Aug 30 2008
What are your struggles in writing?
I don’t believe I’ve mentioned it here before, but like many of you who read this blog (I imagine), I am working on my own major writing project. In my case, it’s a novel–fiction, romantic comedy. I’ve been writing it for over three years now, mainly because I enjoy it so much and will be sad to have it end, but also because I work on it only when I can spare the time and sometimes it’s sporadic.
I’ve definitely picked up the pace recently. This past Christmas I bought myself a laptop under the condition that I would write a piece of my book every weekend, and it actually has worked out really well. Now that my book is really taking shape I find myself running into some interested problems. I’ve never written fiction before. For a long time thought I was terrible at it… but when I actually tried playing around with a short story, it won 3rd place in a short fiction contest and I realized if I worked harder, I could get even better. Apparently, I must have known what I was doing.
Without giving away too much of the plot, here’s the problem I’m currently having. I have two major love interests for the protagonist, Amie. The first one, Brody, is meant to be a total gentleman, gorgeous, and nearly perfect (in fact, too perfect for Amie). But because I know the two of them are not meant to last the whole book, I have a hard time writing about him. It’s really difficult to make him interesting and enjoyable to read because, as I later realized, he doesn’t have enough quirks. Eric, on the hand–he’s the main love interest who the reader isn’t supposed to like at first–is so interesting and well-developed from the start that even though he’s a jerk, you like him a lot anyway. Isn’t it interesting how sometimes it’s impossible to control how the characters grow and develop and how the reader will respond?
What sorts of issues do you have in your own writing? I don’t care if it’s fiction/nonfiction, just for fun or professional writing. Share all your gripes here.
I’m not a big fiction writer, but I am a fiction reader. I would say you are probably on the right track with Brody. Think about Ashley from GWTW. You like him at first, just like Scarlett- but he gets boring fast. That’s what keeps you reading- C’mon Scarlett, you rail, when are you going to get it?? Rett is hot! Rett is the one! GODDD COME ONN!!! Same thing with Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones’ Diary, etc.
My biggest issue is FINISHING
I have a YA novel that is almost done… I know where it’s going.. and there’s very little reason not to finish it… but just can’t seem to force myself to DO IT.
There are always SO many other things I can work on - especially when I’m in school…things that have deadlines & grades attached.
Yup, that’s a big one. One day you’ll do it though!
Thanks for sharing,
Jess
I like where the book is going. I am an avid reader of Sandra Brown books and she has a unique way for doing exactly what you are thinking about doing. I wish I could rememeber the name of the book I read where she did something similar. It does make for a great book to read. If I can think about the name, I would pass it on.
yolander, thanks for your VERY helpful comment. I hadn’t really thought about that and I think GWTW is a great comparison (not necessarily of the caliber of my work… even I don’t have the ego to compare it to a classic, but the characters are somewhat similar). So are the other books you mentioned. I think P&P has really inspired this book. So, thanks! That makes me feel better!
Blondie, I’d love to know which book you mean if you ever do think of it. In the mean time, I’ll definitely look into Sandra Brown’s books.
Characters are rarely my issue. I’m always sticking in flaws in my characters and you can do that readily, even in hindsight. If someone’s too good to be true, you can readily make him insecure or absent-minded or perhaps with a strange cat phobia.
In my case, plot is the issue. I usually build characters and let them go, but sometimes they do what I don’t expect . When that happens, I’m often stumped for a while trying to figure out how to explain it or settle it with the rest of the plot. I know what needs to be done, but I’m not sure how to get there.
I usually set it aside and work on one of my other novels when that happens. Eventually, it will work itself out and I can move onward.
Hey Stephanie,
Thanks for stopping by! Yup, I sure could introduce some flaws. I kinda like that he’s a little too perfect (because I think that in itself is a flaw), just not sure how much my audience should like him. Maybe I’ll follow your advice and just let it work itself out.
Jess
I’m not sure this is a problem, but I tend to avoid villains in my work. My favorite book (besides the HP series, which, of course, has lots of villains) is Beauty by Robin McKinley, and in that book there are really no bad people. Beauty’s sisters aren’t evil at all, the beast is brilliant (I fell in love with him as a teenager), and no one is evil.
I find all of my characters are far too complex to be truly evil or good. In my first novel (as yet unpublished), two father figures both seem heinous…and both are pretty awful, but in later books (once the series gets going) we will understand them a lot more. I made plans for them, long before I read the last HP book and learned more about Snape.
I’d rather my characters battle situations than be on the good side or evil side.
Fabulous post! I’m going to go write!
It’s funny you say that Shakespeare because I definitely have a problem with the villains in my mother’s book. They’re just too evil… kind of two dimensional. So I think you have the right idea. Best of luck!
Jess