To follow up on my latest quandary, I'm exploring new introductions to a completed ms. Not to the story, but to my characters. Has your main character ever played hard-to-get? You think you know her, but she's keeping you at arms length and you can't quite figure out why? Never mind liking her, I think in some ways, I'm a little intimidated by mine.To be fair, my main character is a historical figure, so it's kind of like walking up to the most popular kid in school and saying, "Hey! Will you be my friend?" Meanwhile, I'm dressed in hand-me-downs and a bad haircut that scream NERD. "Oh yeah, and I really want to break into your diary and share every last detail with a million people."
Okay. So there it is. I am just not cool enough to hang with my main character. I'm a walking adolescent cliché!
Hang on...maybe that's not it. Maybe it's the "Oh yeah, and I really want to break into your diary and share every last detail with a million people" part.
And why would that be a problem? Because those are my secrets. My insecurities. Every character we write has something of ourselves in them, right? Why is this one so different?
I'm not sure if I can answer that, but I think I might be putting too much pressure on her to be perfect. Poor girl. I always say every character needs her flaws, but perhaps I'm holding this ragged teen to an unreasonable standard. She holds the weight of my world on her tiny, fictional shoulders and I'm scared to let her stumble. So what do I do? Avert my eyes and hold my breath and toss her out there to fend for herself with nothing more than a cardboard shield.
My goal for this month is to get to know her and let her really tell her story. That might mean changing an entire 3rd person novel to a 1st person novel, but if that's what she needs to tell her story...
How are you getting along with your MC?
Don't forget to check in on Denise Jaden's blog tomorrow for the next leap into March Madness!
Oh how I know those character blues, only mine isn't with my MC, it's the guy she likes. He's sorta shy and standoffish with her, but he's being the same way with me! After about a million rewrites, I think I'm finally understanding him, but geez, he's been a tough one.
ReplyDeleteThe shy ones are always tough. And stubborn! I'm glad you slapped some sense into him! :-)
DeleteMy current MC is just so good. So good she's a bit judgmental, and thus my readers are connecting way more with her love interest than her. Trying to find the perfect balance isn't always easy.
ReplyDeleteHooray for you for tackling such a big revision challenge! You can do it.
Thanks, JRo! You are so right about finding that balance. They all need to be wrong once in a while, vulnerable, lost, even if it just for a second. Maybe a little guilt could shake things up ;-)
DeleteMy MC is a spoiled brat, so my challenge is to make her more likable. I understand why she is the way she is and I empathize with her, but I'm afraid readers will just want to see her die. . . Anyway, that's one of the many challenges I face as I tackle this messy first draft for the first time.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes with getting deep inside your MC. ^_^
That is tough, Angelina, and it has inspired another blog post perhaps. Should the narrator be objective or sympathetic? Of course, we know what lies beneath the surface, but how much do we show our readers just so they don't just our MC too harshly too soon? But then again, a little spunk and brashness is good! It makes us feel... Good luck!
DeleteLike Angelina, I'm also facing the challenge of making my MC more likable. Mine's not a spoiled brat, but she is a brat. She has good reason, of course, and I understood her on some level before. But now I think I've dug around enough that I understand her even better, and I'm feeling more compassionate toward her. Hoping my potential readers will, too! ;)
ReplyDeleteToday's goal: revise two more chapters. I made good progress yesterday, so yay for that! Happy writing/etc, everyone!
Way to go, Shari! Can't wait to hear more about your MC's journey!
DeleteI need to dig deeper inside my character and show more emotional struggle and conflicts. At first she came across to my Beta readers as wishy washy and not having enough back bone. Then she was too much of a smart mouth. I just need to get it just right.
ReplyDeleteRight now I'm in Act 2 of my revision right after Espie is kicked out of her world. This revision is turning into more of a major rewrite as I dig deeper for emotions and her motivations.
Today's goal: revise at least 2 scenes. She's in a harsh new environment, so I have the challenge and opportunity to really pull down deep.
Oh, yeah...I've been there. I did the major re-write and now I'm waiting for the verdict on the first attempt at "tweaking" the major rewrite. Send up a flare if you need a safety line sent down to the deep!
DeleteLOL! I might just take you up on that offer!
DeleteKim, I'm working on the same thing on my current revision too. All of this messy emotional stuff is hard!
DeleteIt's draining but needs to be done!
DeleteBecause I'm working on revisions to two manuscripts I thought were trunked forever, I feel like I'm having the happiest reunion ever. It's all dancing together in fields of flowers - at least for now. But it's early yet. But these are girls I LOVED and my CP's LOVED but then it looked like maybe no one would meet them, but now it looks like maybe they'll get their shot after all, so I guess I feel sort of like a fairy godmother trying to make sure they're as awesome as they can possibly be when they set foot in the ball! May they snag the prince (except not really b/c it's MG and there's no romance!).
ReplyDeleteLOL, Joy. Maybe a puppy prince is in the cards ;-) Enjoy the reunion. I know that magic wand will find just the right spell!
DeleteI was having issues with my male MC being just a total unlikable jerk (I think he was representing a part of me that THINKS some of the same things he does, but he didn't have the decency/filter not to say or act on those things). It was fun to write him, especially his dialogue, but by this latest draft I could see it wasn't really working in terms of the greater story.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I had to go back and give him more narrowly defined goals in each scene narrated from his POV so it didn't just seem like he was being a jerk for the sake of being a jerk. Today, I have to go over sections narrated by my Female MC, but I think she'd better rounded already.
Happy writing/revising, everyone!
That's exactly what I've been doing with my male MC! Also fixing his dialogue so he sounds more British. Somehow he keeps sounding like me. ;)
DeleteWay to work that character, Kim! I've thought about multiple POV's but I haven't hit the right project for it yet. Have fun!!
DeleteIt's amazing how people we've MADE UP are so difficult to understand sometimes. And how they don't like to do what WE want them too. Good luck going from 3rd to 1st, that's not going to be easy but you can do it!
ReplyDeleteI managed to shake off yesterday's writing apathy and got 3 solid chapters revised. Now it's back to house-cleaning for this weekend's party! :D
Thanks, Carolyn! And WOW! That's the way to shake that apathy. 3 chapters at a time. Have a fun party!
DeleteI've also met some characters who defy my efforts to get to know them.
ReplyDeleteThey usually make the best characters in the end, though, because I have to get to know them on the page, which means the readers will too.
Checking in: I wrote a bit over 1600 words today, which means I'm 6 words away from being ahead of schedule. Then I also read 16 chapters, which means I'm now 5 chapters ahead. So far so good. ;-)
Holy cow, Misha! You are rockin'!
DeleteI'm so impressed with your goal to completely start over! But you are right - if we can't get inside the character, we'll probably put the book down.
ReplyDeleteMy MC finally started talking to me a week ago and so far, we're doing okay with each other, as long as I let her keep her secret from her best friend. In the end, she'll hate me, of course, but that's many pages away.
Those are the tough moments in tweendom, Lori. Navigating friendship through all that emotional and physical chaos is tough! Hope the conversation keeps going!
DeleteThose are the tough moments in tweendom, Lori. Navigating friendship through all that emotional and physical chaos is tough! Hope the conversation keeps going!
DeleteI'm so impressed with your goal to completely start over! But you are right - if we can't get inside the character, we'll probably put the book down.
ReplyDeleteMy MC finally started talking to me a week ago and so far, we're doing okay with each other, as long as I let her keep her secret from her best friend. In the end, she'll hate me, of course, but that's many pages away.
I'm soooo behind schedule with my writing this month. I'm really contemplating switching projects. I know. Crazy, eh? Problem is I'm just not feeling like I've got enough of a plot plan to begin the story. My thoughts keep evolving, and they're becoming some new storyline, which needs more work.
ReplyDeleteBut I hope all of you are soaring through March Madness!!!
I've been there, too! Sometimes a switch can throw your brain off kilter just enough to jar something fabulous loose. I say go for it!
DeleteI think I'm *finally* ( in the 11th rewrite of my opening scene) starting to get my MC to show herself on paper in a way that matches the emotional tone of the rest of the book. In the earlier iterations she's either come off as too Debbie Downer or too sarcastic and clever without showing that it's mostly a shield to protect her from really opening up to anyone after her brother died.
ReplyDeleteI've made pretty good progress towards my goals the last couple of days. Nine new scenes outlined for my rewrite, about 1800 words written yesterday and working on my romance arc.
Reposted for Tonette dela Luna (sorry, it was accidentally deleted):
ReplyDeleteI'm taking a workshop right now where we get to be our characters. We answer questions in the forums as our characters and it's really helped with the voice and also led to revelations I never considered that I can work into rewrites. I've also tried writing diary/journal entries from my characters' POVs as a part of my Morning Pages. They seem to be working so far for character development. :)
I love those strategies, Tonette! I've interviewed my characters for the new WIP, and it's given me some good bits to work with and some real insight. Keep rockin' that wip!
DeleteThat sounds like a very cool workshop, Tonette.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little behind of my goals this week, although I've taken the time to write down a few ideas I've had for future projects. Hoping this weekend, I'll be able to catch up and be back on track.
I figure if I start putting all my energy into my current projects, I'll stop worrying about the one I just sent off.
My characters and I are doing fine, it's the darn structure/plot that's giving me headaches. But I suppose the only way to work that out is to work through it. Anyone have a spare wrecking ball?
That's a good plan, Chris. The best medicine for anticipation is focusing on a new project. In the meantime, I'm sending along my favorite wrecking ball...it bears the likeness of a certain WSJ journalist who seems to think YA has a problem with darkness...
DeleteWell today was a bit of an off day for me in goals, as I didn't write a word on my novel today HOWEVER I managed to re-work my query (which will be re-worked and -re-worked till I am pro at writing queries) AND I got a surprise today on my blog by being nominated for an award so I worked on my response post for the most of the afternoon. I also justify my fall back on the fact that I have done well so far in the past few days.
ReplyDeleteMy house all decided to get a cold at the same time as well, and I guess my body didn't want to be left out on that, so here is hoping I can kick it.
As for my main character, I am doing well with her, she is like an extension of myself, in some ways, so it is easy for me to imagine how she might think, and be, and act. Because of that I think that may be why I am having such a great time with her. It is the other characters that are giving me grief most of the time.
Queries and synopses are the bane of my existence! Way to work it, Rebecca! And tell that immune system of yours not to give in to peer pressure. Sending cyber soup and inspiration your way.
DeleteMary Ann, I had the same struggle with my MC a few months ago. I had to walk away from her for a bit and spend some time with characters from a completely different WIP before she stubbornly demanded attention and when I returned, we got on like a house on fire. Sometimes, you just need to take a step back.
ReplyDeleteGot some work done today, even if it felt like pulling teeth. Outlined 3 chapters (up to 32 now) and wrote about 1000 words (bringing me up to about 140 handwritten pages of this WIP so far). My head wasn't in the game today so I feel a bit attached from what I put on the page but maybe it'll feel different once I look at it with fresh eyes tomorrow.
Hope everyone's doing wel!
- M
Awesome work, Melissa! Handwritten?! I couldn't do long-hand anymore. I've gotten too spoiled by the speed of the keyboard and the slick organization of Scrivener. A pen in hand just could not keep up with my brain and I'd lose half of it before I got it written down. I'm not sure what that means...Hope I don't have lazy brain.
DeleteWalking away for a bit is a huge help. I'm still not sure if switching POV is the right answer, but we'll see... Keep rockin' that WIP!
My MC is supposed to be angry and worried, but in my first, very rough draft he seems fairly normal and happy. I, too, am working on adding emotions in this revision. Met my goal today through a critique group meeting. Always helpful! :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe some first-person journaling is what he needs, too. Great idea!
I have a journal for every book I write. It really helps me work through things in the process. As far as the emotions go, Ghost Hunk always says, "Go big or stay home." When it comes to teenagers, they usually go big. I want to say go to a mall or some place teens hang out and look for the angry ones and jot down what you notice about their demeanor, but I wouldn't want you to be accused of stalking or anything! ;-) I'm also not sure where the angry ones tend to go...might be a good question to consider.
DeleteWay to work it, Liz!
Massive, massive breakthrough tonight. When I started writing my novel a few years ago, I was in a completely different place, emotionally and spiritually. Realizing that, or at least reaffirming that, and remembering that I was writing the story for no one but *me*, was an eye-opener because it freed me to cut out a part that really didn't need to be there. Yay hacking and slashing! Oh, the glee with which I wield my writerly machete. ;)
ReplyDeleteSlaughter those darlings, babe! Way to go! Hurray and Hazzah for the breakthrough!
DeleteI just joined March Madness today, and I'm looking forward to it. I'm working on the sequel to a novel I've already finished, but I've discovered I still don't know the characters as well as I hoped. Part of this next week will involve digging deeper into their minds, so I can figure out what direction this sequel is supposed to go.
ReplyDeleteYay! Welcome to the madness, Stephanie! I've considered a sequel to one of my books, but I'm not sure I'm ready to explore those depths yet. Have fun!
DeleteThis is a genuinely funny and insightful post.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to MCs, I wouldn’t have thought of self as “cool enough/not cool enough,” (never think in *cool* terms, which means I am not cool, right?) but sometimes maybe I’m not “good enough.” And you know what? The best moments are those when I am not smart enough to be around them… Moments of revelation.