I was going to question your sanity (15 Yuletides and the novel thing?) but I see you've pulled back a bit on the NaNoWriMo project. So you're only a little bit crazy.
As always, am looking forward to whatever you write.
Oh, but you only have to do 1 Yuletide story! I just made offers for 15 fandoms, so that it will be easier for the Yuletide people to match me with a request. So I'm not quite *that* crazy. LOL.
Oh, that's how it works. I haven't ever participated -- just read the results and have appreciated the effort that goes into them. I was truly beginning to wonder, there...
And so what are the current revelations on structure in original character stuff?
And so what are the current revelations on structure in original character stuff?
Well...I came up with a story idea that kind of calls for a traditional, "heroic" type protagonist as the reader's POV character. Setting that up, given that such a structure has never really been my "thing" in fanfic, has required a lot of thought.
I had a few other story ideas that would have had more of a morally questionable character as the focal point, but as those ideas were a lot less formed and i decided to sign up at the last minute, well, I find myself writing something that is quite different for me. Probably a good exercise, though!
Oh, interesting. Yes, I can see that you might have to work out writing the "good guy" pov. I imagine it will be a good exercise, but I will just say this. We all need to develop our skills, but also recognize that there are things we do well, and we should keep doing them. I worked with a dancer once whose natural affinity was very light and delicate, but unfortunately, she was in an ensemble that valued powerful, percussive stuff. She did come far along that path during the time I knew her, but in the end, she was always better at the stuff she did well to begin with, and the biggest lesson she had to learn was to value the skills she already had.
Oh, point taken! I've also considered, at another person's suggestion, making my villain the main character, but I'm not sure it works, structurally, for this story. I think I need the POV character to be a newcomer to the story's universe, so that the reader can learn about it along with that character; the villain, however, seems to need to be someone already well-established in the setting.
On the other hand, and I'm thinking about this as I'm typing, the newbie/POV character *could* become somewhat corrupted as well as heroic in the clash with this villain. Which would bring things a lot further into comfortable territory for me. (And would mitigate my current desire to SMITE this character with a bolt of lightning. LOL.)
And would mitigate my current desire to SMITE this character with a bolt of lightning.
Oh my dear, it is so hard for you to write a sympathetic, smart good guy, isn't it?
You are, of course, quite right -- it's very, very hard to write from the "villian's" point of view while keeping some of their secrets. It requires some very careful plotting and crafting (I'm thinking of some Christie here, which you've probably already read) The reveal at the climax is extra powerful if you can pull it off, but it's a difficult task.
I agree, it's pretty natural to learn a new world through the point of view of a character who is also new to it. But I'm excited about the idea of a character who becomes compromised during the process -- actions and their consequences are the stuff of drama.
Oh my dear, it is so hard for you to write a sympathetic, smart good guy, isn't it?
Well...they're just so boring! (At best. Insufferable at worst.) I don't understand why anyone would want to read about such a person! I guess I also don't believe that anyone like that exists in real life, so I can't suspend my disbelief to go along with the story.
You are, of course, quite right -- it's very, very hard to write from the "villian's" point of view while keeping some of their secrets. It requires some very careful plotting and crafting (I'm thinking of some Christie here, which you've probably already read) The reveal at the climax is extra powerful if you can pull it off, but it's a difficult task.Christie is fun, but you know the mystery writer who does this the best (that I've come across)? Ruth Rendell. She's written standard mysteries with the recurring detective-type characters, which don't interest me as much, but then she also has done stand-alone novels, and they're marvelous. She puts you into the minds of all sorts
( ... )
Her specialty is really social observation presented in the guise of crime fiction.
This sounds like great fun -- I will see if I can get these through the library (am trying to save a little money right now with the holidays coming up)... Many thanks!
If you read one, let me know (yay or nay) whether you like it. I'll be curious to see what you think (and not at all bothered if she isn't your cup of tea).
I've got A Fatal Inversion on hold with the library, but don't know how long it will take for my name to rise to the top of the list. All I can guarantee is that it will show up when I've got 10 other things to read -- that is the fundamental nature of library holds.
As always, am looking forward to whatever you write.
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And so what are the current revelations on structure in original character stuff?
Reply
Well...I came up with a story idea that kind of calls for a traditional, "heroic" type protagonist as the reader's POV character. Setting that up, given that such a structure has never really been my "thing" in fanfic, has required a lot of thought.
I had a few other story ideas that would have had more of a morally questionable character as the focal point, but as those ideas were a lot less formed and i decided to sign up at the last minute, well, I find myself writing something that is quite different for me. Probably a good exercise, though!
Reply
Reply
On the other hand, and I'm thinking about this as I'm typing, the newbie/POV character *could* become somewhat corrupted as well as heroic in the clash with this villain. Which would bring things a lot further into comfortable territory for me. (And would mitigate my current desire to SMITE this character with a bolt of lightning. LOL.)
Reply
Oh my dear, it is so hard for you to write a sympathetic, smart good guy, isn't it?
You are, of course, quite right -- it's very, very hard to write from the "villian's" point of view while keeping some of their secrets. It requires some very careful plotting and crafting (I'm thinking of some Christie here, which you've probably already read) The reveal at the climax is extra powerful if you can pull it off, but it's a difficult task.
I agree, it's pretty natural to learn a new world through the point of view of a character who is also new to it. But I'm excited about the idea of a character who becomes compromised during the process -- actions and their consequences are the stuff of drama.
Go write stuff!
Reply
Well...they're just so boring! (At best. Insufferable at worst.) I don't understand why anyone would want to read about such a person! I guess I also don't believe that anyone like that exists in real life, so I can't suspend my disbelief to go along with the story.
You are, of course, quite right -- it's very, very hard to write from the "villian's" point of view while keeping some of their secrets. It requires some very careful plotting and crafting (I'm thinking of some Christie here, which you've probably already read) The reveal at the climax is extra powerful if you can pull it off, but it's a difficult task.Christie is fun, but you know the mystery writer who does this the best (that I've come across)? Ruth Rendell. She's written standard mysteries with the recurring detective-type characters, which don't interest me as much, but then she also has done stand-alone novels, and they're marvelous. She puts you into the minds of all sorts ( ... )
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I've certainly seen Rendell in the shops, but haven't read any of her work yet. Any suggestions on where to start?
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This sounds like great fun -- I will see if I can get these through the library (am trying to save a little money right now with the holidays coming up)... Many thanks!
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