Details, Details, Details!

I've been working on my work-in-progress YA novel, Land of No Angels, a bit over the last few days. It's been a slow process lately due to life issues and the lack of cooperation from my brain. However, during the time I stare at my manuscript vacantly and wish I could just spill my guts all over the digital page, I find myself wondering about the details.

For the most part, I can follow the "Don't think. Don't self edit. Just write." concept while working on my first draft. But sometimes, I get this idea that all of the details I add or need to add feel awkward. For example, I'm writing a scene with two sisters outside in a some-what post apocalyptic setting, who fear for their lives being out in the open and they need to hurry their conversation to get back to their safe zone. There is so much information that needs to be conveyed or even just introduced in this scene, but I find it hard to place these details and bits of information without feeling like it's too awkward. Sometimes this even happens with describing a little of the surroundings when it doesn't directly relate to the character(s) in focus.

When I try to explain things in a little more detail than "they were in a forest" and "she his under blackberry brambles" I start to get an awkward feeling. Like when you are reading a book in first person and the main character starts describing his/her own physical appearance while gazing into a mirror. Awkward! This first scene I'm working on is sort of intense and I wanted it to FEEL and READ just like the main character's breathing: short, sharp breaths that sting her lungs. Which... actually makes the scene go fast. A little too fast maybe? So the suspense isn't building properly....

Okay, so I took a break from this blog post after I had an epiphany halfway through it. I went to lunch, discussed some things with my writing partner (who also happens to be my husband) and I realised that the scene mentioned in the above paragraph wasn't working because it lacked details. While I still want it to feel like a panic attack, it can do so with some additional information to break away from the immediate action and build suspense. Not in an awkward "Hey, I thought this girl was being hunted... now we're talking about her living situation, wtf?" sort of way, but more so a "Ack! What's going to happen to her. The suspense is killing me!" sort of way. Breaking up the quick action sentences with longer description sentences will help build that tension I need.

[READER QUESTION] Do you struggle with writing details? Are you too detailed? Not detailed enough? How do you overcome these issues?

Contests and Thoughts

Just a few quick thoughts about some topics I'm going to write articles for. I've noticed lately that I've had to defend my view on romance/love in books and even movies, so I think I may write an article on my thoughts on this subject. I also need to write a review on Ted Dekker's Adam, and I think I may ever write a few movie reviews. I'm a bit behind because i've been so exhausted lately, but I will catch up soon!

By the way, the online writing community is amazing. Everyone is so helpful and supportive to one another and I'm so thrilled to have found it. This may seem a little random, but I was thinking about it today because of a series of tweets over on Twitter. There is a sense of camaraderie and it's just so awesome.

If you haven't heard, head over to WORD for Teens and sign up for the Word for Teens Givaway of the book, Benjamin Manry and the Curse of Blood Bones. I suggest you go and join in! My pirate name is Lunie Seawitch. Hehehe!

On a final note, I've gotten so many new ideas for my current WIP, which is still untitled. I've been asked why I care whether or not the WIP has a name yet because it's really not important. It may be silly, but I can't start actually writing without a title of some sort, even if it isn't the one I will use in the end. And no, "Untitled" and "WIP" do not count for me. It's just one of those weird little quirks I have. But, it's coming along really well.

Sorry for such a short entry today, but I felt like I needed to update! Now off to catch up on article writing!

Thoughts on Development

I've been feeling a real struggle lately, but I think I am coming out of it. Plotting for my NaNoWriMo submission has been a nightmare and the clock is ticking. But I'm having a breakthrough. Also, it's good to get these issues out of the way now so when NaNoWriMo comes around (OMG ONLY 1 WEEK) I won't have to spend all this time dinkin' around with it. Which is good. But through all of this, I've been having fun based on the fact that my characters are growing themselves.

For example, I think two of my characters are falling for each other. When did that happen? There is no place for love in my story. They are journeying and fighting for their lives! It just doesn't make sense. But I can feel it when I work out the plot. Whether it actually comes up in the writing, I don't know. But I do know for sure that on my end as the author they fell for each other. Something similar happened with one of my characters. Last night, while I was working on plot point #9, I had this random idea that my story needed two sweet old ladies who are sisters and have been living together since they were younger. They are now the aunts of one of my characters and raised this person after his/her mother died.

Isn't it funny how things sort of just fall into place when you are writing?

I think I have been approaching my novel in a way that is similar to a movie. Is this good or bad? I'm not entirely certain. I see the story develop in my mind as though it were a movie and try to relay that information in the form of words. Sometimes it's helpful because I can see everything in my mind as if it were real and write what I see. But at the same time, I wonder if this bogs me down sometimes. Or maybe that I'm not focusing on the right descriptions. I don't know. Haha, I DO know, however, that this will be good for NaNoWriMo. Why? Because I have 30 days to write 50,000 words. And since I have not written this many words for one story in about... 10 years, I think it would be helpful.

Yesterday, I was reading an article about reasons your manuscript could get rejected by agents and one reason mentioned gimmicks. This lead me to wonder if my approach to Inoculation is gimmicky. The way I have it set up right now, each character leads to another character and the story is told from their point of view (3rd person) until they meet up. I imagine this would be considered gimmicky. It has a very movie-style feel to it as well. However, I feel that this is how it needs to be told. It flows, it's fun, it's interesting. I don't think I even have a single protagonist. If I had to guess, I would say that Nea and Logan are the two main protagonists... but what about Bridget and David? Or Ingrid? Or the Weyland boys? Secondary.

I think I have done enough musing, though, for now. My next entry may be about inspiration and music. I know a lot of people make playlists and I think I'd like to muse on this.

Plot and Characters

So, I'm having a hard time coming up with a flaw for my main character. I've decided that she is a florist, and that her mother was a Junior College professor while her father was a fire fighter. I know that her parents did not have an easy time when they first met because her mother was from a traditional Greek family and her father was from a middle class American family. I also know that her parents encouraged her greatly while growing up and this lead her to become a florist of her own flower shop. Nea is relatively peaceful and quite motherly. The Leader, the one who takes care of the rest of the group.... I know there is a flaw in there, but I just can't find the right one. Her motivation is that she feels the need to protect the people around her... especially since some of the people with her are a bit on the dumb side and would likely die without her.

Huh... while writing this out, I was discussing with one of my writing buddies what flaw she could have. I believe I have decided that Nea's flaw is that she can't let go. She can't leave anyone behind and she lets her screw ups haunt her. I believe this will provide a legitimate flaw and also make a decent plot device.

Switching gears to plot now, I think. The other day I was working on a synopsis or a book blurb sort of thing. Not because I think I need to have one, but more so because it helped me focus what I wanted my novel to be about. When someone asked me what I was writing about, I had the hardest time coming up with an easy to understand answer. So a couple nights ago I sat down and decided that I would write even if it wasn't coming out the way I wanted it to. I find that I have this issue a lot and it keeps me from getting anything done. As a practice for November, I just wrote what I wanted to say, even if I worded it badly and the following is what I came up with:

After an influenza vaccine is rushed to the public without proper trial, cases of cannibalism begin to pop up across the country that appears to a growing side effect. The media makes matters worse when they announce that people are coming back from the dead and attacking people. Nea Thatcher and a group of peculiar comrades must help each other stay alive and discover what really happened to the country.

Didn't like that version at all. Can you blame me? I sucks. But the next one, I am satisfied with and will be using it as a start point for much of my planning.

After an influenza vaccine with unforeseen side effects is thrust upon the public, the media induces mass panic by announcing that people are returning from the dead and attacking people. When a florist from a small mountain town in California saves a little-known daytime television actor, they decide to join with a small group of peculiar comrades to help each other stay alive and discover what really happened to the country.

While not perfect, it's much better, in my opinion. For anyone using the Snowflake Method, this is sort of an in between Step 1 and Step 2 for me.

As a final note, I'd like to say a little about motivation and not allowing things to deter you from your goal. I've had a lack of motivation over the last couple days due to illness and due to some internet issues. At first I was concerned that I was already running down on motivation. It's not even a full week into October! It was luckily a false alarm, though since I find myself feeling refreshed and motivated full speed ahead again! So, my advice is to not be afraid to take a day off for a break and rejuvenate your motivation.

In addition to this, don't let things needlessly deter you from reaching your goal. Sometimes I find that things make me worry about if I am doing the right story. It's not been as bad as normal this time around since I am so stubborn, but often I let stupid things like people with similar stories (or that my topic has been done to death) get me down. For example, I am working with Zombies. Or... "zombies" would be a better way to put it. Zombies are a big deal nowadays and it's not likely my novel would get picked up. This usually would make my motivation leak away, but I find this time around that I just don't care. I have a story to tell and I'm not letting anything stop me.

That's it for tonight, though. I am very tired!

Character Development and Helpful Sites

Heck yes! I came up with characters today! I was worried there for a while because I was drawing a complete blank with my protagonist. I had a sidekick and a potential second sidekick, but no idea for a main protagonist. Sadly, my characters are quite lacking in the dimension department. I'll give a short introduction to my characters.

Nea Thatcher

She is the protagonist who is stuck fending off crazed 'zombies' with her eccentric fellow resisters. She is the motherly one and unwittingly the brains and leader of the group.

Logan Shepherd

I've mentioned him before, but will do so again. He is the somewhat dense day-time television actor who sometimes attempts to take on the personification of the character he plays.

David Harper

The self proclaimed zombie expert with a firey temper. Unfortunately, his knowledge will not be as useful as he believes.

Bridget Perry

The quirky teenaged girl with a strange sense of fashion and an optimistic attitude.

Kitcha

The animalistic stalker with a traumatic past who may or may not be an escaped mental patient. She doesn't speak much and no one knows why her name is Kitcha. Real name: Camilla Brodsky

So, over the next few days, I will be writing in depth about these characters to make them more dimensional. I think I have a good group, but I hope that they aren't too bizarre for the mood of my story. I believe I will be using a bit of the "Snowflake Method"to help me develop my characters. My number one pet peeve is working on a character by using character questionnaires and having 95% of the questions prove useless to me. I just don't have the patience or the care to decide what my characters favorite food is. If it's not essential to the plot, then why do I care?

Now, I do understand that people like to know all of this stuff ahead of time. It helps them understand their character. This is great! However, I can't work like that. I am an avid planner and outliner, but I am also a firm believer that my characters will tell me what I need to know if the time ever arises. Yes, I am aware that they are not real. However, I am not going to force information on them. I think this is a fast way to make dull, rigid characters. Let me give an example. This afternoon, I was telling my husband my new character ideas. I explained Kitcha and that she 'may or may not be an escaped mental patient.' He laughed and asked me, "Well, which is it?" I answered that I did not know, and that it's possible no one will ever know. He laughed again and said, "But, you are the one writing the story and making the character!" I simply explained to him that while this may be true, I don't know the answer and frankly don't really care. The point is that her character and personality brings into question her sanity. Does it matter one way or the other? No. Either way she is primal, slightly deranged, and has sociopathic tendencies. Just my two cents on that.

Well, I suppose that is it for the day. I need to head back to Scrivener and start working on developing the characters more.

Here are some helpful links for planning that I have been using over the last few days.

Behind the Name Genorator

Seventh Sanctum

Surnames

Snowflake Method

Phase Outline Method

NaNo for the New and Insane