Monday, March 19, 2012

Falling in Love with your Characters and #writemotivation Update

So, I am now 23,000 words into "Stone Of Unity" (a.k.a WIP#1) and I am starting to experience a phenomena that a lot of writers experience. What I'm talking about is developing an emotional connection with my characters. Like I said, it isn't a unique experience. J.K. Rowling mentions becoming emotionally distraught over the death of Sirius Black. At the time, I thought it was an odd "author thing". I mean, I've felt sad when a character dies (in the case of Harry Potter, it was Dobby), but really the thought of getting completely distraught over a character just sounded weird. Well, I don't find it so weird any more. While I was lying awake in bed one night, I had a brilliant flash of inspiration on WIP#1. As soon I thought it, I started getting really upset. Then it hit me. I was emotionally connecting with my characters. I really didn't want to have one of my good guys betray someone that trusted them wholeheartedly. I know it sounds weird and neurotic, but it is true. I'm mad at one of my characters now. I don't want to write the chapter (which I am now currently doing). I don't want to hurt this innocent, trusting person, but I know it will make the story better. I know, it's weird, but true. If I could stop, I would, but I can't. I've hit that point with writing where it is my preferred activity. It trumps computer games, TV, and even reading at times. Yes, it is weird. I blame all my #writemotivation friends. They are evil and are contributing to my writing obsession.

Speaking of #writemotivation...Goal update!

  1. Finish Chapter 4 of WIP #1 and start on Chapter 5: Yeah, blew this one out of the water.
  2. Blog at least once a week: Yup and sometimes twice!
  3. Write at least 30 minutes every day (more is better!): Stumbled a couple times with this, but even when I didn't get actual writing done, I was still working on writerly stuff. I give myself a 98%
  4. Cheer on everyone else!: Yup! Love this part!
  5. Do my best to not get distracted by WIP #2 as it is insidious and evil.: Nope, still quiet, had some other ideas floating around, but nothing big enough to distract me.
Well, that's all I have for today.

'Till next time.

8 comments:

  1. Way to go with your most motivating week! It's wonderful when we can get emotional with our characters, I feel it makes us even more invested in our work that way. Allows us to let the readers in a bit more, I think.

    *shakes pom poms at you* Keep up the great work! You rock!!

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    1. Thanks! I agree completely. I explained it to a friend and she didn't get it until I pointed out that she gets emotional reading books. In order for her to connect emotionally, we as writers (wow, I love saying that!), need to connect as well. :D

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  2. Yay for over accomplishers! :P

    You're doing great, I only wish I could count writerly things as writing time, but I learned back when I first discovered world-building that it doesn't work for me. I can spend LOTS of time doing writing research, world-building, etc, and still never actually write. Kudos that you can manage that :)

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    1. Thanks! It's been a lot of fun! :D Yeah, there is a fine line between World Building and World Obsession. :D

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  3. I completely understand what you mean, writing is such an emotional experience. In addition to feeling for your characters, tapping into the emotions required to authentically write any scene is a challenge! I think I'm going to write a blog post about "going dark" for your writing. I mean, really tapping into the worst things that have ever happened to you, in order to write a sentence, chapter, or an entire book. For me, it's a headspace that I can't stay in for too long. Anyway, very honest and interesting post!

    -Kelley AKA @Call_Me_Bookish

    http://callmebookish.wordpress.com/

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    1. I agree. It isn't a headspace that you can stay in very long, but it is one you need to tap into in order to be authentic. If you are not feeling it, they won't either. Let me know when you finish your post on "Going Dark". Sounds very interesting.

      Thanks for commenting! :D

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  4. Congrats on the goals! And I completely know what you mean by emotionally connecting with your characters! I have one character in my WIP that I am particularly attached to. But for the story to progress as it should, I'm going to have to put him through some pretty awful situations. It makes me almost sick to think about it, but I know that's the story. Funny to think that as creators we don't always have control, but it's true!

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    1. I actually cried, a little, when I finished the chapter. It was, by far, one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my writing.

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