is something so magical when I hear The Who's 'Behind Blue Eyes'. It brings tears. When I hear 'Purple Rain', I am transported back to high school. When I hear 'I Knew I Loved You', my wedding day floods my vision. Music is such a part of our every day lives that I don't know how I would function without it. It is directly linked to emotions, memories & sometimes things I would like to pretend never happened.

When I write romance, I love to listen to 70s love songs. When I'm ticking out the opening bits, I enjoy classical - Wagner, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Bach. When my female MC is in that angry space, Ani DeFranco belts across the speakers. As the tension rises, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Def Leppard, or vintage Aerosmith (Janie's Got a Gun). Music is so closely associated with our experiences that we can tap into its power & move the story along its path.

When writing, do you have a variety, a soundtrack, or a general feel preference? What music inspires you most?

Happy Writing,

Patti

'Live By Love' Day

Yes, it's Groundhog Day & Writer's Digest has a cool obit prompt for poor Phil's untimely death. I have to say, it's -4 outside without the windchill. Hubby says it reminds him of his days in Anchorage & we're not even close to there. Lightning snow in Chicago, volcanic eruptions in Japan & a cyclone off the coast of Australia - yeah, 6 more weeks of winter would come as zero surprise in this camp.

But, instead, I want to focus on the love. My kids brought this to my attention. The deal-y - place a paper heart on your shirt. Every time someone says something hurtful, you're supposed to tear a piece of the heart away. But, whenever someone says something nice, you're supposed to write a positive message on the heart. At the end of the day, see where your heart stands.

While in theory, it sounds interesting. I am concerned, first because teenagers aren't exactly the most empathetic individuals. Second, what parent doesn't hope their kid comes home with a scribbled over, in tact heart. Of course, this brought me around to novel characters.

We nurture them, love them & then we tear their little aortic valves to shreds. Comes with the territory, but in fiction, we get to put them back together. New life, new love, new normal - it's a neat little package of "We can rebuild him/her." The $6M man & woman had an easier time, I think. But, it is the stock with which we peddle. Tear 'em up, tear 'em up, tear 'em real good - rah, rah, rah. Okay, obviously, I'm no cheerleader, but hey (shrug).

Live by love novel day would consist of the MC picking up the pieces of their broken life & putting them back together with super, heavy duty new-life glue. Not based on compliments, but choices & decisions, twists & turns, trauma & drama. No melodrama need apply.

How do you plan to spend your 'live by love' day?

Happy Writing,

Patti

Real Men DO Cry

Last night, as we prepared for dinner, my son decided to sit in the dark by himself. When I went in to ask him to join us, he had tears rolling down his face. Immediately I knew the reason.

"Did you guys break up," I asked in my serious but sympathetic mommy voice.

"I don't want to talk about it. You'll just want to drag it all out. Leave it alone."

So sad, but true. Yes, he's almost 16 & he needs to learn about these things, work them out in his own way. But, I'm his mother; it's my job to drag it out of him. Examine it. And then come up with some witty observation to make him laugh or at least stem the flow. He didn't give me the chance. And that, of course, turned the wheels for this post.

Back off - Characters need love, understanding, sympathy. But, they also need the room to find the answers for themselves. You can lead characters to the water cooler, but you can't make them gossip or drink from those little paper cups. And, male characters sidle, examine, deride & then belly up all on their own.

Real Emotion - I've said it before, crying on the page doesn't translate. But, emotional restraint when the character wants to scream, throw things, blow his/her lava of hurt & anger - that creates palpable connection to the moment. Male characters are no less emotional than their female counterparts; it's how they deal that demonstrates their depth.

To Heal or Not to Heal - Female characters tend to dust off & throw themselves back in. Males, on the other hand, brood, build walls of disenchantment & become endearing, memorable characters. Rhett Butler, Mr. Darcy; these guys stick in the gullet of classic literature. Whether they take the healing plunge is up to them. We can't coddle; they'll not appreciate it.

This morning, a different attitude emerged from my son. He smiled, laughed. But, he dressed all in black. Of course I commented on this current ebony period. He didn't take the bait. I have been exiled to the sidelines of his emotional distress. As both a mother & a writer, it is the best vantage point from which to watch his progress, wait for the open door, then sit back & wait for the next time. Another girl; another opportunity.

Happy Writing,

Patti

Where Has All the Toilet Paper Gone?

Yesterday, I had to use my kids' bathroom. Normally, this isn't a huge deal; they are required to clean it top to bottom every weekend. But yesterday, there was no tp on the roll. Nope. It sat, forlorn on the counter next to its holder. The two are supposed to work in tandem, darn it.

I did what you're supposed to do. I put the white cotton layers on their dispenser. And then placed it in its silver delivery system. In that moment, I had this crazy little thought. Proper placement of toilet paper has a direct correlation to writing.

Two-ply Please - Three if it were possible - dimensions that is. Cardboard hurts character development. Characters need layers, sheets. The thicker the skin, the greater the character depth & development.

Placeholders are important - Just as tp doesn't belong on the bathroom counter; characters need to be immersed in their environment. Where they are determines how they react, the decisions they make & the dangers they encounter.

Hang it - In order to unravel a character's world, it is necessary to rip the tp from under their feet. Drop them on their backsides and write them through the dust off. That can't be accomplished if the paper isn't hung on the zip line.

Characters aren't fluffy white, nor can they be bought in packs. It's the rough edges and their exposure that create memorable characters. And, although MCs need support, equi-measured rolls from the same lot will not provide the ensemble needed to incite change. Don't forget to put the tp where it belongs. And make sure it hangs just right.

Happy Writing,

Patti

Thinkin' Thursday - 212 degrees

I'm back to Orson Scott Card's Characters & Viewpoint today. Building tension engrosses the reader & aids them in the course of caring for the characters we invent. There are 5 methods writers employ to do just this.

You wound me, sir - Make them suffer; emotionally &/or physically. The story & characters determine which is appropriate. Whichever the characters are enduring needs to follow the believability predetermined by the author. And, the reader needs to be able to bear the pain alongside the character. However, there is a fine balance between too little & too much. Rhett Butler's departure at the end of Gone With the Wind is the last wound we know Scarlett cannot bear. But, rather than expound on how she fumbles through life, Mitchell leaves the rest to the reader's imagination.

Bring in the lamb - Sacrifice. Either the MC is throwing themselves down the pit or another character. Or, a minor character sacrifices him/herself for the greater good of the hero/heroine or another ideal. All sacrifice is relative to the choices characters make. When Boromir throws himself into the protection of Frodo, the reader is more emotionally involved because of his earlier deception. He is redeemed through his sacrificial choice.

This is Jeopardy! - Anticipated pain, suffering & loss. The level of jeopardy is directly tied to the amount of pain - a double sharp edge that will cut both ways. In Stephen King's The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, the reader is carried through the story with a radio that will cut off the MCs connection to the world. As fear mounts, irrational thought creeps in the back door building tension & increasing the level of emotional involvement.

My, aren't you attractive - The building blocks of sexual tension; even when it's not about sex. Not every romance results in the sheet-twist. But, it does provide a story line readers enjoy. A perfect example of how not to go to bed on the page/screen is Shrek & Fiona. It is the anti-attractive romance because ogres ain't pretty. But, viewers find the feeling genuine & invest in the pairing & believe in the attractiveness of the pair. They have kids, but they don't engage in sex. And, that, can be just as escalating as the act itself.

The birds, crows & owls - A sign of things to come. A character's connection to his/her universe creates strong descriptors for that world at rest & embroiled in chaos. My favorite example of this is The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy's race to beat the twister; which does triple duty to re-order her world, her view & her place in it all. Without that single event, Dorothy wouldn't be thrust to change or Oz for that matter. Readers & viewers care because while the story is fish-out-of-bowl, it is also coming-of-age. And, we identify with her plight, her journey & her eventual change through the use of the natural/unnatural world to teach deeper internal lessons tied directly to Dorothy's apron strings. The signs are all around her & the reader.

Tension is built to increase reader involvement & to push characters to their change point. This change point is not unlike the boiling point of water. The seconds just before the roil begins are just as important as the build & spill when the pot gets too hot to handle without mitts.

Happy Writing,

Patti

Thinkin' Thursday - Give Me an Image

Imagery - words create a vision far beyond the value of the words themselves. As writers, it is imperative that our sentences create a feel & provide images of character, events, locations that go beyond "It was a dark & stormy night."

The following sentences come from Sage Cohen & WD. Rewrite one of the sentences below adding imagery that goes from tell to show. Put your sentences in the comments section, please & thank you. I will post the top 5 on tomorrow's mash-up.

- Her hair was a mess.
-The garden was ready for picking.
- I hate broccoli.
- You always change your mind.
- The moon is full.

Happy Writing,

Patti

Komedy Rules

Humor. 'Tis the lifeblood of society because without it the economy would cause an eruption of epic teary proportion. We laugh until it hurts so the actual 'it' doesn't hurt anymore.

I've read hundreds of books & articles, all of which talk about the comedic relief character, sarcasm as cope mechanism & even one that said women are not sarcastic on paper. Now, I don't know about any of ya'll; but, I'm a female with a facetious bent. And no subject is sacrosanct - myself included.

In my weekend perusal, I plucked another WD article. This one from Leigh Anne Jasheway. The topic is non-fiction funny, but I think it can be applied to fiction as well. Subtle ain't my middle name, but it is my unequivocal belief that the 'rules' she gives can be applied to all types of writ.

"K?" "K." - Guttural sounds such as 'k' & hard 'g' denote a funny all their own. Garagantuan, gorill-ll-ll-ll-a, kismet, character - as stand alone words, maybe not so much. But they can be played with. This is a subtle way to introduce humor without a banner to scream - "Hey, this is the punch line!!!! Get it???"

Triads - The power of three. As a general rule, people remember the first & last things they hear. When I did employee evaluations, I sandwiched the negative inside two positives. This made the process a little less hair teasing for me. The key here is to pair 2 congruent items & then throw a curve ball - 'coffee, tea or me.'

Compare Me - "Yes, officer, I could have used my turn signal. But, then the traffic cam would have known my intention. I couldn't risk that kind of exposure to 'Big Brother.'" Okay, not my finest, but it does the trick. This is the same metaphorical trip writers take everyday - the simple, the complex & the surprising. Take a metaphor, pass it around & she never comes back with the same dress you sent her out in - mix it up & you might find a bit of the funny stone in there.

Cliché It Ain't So - How many times have we read, don't do it? More times than Larry King's been married I'd say. But, you can take the mundanities of the English language & spin them like a top-knot. You know the old adage, "It's not the destination but the journey,"; well, flip that puppy, pet its belly & then spit on it. "When your destination is the 'Bates Motel', who cares about the freakin' journey?" 

What's your story? - Real life is funny. It is the water cooler fodder for which we all live, especially when it happens to someone else. Of course, we jazz it up, sass it up, way up. So, this one time at... the grocery store.... Take it away, Gil. Because, let's face it, I'm tone deaf & band camp would have been clishay.

We all have a bit of the funny in us. And, peppering the tale with it provides tension breaks, stinging cakes & whittle sticks.

Happy Writing,

Patti

 

Thinkin' Thursday - Hat Love

I love hats. Paper boy, fedora, baseball. Winter caps, cowboy brims, sombreros. And I'm not talking about the, "Wow, that's a cute hat," kind of love. I mean gotta try them all on at the store hat love - yes, I'm the one. Plant, preview, reject. You see, there's one small problem.

My head is too small for the adult hat!! Not kidding. The paper boy with the button in the center and the cocky, I'm so cute, brim falls right over my ears. The winter knit with the top bobbin flops below the brow. And really, sombreros just overwhelm the rest of my body.

When my kids were little, I could wear their hats. But I have never been able to wear the ones made for 'the big kids'. I'd even do a bonnet if I thought it wouldn't slip into the ridiculous. But alas, small head  = small features = no hats for me. : (

But, that doesn't mean my MCs can't embrace my hat love. Through them I am a vicarious cap wearin' kind of gal. And - I am grateful.

So here's the que-ey: What things do your characters do for you? When mining attributes, how do you apply your own make-up to your literary friends?

Happy Writing,

Patti

Thinkin' Thursday - If You Really Knew Me

I'm not an MTV junkie. I was there when it launched; when all they showed was the same 10 videos every hour. Tennis racket in hand, I became the lead guitar while my siblings made up the rest of the band. Those days are looooonnnnggg gone. I can't play Guitar Hero & the only Rock Band instrument I can handle is the microphone. Which is made even sadder by the fact that I am completely, and I mean completely, tone deaf.

But, I do have teenagers. And, I got sucked into a few episodes of 'If You Really Knew Me'. And, just so ya know, I bawled like a beauty queen on crowning eve every single time. I can't help myself. Kleenex is my only defense against the emotional onslaught.

This got me thinking. As we fashion are characters, we detail their individual biographies. We know everything about them. But, we don't spill it onto every page. There are things that are never translated. So, if you were to pick a character, who would it be? And, what one thing would you want readers to know that is never typed into the tale?

As for me, one of my characters has a quirk where she pinches the inside of her palm whenever she gets stressed. This is borne out of her insecurities & a need to exert emotional control.

Happy Writing,

Patti

Level Up

For the last week, I have been reading Orson Scott Card's Characters & Viewpoint. Mondays post as well as today's are based on me learnin'.

When writing our novels, there are a host of characters that come along for the ride. They increase the level of realism, create greater connection to the story & keep readers moving through to the end. The level of importance placed on each determines where they fall in the pecking order.

Third String - The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker. These are the stereotypical people who serve drinks, open doors, drive carriages, or perform some other inane function. They do nothing more than provide the impetus for moving through to the next part. They don't have names. They do their job & then fade into the wallpaper.

Second String - These folks are good for one or two simple acts that twist or drive the plot in a small way. They make a difference but readers don't get emotionally connected to them. They can be eccentric, exaggerated or obsessive. It's all about playing time; the more time on the field, the more important the player.

Heavy Hitters - These are the emotional investments. These are the heroes/heroines, the movers & shakers & heart of the story. They make choices & are powerful motivators in the tale. The lens is in focus on them, their actions & their reactions. They take up the bulk of the piece. They are active participants. If the reader cares, the reader dares. It's all in the POV; narrator or POV character, these are the actors that bear the most weight.

From the page to the busty barmaid to the knight errant, writing involves a cast of people that populate the pages. The more we are devoted to them, the more readers will care about them. And, a writer's level of focus will determine the a reader's level of emotional investment.

Happy Writing,

Patti

Meat & Potatoes

From cardboard to real food, characters are built from the framework to the flesh. When I think of this, I envision one of those Victorian dressmaker's forms. The wire frame has a simplistic beauty all its own, but when the layers are added, a beautiful gown begins to emerge.

Mr. Corbett laid the framework for the garment; we have pinned it together. Now, it is necessary to add the thread that binds, the buttons the fasten, the embellishments that style & flair. We can look at these additions in terms of yesterday's Scrooge character example.

The Naked Dream - This is the moment of your character's greatest fear. For Scrooge, loss is his greatest fear. Doesn't matter the object. He wants the cake, the fork & the full belly. But, in choosing one object over another, he continues to lose & suffer.

I'm sorry, so sorry - Sorrow, a deep abiding emotion the elicits deep sadness. Scrooge's misery transforms him into a depressed, angry little man holding on to the only thing he can - his moolah. In defining his greatest sorrow, I would opt for the girl. When he lets her go, his life becomes deflated & driven by the need to gather unto himself. This leaves little room for anything positive in his gray miniscule existence.

Happy, Happy, Happy - Joy, 'tis the season & there are a multitude of reasons. Scrooge's joy is captured when he survives the night & discovers he hasn't missed Christmas. Color invades his world. His cheeks grow rosy, his heart light.

Epic Fail - The worst of failures are not what define us or our characters; it's how we deal with those cards. Hold 'em or fold 'em - this is the true failure test. Scrooge's worst failure? Choosing finance over love. All are tested, not all choose wisely & Scrooge is no exception.

The man behind the curtain - Shame. Dishonor, profound embarrassment. Scrooge cringes away from Marley. He knows he's done him wrong & facing him is tantamount to facing his deepest shame. Every single person on the planet has those moments they don't want exposed to the light; so too do our characters.

Off with her head - Guilty, guilty, guilty. Coupled with shame is the guilt that drags its ugly butt in the back door. Scrooge's profound guilt is demonstrated in his reconcilliation with his nephew & his embracing of the Cratchit family. Were it not for his amends, the reader would be left feeling he learnt nothing.

Pardon me - Redemption & forgiveness. Yes, we can forgive ourselves, but it is those we have wronged whose forgiveness we most desire. In order to escape his self-made prison, Scrooge needs his nephew to welcome & embrace him. He needs the Cratchit family to allow him to help - what good is all that money if he can't help poor Tiny Tim. But, it is through the generosity of others that Scrooge is released because he is finally ready to let the light shine in.

And there we are, the 7 dwarfs of momentous character development. The more fully developed the character before the words are written, the more believable, fluffed out people color our pages.

Happy Writing,

Patti

Thinkin' Thursday - Sick MC

So, I was going to round out this week with some wine. I guess my body got the message early because the last 2 days have been unfruitful porcelain worship & tons of bed rest. Then the fever set in - which does not make for clear thought. This could all be the result of the fact that I don't even like wine or the weather or mother nature's cruelty - maybe all 3.

I actually made it out of the bedroom this morning but my head is still lost in the sickness realm. I hate pills & doctors & all that other medical stuff. But, I am really, really thinking about it.

For this thinkin' Thursday, I wonder how my MC would deal with the month long miasma. How would your MC respond? How long would they be down for the count? When would they consider a trip to the doctor?

As for me, after this post, I will be back in bed. I am hoping I am on the downhill slide of this pup. And, I seriously considered a trip to the ER & a shot to the abdomen, if it would have helped!

Happy Writing,

Patti

The Gift

Now that the holiday season is in full swing, it got me a-thinkin' about the writer's gift. Writers work in relative obscurity; surrounded by loved ones who in my case are bored ad nauseum when I'm in full regalia.

The MCs occupy every spare moment. The blank stare descends & conversation is reduced to the monosyllabic. Especially when an idea sparks. And then it's off to the typing board. But, what is it that keeps us going, keeps us building & learning?

Words & Music - Creativity & the words to bring it to life. It is the marriage of ideas & knowledge. You can't have one without the other in the writer's life. The most beautiful idea falls flat without the words to communicate, elicit emotion & leave the reader feeling triptophanic.

Cohesiveness - Imagine Beethoven, Mozart or Wagner without the ability to string the notes into a semblance of emotional order. We would be left without a palette that inspires & moves. The ebb & flow from inciting incident to conclusion. Every movement is predicated upon the first only to come full circle in the last. The gift wrap, if you will.

Details - Grammar & punctuation can be fixed. Style, voice & storytelling are intrinsic. In the oral tradition, action is tantamount. War, victory, morality - all were told through what the characters did. 'Beowulf', considered the first English epic, demonstrates all of these in the formation of a nation. What moves us? Is it the good v. evil? The hero who abstains from the tankard? Or, is it the way the story is told? All of the above. But, it's also the details - they green the landscape, populate the forests & relay the characters - not to mention the horrifickness that is Grendel & his mama.

Passion - Ask a writer how long they've been writing & the answer is usually tied to childhood & the first pencil. But, it precedes the pencil. Storytelling is a part of who we are. Very few of us would ever claim to be 'just the facts, ma'am' folks. We embellish, exaggerate, work it to our best advantage. And that passion for the story grows as we grow. It moves us from the pencil to the pen to the cyber realm & beyond.

Perseverance - Gotta have it. In the face of every critique, every query, a writer has to have the fortitude to continue slogging through another edit, another rewrite, another round. We connect to other writers; we rely on our loved ones. But at the end of it all, we fill another cup, employee the BIC maneuver & get back to work. Because, when the final product emerges & we smile (not in relief) but in pride, then we can move on to the next.

Here's a toast to the writing gift: When words fail, imagination takes over. When plot thins, solitaire helps. When days are long, a good story gets ya through.

Happy Writing,

Patti

Doing the Can-Can for Query Letters

Oh, the query letter. The sweaty palms, the rumbling belly, the emotional pysche out. All of these plague writers on a regular basis, but the query process puts it into overdrive. Comprehensive enthusiasm in one page coupled with logical progression can feel like the most daunting of tasks. As writers, it is important to bring the emotional pallette to the forefront; hit 'em fast & strong. And don't let up.

Here are some tips to help push it to the crown of the beautiful baby contest for writers.

One Reader at a Time - Every query letter is agent specific. It is important to understand who that agent is, what he/she is looking for or represents & how to tailor your letter to fit their specific requirements. An agent specializing in MG/YA is not interested in a sweeping Civil War epic/romance/paranormal thriller. Get to know the agents that best suit the work. GLA, blogs, conferences, networking with other writers - all of these will help determine the right agent for the project.

Readers are Relatable - And they want to be related to. When an agent reads that query, they want to be sucked in, spun around & left begging for that partial. The five senses are integral to the process. And sometimes, so is the sixth. It is important to layer the query with a texture relayed through the senses. This is where the introduction to your work becomes memorable; because it tickles the sensory receptors.

Bread Baskets are NOT Optional - Make 'em laugh, cry, connect to the MCs & the story. Inspire a level of emotion that makes them ask what next, why this person/event, how will they get out or in. Center stage - that's where the emotion needs to be. And, it is one more way to get that agent interested.

Shiny Apples - YOU are the best author of YOUR story. As a result, personality has to be on the page. Voice has to be distinguishable. Style is not transferable; it is all yours. When you shine through the page, the agent has yet another reason to send that request for more.

Eliminate Confusion - If the writer is confused, so too will the reader be. Anything that comes off muddled, poorly executed or hard to wade through turns the brain to mush. And agents stop reading. Suck that query letter through a Slim Fast straw to streamline the ideas & important points in order to entice an agent.

Query letters are one of the most stressful part of the process for writers. I go through about fifteen rewrites, edits, cold & warm reads before my hands are shaking so bad I can't push the sen button without a firm grip on my wrist. Then the urge to vomit overtakes. That starts the reread process, the constant questioning & a double dose of self doubt.

Take some Pepto. Whip out a few classical music cd's. Cross those appendages for some yoga. Whatever works, do that. And, make sure that query glitters on the red carpet of an agent's desk.

Happy Writing,

Patti

Satisfy Me

I have been a bit obsessed this week with novel endings. As a reader, I am a fan of the HEA. It makes me all warm & fluffy. In this post, we will look at the 3 ways to bring the story to a satisfying conclusion.

You Were Saying? - Dialogue. Not the parting words, but the words of closure. As a girl, I think I might be hard wired for the closure thing. Even from my hairdresser - sad! It doesn't have to be lengthy exposition either. Movies are great at accomplishing this. So is television. Remember Kojak & the "Who loves ya baby?" line at the end of the show. This one bit would wrap it all in a neat little bow.

The Pros of Prose - This type of ending is popular because the author gets to finish tying all the bleeders with a bit of writerly flair. Some do it with epilogues; some do not. It's a writer's choice. 'Freedom' by Jonathan Franzen uses this type of ending. And, the reader is left with the sense that all is right in the character's worlds.

Cliff Hanging - There are times when a writer decides a sequel will be forthcoming. And, they might choose a cliffhanger ending. However, it is important to understand that leaving the reader hanging from a thread will not make him/her happy. Special care must be taken with the cliffhanger. Even in a series, the book generally needs to stand on its own. This requires a special touch; wrap/unwrap. Think of it like a fan dancer; she is always careful to cover all the bits, but delivers the illusion that she might let ya see something extra.

However one chooses to end the story is a mesh between the characters & the writers themselves.
Writer/cartographer meets character/delivery person.

Happy Writing,

Patti

Thinkin' Thursday - I've Been Workin' on the...

Sweatin' to the Work Week

From village idiot to president of a country, all MCs have an occupation. And, the MCs occupation has a direct effect on how the character responds, reacts & behaves within the confines they are given. All have the potential for introspection, deductive reasoning & logical thinking (logic being relative). Beyond that, how they deal is dependent upon what they do to earn their daily lives.

Lancelot, knight errant & confidant of king & queen, responded based on the chivalric code & his 'job'. Although, different writers interpret him differently from Mallory, the basis is his profession. The fool in Christopher Moore's retelling of King Lear is defined by his occupation - everything he does or doesn't do is an extension of that. Atticus, the lawyer, in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' acts from a core of lawyerly intent; his sense of fairness, right & wrong extends from this core.

From high fantasy to women's literature, the MCs profession provides clues to a deeper sense of character. Fairy duster to pencil pusher, all come with a set of characteristics; some that readers expect & some they don't.

What does the MC in your current WIP do for a living & how does that affect the story arc? The goals/motivations/conflicts? The outcome - from HEA to no HEA?

Happy Writing,

Patti

Manipulative Intent

We’ve all heard or read about Ivan Pavlov and his doggie experiments – conditioning the mind for desired response.  There are a variety of manipulation techniques that people use every day; to get what they want, to avoid punishment, to hide. Characters too can engage in a variety of manipulation techniques or have them used against them.

 The Psyche (one) – Internal mechanisms, nature vs. nurture, personality all work to affect how individuals are manipulated by themselves. Phobias affect the way we respond to different situations; a perfect example – Indiana Jones & snakes. Fear is a wonderful & terrible motivator all in one. There is a yin & yang that co-exist to define a set of responses. Belief systems, ingrained, developed & integrated into the personality affect the worldview. ‘The Great Gatsby’ is a perfect example of this. And, Nick’s internal evolution is indicative of where he started & where the close-up view leads him in shifting his ideas/ideals.

Dialogue – Intimidation, provocation & uncertainty; all can be achieved through the use of internal & external dialogue. Self-doubt & wariness of others. The quickest way to split a couple in a romance is to introduce the sprouts of doubts – weeds of discontent & mistrust. This can be very effectively done through dialogue; “What do you think?” “Did you hear…?” 

Anger – When a person exhibits anger, it directly & negatively affects the body & the brain. An angry adversary is an ill-prepared one.  Harry Potter’s ability to set Voldemort on edge is directly related to the anger the latter conjures when dealing with his greatest failure & humiliation. This opens the door for Harry’s overall success.

The Interrogation (two)– Most often seen in mysteries & thrillers, police officers, agents, etc. conduct ‘the interview’. This interview may lead to a clue, resolution of the situation, or create additional questions. Some of the tactics to consider are: 

Indirect Communication – A chair scraping across the floor, adjusting the thermostat, slapping a baton on the table. These are only a few of the methods that can be used to induce fear, a confession, or answers. 

Indirect Questions – Open-ended, leading, fill-in-the-blank. Think courtrooms & lawyers. “You were at the bank & what were you doing exactly?” “When you arrived, she was standing where?”

Social Conduct (many) – Human beings like to belong within their group. The PTA, a work group, a social set. This is something that is used in historicals a lot; Molly Brown is a good example – nouveau riche. ‘The American Heiresses’ is a great example of how 3 sisters struggled in English aristocratic society. One of whom birthed Winston Churchill.

Social queues can be used to demonstrate rejection &/or acceptance. 

Inclusion - The right invitation or lack thereof, the inner circle. This aspect can have a direct effect on a character’s psyche, self-worth & self-esteem. To rise above as in ‘Pygmalion’ or to succumb as in ‘A Tale of Two Cities’.

Smiles & Laughter – When a person smiles, endorphins are released in the brain. They create the warm-fuzzy; more importantly, smiles from others indicate acceptance. Laughter intoxicates & spreads through a group. When the group isn’t smiling, laughing or participating, the outsider feels the sting of rejection.

“Some studies show that people who are depressed have weaker smiling muscles and advocate smiling therapy.”Psychological Manipulation

Understanding the psychological inner workings is key to determining how best a character can use & be used by the persuasive method -  manipulation.

Happy Writing,

Patti

Thinkin' Thursday - Commonality

The Waltz - I admit, there are times I watch Dancing With the Stars. Not very often, but it happens. Sometimes I turn it on for background noise. But, no matter what I'm doing, if the waltz is performed, I am mesmerized. My eyes create their own super glue, my body slides in my chair. The waltz is graceful - the lines, the footwork, the story. I love it all. One of my favorite paintings is 'Dance Me to the End of Love.' The promise.

Gymnastics - Several of my daughter's childhood memories involve Olympic Gymnasts. I don't wave patriotic; although I certainly root for the American team. And, when they hit the podium, I cry. They sing the anthem - I cry. They hug their coaches - I cry some more. The horse, the balance beam, the uneven parallel bars, the vault, the floor routine. I don't have a stand-out favorite. The discipline, the beauty, the grace; these are the main attractions. I can still recall with fond feeling when Mary Lou Retton won her medals.

Tennis - My best friend in high school played tennis. I sometimes went with her to a neighbor's court to play. A few years later, I played with my little brother sometimes. Baseline to baseline serves, poor ball control, no backhand - these were my hallmarks. But, watching Evert, Navratilova, Agassi, McEnroe & others, I appreciated the symmetry, the volley, the graceful arc of a ball in flight slapped into the front pocket. A beauty all its own.

What do these 3 have in common, aside from the fact that I cannot do any of them? Besides the grace & splendor? Or the passion they inspire?

When I have a crappy writing day; when I'm lost in the drudges of the chicken/egg dilemma; when I doubt myself - these are the things that spring to mind. I can be there; dancing, flipping, volleying. They relax my soul. They calm my heart. They soothe my brain. 

And just like that, I am back on track. That's what happened last night. The quagmire of what comes next resolved itself when I slipped away into my happy place of grace. And, of course, I have all of you wondifferous people zipping your encouragement & warm-fuzzies through the ether. Making my happy place a sunnier spot in my corner of the universe.

Where is your happy place? How does it get you back in the ring?

Happy Writing,

Patti

Vitamins B, D & E

B-Complex: Be prepared, be diligent, be purposeful.
Immune System Booster - Protect yourself from runaway characters. Character development is predetermined by the story arc; however, when characters run amok, the arc can become an inverted bell curve. Otherwise known as sag.
Cell Growth - Understand that writers hold the lines. Growth is the goal; resolution may be another matter.
Anemia Prevention - Pale characters have no depth. Don't run to the tanning booth just yet. But do round out characters through dialogue, action & reaction.

The D's: Do the research.
Thin Bone Prevention - Before the snow, comes the fog, the temperature drop, the smell, the feel. The Inuit have many words for snow; writers have many descriptions. White and fluffy is friendly. Severe, blinding - not so much. Weather interpretation is determined within the tale of the front.
Reduce Inflammation - Control the flow & the details. Don't allow for any places where the blood pools; swelling, bruising & major revision follow.
Regulate Immune Function - Healthy description peppered with care creates the landscape. The reader doesn't need or want every blade of grass defined - a little dab'll do ya. But, if the location plays a vital role in the story, readers need an understanding, a feel & a taste of it.

The Oil & E: Every season; many reasons.
Free Radical Reduction - A meandering spiral over the river & through the woods must have purpose. If ya ain't headed to grandma's house, a different path may be in order.
Gene Expression - Genres can be combined, stacked, layered. But, the primary focus is the determinant. If the story takes place in outer space; it's sci-fi. If love is the driving force - romance. If a woman is cutting the fat, finding her space, writing a cooking blog; it's women's literature. A wizard in a battle on the corner of Good & Evil - MG with a chance of crossover. 
Dilates Blood Vessels - Be open to the possible subplots that drive the main. The subs are the rowers; the main, the caller. Sorry, Olympics documentary on rowing teams clocked my brain at this intersection. Had to do it.

On the NaNo front, I am behind. Sad - yep. But, that doesn't mean I won't reach my goal. It just means that I have to up the word count every day. I'm more than a fourth of the way; nothing left but to jump the cleft - hahaheeheehoho. Oh look, they're playing my theme.

Happy Writing,

Patti

Vitamin 'A'

On the path to vitaminic clarity, thought we should look at some of the benies.

Fat-soluble – Nothing that doesn’t drive the story. Build believability. Deliver a message. Prepare for the ending. No gun fight at the homestead, unnecessary conversation or gratuitous act of sex or otherwise if it doesn’t speed down the same highway as the characters.

Healthy hair & skin – Stress builds strength of strand & glows through the skin of the story. Every stressful situation has a variety of options. What the character does or doesn’t do speaks to his/her internal strengths & motivations.

Better Eyesight – Personal agenda to be achieved; wide and narrow scope that drives the character to his/her inevitable conclusion. The POV character provides greater insight not only of themselves but the other players as well.

Bone Growth – Synthesizing main plot to the subplot lines of the antag/protag. Hero takes charge – point/counterpoint. Growth through action/reaction; even digression is a growth, albeit negative.

Reproduction – Prophetic rendering and foreshadowing. No miracles. No 11^th hour nun swooping in, her habit on fire, to save the hero/heroine. Subtlety is in the pudding; too many cookies and bananas will bore the reader. No good deed goes unpunished; so it must be delivered more devilishly than the last.

Happy Writing,

Patti