Between studying for an awful quiz for today, writing my little heart out this weekend and working on a paper for class, my brain is fried. But I thought I'd share a few musings with all of you.
Characters are the life blood of novel writing. Sure there is suspense, romance, humor, but what makes that all come together? Your characters. So consider this for me: What makes your characters come to life for you?
Is it their name? That photo you found on the internet? A scent? An encounter with a stranger or someone you know in reality?
Sometimes it's all of those for me, but mostly a photo. I will find my favorite actor/actress/celebrity at that point in time and almost build a story around them. It all just seems to fit together. I even use their real first or last name or part of a name they've used on the big screen in order to keep things simple. But then there are characters of my own making through research and culture.
I'm still in Queryland for my second novel, All Because of You. I did receive a request for more material, but learned this weekend that my first chapters just didn't cut it. No problemo. I submitted to another 5 agents on Saturday and look forward to hearing back from them in the next few weeks.
The current WiP is coming along nicely. Still having a few hiccups in the research department, so I'm writing around those scenes for now (Chapters 7 and 8). Maybe some day I can find exactly what I'm looking for, but it doesn't seem to be on the internet. I fulfilled my goal for the month of September and hope my October goal will include the completion of my first draft for My Demonic Love. Let's hope.
I started with the second in my Afterlife Series, My Mortal Eclipse, this weekend and wrote about 4,000+ words. It seems when I'm having trouble with the current WiP, I just need to work on something else. It helps!
What do you writers out there do when you have writer's block or you feel like you just can't write any more?
Depends on how bad the block is. I had it really bad this summer. I cleaned the house, the yard, the closets but it didn't do any good. I figured it was the heat. We had a very bad summer here in the south and we can't use the a/c due to baby's sinus problems.
ReplyDeleteSometimes if I'm just futzing around, I'll work on whatever story I feel like dragging out of the closet.
Mark Twain always worked on two books at the same time, switching from one to the other when writer's block set in on one.
ReplyDeleteErnest Hemingway would write what he felt was one true sentence -- something in life that he felt was bedrock true about anything in life. Then, he would write yet another. By the time, he wrote the third "true" sentence, the log jam was broken on his novel -- and those 3 sentences had something to do with what he needed to insert into his novel.
Have a great new week, Roland
I usually switch to painting something--or I take a nap...
ReplyDeleteIf I have a block, I take a break. Sometimes, that includes readings and at other times, it means watching television or talking to a friend. That's wonderful that you got a request for more material! I had to rewrite my first chapters SO many times so I completely understand what you're doing through.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog! I'm excited to be a new follower!
When I have writers block and feel I can't write anymore I take the day off and just muck around, relax, play games or read.
ReplyDeleteThis is tough... writer's block is exactly what it says - The Writer has blocked themselves out -for me it's normally when I have far too many ideas and my head is about to explode!
ReplyDeleteAt that point I quit. I take the rest of the day off, take a nice warm bath, relax in the bubbles, I watch some TV, take a walk in the park, go to the zoo, scan the library or my local bookstore. Anything and everything EXCEPT writing. Once I've relaxed and stopped focusing on it so much, the words flow.
Good luck!