Archives
9:16:00 AM EDT
Feeling Chillin'
Hearing Bob Dylan (Modern Times)
Odd Phenomenon
Baltimore, Md 4/20/07 9:00 am-
The new job has been delightful so far. I'm thrilled that I've been able to recruit several good people from the last company I worked for, including their best salesman. It feels like some sort of vindication and the evil man in my head is cackling at his revenge.
Wedding plans are moving along nicely and I'm happy that Barbara isn't going overboard on spending money; although, we are opening up the wallets for the party. Happy to see we're still both tight fisted though. Something about a spender living with a miser that just seems to cause more battles in relationships than anything this side of infidelity.
But most of my time lately has been taken up by writing and reviewing the work of the critique group I joined. I was lucky enough to land the last spot in a local group of 14 (don't ask me why they picked the number 14, seems odd to me, but it appears to work well). The group includes several published authors and some very smart people whose talents I envy.
It's time consuming because, essentially, not only am I still working on my own book, I'm now reading, reviewing, and making suggestions on how to improve 13 books, all at the same time. So, while I stop by to keep tabs on J-Landers, time's at a premium.
Submitting my work for the first time was nerve wracking, and, while I had daydreams of submitting the work and momentarily seeing everyone in the room with jaws dropped, tears in their eyes, dropping to their knees, proclaiming, "This is the greatest piece of literature I've ever read," the sensible part of me was thrilled that nobody laughed, threw up, or told me to get out.
The response has been interesting. While I have received a lot of praise for mood setting, plot, unique descriptions and phrases, strong dialogue, and strong antagonists, I've consistently fallen short in probably the most critical aspect. They've all said I left the protagonists, the people the reader is supposed to like, hollow.
So, after I threw a private tantrum, and suspected them of being secretly jealous of my talents, I cooled off and went back to see if maybe they were right. After all, I'd broken out in a rash of comma errors in the first two chapters and they'd picked that up, so maybe they were right about this as well. Sure enough, when I read their comments and re-read the paragraphs where I depict the "good guys", it was as though I'd abandoned them. There was dialogue, there were facial reactions, movement and physical description, but I hadn't climbed into their heads to convey motives and emotions. How strange.
I was thinking about it on the way into work this morning and realized it was the same phenomenon that had reduced me to playing the "strong silent type" when I was young. I wasn't bearing the characters' souls because, if I showed the character's soul, showed the reader the true nature of the character, warts and all-and they have to have warts to be believable-and the reader still didn't like the character, it was rejection. I don't handle rejection well. The strong silent type doesn't open up, doesn't say, "This is what I like, this is what moves me, this frightens me, this is beautiful, these are my faults." It leaves the people in the room guessing at the nature of the man. Well, the old saying "It's better not to say anything and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and prove it" may or may not work in day-to-day relationships, but it certainly doesn't work in writing.
So, I'll have to undress the characters for the reader and show all their faults and dreams. I suspect there will be people that like the characters as well as those that don't. Getting rejected by readers will be just like getting rejected in a bar. It's going to suck. But I guess I'll swallow my pride, flip them the bird, and get on with the next story.
Written by ravenjuiced Blog about this entry |
Add to del.icio.us | 
digg this
-
Glad the new job is going well. As for the book -- wow! I admire you for joining a writer's group and opening up your work for criticism. I have had the same problem with a main character. I realized that I had not fleshed her out at all, which was strange to me because I had done such a good job with minor characters, even walk-ons! Your entry has prove to be very insightful for me, because I can see where I have subconsciously kept that character a bit hidden; she is nothing at all like me, and I have not based her on anyone I know, so I still think it's strange that I was still hesitant to bare her soul, so to speak. Thanks for a very good entry.
Lori
http://journals.aol.com/helmswondermom/DustyPages/ -
I'm so glad that your book is getting some good reviews... even though it is only partially done. I, personally, cannot wait until you complete it, because I want a copy.. and I would love to have it autographed! Is that possible?? :)
I'm so glad you stopped in and dropped a few lines to let us know how you're doing. I miss reading you, Fred.. but I understand how real life can keep you on your toes. As it should be.. :)
Please don't stay away too long!
Jackie -
Thanks for writing US, too, your fans waiting in the wings :) Yes, you have been busy. Productively, good busy. Learning and growing and moving forward. Some of us really DO prefer the real person. Just think, if you had never been "real" and open with Barbara, would you seriously have married her even once, never mind a happy twice? People who give honest critics about writing are the most helpful. I'm glad it's all going well:) -- Robin
-
Great to hear from you Fred!... after a divorce, a wedding again? you really believe in marriage don't you, and a divorce was not enough!...you old fashion! yes a party, open your purses and enjoy it, that's the best part. Nice to hear about your books and the effect of your story on your peers. It seems it's going somewhere. Your style is one that I like. I wonder about your characters and where you found them... I'm not surprised about you loving it (your work) as we did not hear from you.
I'm getting ready to spend 1h30 with Anthony Hopkins, my dream man, ... only at the cinema though :(
Ciao
Valerie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/iiimagicxx/surreality/
6/15/07 12:05 AM
Hey Friends, http://www.malibubarkie.com ( Pet Boutique)
If you haven't heard my new site Malibu Barkie is OPEN for business! Check it out!
MalibuBarkie.com goal is to provide our customers with a fun and current place to find exceptional and upscale pet accessories, grooming and training supplies at affordable prices without compromising quality!
XO