Move it, pal!

Hi everyone.

I know I've been MIA for a long, long time, but things have been hectic lately. With everything. I think my life will slow down a bit only in November this year, because until then, I have many things to do. You already know that, so I won't be getting into it again. All you need to know is, I'm blogging today because I have a day off ;)

You're probably confused about the title. Don't worry, I'm not addressing you directly. I'll take the long winded way to explain what's going on.

Recently (if you can call Christmas recent), I've acquired a kindle, which means I've automatically tripled the number of books I read a year. I've read over 14 books in 3 months, and I usually read that many per year. I also love that I got to read books by many of my friends. Which was awesome.

Now, while reading my way through many books (including something by the now infamous Amanda Hocking), I came to the following conclusion: action has taken the place of good old fashioned character development in many books.

What's character development?

What, you call yourself a writer and dare to ask that? No, I'm just kidding here - character development is the change that goes on in your character after he/she goes through all the mayhem you put him/her through in your book. So character goes from point A to point B and is better for the experience. (as in grows by the end of this stuff).

After reading some YA lately (including more of the Fallen series and the first 2 Hush Hush books - I know, my choice in literature isn't exactly the best), I've realized that characters DON'T GROW anymore. And I finally realized why The Hunger Games left me with a bitter taste in my mouth - because Katniss didn't grow - she started out as a paranoiac loner and ended just the same. Yes, she has other, redeeming traits, but she starts with them and ends with them. No growth what-so-ever. The same with most YA heroes and heroines these days.

And that's just wrong! I mean YA should be the genre that should preach evolution and development the most - teach the kids that they have to fight for what's right and grow with the experience. Even if there's nothing else to learn from that book.

I'm not saying I'm doing it, but at least I'm trying.
In my YA series, Sam's a rich, pretty clumsy city kid who has to learn to trek through a jungle and shoot and fight because he'll be dead by the end of the book if he doesn't. He also has to fight his insecurities and believe in the decisions he makes because they could get everyone he cares about killed. At some point, he has to even overcome his fear of heights. He struggles and almost fails, but he grows with it.

In Hunters, Rachel actually has to tone down her badd-ass-ness and learn that positive feelings are just as driving as anger. She also evolves and learns how to use what she has without doubting herself. I admit she doesn't grow much - maybe just softens and finds her inner balance - but something about her does change.

Grace, my newest character to torture, grows A LOT. People reading the book know how annoying she was at the beginning and how she started growing a spine and building confidence.

I want to see that in books. People overcoming their condition - struggling to succeed. And here's where the title gets explained (told you it would be a lng and winding road). Move it and evolve, you damn character!

Plot is important, I couldn't agree more. But if you send a cardboard piece (or a stone block in case the character is 3D) down an interesting road, its not going to make me love the book. Enjoy it, sure. Find the plot amazing - maybe. Be happy with the experience - nope, not me. The proof is that I've spent months since I've read The Hunger Games with a bitter feeling that something was wrong with that series. And when I found the flaw, I was very relieved and ready to put it behind me. And, no, I won't be reading those books again.

Honestly, it's going to take a very long time for something as good as Harry Potter to come out for the YA audience. My thoughts.

So yes, three dimensional characters can still be bad. That is my conclusion for the day.

In other news, I've started editing Hunters again - one chapter at a time. I'm gonna need to work on the last chapters because I've changed them pretty much and I need to see if the idea works or not.

Hope to get back here some time this month.

The horror!

I've just made a mega-discovery. I suck at picking themes for stories. *sigh*
Lately, I've been trying to draft a decent query for my paranormal romance novel Hunters. I knew I'd suck at querying, probably because I can't even write a freakin' synopsis. What I didn't expect was the hate-wave toward the genre itself.

Oh, no! Not another vampire book! Put it away, no one wants to see it!

Okay...I get it, kind of. Twilight led to a whole series of terrible/not so terrible spin offs regarding more teens and vampires and vampire schools and vampire problems and so on... I have no idea. I've only read twilight and half of Interview with the Vampire and that hardly counts as vampire literature. I just thought it was fun to write a book where the vampires are the bad guys for a while. And without other motives than feeding off humans.

Try taking that out of the bucket! I agree it sounds like another bad vampire novel, and the Internet is crawling with those. But how do you explain in 250 words that your book is more character oriented than vampire oriented? How do you show all the things YOU think you did well in there, everything that makes your book different (like the characters really have chemistry - Not like twilight couples). I don't know...

I've been thinking and I understand what people think - If I were on the other side of the fence, I'd probably roll my eyes and sigh loudly. But I also find it a bit sad that silly authors (like me) who choose this theme are thrust into a pretty nasty category of bandwagon jumpers who only want a bit of scrap fame off of twilight.

Which isn't exactly fair. All vampire fiction writers after twilight put hard work into their books and tried as hard as possible not to make their books alike. But, to be honest, there aren't that many vampire myths.

In vain do I mention that my Hunters could've been Mushroom hunters, the story would've been the same. "Don't try to pretend you're not writing a vampire book, cuz you are." Um, yes I am. I never denied that - I just mentioned what I thought was different.

Okay, excuse the rant. I'm just a little baffled. But I guess it's my fault. I should've had my characters chasing a Yetti. Guess I'll just have to go for small presses which are opening special lines for vampires and other paranormal creatures.

To make things worse, I think my next novel might be a bust too, since I'm still doing the paranormal. There are no vampires in it, but I have a feeling I'll hit this wall again. But I'll try. It's not like it will kill me :) I'm not making that one about Mushroom hunters.

Mortal Kombat!

You know, the video game. It was all the hype when I was growing up, so let's just say I played a lot of it. Not that that's happening now. I've progressed to more evolved games. Such as writing. So, here's the problem:

I know I've been bragging in previous posts about my trying NaNo again this year. I also mentioned that I had the story idea for another paranormal romance that involved epic battles, smothering romances and unbelievable twists. Well, the problem is that, while I was planning this masterpiece, some other idea knocked me over the head.

For a couple of years, I've drawn up a spin-off after my YA series which was a sort of a fantasy-romance. I started writing it ON A NOTEBOOK with a PENCIL, but it never saw the light of my computer. Also, it sucks badly, since I wrote it before I actually learned how to write, and I only made it to like chapter 3, but now it hit me and it doesn't want to go away.

So I have no idea which project to tackle this November. Should I go with my original thought of good versus evil versus third party, or sink into the slushy romance of a time-traveling, very confused person who tires to find the meaning of life? Argh! I can't make up my damn mind.

So, I'm not sure what to do, if I should step out of my comfort zone. Anyone else ever had this problem?

The art of breaking down

Have you ever thought you've had enough and don't want this crap anymore? Well, my guess is yes, since everyone's had to go through collage and/or kids - and there must be a minute when you just want the world to swallow you whole.

I'm going through my first such experience. After three months of continuous stress and studying, I'm ready to lay my sword down. I've had enough of this crap. Who the hell cares about all that stuff? Of course, I'm very aware of the fact that I've done this to myself. It was my choice to seek further training in the art of law and apply for magistrate training...

What really put me down was that it seems to make no difference - I've studied like crazy, done test after test and it is still sheer luck that will get me (and if it will get me) in that damned school. Imagine 3500 people fighting for 200 spots - it's mind-wrecking and horrible. And I'm not sure where I stand regarding this - I'm hardly capable to score within the minimum score range - and nothing I do seems to help.

So, people, I'm officially breaking down. I'm tired all the time, my head pounds and I break down into fits of crying. Then I try harder and it still doesn't help.

The up side? I only have 3 days left to go - on the 25th is the evil exam and at least that chapter of my life will close. Whatever happens next, it can't be worst that this summer, than this bitter disappointment in my life choices and the world around me.

Another plus side - this has really helped my writing experience - imagine how accurately I'll be able to portray the sense of helplessness grasping my character and holding them there, wishing all this would be over. I can't wait to be done with this and get back to writing - unfortunately, I still have the end of September to get to before I can finally lay down my stress sword - If I get into judge training - it's all fine from there on - I have a job, more studying to do and that's it. If I don't, it'll be job hunting, studying some more for a master's degree and the master's exam -> so, whatever happens, it's not happy for me.

Just felt the need to vent and let you know what's going on with me - why I might not have been so present in the writing world. I just want it to be over now, whatever happens, because I'm exhausted. I need/want/demand a vacation.

Hope to be back soon (unless I die on the 25th after suffering the first real failure in my life)

Inside thy head

Inside my head is where I love to spend my time when things outside my head get too hectic (as they tend to do lately and will keep doing so until the end of the summer).


I'm an in-head writer. Ever heard of them? Those crazy people who sometimes stare into space and stop listening to you because you just gave them an idea and they're writing it inside their head. I do that. I never get bored during long travels because I start to write. I write before I go to sleep. I write while I listen to music. My head is a gigantic notebook. And I love it :)


Right, enough of that - let's get to some story elements, okay? BTW, peeps - I WROTE! On paper (well, computer) I actually wrote two pages, trying to finish a chapter I'm rewriting. It was awesome!
Story elements... I was saying something about them.


So, as a critter, I piss of people most of the time saying things like -
I'd like more inner thought here;
What does he/she think about this?
Are they happy/frustrated/annoyed about what that other guy said?
I want more feelings here.
Feelings?


Yeah, those who are stuck with me might have seen some of these lines in between their lines. And that's because I want to connect with a character - I want to get inside their head - see what makes them tick. Why should I root for a zombie? I mean, I love a good setting like the next reader, but I'm all about the character. If I can connect with him and see the world through their eyes. then I'm in. I'll buy his adventures, no matter where they take him (or her).


How to perform a lobotomy


That's how they call drilling into the brain, right?


a. Inner monologue and rhetorical questions are always a good and obvious start. They do a good job at showing the character's thoughts and feelings.


Example: 


Christine lowered her chin and looked at him. “This is the first time we speak.”
 Sam yanked the other headphone out. “Yeah, I guess so.” She could have anyone. Why on earth was she talking to him? Especially since he couldn’t get a coherent, intelligent statement out.
 Christine batted her eyelashes then bobbed her head to the music. “I heard rumors that you and Lisa are going out.”
 He was going to kill Harry. “We’re not.”
 “Perfect.” Christine grinned and threw the headphone back to him. “It was nice talking to you.”
 “Yeah, really nice.” God, he was an idiot. Couldn’t he come up with something better?


Basically, what  we have here is - inner thought, questions the character asks himself and his feelings on what's happening (the idiot part :)). For me, these are all important because they help me get into Sam's head. He likes her, ergo the tongue tied attitude, and he feels like beating himself up for not being cooler around her. He's shy but wants to overcome it. 
Not much, but enough to connect with his needs and wants for this stage of character development.
This is stuff I always love to see in a story. 


b. Visceral reactions - are also good when getting in tune with a character.


Example:
  She cupped his face in her hands. There was something in her eyes, in her smile, that made his pulse race. And she came closer and closer until she kissed him gently on the cheek. His heart jumped into his throat.


A racing pulse, a twisting stomach, a knot in the chest/throat - little things that gets the reader into the atmosphere with the character. And in fiction, little things count ;)


c. Outspoken opinions - it's nice when the character says it all out loud, even if inside their heads (out loud for the reader) - his feelings, his opinions -  obvious information on them. 


Example:


 “Where’d you get this book, anyway?”
 Kyle smirked. “One of the guys at the Academy is obsessed with this stuff.”
 “More than me?” Sam had no idea why he felt competitive about this. It’s not like it increased his cool factor. But the idea of one of Kyle’s Police buddies being more into history than him was outrageous.
  
 It's fun to see a character questioning their own actions and feelings - it show those actions and feelings.


d. Then there's the character's actions - those show a lot about who a character is - but I usually like a little inner thought and what they're thinking after or before they act - show me why they did it - what's their inner motivation.


Example:  


Sam had never hit anyone for real in his life. He’d wanted to help Christine, but from that to actually punching her aggressor was a long way, a way he couldn’t remember even considering to take. What was happening to him?


After action thought - explains why he did it - except in this case he doesn't really know (because guys are usually thick and can't tell when they've fallen head over heels for a girl).


Is this too much? Not for me. I bask in character feelings and reactions - it's true that I don't always harp on this. There are places where coldblooded action without any feelings works well - I don't always need to know what the character is thinking regarding everything. But I do need my share of intimacy with the guy's/girl's head.


That's just how I work as a reader. And that's why I try my best to cover it all as a writer. I've read things that are nowhere near this inside the character's head - you need to have a smashing plot then. For me, the lack of the reaction from the character must be compensated with a thick plot. The less the character is developed, the better the plot had better be.


Am I the only feeling freak out there? If not, I call to order the new order: Feeling Freaks United! Who would like to join? (We have punch and pie)

Distractions

After a while of deep, meaningful thinking, I've reached the conclusion that I don't write anymore. And it feels a bit odd. Especially since I've been at it properly for a whole year now (thanks CC!).
The thing is, I don't have much time. The only creative writing I do (as in not edit) is this blog. I'm starting to feel kind of sad :(

What should I be doing now? I should be studying. I have to finish college and I have 4 years worth of subjects to get up to par with for my two horrible coming exams - one tougher than the other.
So, you've already guessed that this will be a post about me and my studying habit.

I have the annoying knack of getting distracted really easily from doing something (yes, even writing or critting). To avoid this, I've placed all my college books in a room with absolutely nothing interesting in it (my brother's ex room, so you can only guess what lurks in there). So, surrounded by books, I sit at the desk, grab a book (first year civil law...grrr... awful read, wouldn't recommend it to anyone) and I'm off.
I write the time I start studying - the day (I'm at day 8, I think? though it's actually day 11, but I skipped a few...oops) and the page I'm starting from (going at about 50 pages or more per day).
But when I finish studying for the day - it's like 5 hours later. What the hell? It took me 5 hours to read 50 meager pages?

Not exactly. Because about twenty minutes later - I get bored, I start counting pages, looking at the clock, wondering how long it might take me to finish... and so on.

Main distractions:

1. Food - what, I want a glass of water! And something sweet while I'm at it. Except I don't have anything, so I have to rummage in  the fridge to improvise (who said yogurt doesn't taste better with jam?) - and that happens more times per day than I can count. Ugh, there goes my target weight.

2. Boyfriend - wonder what he's up to (well, right now, he's sleeping). But I usually check - and when I do, we get talking and discussing news and then he gets hungry and I sigh and whip us up something and there goes another hour. But at least I won't be craving for food anymore.

3. Internet - Hmmm... I wonder if I got a crit. Should go check. And while I'm on CC, I should do a crit as well - I'm like so behind with all of this, when will I ever return all the favors pending? So yeah, let's do a crit - that takes about 40 minutes. Should get back to studying. Oh, wait - let's check the mail first - no, I don't want a free degree, a fake rolex or viagra - moving on. Let's go back to studying - wait, should check facebook first - what, new photos from someone I hardly know? Gotta check that out!
Okay, done with facebook. Time to study. But let's check the blogger stats first.

4. Music/daydreaming - okay, I'm back at my desk, but it's all boring - taking out the old ipod. I happily start underlining again. Whoa! I love this song and it's for such a nifty scene in my next book. - I stop underlining and reading and take the 4 minutes to imagine the scene the song reminds me of. The song is over, but I managed to get such nifty details set. I want to imagine it some more - another ten minutes gone.

5. Annoyance and backpain - I'm done! My neck hurts and I'm sick of this crappy subject (when can I get into criminal law?) that's it for the day. I'll do a better job tomorrow and catch up. I'd better go lie on my couch like a potato and do some reading/critting/blogging/talking to bf/watching tv - anything else, please. It's a warm day - maybe I'll even go outside!

So, yes - this is practically my learning experience right now. And I should be studying. I will, after I finish this post - I intentionally wanted to do some critting, but I'll leave that for one of the breaks. I wanna get this over with.

The thing is - I think all of this could apply to writing - but in my case, only the internet does - nothing else of the above distract me (especially not studying!). I wish I could do some writing other than the light edits I do before submitting a chapter to CC. :(
Ah, well, life goes on. And I do hope criminal law will pick up the pace ;) See you guys around.

Ahoy, thee, support

And with this post I'll be done with characters and possibly move to plotting or other such things. I mentioned last week that I wanted to take care of support characters. So here I am, true to my promise :)

The unhappy part is... I don't do support. I mean, literally, I kinda suck at support characters. Because if I spend too much time on them, I get attached and then want to give them a life story and a girlfriend and... you can see where I'm going with this, don't you?
So, it got me thinking. What exactly is a support character? What makes the difference between them and the MCs? And why, oh why does that piece of pie look so appealing... okay, I just derailed there.


What's a support character?

The truth is, I don't know. I suspect it's a character who isn't exactly kicking the plot along. So I'm sticking with that.
In discovering my inner compass for less significant characters, I turned to my WIP Hunters - why did I do that? Probably because it doesn't have one million characters like my YA series. So, I found that most of my secondary characters are there for... two chapters tops. Huston, we have a problem.
Eventually, after digging a bit deeper, I found Justin. He's the only support I believe matters. He's a wraith - a vile smoke particle floating about in misery until someone buys him a ticket home. He does have a purpose to the plot - he helps/unhelps Daniel and Rachel quite a lot.
Therefore, I deduced that's what a support character does - interferes in the lives of the MCs, gives the plot a little kick and provides some entertainment for the reader.

Support versus the big pile of extra characters

I have a big pile of characters in my YA series - counted over thirty in the first volume alone. I have five MCs plus girlfriends plus villains and a backup team. Out of all of these people, I only think of one person as fitting the bill to be the support character - Billy - cousin of the MCs.
And here is where my logic fails me. The girls aren't MCs - actually, they have nothing to do with the major plot (Billy's more involved in that) - sure they do provide bait and reasons for fights and self sacrifice - but I can't put them in support either. They seem too important - so they go into the (cleverly labeled) girls category.
The rest of the backup team seems of too little importance (so far) to toss them into the support pile. They don't do enough for the MCs (from which I'm deducing that I take the term support literally). So they fall into the big pile of characters category.

The character pyramid

This is how I see things at least. After a lot of thinking, I realized I don't have that many support characters and that all the imaginary people I put on paper tend to jump from one floor to the next, including my darling MCs.

And, for that purpose, I'll give you an example: Jerry. Jerry's supposed to be a main character. And he'll end up being one - he's part of the big plot and helps it roll along. Only that, in the first volume, he's more likely support. He doesn't get all that much screen time or have such a big contribution to the plot.
Sure, he saves a couple of lives, but who doesn't in my book?

In the first volume, Billy hardly fits into support. He's somewhere on the line of the big pile of characters. Not to mention that one of the girls will fall from the Girls/Girlfriends category straight to random people on the street.

Support versus MC

This doesn't dwell well either, seeing as my people jump around on that carefully drawn (*cough* paint *cough*) pinnacle of wisdom.
I guess, the way I see it, the main difference is  that, at the end of it all, the reader won't spend nights thinking how the poor support character took the news that the *magic* was actually the *magic* and now everything is upside down and what will they decide now regarding the *magic*. (BTW, I use *magic* to prevent spoilers :p)
No, the reader will care about what the MCs think, because the reader invested most into them. I guess it's an investment problem after all.

My brilliant conclusion.

A character is unstable and can't be put into any category for the length of a whole book/series because they'll keep moving around.
I think the accuracy of my pyramid reduces to scenes. Each scene has one MC - one person everyone else revolves around. In conclusion, all my characters will get to be support at some point, to let the one in whose POV we are grow more. The whole point of this is to get the reader to like and know the characters.

This whole analysis was painfully useless.

I know, you were probably expecting a witty analysis of the support character - how to build one, his/her purpose in the story, what makes them tick - kinda like I did for the other categories of characters in a book. But here is where I fall flat. I have failed everyone - I started off writing something intelligent and  came up with... this.

Um...yeah. So, er, what have you guys been up to lately? O:)